Thursday, February 2, 2012

7 ways to add years to your life


Who doesn't want to live long and prosper? We all do. But, a much more serious question emerges: Is it possible to add years to your life - quality years - via simple lifestyle habits?

We think we've cracked the code. The key lies in following a few simple lifestyle modifications and enjoying life to the fullest. Read on to know about these top 7 lifestyle changes which will add healthy and fruitful years to your life.

Know and control cholesterol levels. The word cholesterol itself conjures up images of blocked arteries and by-pass surgeries. One of the first things we learn in our tending-to-obesity, fattening-foods-ingesting world is that we need to reduce the levels of cholesterol we are normally susceptible to. Get yours checked if you are above your average weight and stay away from this modern deadly condition.

Getting your health check up done. The importance of regular medical checkups is highlighted only when you encounter an unexpected health problem. Isn't it better to be safer than to be sorry later? And medical check ups help you do just that. Irrespective of your age, getting a medical checkup must be priority especially if you are overweight, smoke or drink to excess. These are simple annual medical tests which can be done under your doctor's supervision.

Know and control blood pressure. Hypertension, more commonly called high blood pressure, is a common complaint among men and women alike. It is a commonly seen health condition among people who are obese, often stressed or anxious, alcoholics, diabetics or smokers. There are no stark symptoms of high blood pressure, thus it mostly goes unnoticed. But it is important to get your blood pressure checked once in 3 months as it is often linked to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney diseases.

Avoid overeating. When one loves food to the point of distraction, the line between eating and over-eating is usually blurred by all the good food in the horizon...That avoiding over-eating is a good strategy toward weight loss is no rocket science; however, it's always a challenge for the foodies amongst us to say no to good food. Follow some cheats and tricks for avoiding overeating so that you can lose weight without sabotaging your diet plans.

Manage diabetes. If you think that diabetes is an old man's disease and you are perfectly safe from it, then we beg you to think again. Diabetes is the number one consequence of being overweight, over stressed and following poor lifestyle choices. It can happen to someone who is as young as 20 years old. This silent disease could even run in families. However, doctors say that type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) can be prevented by following a proper lifestyle which includes exercising regularly, reducing stress, eating healthy and getting checked for it on a timely basis.

Be tobacco free. Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2 to 4 times and affects other major organs in the body as well. In India 35% of people use tobacco and not only increase their own health risk factors but also affect their near and dear ones. By reducing risk factors like smoking, 80% of premature deaths due to cardiovascular problems can be avoided. Not only that, you can improve your overall health, looks and fitness levels. Here's how to quit smoking in exactly 30 days.

Cook healthy. If you think that you are slowly losing your battle against unhealthy foods and snacks like deep fried wafers and cookies, it's about time you learnt the basics of healthy cooking methods and tricks, along with healthy eating habits that will serve you well in the long run. The most effective way to manage your weight is through healthy cooking and healthy home cooked meals.

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