Simple ways to be more healthy

We all know what we need to do to stay healthy these days: hit our 10,000 steps, eat at least five pieces of fruit and veg, and drink two litres of water – and so on, and so forth. But what other simple steps can we be taking day-to-day to boost our wellbeing?

The health advice that is presented in the media can often be conflicting. The sheer volume of information available can make it difficult to know what to believe. In the meantime, here are five simple health hacks that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine:

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Fun fact: human beings are 60 percent water. That’s why, if you don’t drink enough, your body will likely start working less efficiently.

So why is water so important? According to scientists, you need water for your blood to flow correctly, to carry essential oxygen, glucose and nutrients around the body, to keep our kidneys functioning properly, to help keep your eyes and joints lubricated, and to keep your digestive system regular.

But how much do you really need? Science shows that a healthy adult needs 1.5-2 liters a day. That equates to around eight to ten glasses a day – but this does include hot drinks, and the water that is in your food.

Boost your nutrition

Hands up if you’ve ever tried a fad diet, counted your calories, or grabbed far too many a convenient meal on the go as a result of a busy and demanding work – life balance?

But according to experts, the most important part of good food hygiene is balance, moderation and variety. The NHS top tips for healthy eating include basing your meals on high fibre and starchy carbohydrates, eating lots of fresh fruit and veg, eating more fish, including a portion of oily fish, cutting down on saturated fat and sugar and salt.

Why is little and often, everything in moderation, and a bit of everything better than cutting whole food groups out? Experts agree that eating everything in moderation is far better in the long term than strict dieting. When you haven’t eaten in a while the hormone ghrelin kicks in making us feel hungry and crave food. The hormone leptin helps to supress hunger, when you lose weight your body produces less leptin, meaning you are less likely to feel full and want to continue grazing.

Move more

While it is common to have days when we would rather relax and indulge in unhealthy snacks, it is important to remember that regular exercise is essential for both physical and mental health. Exercise has been shown to improve heart health, insulin sensitivity, and bone density. It can also help to reduce stress and improve mood. Even a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day can have significant benefits for your health.

The NHS recommends that adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week. This can be broken down into shorter sessions throughout the day.

Protect your mental health

Health and wellness aren’t just isolated to the body – far from it. Maintaining good mental health is just as important as exercising every day. Stress and high cortisol levels have been shown to suppress the immune system, upset your digestive system, disrupt sex hormones and some studies suggest it may accelerate the aging process. Some stressful days are normal, however practicing daily mindfulness, sleeping well and calming exercises like yoga or Qi Gong can help to boost your mood.

Supplement your nutrition

Supplementation is an easy way to support your diet and general health needs. With the pace of our lifestyles, something we may need some extra support. Seven Seas Perfect 7 Woman and Seven Seas Perfect 7 Man are formulated to include Omega-3 which supports three major organs in the body: the heart, brain and eyes.[1] It also contains a blend of essential multivitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Zinc, Biotin and more.

[1] A daily intake of 250mg EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) helps support normal heart function. 250mg DHA daily helps support normal vision and brain function.