Here are some simple and easy to implement tips for a healthy body and mind. The reasoning behind this post is that we can get too specific when focusing on improved health – make your habits better in general and improve the bigger picture rather than focusing on the minutia.

1. Sleep – probably one of the most underrated and easily forgotten ways to stay healthy! Getting a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night on a fairly consistent basis is key to keep your body strong and healthy. A few hours of lost sleep a week can lead to weight gain –

Losing just a few hours of sleep a few nights in a row can lead to almost immediate weight gain. Even though we burn more calories when we stay awake, losing sleep is not a good way to lose weight. The light sleepers ended up eating far more than those who got nine hours of sleep, and by the end of the first week the sleep-deprived subjects had gained an average of about two pounds. NYT Well

2. Keep Moving – and spend more time on your feet. Simply exercising for a few hours a week in an artificial environment (note to gym rats) and spending the rest of your time sedentary will not do the job for general health. Our bodies respond well when it comes to movement in general.

the two most essential things are walking and stretching – neither are to be obsessed over but if you can fit in at least 20 minutes of walking everyday and start or end your day with a good total body stretch out you are on the right path. fundamentals

3. Eat What Digests Well – this is something new and what I have found works over the past few years. Eat what your body agrees with! Sometimes this is more refined food, sometimes it’s lots of fruits and starches and little meat. Other times it is the opposite. We are all different and respond well to different diets but over time you should be able to learn basic choices that make you feel good and stick to those, while avoiding things that you don’t digest well or agree with in one way or another.

This may sounds ambiguous but it is something we must learn ourselves. Certain premises still apply… but in general we all pickup and learn things about our bodies. Make use of this knowledge and adapt your diet accordingly!

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