Our lifestyle choices play a MONUMENTAL role in our physical, mental, and emotional health! Poor lifestyle choices lead to increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and a multitude of other health issues.
Despite the well-known benefits of maintaining a healthy active lifestyle that includes regular exercise, eating a nutritious and wholesome balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol use, and NOT smoking... Only a small proportion of American adults follow this healthy lifestyle pattern. In fact, the numbers are declining.
FIVE HEALTHY ANTI AGING LIFESTYLE HABITS:
Exercise or Performing Some Type of Physical Activity at Least 12 Times Per Month
Consuming 5 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Daily
Maintaining a Healthy Weight (BMI between 18.5% and 29%)
Low to Moderate Alcohol Use
Not Smoking
Researchers from the Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, did 2 large scale studies of the US population from 1988-1994 and again from 2001-2006. In this 18 year span, the percentage of obese middle aged adults has seen an increase from 28% to 36%. That's an alarming increase when you consider that only 13% of the US population was considered obese in the 1960's.
According to the study, when it comes to physical activity, there was a 10% drop in the number of people who exercised 12 or more times per month, dropping from 53% to 43%. The number of people who eat the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables per day has decreased from 42% down to just 26%. Where as, alcohol use has increased 11% from 40% to 51%, and despite the well-known fact that tobacco use increases the risk of cancer, the percentage of the population that smokes did not change, staying at approx. 26%.
Sadly, the number of people who practice ALL 5 Healthy Anti Aging Lifestyle choices has decreased from 15% down to just 8%.
So, why are we seeing so many American's on this self-destructive path? One of the main reasons is our stressful, turbo-charged, fast paced lifestyles that contribute to our unhealthy society. We are a nation on overload!
People are so busy and moving so fast, we don't take the time to take care of ourselves! We often times turn to fast foods that are packed with sugar, sodium, and preservatives and then make excuses or just don't have the energy or time to exercise. This is exacerbated by many people turning to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes to try and relax or cope.
If that isn't bad enough, many people are not getting enough sleep which can contribute to a host of health problems, including obesity and depression. Depression often times leads to inactivity, drug, or alcohol abuse.
So, what can we do? First, we ALL need to slow down! We need to re-evaluate our lives and find a healthier balance. We need to start valuing ourselves as human being's and make our health a top priority and never take it for granted! It's time we take control of our lives and start treating our bodies as the amazing mechanisms that they are, with respect, compassion, and care!
Provide your body with good wholesome nutrition, exercise on a regular basis, take time to meditate, and find more positive ways to cope. If you're a smoker, STOP!!! Adopting healthy lifestyle habits will reduce your risk of premature death, obesity, as well as other chronic health problems.
Just remember...
It's Never Too Late To Get Healthy!!!
Amy
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