Physical health refers to a person's physical activity level, dietary habits, nutrition, and sleep-wake cycle. If these parameters are within normal limits, the individual will enjoy good physical health. On the other hand, deviation from either of these parameters will result in poor physical health and diseases. Maintaining good physical health should be a priority, and here will discuss the strategies to improve physical health.
1. Get Active
Being physically active does not mean sitting on a chair or desk for hours and working on a computer. When we sit, we are physically inactive. Then we feel lethargy with a decreased level of focus. Consequently, a vicious cycle of inactivity starts that leads to physical health compromises and ultimately get a disease. Physical activity can help you function better, think positively, sleep well, and reduce stress. Here are some ways to remain physically active and improve your physical health.
- Reduce the number of sitting hours and incorporate moving activities between them.
- Exercise regularly, which does not mean you have to join the gym. You can do exercise in the home, outside the home, in the park or alone in the countryside.
- Do the exercise of your own choice; these can be a simple walk, brisk walk, jogging, running, swimming, yoga, cycling, etc.
- For adults, 150 minutes of physical activity are recommended for a week, including walking. But if you choose running, then 75 minutes are recommended per week.
- Break the exercise interval into small sets if you cannot exercise in a single set due to time restraints.
- On holiday, do your household work by yourself, cook meals that you like, and go for the grocery.
- If elderly, a simple walk is recommended to reduce the risk of falls. The elderly should accompany any friend or family member when going out for a walk.
2. Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight seems a tough task, but if you are consistent and determined to do that, it simply becomes part of your daily routine. As we already know, obesity is not only a disease, but it is also a risk factor for other serious diseases. So, everyone should get a weight according to his age and height and maintain a normal Body Mass Index (BMI).
You can calculate your body mass index by knowing your height and weight. This is important because as long as your BMI is normal, the incidence of getting a disease is significantly reduced. Moreover, multiple weight planners are also available online to calculate your ideal body weight, and you can also calculate the required caloric intake to get your ideal weight.
Studies have shown that cutting down the 500 calories per day will reduce the weight to 1 pound after 1 week. Similarly, 30 minutes of a daily walk can reduce the weight to 1 pound after 1 week. In this way, you can lose 8 pounds after one month with this little effort. However, if you are underweight, then can
3. Maintain muscle strength
Inactivity leads to decrease muscle mass and increased deposition of fats in the body; hence muscle strength is reduced. When your muscles do not have the normal strength, the ability to do work is also reduced, and you are fatigued easily. Muscle strength and endurance are important to be considered for good physical health.
Muscle strength is the ability of the muscle to complete a movement, while muscle endurance is the ability of the muscle to do a movement task repetitively. Muscle strength can be improved by a special set of exercises called resistance training. In these types of exercises, a gradually increasing load is put on the muscle, and strength builds up gradually. Weight-bearing exercises are the commonest examples of resistance training.
4. Keep your metabolism at a pace
According to Methyl-Life PRO which is a leading Methylfolate Supplement brand in USA “Having a normal metabolic activity is key to physical health, but our metabolism slows down as we age. Slower metabolism decreases muscle mass and deposition of fat within the body. Slower metabolism, excessive fat, and ageing collectively can cause cardiovascular diseases.”
Diet, lifestyle, and exercise are the three main factors that regulate metabolism. So by working on these factors, you can avoid serious consequences of physical illness.
- Shift your lifestyle from sedentary to active one.
- Choose exercise that will increase your heart rate, particularly aerobic exercises.
- Choose wisely what is on your plate. Avoid processed food and prefer organic food that contains most of the nutritional components.
By practising the aforementioned strategies, you can enjoy good physical health. This will also reduce the risk of complex diseases. It is important to have a sound body because your mental abilities depend on your physical health.