Like so many other systems in America, the health care system has failed the people. While there are still some wonderful doctors, nurses and other medical professionals out there, the system itself is flawed by design. Without digressing too much, anyone who does basic research will discover a strong link of corruption between pharmaceutical companies and the medical industry. In short, the sicker you are you and the sicker you stay, the more money they make. Alright, ” ‘Nuff said.” The bottom line is that more people would avoid serious infections and illness if they could improve their overall health. More people would recover more quickly when ill, as well. That’s why today, I’m sharing six good health tips for you to carry into the new year ahead.
These good health tips are beneficial to your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health. In short, if you incorporate them as habits into your daily lifestyle, you’ll be “living your best life.” Not only will you have a stronger immune system and improved cognitive ability, you won’t be as much at risk for complications if you contract an infection or illness. The good news is that these ideas are not complex. They’re easy to implement. In fact, the key component is your own diligence. If you make these helpful habits a priority, you will be healthier in 2022 than you are right now!
Make proper hydration one of your key good health tips next year
Many people walk around in a state of chronic dehydration. I myself tend to be on top of it all during the summer, when increased activity makes me thirstier than usual. In winter, however, I have to focus on proper hydration and make an effort to drink enough water each day. If you lack energy, feel irritable, faint or confused a lot of the time, you might be chronically dehydrated. In fact, drinking an adequate amount of water every day is the easiest way to boost your energy.
It’s important to note that the only way to attain proper hydration is to drink water. You cannot drink soda, alcohol or other beverages and expect it to have the same effect on your body as water. Some of those products actually cause DE-hydration! Our bodies are approximately two-thirds water. When you drink water, it helps lubricate your joints. It also helps regulate your body temperature. Especially if you’re in a hot climate or have been ill with vomiting or diarrhea, you’re at great risk for dehydration. The following list provides suggestions for developing better hydration habits:
- Carry water with you at all times.
- Order water as a beverage when eating out.
- Replace bad drinking habits (soda or energy drinks) with water.
- Add fresh fruit to flavor plain water, making it more appetizing.
- If you need fizz, opt for sparkling water over soda.
- Use an app on your cell phone to ensure you are getting a sufficient amount of hydration per day.
You’ll be surprised at how your body benefits from drinking more water. The health of your hair and skin will improve. You’ll feel more energetic. And, guess what? You might even lose weight! When you’re not properly hydrated, your body automatically tries to retain fluid, which increases your body weight.
Better food choices need to be part of your 2022 good health tips
Americans are some of the most unhealthy people on the planet. The drug of choice in this country is processed sugar. Studies have proven that sugar addiction is often stronger than addiction to cocaine! Just think about that for a minute! If that doesn’t prompt you to raid your pantry and fridge to get rid of foods that are high in sugar, I don’t know what will. In addition to drinking enough water every day, if you were to make one change in your health habits in 2022, stop eating junk.
Remember that it’s not just cookies, candy or ice cream that are high in sugar. Things like boxed cereals, crackers and other dry goods are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. These products are designed to make you want more! If Americans were to make a concerted effort to stop eating processed sugar foods, we’d see a reduction in heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other life-threatening ailments. Kicking a sugar habit can be difficult, especially if you love the taste of sweets. Consider eating more of the foods shown below as you work to incorporate good health habits into the year ahead:
- Pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds and other seeds or nuts
- Kale
- Spinach
- Raw fruits, especially blackberries and blueberries
- Raw vegetables, especially broccoli, avocado and celery
- Onions and garlic
- Kidney beans
- Chic peas
- Sprouts
You can basically improve your health by eating a fresh salad at least once per day! Many of the items included in this list can be combined in a salad. You’ll take good health to a whole new level if you grow some of these foods yourself, using non-GMO seeds!
Your body needs to move several times per day, every day
The third of our six good health tips today is to incorporate more whole-body movement into your daily life. If you want to join a gym or workout with a specific exercise routine at home, that’s great. But, it’s also fine if structured exercise is simply not your thing. Whole-body movement is a key to good health! Part of what has made Americans so unhealthy is that many have become sedentary. Everyone sits at computers all day and then sit for even longer periods while scrolling on cell phones in their free time.
An inactive lifestyle is disastrous to your health. Not only do you burn less calories and hold onto excess weight, you also lose muscle strength. Your immune system can’t work as well if you are sedentary most of the time. Poor blood circulation, hormonal imbalance and other problems arise if you’re not moving your body every day. In 2022, make it a goal to get more exercise. By “exercise,” I mean whole-body movement. You can take brisk walks, dance, run around the yard with your kids or dog, etc. An ideal routine would be to set aside at least three 15 to 30-minute breaks in an average day where you spend time moving enough to increase your heart rate.
After a day of moving, your body needs to rest
Improving your health in the new year ahead will be easier if you get more rest. Let’s get something straight here: Rest is quite different from being sedentary! You can actually “rest” and “be active” at the same time. To rest is to cease work in order to relax, refresh and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. A dangerous trend has gained a stronghold in our society in recent years. It’s become popular and “cool” to be “addicted to work.” People brag about how they are so busy that they can’t think straight. They say they never have time for family activities because their business is thriving and they work 24/7.
If you’re serious about getting healthier in 2022, keep a few things in mind:
- No job on earth is so important that you should work 24/7.
- You are not “thriving” if you can’t think straight.
- As it advises in the Scriptures, it’s best to “work to live” not “live to work.”
- How does business benefit you if you lose your family in the process?
Just as it’s important to move your body, to eat right and drink enough water each day, it’s equally import to get a sufficient amount of rest. In fact, if you rest enough, you’ll wind up being more (not less) productive in your work!
Take time to pray or meditate
When you take time to be still and quiet, you can combine several health tips. If you pray or meditate on a daily basis, you’re also getting rest during your quiet time. Many people have discovered the benefits of deep-breathing exercises during prayer and meditation time, as well. Deep-breathing exercises not only clear your mind, they stimulate your lymphatic system, which helps detoxify the body. A regular prayer/meditation/deep-breathing time can help decrease stress and relax muscles.
Some people prefer to keep things simple, such as sitting in a quiet location and reading the Bible. Others like to add incense, essential oils, candlelight or instrumental music to enhance their meditative mood. Maybe you like to write in a journal or simply share your thoughts with God. Taking time to pray or meditate, at least several times per week, has many health benefits!
Spending time in nature is essential to your good health
There’s a fancy word for “spending more time in nature to improve your health.” It’s called, “ecotherapy.” Being in nature is known to boost healing and is especially beneficial to mental health. It’s a fact! There are several styles of nature therapy than can help you strengthen your mind, body and spirit, including those shown on the following list:
- Spending time near moving water, such as a creek or river
- Being around animals and wildlife
- Observing insects, birds, flowers, plants, etc.
- Doing arts and crafts using items from nature
- Listening to sounds in the outdoors
It’s also a good idea to bring items from nature indoors, such as adding more live plants to your home interior. You can play “sounds of nature” in the background while you cook dinner or clean the house. However, while these are helpful health tips that can detoxify your home, improve air quality and create a peaceful atmosphere, they cannot fully replace being outdoors. Spending time in nature should be a main goal of the new year if you want to improve your health!
Keep a list of health tips on hand
Most of us could improve our health if we make a few lifestyle or dietary changes in the new year. Here’s a recap of the health tips we’ve covered in this post:
- Stay properly hydrated every day with water.
- Make healthier food choices.
- Incorporate whole-body movement into your daily lifestyle, several times per day to increase your heart rate.
- Take time to rest on a regular basis.
- Develop a regular habit of prayer or meditation.
- Spend a lot of time in nature.
Happy New Year to all of our readers! These health tips will hopefully serve as a foundation for you to strengthen your immune system and develop healthy habits for mind, body and soul in the year ahead.
