Lifestyle changes are never easy.

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When making choices and planning a new health routine, the sheer amount of contrasting information available online can be overwhelming. While one website might recommend a specific diet and exercise plan, another source can point you in the opposite direction.

The truth is that there is no perfect method to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Everyone reacts differently to food, exercise, hobbies, and treatment. The most important factor is to implement changes that work well for you.

Without having to commit fully to a lifestyle overhaul, there are some natural health habits that can work wonders for your mental and physical well-being. With this in mind, here are five natural health tips that can help to improve your life.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels.

Avoid added sugars

Most people are aware that sugar is not good for your health. Added sugars are particularly bad as they undergo artificial processing. High sugar intake can lead to serious illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and several forms of cancer.

What you might not be aware of is that sugary drinks are extremely unhealthy. The body processes liquids differently to food, causing you to consume more calories. Many people swap soda for fruit juice, thinking it as a healthy alternative. Beware that certain juices contain as much sugar as soda and don’t hold the natural fibers necessary to break down these sugars. This is just one example that added sugars might be sneaking into your diet that you don’t even realize. There are also added sugars to snack items that are actually savory. Always be on the lookout for high fructose corn syrup in the ingredient list and how much carbohydrates are in what you are eating. Carbohydrate is a type of nutrient that turns into sugar. Oh, that sneaky sneaky sugar!

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Work on your cardiovascular health

Regular amounts of moderate exercise can have positive effects on your health. By moving your body frequently, you can get rid of excess body fat and harmful build-up around your internal organs. Find a physical hobby that you enjoy and improve your cardiovascular health.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, or follow my Instagram account, you know my favorite exercises are hiking and rock climbing. I used to be able to force myself to be on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day but really prefer getting out in nature or hanging from a rope 2 stories up. I should have been a stunt woman and still don’t know why in the world I didn’t take that career path. I mean who doesn’t want to get paid to drive way to fast, blow stuff up, and create controlled crashes. Anywhooo, some other benefits you will notice from cardiovascular health include increased cognitive function, mood boosts, and a better-looking body. Get ready to hear, “Hey, you hottie!” from strangers, or strange people. ha!

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Prayer and Self Care

Prayer is an effective method to feeling peaceful. In a world in which we are constantly stimulated and engaged by some form of technology, it’s important to be able to turn your focus from the stress of your world – even if it’s stress that happens with good events. Like having a baby is an amazing thing but Mommas you need to give yourself a break, and take time to pray by yourself. Or maybe you are moving into a new place which can be a huge blessing. But if you are packing up your things and overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to do, allow yourself to take breaks after packing a certain amount of boxes.

Daily living is also a huge blessing, but be sure to include downtown in your day to regroup your thoughts, goals, or emotions that you have. Write these in a planner or journal. Pray about them. Remember that you can only do what you can do. You are not Superwoman. None of us are. Don’t add to your stress by putting undo pressure on yourself. By keeping your stress levels at a minimum, you are optimizing your mental and physical health.

Reduce your alcohol intake

Alcohol can have extremely negative effects on the mind and body. While drinking in moderation can be part of a healthy lifestyle, drinking too much can lead to serious health issues. You might have read about my alcohol issues in my past. It was detrimental to my physical health and mental and emotional health. I wasn’t facing problems because I would just drown them in bottles of Hot Damn each night. (I can still taste that delicious elixir. sigh)

Try detoxing from alcohol to give yourself a health boost. Also this might also force you to face what it is that causes you to over drink. It’s not easy to face things that you have stuffed back in your mind and heart but ignoring your pain or issues will just make things worse. If you are having trouble reducing your intake, consider contacting an inpatient rehab center for further help.

Top-up your vitamin-D levels

Many people are vitamin D deficient, compromising their immune system and reducing their chances of fighting off illness and infection. A couple years ago I was falling asleep at dinner time and felt like sleeping half the day away. Turns out my vitamin-D level was so dangerously low I had to take a prescription strength dosage for several weeks.

One of the greatest sources of vitamin D is natural sunlight. Get out in the air and absorb some sun. However, overexposure to the sun can be dangerous. Always wear sunscreen and don’t spend too much time taking in UV rays. If you don’t have the opportunity to spend time in the sun, consider taking a supplement.

These are just five natural health tips to improve your life. You can always add more ideas into your daily life like eating more veggies and reading more to help your mind. What are your favorite ways to improve your life naturally?

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