Welcome to Health 101, a brand-new blog now featured on Maple Holistics. The purpose of this blog is to discuss causes and conditions of certain health concerns. We provide the preventative and responsive homeopathic solutions. From getting an inside look at causes of scalp-related problems to discovering the health benefits of lemongrass, our blog covers it all! Our bodies have needs, so why not learn more to provide the treatment we deserve? Have fun and enjoy learning more about yourself!

Health isn’t only limited to the food we eat but an overall general outlook on well-being. This also includes mental health, social health and emotional health. The topic of health is a multifaceted one, which this blog aims to delve into. That being said, before we get carried away, the first step is to get to know our bodies! Make healthy choices. Eating veggies is healthy, exercise is healthy, drinking water is healthy. We hear this word nagging in the back of our minds every time we reach for the cheese puffs instead of carrot sticks or watch another episode on Netflix instead of going for a run. But why is it so so important to be healthy? Is it just one of those overrated fads?

The Importance Of Health Explained

Making healthy decisions means more than just checking off your New Year’s Resolution or making a great Instagram post. Healthy behaviors not only give your body what it needs to thrive, but also allow you to live your life to a greater capacity. Good nutrition, sufficient sleep, and fitness give your body the strength to best cope with stress and fight sickness. Maintaining a healthy weight can protect your body from chronic diseases, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

As if that wasn’t enough, living a healthy lifestyle will give you the energy necessary to accomplish all that you’d like to do in a day. Certain nutrients have been proven to improve brain functioning and overall cognitive abilities. There are also foods that have the potential to prevent your body from falling ill quickly or being constantly prone to danger. This could include anything from a weakened immune system to more serious conditions like arthritis or stroke. Treating your body well now is a worthy investment, as such actions can extend your life. Live long and live better with optimal health.

Top 7 Tips To Improve Your Health

1. Sleepy Time

Sleep is essential for good health.

Besides the importance of beauty rest, getting good sleep yields higher brain function, including cognition, concentration and performance. Sleep deprivation can literally make you act as though you’re drunk as it impacts similar aspects of brain function. This means that we all need to cut back on the late-night exam cramming or irregular sleeping habits. Late-night studying is counterproductive, as you actually enhance your memory and problem-solving abilities by getting a good night’s sleep.

It should come has no surprise that your well-being suffers if you don’t get those 8 hours. Some health issues would include a minimized immune function, increased inflammation and an altered glucose metabolism. As if that wasn’t enough you also put yourself at a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes. None of those sound like they’re worth a diet of double cheese burgers. Besides the physical ramifications that come with a lack of sleep, it can also put you at a greater risk of depression, negative emotions, and reduced social skills. Keep your mind, body, immune system, and friendships in tip top shape by getting the sleep you need to thrive!

2. Pack a Snack

Rainbow of produce.

Healthy eating habits don’t mean following a fad diet, cutting carbs, juice cleansing, or starving yourself. You should be aiming to nourish your body with vitamins and nutrients, fueling your actions energy, and pleasing your taste buds with delicious options. Sounds good right? So, what does healthy eating look like?

On a basic level, this means that you should be ‘eating the rainbow’. Aiming to incorporate a variety of vitamins, tastes, and nutrients into your diet is the starting point to any healthy journey. This way, you’ll get the range of disease-fighting agents that these foods have to offer. If it grew from the ground, it’s likely going to do good things for your body, energy, and mood. Bring plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains into your repertoire. Prepare for snack time by packing some healthy options so that you don’t resort to unhealthy snacking when your tummy starts grumbling. But the balance is to not completely cut out those tasty snacks that you crave. Just make sure to watch your portion sizes and keep an eye on sodium, trans fats, and animal fats. Opt for healthy fats such as salmon, vegetable oils, avocado, or almonds. Mindful eating is a great way to control portions and enjoy your meals in order to live your healthiest life.

3. Exercise Your Rights… And Your Body

Boost your mood with exercise.

Working out is about more than just hitting the weight room or going for a run. Any movement that works your muscles and burns calories constitutes exercise. Regular exercise can range from a morning jog to a tai chi class to simply carrying your groceries up the stairs. Working your muscles, whether its bench pressing or doing ab flexes in the car, powers your body toward augmented strength. The more you move, the more energy you’ll have…to move more!

To maintain a healthy weight, choose an exercise routine that works for you. Dieting reduces your metabolic rate, whereas exercise increases it. The more you move, the more calories you’ll burn. Additionally, exercise will keep your muscle mass, body weight, and bone density at healthy levels. Exercise can even decrease the risk of chronic disease, delay signs of aging in the skin, and reduce pain. As if that wasn’t enough then, staying active also has psychological benefits. Exercise improves memory and brain function by promoting the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, enhancing the growth of brain cells. Working your body will not only directly improve your mood through a rush of endorphins but will also improve your sleep quality and sex drive.

4. Keep Your Products Au Naturale

Your health relies heavily on what products you put in and on your body. Healthy eating means maximizing what Mother Nature gave you and using natural topical products echoes this idea. Be good to yourself and our planet by prioritizing natural beauty and skincare products. Your skin is your largest organ, and the most public one. Keep your skin happy and healthy by reducing the likelihood of irritation or allergic reactions from unnatural chemicals. Ingredients given to us directly by Mother Earth promote healing and nourishment that goes beyond putting a band aid on the symptoms. Natural products heal your body from the inside out in a way that chemical-based ingredients can’t. Additionally, what you put on your skin ends up in your skin, so why put things on your body that you wouldn’t eat?

Investing in natural products today may seem pricey, but the extra few dollars are nothing compared to the price we pay down the road if we douse ourselves with chemicals. Stay healthy and vibrant as a preventative against illness and aging. Another bonus is that natural beauty products are not only nicer to your body, but also to the environment. Manufacturing unnatural products takes its toll on our Earth. Additionally, chemicals in sprays contaminate the atmosphere while inorganic cleansers wash down into natural ecosystem. Mother Nature gave us these gifts of natural healers, so why not make the most of what we already have?

5. Smile!

Smiling improves health.

Don’t show off your pearly whites just for the camera. Smiling should be a regular habit to lead you towards a healthier lifestyle. This simple act has both internal and social benefits, that both just lead to more smiling. If you ask me, it’s kind of like a vicious cycle…toward happiness. Besides for the social benefits, smiling has both physical and psychological gains.

Turning that frown upside-down does more than simply make you look happy. Moving those face muscle releases endorphins, which even Elle knows, make you happy. Additionally, endorphins reduce stress, improve mood, and give your body the impression that you’re happy. This increased surge of endorphins also helps to lower blood pressure which has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to up your smiling game, there’s more where this came from. Smiling has been proven to increase your life span and heighten your pain threshold. And the best part is that when you smile, you inevitably cause those around you to smile – so you’re just spreading the health!

6. Meditate

Meditation has multiple health benefits.

When I think of the word meditation, I imagine a Buddhist sitting under a tree on a cliff edge going “ohmmmm”. But in reality, this understanding of meditation is far from the truth. Meditation is a tool to help your become more aware and focused toward yourself and your surroundings. It’s commonly used as a way to increase concentration or reduce stress levels. High stress levels have numerous negative impacts on your overall health. In fact, it’s so detrimental that a lot of ‘cures’ for common illnesses is to “reduce stress”. This is because stress affects every aspect of your life, and one of the ways to manage this is through meditation.

It not only improves your physical health but also has the potential to promote emotional health. There’s research to suggest that meditation decreases the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. These chemicals are associated with responses to stress and depression. As if that wasn’t enough mediation can also reduce memory loss, improve sleep and help to lower blood pressure. For me, the best part about meditation is that it can be done anywhere. You just need to tune in to your mind and your breathing. Whichever way you look at it, a little daily meditation will have you well on your way to living your healthiest life.

7. Drink More Water

Since our bodies are made up of 60% water, it should come as no surprise that drinking an adequate amount of water is one of the keys to living a healthier life. Even mild dehydration has the ability to negatively affect brain functioning. When your mind feels sluggish most of the time it could be easily put down to a lack of hydration. Next time you’re feeling a little groggy just drink a glass of water and you’ll notice the difference.

Seeing as our blood is made up of 90% water, and blood is responsible for carrying oxygen through the body it’s a no-brainer that drinking water is imperative for your health. Drinking water can also have the added benefit of flushing out toxins from your system. This toxin flush can also improve your complexion and keep your skin moisturized and smooth. The bottom line is that if you want your body to be functioning at its best you need to be upping your water intake. Carrying a water bottle around with you throughout the day is an easy way to remind yourself to take those necessary sips.

Thanks for checking out our blog for healthy living here at Maple Holistics!

Conclusion

The human body is something that we should actively be striving to nourish from within. I know it’s a cliché, but you only have one body so try to create a sanctuary from the inside-out. Healthy decisions shouldn’t be difficult when you think of your body as something that you want to look after. Why wouldn’t you want to live your best life? Therefore, it’s necessary to rest, feed, exercise and treat yourself to natural care. Sure, this might sound impossible to begin with, and truthfully, it’s a never-ending list, but every journey starts somewhere.

Keep your mind, body, and social life thriving by starting with these seven tips for a healthy lifestyle. Prioritizing your health is more than a bragging point on your next date. Eating, sleeping, and moving well also allow you to live today to the fullest, as well as live more days. Nourishing yourself from within is fundamental in allowing you to function at your optimum. And if you’re anything like me, being subpar just isn’t an option. So, I guess that means laughing more, sleeping more and connecting with Mother Nature on an intimate level. Who’s with me?