Healthy Living

A Healthy Diet

• Use up at least as many calories as you take in. Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Don’t eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day.
• Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups.You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight, cholesterol and your blood pressure.
• Eat less of the nutrient-poor foods.The right number of calories to eat each day is based on your age and physical activity level and whether you're trying to gain, lose or maintain your weight. You could use your daily allotment of calories on a few high-calorie foods and beverages, but you probably wouldn’t get the nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Limit foods and beverages high in calories but low in nutrients.

Physical Activitiy

• Physical activity boosts mental wellness. Regular physical activity can relieve tension, anxiety, depression and anger. You may notice a "feel good sensation" immediately following your physical activity, and most people also note an improvement in general well-being over time as physical activity becomes a part of their routine.
• Physical activity improves physical wellness.Too much sitting and other sedentary activities can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. One study showed that adults who watch more than 4 hours of television a day had a 46% increased risk of death from any cause and an 80% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
• Physical activity prolongs your optimal health. Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function well. People who are physically active and at a healthy weight live about 7 years longer than those who are not active and are obese

Some things you can prevent if you maintain a healthy lifestlye:

• Diabetes- A group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood, or high blood glucose.
• Heart Attack- A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle typically resulting in the death of part of a heart muscle.
• Stroke- Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply
• High Cholesterol- Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's found in the fats (lipids) in your blood. While your body needs cholesterol to continue building healthy cells, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
• High Blood Pressure- A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. It may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

source for all information on this site: www.americanheart.org