Introduction
Most people take good health for granted. They assume that if they just eat a balanced diet, get plenty of exercise, and avoid smoking, they’ll be fine. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Says Wade Kricken even if you’re doing all these things now, there are other habits that could be slowly destroying your health without you realizing it—and you might not even know what they are! Here are five habits that can seriously harm your body.
Being overweight
Being overweight is no joke. It can lead to a host of health problems, including obesity and heart disease. In fact, being overweight may be one of the leading causes of death in America today.
Here’s why: When you carry excess weight around your waistline, you increase your risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes and certain cancers by as much as 40%. And by losing belly fat alone—even if other areas remain the same—you can significantly lower that chance of suffering from heart disease or stroke.
One way to lose belly fat is by following a diet that’s high in protein and low in refined carbs such as sugar, white breads and pasta. You should also avoid red meats; instead opt for lean proteins such as salmon or chicken breasts with vegetables (try our recipe for Chicken Parmesan Casserole).
Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
You can’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. In fact, you should aim to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day—a serving is the size of your fist. There are so many different types of fruits and vegetables, it’s easy to find new ones to try each week, so don’t get bored with eating the same ones over and over again.
Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health. A lot of people know this, but they don’t understand the true extent of the damage. Smoking is a major cause of preventable death: it can lead to lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Smoking also affects your fertility and causes premature aging of your skin. This habit has been linked with a host of other problems including osteoporosis and impotence in men (and decreased libido in women).
The good news is that there are many ways to help yourself quit smoking once and for all!
Not exercising enough
If you’re not exercising enough, it’s time to get moving.
- Exercise is important for keeping your heart healthy, as well as maintaining a healthy body weight.
- Exercise can help you sleep better and feel happier. You may also notice that your mood improves after a good workout.
- It can even help you look younger! A study by the University of California found that people who exercised regularly had younger-looking skin than those who didn’t exercise much at all—even when their age was taken into consideration!
Drinking too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to addiction and health problems. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your brain, which causes you to lose control of your actions. When you drink, you may do things that aren’t in the best interest of your physical or mental health (such as driving drunk). Alcohol is also associated with liver disease and heart disease, which are some of the leading causes of death worldwide.
While drinking in moderation may improve your life by reducing stress and improving social interactions, excessive consumption can have negative effects on both mental health and physical well-being.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to improve your health, these are the five things you should start doing today. Each of them is important and has a direct impact on your well-being
