How to Improve Physical Health: This is What You Need to Do

Throughout the United States, almost one-fifth (18.4 percent) of adults are in either fair or poor physical health. Does this resonate with you? Do you have concerns about your physical well-being?

If you’re interested in experiencing better health and wellness but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to improve physical health.

Eat More Plants

You don’t have to go all-in and follow a strict vegan diet (there are plenty of health benefits that come with animal foods, too). However, most people in the U.S. would do well to eat more plants.

Adding a few extra servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet can help you make sure you’re consuming adequate amounts of #micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables also help you ensure you’re getting in enough fiber, which promotes good

digestion and helps you to stay full for longer periods of time.

Manage Your Stress

Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your physical health. When it comes to answering questions like, “How can you optimize your physical health?” getting control of your stress is a good place to start.

If you’re always stressed out, your body may feel physically tense. You might experience headaches, migraines, or digestive problems.

To avoid these and other issues brought on by stress, take time to relax and do something for yourself each day. Meditate, read a book, go for a walk outside. There are lots of healthy ways that you can get a handle on your stress and feel more at ease.

Exercise Regularly

Speaking of handling stress, another great stress-reliever is exercise. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be stressed out, though, regular exercise is still a good tool to enhance health and minimize your risk of developing several chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.).

The most important thing to consider when choosing an exercise routine is whether or not you enjoy the workouts. If you hate a particular way of exercising, you’re going to have a hard time sticking with it long-term.

In a perfect world, though, you’d find ways to exercise that incorporates strength training, cardiovascular exercise, balance training, and flexibility training. Lifting weights will help to strengthen your muscles while walking, jogging, swimming, and dancing are good forms of cardiovascular exercise. Consider taking up #yoga or #pilates, too, to improve your balance and flexibility.

Indulge with Red Wine

Heavy alcohol consumption can contribute to a myriad of physical health problems. This doesn’t mean you have to steer clear of alcohol altogether, though. If you do want to indulge, consider having a glass of red wine instead of a beer or sugary cocktail.

Red wine contains antioxidants that may help to prevent certain health conditions. It also contains less alcohol than liquor, so you’re less likely to wake up with a hangover the next day.

Drink More Water

There’s nothing wrong with drinking a glass of red wine on occasion. However, you also ought to make sure you’re drinking enough water. Staying hydrated is one of the most underrated, yet highest quality health ideas you can incorporate into your routine.

Make an effort to drink, in ounces, half your body’s weight of water per day. This will help you stay hydrated and avoid issues like headaches. Drinking adequate amounts of water can help you avoid overeating, too, as many people mistake thirst for hunger.

Challenge Your Brain

Challenging your brain is good for your physical health, too. Spend some time each day reading or doing crossword puzzles to keep your mind sharp.

These kinds of activities can also help to delay the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They also help you to avoid boredom and keeps you feeling more active and engaged than you would if you were simply sitting on the couch all day watching TV.

Wash Your Hands

This is a simple strategy, but it’s also one of the most important. You can prevent a lot of physical health conditions, including infectious diseases, by washing your hands with soap on a regular basis. Remember to do this all throughout the year, not just during the cold and flu season.

Work on Your Posture

Poor posture can lead to back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other issues. It can even have a negative effect on your breathing ability.

Make an effort to sit and stand up straight. Consider working with a #chiropractor or a physical therapist, too. They can teach you exercises to improve your #posture and strengthen weak muscles that might be contributing to your pain by causing you to hunch forward.

Get Regular Check-Ups

Finally, be sure to see your doctor for regular check-ups. If you see your doctor on a regular basis, you can catch potential health issues early on and stop them from becoming severe problems. Your doctor can also help you fine-tune your current routine to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck and living in a way that will enhance your overall health and wellness.

Whether you see a Doctor of Osteopathy, a medical doctor, a physician’s assistant, make it a priority to schedule regular visits. They might seem like a nuisance at the time, but they often end up being lifesavers later. 

You Know How to Improve Physical Health: Now What?

As you can see, there’s not just one perfect approach you can take when figuring out how to improve physical health. In fact, you’ll likely see the best results if you combine several (if not all) of the options outlined above.

At the same time, though, you don’t have to overhaul everything all at once. Pick one new healthy habit to focus on and give it your full attention. When that one starts to feel easy, go ahead and add another one.