Your lifestyle goes a long way to determining the state of your immune system. Therefore, incorporating exercise and healthy eating into your daily routine is essential. However, reports indicate that about half of the UK’s population has a long-standing health problem requiring careful management. It all starts with knowing the daily habits sabotaging your health, including those listed below.
- Overeating
The foods you consume will provide your body with energy and strengthen your immune system. However, the latter’s role will depend largely on the type of foods you eat. A balanced diet will do the job of providing adequate nutrition. On the other hand, junk food only satiates your hunger and provides energy but often has little or no beneficial nutrients. The key to a good diet is remembering that moderation is vital. Your stomach can only contain enough food at a time; therefore, going beyond its normal capacity may cause discomfort. That can lead to nausea and a slowing down of your normal metabolism. The main problem, however, is that excess food, when digested, will be stored as fat in your body. The extra calories are kept in the body for later use, and if you don’t exercise regularly, you gain excessive weight. That may also increase the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and certain types of cancer. It is, therefore, better to eat in moderation.
- Vaping
As more people become aware of the dangerous side effects of nicotine in cigarettes and cigars, e-cigarettes and vaping became alternative smoking forms. That is due to the belief that they contain no nicotine and therefore are less harmful. On the contrary, vaping is bad for your teeth because it contains heavy metals and other harmful compounds. Although the nicotine element is not as much as traditional cigarettes, consistent use can cause dental problems that need a dentist’s attention. Meanwhile, reports indicate that vaping has an acute toxicity level, meaning it takes longer to experience the side effects. So, if you are used to vaping daily, or a few times a week, your exposure to toxic elements is almost three times higher than traditional cigarettes. For many people, especially the younger generation, vaping has become a status symbol, influencing the trend. However, knowing the effects on your health will help you take proactive measures to reduce how often you vape.
- Poor fibre intake
Studies reveal that less than half of the UK population gets enough fibre in their diet. According to nutritionists, women need a daily requirement of 25g, while men must consume 38g of fibre daily. The difference is due to the distinct ways both genders metabolise fibre in the digestive tract. Men need more because they have a higher energy burn rate than women. Fibre promotes healthy gut bacteria function and is crucial in ensuring better absorption of nutrients. Another benefit you derive from increased fibre intake is better weight management. In other words, fibre-rich foods keep you fuller for longer, limiting the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. Moreover, getting rid of high cholesterol problems is easier if your fibre consumption is higher. That’s because fibre soaks up and excretes excess cholesterol from the blood.
You can strive for a perfect health status if you reconsider your daily habits. Thankfully, it may not be too late to start working toward better health.
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