The benefits of living a healthy lifestyle are practically endless. By eating a balanced, nutritious diet, exercising regularly, practicing stress reduction techniques and getting enough rest, it will not only help you live longer, it can help you to enjoy a higher quality of life and increase your happiness quotient as well.
The “progress” of our modern world has made living a healthy lifestyle more of a challenge with processed foods often cheaper and more readily available than healthier ones.
In addition to the lack of time for being active combined with working in a sedentary job, it’s easy for one to make excuses for not being healthy, but in the long run the reward is well worth the effort it takes.
Here is a look at some of the reasons being healthy really does matter:
Better mental health
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in four, or a little over 26 percent of Americans are suffering from a diagnosable mental health disorder. Depression is the most common, with nearly seven percent developing a depressive disorder in any given year.
Numerous studies have found that eating a nutrient-rich diet can reduce the risk of depression and anxiety as well as negative symptoms associated with conditions like ADHD.
It helps to activate and release the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which in turn help boost mood. Exercising releases endorphins, which are known to help improve one’s mood and alleviate symptoms of depression or sadness.
Your state of mental health and happiness play an important role in the quality of your life.
Preventing disease and Illness
A healthier lifestyle not only offers long-term benefits— like the prevention of serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes—it can also alleviate symptoms of chronic illness in the short term.
A nutritious diet and regular exercise can help prevent one from developing debilitating conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, digestive disorders, and immune-mediated illness, or even eliminate their symptoms in those who have already been diagnosed.
More energy and vitality
Being healthy doesn’t just mean not being ill. A healthy body and mind will reward you with higher energy levels and strength. Exercise doesn’t zap energy, in fact even low-intensity exercise is said to decrease fatigue by 65 percent, while boosting energy levels as much as 20 percent. Eating healthy also helps to boost energy levels, which allows one to participate in more activities and accomplish daily tasks.
A healthy lifestyle can positively transform well-being, making one feel renewed, reenergized and ready to take on life’s challenges and better enjoy the good things in life.
Improving Appearance
A healthy lifestyle not only improves us on the inside, it’s essential for maintaining a more youthful, attractive appearance. A nutritious diet helps to support healthier hair, skin and nails, and also helps prevent the damage of free radicals that are involved in the aging process.
There is no pill or surgical procedure that can replace the many positive effects of healthy living. While it may seem like a lot of work to make these changes in your life, by making the effort you’ll soon realize that healthier habits are just as easy to develop as bad ones—and offer a wealth of rewards that money can’t buy.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml
http://www.livestrong.com/article/370474-reasons-to-live-a-healthy-lifestyle