Ten Tips to Follow for Health and Wellness

Do you have the best of intentions when it comes to your health, yet you fizzle out or not even start to deliver on them? Here are ten health tips that are easy to implement and make part of your every day life.

Choose one or two tips to start and when that becomes habit, add another tip. Better to be consistent with one, then try too much to begin with and end up giving up on all of them. Regularly practicing even one of these tips will have a cumulative effect and help you be healthier in the long-term.

The tips:

1- Include 25-35 grams of fiber in your diet daily. Fiber helps you feel full longer, aids elimination and actually removes about 7 calories per gram consumed. Good sources of fiber are whole grains, fruits, vegetables and food bars or beverages with added fiber. Eating fiber-rich foods gives you the added bonus of additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

2- Drink plenty of fresh water. Use refillable water bottles with a built in filter that can be filled at any faucet. These have the added benefit of reducing the expense and waste generated by packaged bottles. Aim for several glasses a day, especially if you are increasing fiber.

3- Move your body every day. If you aren’t into exercise equipment or regimens, build opportunities to lift, bend and walk often throughout the day. Start slowly and build up over time. Any additional movement is better than none.

4- Take a few deep belly breaths often throughout the day. Do this outside or by an open window if you can. Your mind and body will appreciate the oxygen boost and instant stress reduction.

5- Air out your house or apartment at least once a week. Indoor pollution can be several times greater than outdoor pollution, especially when your home has been closed up.

6- Practice micro-meditations throughout the day. Snatching a few moments to close your eyes and focus on your breath or an inspirational quote can help you center and feel renewed.

7- Practice gratitude. Give thanks every day for the big and little things in your life even if you might not classify some of them as “good”. Offering thanks for the mundane, and even some annoying things that happen can instantly shift your perspective and relieve stress.

8- Build face-to-face relationships. Social interaction and a sense of community provide a support system that benefits our health on all levels. Turn off the computer and TV and spend “live time” with friends and family.

9- Learn something new, preferably from different sources. Read books and a articles, or take a class, Sharing new information with others helps you remember it. Learning something of interest keeps your brain sharp and lifts your mood. So does playing games like Soduko or Scrabble.

10- Combine some of the above tips for even more health benefits. For example, if you take dance lessons, you are moving your body, building relationships and learning something new!

It's never too late to start enjoying better health. Choose your tip today!