RIGHT HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE CHOICES
1. Prefer a cool morning shower over a
hot bath
·
Unless
you have a specific skin ailment like eczema, there is no evidence to support
that hot water and additives in soaps dehydrate the skin.
·
Dermatologists
say that cool showers are more refreshing in the morning.
·
Leave
a hot, soapy bath for the evening, as the drop in body temperature thereafter tells
your body it’s time for sleep.
2. Use ice bag for injury instead of a
hot pad
·
The
most effective initial treatment for soft tissue injuries is the RICER regimen:
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Referral for medical treatment.
·
Apply
ice, if possible, in a plastic bag and dab with a damp towel.
·
Do
this in 20-minute periods every 2 hours, for the first 48-72 hours.
·
The
elderly, children and those with circulatory problems may be sensitive to the
cold.
3. Munch a chewing gum instead of mint
·
Mints
can cause extensive decay, usually around the gum margins where it is difficult
to fix.
·
If
you want to freshen up your breath, it’s better to use mouthwash or chew a
sugar-free gum.
4. Prefer an electric toothbrush over
a manual one
·
Electric
toothbrushes with rotating, oscillating heads have been proven to remove 17%
more plaque than manual brushes.
·
However,
whatever brush you choose to use, your brushing technique is what’s important.
·
Circular
motion to cover the surface of your teeth is better than side-to-side strokes.
5. Power walking scores over running
·
Power
walking ticks all the boxes.
·
Although
running burns around 30% more calories, most people can’t run as far as they
can walk.
·
It
is also high impact, and you can’t run within a few hours of eating, but can go
on a power walk.
·
Walking
as fast as you can while pumping your arms is not only a great cardiovascular
exercise, it doesn’t require as much energy either.
6. Calm down instead of yelling
·
Count
to 10, is the advice of psychiatrists.
·
It
is always better to calm down, reflect on why you’re angry and think about how
you can resolve the issue.
·
If
you blow your top, the person you are angry at will become defensive and you
won’t solve anything.
·
But
you must take resolute remedial action, because burying your anger is bad for
your health too.
7. Eat green olives instead of black
ones
·
Green
olives haven’t ripened fully so they contain roughly half the fat than ripened
black olives.
8. Prefer floss over mouthwash for
plaque
·
Cleaning
between teeth with floss removes the sticky plaque that tooth brushing alone
cannot reach.
·
While
mouthwashes can be helpful to disguise bad breath, they have limited dental
health benefits.
·
So,
go buy some floss thread now.
9. Do exercises in the morning instead
of evening
·
Studies
show that people who do morning exercises are far more likely to stick with it.
·
You’re
also more likely to have a healthier day – from the food choices you make to
how you feel mentally because of the endorphins flowing throughout your body.
·
While
exercise helps you sleep better, working out too late in the evening will
actually disrupt your sleep.
·
It
is better to go for a relaxed, late evening walk, instead.
10. Go for a tape measure instead of a
weighing scale
·
The
circumference of your waist is a better predictor of heart disease risk than
your body mass index.
·
Belly
fat, and not the fat on the thighs or bottom, poses the most danger to your
heart and arteries.
·
Research
shows that for women the risk begins to rise with a waist circumference of more
than 32 inches.
·
More
than 35 inches is a serious threat.
·
For
men, it is 37 inches and 40 inches respectively.
11. Prefer tea over coffee
·
Black
tea usually has far less caffeine than coffee, while green tea is also packed
with heart-healthy antioxidants.
·
Coffee
acts a bit like rocket fuel, kick-starting the adrenal glands and triggering
the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
·
It
is not the best start to the day.