The best way for teenagers to stay fit and healthy

Teenagers are youngsters between 13 and 19 years of age. As teenage years are the
period that most of our growing occurs, it is of vital importance that teenagers stay fit
and healthy to facilitate the process.

In my opinion, the best way for juveniles to gain good health and fitness is through
having a balanced diet, an active lifestyle and a good night’s sleep.

Eating a balanced diet is a vital part of maintaining good health as it provides the
essential nutrients required for growth. Each of our meals should contain the 7
components of a balanced diet - carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, unsaturated fats,
protein, fibre and water - for optimal health. Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables,
nuts, grains, poultry and fish contribute to a balanced diet. Organic foods are better by
comparison with inorganic ones as the former are grown or farmed without the use of
artificial chemicals, hormones and antibiotics which can be detrimental to our health.
Since about 60 percent of our body is made up of water, consuming adequate water is
also an important factor. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water is the ideal amount for an
adolescent’s body to function well.

The human body is built for movement. If we lead a sedentary lifestyle, health
problems are prone to arise. Hence it is wise to exercise a few times a week for about
half an hour each session. Even doing domestic chores, which brightens your parents
up, is better than nothing at all. Cardiovascular exercise helps to strengthen our heart
and lungs while stretching reduces the risk of injury by increasing flexibility. Strength
training helps to strengthen our muscles. Other benefits of doing exercises include
preventing obesity and osteoporosis, improving blood circulation and combating
depression.

Sleep is crucial to our health because when we sleep, our body undergoes repair,
growth and detoxification. For instance, sleep is involved in the healing and repair of
our heart and blood vessels. As such, teenage boys and girls should get quality sleep
of about 9 hours each night. Sleep improves brain performance and therefore
teenagers with sufficient sleep tend to learn and memorize more effectively. Thus,
they also tend to perform better academically. Apart from that, sleep also helps to
prevent inflammation and obesity, spur creativity, reduce stress levels and boost our
immune system, among many other advantages. Therefore, it is important to cultivate
good sleep habits like going to bed at the same time every night and make sure that
your bedroom is dark and quiet when you go to sleep.

Although there are numerous other ways for teenagers to stay fit and healthy, the 3
factors mentioned above are some of the most effective, from my point of view.
Undeniably, teenagers today face more challenges and pressure. It is therefore
essential for them to realize the importance of staying fit and healthy in order to live
life to its fullest and tackle challenges and problems that come along with confidence.