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In fact, health is the greatest asset one can own, second to none. Our mind and soul, and all our intellect, is housed by our body. Some scientists and researchers go to the extent of claiming that we’re nothing but our brains and that our body is nothing more than a vehicle for the brain.
When this vehicle takes a bad shape, it has a direct impact on the mind as well. Therefore, it is imperative that we take good care of our bodies so that we can continue living life to the fullest.
How does living healthy improve the quality of life?
Healthy living contributes largely to various aspects of life. It plays a significant role in shaping the health of your vital systems. The vital systems like digestion, respiration, reproduction, and the nervous system all rely on the diet and lifestyle that you subject your body to.
An optimally functioning mind and body enable one to lead a healthy, fulfilling life. Such a body appears healthy and fit on the outside too. It improves both the mental and physical performance of an individual which eventually translates into a more fruitful, enjoyable, fulfilling life.
Factors that count as an unhealthy lifestyle :
Multiple varied lifestyle practices fall under the category of unhealthy habits. However, not all of them will shorten one’s life expectancy or cause hindrance in smooth living. But all these habits do have serious repercussions in the long run.
Some of them are as listed below:
1. Leading a sedentary life:
Sitting for too long takes a heavy toll on the spine health as well as the joints and muscles. The better alternative is to indulge in vigorous physical exercise once a day and also stay as physically active as possible.
2. Consuming too much alcohol:
Alcohol is extremely bad news for your liver. And the liver is one of the most important vital organs of the digestive system. It secretes enzymes and digestive juices that are imperative for the smooth metabolism of food. Therefore, avoid consuming alcohol completely in order to keep your digestion and metabolism processes in good shape.
3. Extreme stress and anxiety:
Being highly stressed and anxious is not healthy neither for your mind nor the body. The solution to high levels of stress and worry is to practice meditation. Meditative techniques help lower stress, relax the muscles and nerves, and calm down the senses so that your body can function better with time.
4. Irregular circadian rhythm:
Unhealthy sleeping habits are never good for your mind and body. Make it a point to sleep for at least 8 hours each day. Our body rejuvenates and repairs itself when we sleep. Hence, it is important to give it the due time to rest and recuperate so that we can live a long, healthy life.
5. Unhealthy dietary habits:
This is, by far, the most important aspect of the lot. Our food is fuel for the body. It is important to consume foods high in vitamin C, minerals, protein, carbs, and fats for proper growth and development of the body.
Constantly eating junk food can cause your health to plummet thereby reducing your life expectancy by a large margin. Hence, it is important to feed your body with a balanced diet that includes all essential nutrients. These will help your body function smoothly and last longer in the years to come.
Why should one have good lifestyle habits?
These lifestyle habits can be curbed with a strong will and determination to change your life around for the best. Having a good lifestyle devoid of the above-mentioned habits not only keeps your physical health in check but also plays a huge role in positively impacting your mental health.
A good lifestyle improves memory retention, boosts concentration abilities, increases productivity, and opens up new doors of opportunity in both one’s personal and professional life. Not only that, a good lifestyle gives you a good physique in addition to improving your health for the best. It imparts a toned, fitter look which, in turn, boosts your self-confidence in the long run.
Staying hydrated is also equally important. But drinking too much water beyond the ideal recommendation, drinking water in between meals, and not consuming electrolytes are the most common hydration mistakes that we need to refrain from.
Does an unhealthy lifestyle shorten your lifespan?
Short answer, yes. Long answer, no.
An unhealthy lifestyle is one of the major drawbacks that pull down one’s life expectancy. Instead of leading a healthy, long life, one is subjected to harsh, serious disorders as a direct result of their unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Therefore, health professionals and even the common men always endorse a suitable and appropriate lifestyle to prevent the possibility of downgrading our own health. We only have one body. It is our only home that houses our mind and soul. And we cannot afford to violate it.
However, exceptions do occur. Even if one leads an extremely harmful lifestyle, they can get away with not falling prey to any health disorders. The genetic makeup of an individual, their diet, cultural practices, and mental health conditions also play a huge role in keeping their health in shape even if one’s lifestyle habits are not the best.
Summing it up:
In conclusion, nothing is guaranteed. But we go by the evidence that supports the most possible and logical outcome. It could be a matter of sheer luck that someone was able to survive a degrading lifestyle while someone else didn’t manage a long life even with the healthiest of habits.
There have been cases in which people who are extremely careful and cautious of their lifestyle habits succumb to health issues while people who let go of control over their health live long, peaceful lives. In other words, living a healthy life by adopting good lifestyle practices does increase the possibility of a longer, healthier life. But it doesn’t promise one.
Similarly, an unhealthy lifestyle might shorten your lifespan but not necessarily so since other factors also come into play. People with strong genes, good mental health, and a robust genetic makeup can withstand the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle in the long run.
