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How to Maintain Your Health

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Updated: May 10, 2020 | References

Health is something that is easy to take for granted. When we start losing it, it's hard to
believe we spent so long not valuing it. To ensure that you stay as healthy as possible,
we've outlined a guide that should help you do just that -- detailing your physical,
mental, and emotional health. Why would you want to live any other way?

Part
1 Having a Healthy Diet

Emphasize fruits and veggies. A healthy diet is one that's full of

1 vitamins, nutrients, and color (well, in addition to being balanced). And
the easiest way to do this is through piling on the fruits and veggies. They're
nutrient dense but not calorically dense -- meaning you can eat bunches and
bunches without destroying your waistline and it's good for you. And, of
course, the fresher the better!
Most all fruits and veggies are good for you, but some are better for you
than others, arguably. If you really want to zero in on mother nature's
power, you'll add kale, spinach, carrots, celery, cranberries, blueberries,
and pineapple to next week's grocery cart.[1] That's every color of the
rainbow, too!

Add in lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains. As good
2 as fruits and veggies are, you need some other stuff in there to mix it up
and stay balanced. When you go for meat, dairy, or pasta, make sure you
choose lean meats, low-fat dairy, and whole grain pasta. That generally

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translates to white meat (without skin), low-fat or non-fat milk, cheese, and
yogurt and brown pasta, quinoa, and oats.
When it comes to grains, the browner the better. White grains shouldn't
really be in your diet. If it's white, it's been processed and all the nutrients
have been taken out. Then it's just empty carbs.

Cut out processed junk. If it's in a package, odds are it's not super good
3 for you. And if it's in a package that doesn't go old for years, that goes
double. Turns out the FDA doesn't even regulate all the stuff that goes into
them and your body doesn't regulate the additives, either! They're not even
recognized as food-like things. Your body just stores them away, not knowing
what to do with them. Gross.
The FDA doesn't regulate all labels, either. Words and phrases like "all
natural," "free-range," "additive free," and "pure" are just claims
companies can make without retribution. So if you're buying something
packaged that makes a claim that seems unfeasible...it's possible it is.

Drink up the H2O. If you're looking for a miracle on Earth, water is the
4 closest you'll probably get. Stay hydrated and just about every part of you
will stay healthy -- your skin, your hair and nails, your organs, and even your
mind. And you can lose weight, too! Studies show that you could lose 5 lbs in
a year by just upping your water intake around a liter a day.
Part of the reason behind the weight loss is that drinking water keeps you
full, but drinking cold water also ups your metabolism. In fact, drinking
cold water (17 ounces, to be precise) can up your metabolism by up to
30% for 10-40 minutes. So get icy with your workout and you could burn
even more calories.

Cook -- the right way. Since you're cutting out all that processed gunk,
5 you inevitably will find yourself in the kitchen more, finally putting your
passive Food Network viewership to good use. Cooking is great for your
budget, your skills, and your waistline, but here are a couple of things to keep
in mind:
If you can, go as raw as possible. Frozen and canned veggies are all
okay, but raw is so much better. None of the nutrients has been taken out
in the processing.
Use the right kind of oils, like olive or safflower. They're full of the good
kinds of fat. Do the same with cheeses, butters, and spreads -- try to find
a lighter version of their full-fat counterpart.
Avoid frying and battering your foods. Chicken is good for you, but not if
it's covered in bread crumbs, fried in fatty oil, and doused in sugary

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condiments.
Don't salt your foods! The American Heart Association recommends
keeping salt intake at under 1,500 mg a day. That sounds doable until you
realize that a teaspoon is 2,300 mg.[2] Oof.

Concentrate on healthy fats. We've already touched on it with cooking,

6 but there's even more to explore: fats are necessary (especially for your
hair to be shiny, your nails to be healthy, and your digestive system working
as normal), but unsaturated fats are much, much better for you than saturated
ones (that includes trans fats). Sources of good fats? Olive oil, avocado, and
nuts. All in moderation, of course.
These shouldn't be used in addition to the food you normally eat -- they
should be used as substitutes. So instead of sauteing up those veggies in
vegetable oil, trade it for olive. Instead of grabbing that candy bar, go for
a handful of almonds. They're still filling, but your body can process the
unsaturated fats much more efficiently.

Part
2 Having a Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise. There is no way around it: having a sedentary lifestyle is just

1 about the best way to drive your body into the ground. You have to stay
active in order to stay healthy. If you don't use your brain, you lose it -- and
same goes with your muscles! So whether you want to run 5ks for breakfast
or you just walk the dog every night, do something. Your body craves it.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity,
including some cardio and some strength-building activities.[3] That's 2
and a half hours, by the way. 2.5 hours out of 168. That's reasonable,
right? And the more vigorous your exercise, the less you need.
If you're overweight or obese, the only way you don't know that losing
weight is in your best interest is if you've been living under a rock that
doesn't get wifi. Even losing 10 pounds can make significant
improvements to your health.

Moderate your alcohol intake. And by that, we mean 1 drink a day for
2 women and 2 for men.[4] And no, that doesn't mean 7 in one day of the
week; you can't bank 'em, saving them for later. 1 or 2 drinks a day keeps you
healthy and, you know, not making stupid decisions. Be winning!

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And by "drink" we mean 1 12-ounce can of beer or 4 ounces of wine or

one ounce of hard liquor. And if the drink isn't super sugary, even better.

Quit smoking. You also probably know that smoking won't do your
3 health any favors either. And it takes a chunk out of your budget, too. And
it can harm those around you -- is that enough reasons for you? If health is
even of the least bit concern to you, quitting will be on your immediate
agenda.
And you don't have to wait decades for quitting to leave its mark, either.
20 minutes after you quit, your heart rate will drop. Minutes! A year after
quitting your risk of heart disease drops to half of what it was. Why wait a
second longer? Your body, your loved ones, and your wallet will thank
you in no time.

Go for regular physical check-ups. As we age, it becomes increasingly

4 more important that we are aware of our health, even if we aren't
experiencing symptoms of anything. It's in your best interest to regularly go to
the dentist and to the doctor, just to make sure you're in tip-top shape. When
all goes well, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
In addition to general check-ups with both the dentist and the doctor, be
tested for breast or prostate cancer and STDs regularly, and keep up-to-
date on your shots. The last thing you want is something sinister to be
festering in your body and you not doing a thing about it.
Those STD screenings will be a lot less scary if you practice safe sex.
If you're sexually active, use condoms. Just do it.

Have fun. Because all work and no play makes Jack a dull, sad,
5 unhealthy boy. They just cut out those last two adjectives to make it
sound more pleasing to the ear. But seriously: life needs a little fun or you're
working yourself into an early grave. And what's the point of living anyway if
you're not having any fun? So make it a point to set aside work and do
something you enjoy. All of life will seem better.
Take some time every day and devote it to yourself. Whether it's
meditating, reading, dancing around your living room naked, or going for
a walk, do it and relish it. You deserve it!

Stay active in small ways. Sometimes it's hard to get a workout in

6 between work, social gatherings, the kids, and commitments we make
that we can't get out of. When those busy times spring up, it's important to
find other ways to get moving. Even if it's just 2 extra minutes of exercise, it
adds up if you do it every day.

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Examples? Park far away from where you're going. Take the stairs
instead of the elevator. Do 5 minutes of core workouts before your
shower. Wash your car by hand. Take your date to the park. There are
opportunities everywhere if you get creative.

Part
3 Having a Healthy Mind

Keep mentally stimulated. The brain is very much so a muscle -- it can

1 get used to the paces you put it through. Put it in front of the television
day in and day out and it will atrophy. It'll become lazy. But keep it moving
and it'll stay fresh and raring for the next great adventure. So turn off the tube
and do something to challenge yourself. Chess anyone?
The Internet makes this so easy. Pull up Lumosity, a sudoku or crossword
puzzle, Memrise, Khan Academy, or Coursera (just to name a few
possibilities). There is very little you can't do with the computer you have
in front of you. So there are no excuses!

Destress. We talked about having fun before, but we didn't touch very
2 heavily on getting rid of stress, though the two definitely go hand in hand.
But on top of having fun, it's important to manage your stress levels. High-
stress individuals eat more, sleep less, and are generally less healthy on the
whole. Those hormone levels in your head affect just about everything!
The simplest thing you can do is to identify your triggers and not allow
them in your life, at least as much as possible. Then add yoga or
meditation on top of it and declutter your space. You're basically
organizing your life, making sense of it, and then never relinquishing
control.

Sleep. When we don't get adequate sleep at night, our entire lives are
3 affected. We can't focus, we can't pay attention, we eat more, our
hormones get all over the place, et cetera ad infinitum. We all need around 8
hours, but whether you need closer to 7 or 9 is an individual thing.
To make it easier, to get good quality sleep, start disconnecting sooner
rather than later -- hopefully 2 or 3 hours before you go to bed. So get off
the computer, stop staring at your cell phone, and hit "off" on that dang
remote control. Read, take a bath, or just chill with your family or
roommates. Live in the moment.

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Prioritize your social network. Being social to humans is like breathing.

4 If we don't get enough, our mental faculties suffer and we start losing our
grip on how life should be. So make time for your friends! Call up that family
member you haven't spoken to in forever. When you feel balanced, when you
feel like you're an integral part of a community, everything else falls into
place.
It's easy to get swamped with work or to just put work into your
relationship, but life is much more fruitful when you surround yourself with
a blooming social network. Make it a point to, every so often, have a night
with family or friends. It'll be a stress release and you'll have more people
to lean on when you need them -- a very, very comforting, healthy feeling.

Step outside your box. To keep your mind kicking, do something you've
5 never done before. Go to a city you've never been to. Pick up a sport
you've never played. Get creative if you haven't seen your artsy side in years.
Find a hobby that's always intrigued you but you've never gotten around to
and make time for it. You'll feel productive, you'll feel like you've
accomplished something, and, bottom line? You'll feel good. Just what the
doctor ordered.
Whether it's paragliding, taking a cooking class, or stepping into a big city
without a map, there will be something you gain from these new
experiences. Even if it's just a crazy story to tell!

Follow your passion. Really. Because at the end of the day, life without
6 passion isn't a healthy life. Everybody has a dream and even if you can't
make it something you're able to pursue 24/7, it can be something that has its
own little niche in your life. So spend Wednesday afternoon writing your book.
Take guitar lessons at the age of 45. Pack your bags and make that move.
You won't feel content without it.
Happiness is an integral part of being happy, and following your passion
is a good way to ensure that your happiness is here to stay. If it gives you
that warm feeling on the inside, it's meant to be. Never let your passions
fall by the wayside. They're there to keep your heart and mind happy and
healthy.

Community Q&A

Question

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Can I maintain my health without exercise?

Community Answer

If you have a job that keeps you active (or vigorous hobby such as sports or
dancing), then exercise may not be necessary. Otherwise, without use your
muscles will deteriorate, and you will lose flexibility and mobility. Your
cardiovascular system will be unused to strenuous activity, so when you do
have to push your body (shoveling, carrying groceries, running for the train,
etc.), you run a high risk of injury. And without some sort of routine activity,
your natural lifespan simply won't be as long.

Question

Why should I cut out junk food?

Community Answer

It's bad for your health. Junk food is high in fat, sodium, sugar, etc., and
these things can cause hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and all kinds
of other problems. It's okay to eat junk food every once in a while, just not all
the time.

Question

How do I gain weight and have a healthy body?

Community Answer

Follow the methods in Gain Weight Naturally.

Question

How much food should I eat at dinner to maintain my health?

Community Answer

Eat until you are comfortably full. While eating, choose healthy food like
fruits, veggies and lean meats. If you do this, you will maintain your health

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through sensible eating habits.

Tips

Try to plan out meals ahead of time. Prepackage snacks so when you go for
a nibble, it's just a nibble.

Never go to the grocery store when you're starving!

No matter what setbacks you may encounter, continually stay motivated to

the best of your ability.

References

1. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/19/juice-cleanses_n_3624797.html
2. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTr
eatmentofHighBloodPressure/Shaking-the-Salt-Habit_UCM_303241_Article.jsp
3. http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html
4. http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/heal
thy-living/what-you-can-do-to-maintain-your-health.html
5. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mental-strain-helps-maintain-a-healthy-brai
n-201211055495
6. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/

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