Maintaining tip-top health doesn’t need to involve rigid rules or drastic changes to your daily routine. Rather, you can focus on making small, sustainable adjustments that align with your lifestyle and goals.
Once you’ve found out what works with you, it’s important to practice consistency. That said, maintaining good health and overall wellness isn’t about perfection — just progress. Listen to your body, be kind to yourself and celebrate your achievements along the way. With dedication and mindfulness, you can achieve long-lasting vitality and well-being without feeling overwhelmed or deprived.
For a bit of guidance, we’ve compiled our top health and wellness tips to help you enhance your daily health routine.
#1 Eat a Balanced Diet
They say you are what you eat. To that end, a diet that’s dense in fats, sugars and refined or processed carbohydrates can lead to weight gain, unhealthy blood sugar levels and an increased risk of heart problems.
As such, it’s important to incorporate plenty of healthy foods into your meals to support your overall health and wellness. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provides a bit of insight on this subject. According to their research, a healthy, well-balanced meal includes:
- Vegetables and fruits – Half of your plate should include vitamin- and mineral-dense fruits and vegetables. They’re low in calories and high in fiber, too, helping to increase satiety and support healthy digestion and weight management.
- Whole grains– Whole grains, such as whole wheat, barley, quinoa, oats and brown rice, should comprise one-fourth of your plate. These foods contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to support healthy cholesterol levels, weight management and cardiovascular health.
- Protein – Fish, poultry, beans and nuts are protein-rich options that should make up the last one-fourth of your plate. These types of food can help increase satiety and reduce appetite throughout the day. They’re also critical to muscle growth and development, as well as heart health and blood sugar regulation.
You can also incorporate healthy plant oils in moderation. These include olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower and peanut oils, which can help to support heart, brain and skin health.
Lastly, drink plenty of water and eat water-dense fruits and vegetables. This can help to support various bodily functions, such as:
- Regulating body temperature
- Aiding digestion
- Transporting nutrients
- Flushing out toxins
#2 Exercise Regularly
Exercise is extremely important to your overall wellness and vitality. Specifically, the health benefits daily movement can provide are:
- Brain health– Regular exercise enhances cognitive function, promotes neuroplasticity and reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline. It can improve memory, concentration and problem-solving skills, too.
- Weight management – Exercise helps burn calories, build muscle and boost metabolism, making it essential for weight loss and weight maintenance. It also reduces visceral fat, the harmful fat stored around internal organs that can negatively impact your overall health.
- Cardiovascular vitality– Regular physical activity strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels to support overall health and longevity.
- Muscle and bone strength – Weight-bearing exercises like strength training and resistance training help build and maintain muscle mass and bone density and may reduce the risk of injury later in life.
- Sleep quality– Regular exercise can improve sleep quality, duration and quickness of falling asleep by promoting relaxation, reducing stress and regulating the sleep-wake cycle. That said, it's essential to avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime, as it may interfere with your ability to fall asleep.
- Mental health – Exercise releases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that act as natural mood lifters and may reduce feelings of stress or sadness. Exercise can also provide a sense of accomplishment, thereby boosting self-esteem. In other cases, participating in exercise classes or having a gym buddy can increase social interaction, which can also contribute to improved mental wellness.
#3 Get a Restful Sleep
Sleep is a critical time when the body can rest, repair and recharge. Specifically, during rest, the body undergoes essential processes, including:
- Tissue repair
- Memory consolidation
- Immune function
- Toxin cleansing
- Mood regulation
- Metabolic regulation
- Hormone production
- Cardiovascular maintenance
Conversely, poor sleep in the long term can contribute to various health problems, such as:
- Memory problems – Poor sleep can impair cognitive function and memory consolidation, leading to difficulties with learning, memory recall and problem-solving.
- Heart issues – Poor sleep can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, leading to an imbalance in stress hormones. Over time, these factors can contribute to the development of heart-related health problems.
- Weight gain – Sleep deprivation can disrupt the balance of hunger hormones, increasing appetite and cravings for high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich foods. Additionally, poor sleep can affect metabolism and energy expenditure, making it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight over time.
- Unhealthy blood sugar levels – Inadequate sleep may disrupt the body's ability to regulate the breakdown of glucose, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
#4 Incorporate Natural Solutions
Several natural, plant-based supplements may help improve overall health and vitality. These include:
- Turmeric– Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin that may help support brain and heart health, as well as decrease physical aches.
- Ginger – Ginger can help to relieve gastrointestinal distress, support weight loss efforts, ease aches, improve heart health and regulate immune functions.
- Shiitake mushrooms – These mushrooms can help regulate cholesterol levels in the body, as well as immune function.
- Lavender – Studies show that lavender has a calming effect which can help to relieve stress symptoms and relax the body.
- Mint– Mint can help regulate digestion and reduce gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Magnesium – Magnesium plays an essential role in bone health, as well as nerve and muscle function. Magnesium-rich foods include spinach, almonds, avocado and dark chocolate.
- CBD – CBD is a cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant that can interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to maintain homeostasis and regulate various processes, such as sleep, appetite, mood, memory and reproduction. Learn more about the main CBD oil benefits, as well as the different types of CBD to choose the best product for your specific wellness needs.
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To support your overall health, it’s essential to prioritize a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep. What’s more, to supplement your health routine, you can turn to natural solutions, such as CBD.
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Sources:
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Healthy Eating Plate. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/
- NHS. Eating a balanced diet. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/
- CDC. Benefits of Physical Activity. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Health Risks of Poor Sleep. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/health-risks-of-poor-sleep
- Healthline. 9 Home Remedies Backed by Science. https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies
- Healthline. Endocannabinoid System. https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system