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Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

Key Things to Integrate Into a Healthy Lifestyle

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You’ve all heard it before, “it’s not a diet; it’s a lifestyle.” The simple reason for this is that it’s true! Fad diets simply don’t work, and the reason you either snap back to your natural weight setting or put on more weight than before is that you’re not permanently changing anything. Your body tries to get back to what it considers normal.

But there’s more to life than weight, and more to your body, too. A healthy lifestyle can improve your energy levels, organ functions, skin elasticity and appearance, hair thickness, bathroom habits, oral health and most importantly, happiness. After all, if something happens and you need your wisdom teeth removed, you’ll be in a better and happier state than if your health was simply left to deteriorate and you didn’t have the dental procedure. It is a simple fact. Plus, being healthier will make your dentist happy too. So, here are the keystones of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which are all very doable.

Water

It’s free, and it’s easy to do. You might have heard that drinking 8 glasses a day is the ideal amount, but really it varies from person to person. Using your body weight in pounds, calculate 2/3 of that to give you the amount of water in ounces you should aim for.

Our bodies are made up of mostly water, and keeping a good balance of H2O can improve your energy levels, organ functions, and the appearance of your skin and hair. Water keeps headaches at bay and can even curb food cravings. Sometimes if you get a hunger pain, it’s actually a pang of dehydration. Have a glass of water and see how you feel.

Walking

Any exercise is good exercise, and walking is my personal favorite. It’s so easy to do, and you don’t have to be an athlete or wear special clothes to do it. You don’t get sweaty or need to get changed, and you can integrate it into your day and use it for getting to and from places you need. Park a little further away, get off the bus a few stops early, walk to the shop if you don’t need to drive, take the stairs instead of the elevator. There are lots of simple ways to add more steps to your day if you look for them.

Fiber

Eating fiber every day maintains a healthy gut, and more importantly, a healthy bowel! It’s clear if you haven’t been eating your bran or fibrous fruits when you’re feeling bloated or constipated, which is a pretty horrid feeling. Eating a bowl of fiber-filled cereal every morning is my way of ticking it off for the day.

Protein and Fats

Proteins such as meat, eggs, nuts, dairy, soy, tofu, and plant-based sources are important for repairing muscle and keeping the body going. It’s incredible how filling a little protein can be and should be part of your main meals.

5 a Day

An easy rule to follow is to consume at least five portions of fruit and veggies every day. This doesn’t mean five servings of blueberries, of course, but a good balance of various produce, with more veggies than fruit.

Less Refined Sugar

Sugar is a modern invention and an addictive one. While it’s almost impossible to avoid all sugar, keeping refined sugars down is beneficial to your health. This means everything from candy and chocolate to junk food, chips, and processed foods. Don’t be fooled by ‘low fat’ labels, which just means they add more sugar, which then turns to fat in the body anyway. Similarly, with ‘no added sugar’ labels, which means there is still sugar in them, just no ‘added,’ whatever that means! Keep an eye out for this, and your body and your teeth will be thankful for it.

Moderation

Everything in moderation, including moderation, it’s okay to have cheat days or indulge yourself once in a while. Even the pediatric dentist’s office from this website practices moderation by offering free ice cream. This is for the rest of your life, after all. Don’t think of it as a punishment, but as a way of feeding and nourishing your body. As long as any unhealthy habits are done in moderation, you’ll be on the right track!

Going Healthy, Lifestyle

5 Causes Of Bad Breath

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bad breath, coffee, health, hygiene, mouth
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Got bad breath? There are lots of things that can cause our breath to stink. Here are five of the most common causes.

Lack or oral hygiene

Want to avoid bad breath? Don’t neglect your oral health. If you’re not brushing your teeth thoroughly, you can expect bacteria to build up in your mouth. This bacteria will cause your breath to smell. Eventually, poor dental hygiene could lead to tooth decay, which could result in even worse breath. This could lead to a whole host of other problems too.

A good dental health routine will keep your mouth clean. This involves brushing twice per day at morning and at night for two minutes at a time. Brush each tooth individually using small circular motions (or use an electric toothbrush). Flossing can also help to remove plaque between teeth.  

Smoking

Smoke regularly and your breath will stink of tobacco. You could also increase the risk of developing gum disease by smoking, which in turn can further contribute to bad breath.

Some people combat smoker’s breath by chewing gum or eating mints. However, this still won’t stop a smoking habit from damaging your gums and mouth. The best solution is to give up smoking. A replacement habit such as vaping could be a good start. 

Alcohol

A night after drinking, your breath could end up smelling of booze. Alcohol however can cause bad breath in other ways too – it reduces the production of saliva, causing the mouth to become dry. A lack of saliva can cause bacteria to build up, which in turn can lead to bad breath.

If you regularly drink heavily, you’re more likely to have bad breath. Drinking a lot of water is one way to combat the dehydrating properties of alcohol, possibly helping you to produce more saliva and preventing your breath from smelling. However, the most effective solution is cut down on your drinking.

Coffee

Drink a lot of coffee and you could experience ‘coffee breath’. The effect on our breath isn’t just a result of coffee’s strong smell – drinking a lot of coffee reduces saliva production. Like alcohol, this causes bacteria to breed in the mouth, leading to stinky breath.

If you’re a coffeeholic, consider cutting down your cups of coffee per day. Drinking more water throughout the day could also help to boost saliva production and combat coffee breath. 

A medical condition? 

Bad breath can sometimes be the result of a medical condition. Tooth decay and oral diseases are some of the biggest culprits, however other conditions affecting other parts of the body can also have a knock-on effect on our breath odor. Digestive issues, kidney issues, tonsillitis and diabetes can all result in unusual smelling breath. 

Most medical conditions will have other symptoms beyond bad breath – you may experience abdominal pain, fatigue or a sore throat. If this is the case, you should definitely see a doctor. A professional diagnosis will allow you to look into treatment options, which could help to rid you of your bad breath.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle

The Major Health Benefits of Working Out

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Physical activity is scientifically proven to be highly beneficial to the human body. However, research shows that less than 50% of adults engage in dedicated exercise. This has led to an increase in health hazards globally. Common illnesses that result from not exercising are heart-related problems and stroke. Working out is fundamental in boosting your health, which is why many people get a home gym installed. Since I took fitness seriously, I have been in good physical condition. Major health benefits I have enjoyed because of workouts include:

Controlling Weight

When I started working out nine years ago, my main goal was to cut weight. I would watch my diet and strictly watch the workout routine. I started with 328 pounds and had an aim of getting below 220 pounds. To reach my target, I had to hit the gym. Consistent workouts helped me burn calories and subsequently lose weight. Currently, I weigh 200 pounds, a figure that makes me feel confident and fit. To maintain this weight and keep healthy, I still exercise frequently.

Reduces Risk of Heart Illnesses

During the time I weighed 328 pounds, I did some research on the risks arising from being overweight. Heart problems could lead to a heart attack which became a big scare. Excess weight also affects blood pressure. To prevent this from happening, I took to exercising. Working out has a lot of benefits to the heart. It leads to increased blood flow which increases the oxygen supply in the body. Working out is beneficial because it helps keep such illnesses at bay.

Helps Improve the Mental Health

Mental health issues are on the increase in today’s world. To counter such illnesses, medical practitioners advocate for people to do exercise. Exercise helps me relax my mind by giving me a break from real-life problems. Research shows that workouts make the body release chemicals to boost a person’s mood, thus relieving stress. This has helped my mental health by reducing the risk of falling into depression.

Strengthens the Bones and Muscles

A strong body contributes to good health. Workouts help in building muscles and strengthening bones. I engage in a lot of muscle-building exercises. Looking at my physique, I can note some improvement in terms of strong muscles. I feel my joints get better thanks to the workouts.

Boosts Immunity

Exercise has a positive impact on the body’s immune system. A strong and healthy body is good for fighting against diseases. With a healthy body, one stands a higher chance of good well-being because the body is able to fend off illnesses. Since I started working out, I have lived a healthy life. I have not visited the hospital due to illness apart from when attending for routine check-ups.

The Body Can Manage Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels

Blood sugar and insulin level problems put a person at risk of illnesses like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Doing exercises helps to make the insulin work well and lower the blood sugar level, therefore, reducing the risk of getting ill. One can do exercises as a precaution and as an action to manage existing problems.

Improve Quality of Sleep

Good health, as noted by many experts, is a result of many factors, sleep being among them. Working out helps me improve the quality of sleep and thus aiding good health. Anytime I do exercises, I am sure of getting sound sleep.

The importance of exercise to the human body cannot be overstated. While exercising may be punishing sometimes, the results are always rewarding. You do not have to begin with heavy exercises to reap these benefits. Starting slowly and growing gradually is always a sure way towards a happy life.