How healthy would you say you are? In truth, most of us might be able to say that we’re healthy – but that we could also be a bit healthier.
While researchers are finding ways of treating cancer more effectively than ever before, as well as managing heart disease and diabetes, there are preventative measures we can all take that reduce our risk of developing such debilitating diseases in the first place.
However, how many of us are making the right changes in our lives that will minimize our risk?
If you’re wondering, whether or not you’re doing the right things, and whether perhaps you could be doing a bit more to improve your health, here are 5 questions to assess your current health:
1 – How Active Am I?
Are you the kind of person who hits the gym at least two or three times a week after or before work? Or do you prefer to head straight home, drop in front of the television and pig out on nachos? After all, it’s been a long day!
Being active doesn’t mean that you workout. A person who calls himself or herself active might take a walk every day, play sports once or twice a week, or perhaps they have a job that is physically demanding.
A sedentary person, on the other hand, is the type of person who spends most of their time sitting down, both at home and at work and this type of lifestyle is hugely unhealthy.
Being active offers plenty of health benefits. Indeed, if ever there existed a magic bullet for getting healthier, this is it. Something as simple as a short evening walk each day dramatically cuts your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
2 – Do I Make Annual Trips to the Doctor?
There is no point obsessing over every little thing and visiting the doctor each week. Likewise, you also shouldn’t avoid the doctor for years on end just because you feel perfectly fine.
Self-assessments when it comes to your health are flawed. To find out how healthy you really are, it’s very important to get yearly check-ups and age and gender appropriate medical screenings because prevention is worth a thousand cures! Ask your doctor today!
3 – Do I Eat Enough Micronutrients?
So many of us are the heavyweight champions of the world when it comes to getting our fill of macronutrients, such as fats, carbs, and protein. However, are you getting enough micronutrients through your diet?
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals essential for a healthier, longer lasting life. They include vitamins, minerals, zinc, potassium, antioxidants and other key nutritional elements that reduce your risk of developing debilitating diseases, while promoting energy, healthy skin, enhanced cell repair, and healthy internal body processes.
If you haven’t even heard of the likes of potassium, zinc, and manganese, now is the time to rethink your diet. The best source of micronutrients is fruit and vegetables.
4 – How Much Do I Weigh?
The average male is considered to be overweight if he weighs 174 pound, and obese if he weighs over 209 pounds. A woman who weighs more than 174 pounds, meanwhile, is considered to be obese.
Obesity is an alarming cultural problem that is showing no signs of slowing down. Losing weight and preventing it from returning is difficult, but it’s important that you assess how heavy you are, and whether or not you should take steps to lose a few pounds.
People who are obese have a poorer quality of life, and they reduce their life expectancy by three years. People who are morbidly obese reduce it by up to ten years.
5 – What Bad Habits Do I Have?
This question is not something people enjoy asking, often because they don’t want to admit the answer. However, while bad habits, such as smoking and drinking, make you feel good temporarily, reduce stress, and give you something to do with friends, they could be worsening your health dramatically.
While you don’t need to cut out everything altogether, it’s worth asking yourself whether you’re drinking too alcohol, smoking cigarettes or eating too much junk food.
While you don’t need to cut out all alcohol or junk food altogether, it’s worth asking yourself whether you need to cut down and practice moderation. You should definitely consider quitting smoking.
