For women who want to live long and be healthy while doing so, there are many lifestyle choices to consider. Every life choice you make can push the need in one direction or another – improving or worsening your health. Below are five tips to help you push it in the right direction on a daily basis.
- Do The Right Exercises
Any exercise is good exercise, but doing certain exercises will likely make you happier with the results they have on your body. Swimming for a half hour, for example, can burn 340 or more calories (and it’s actually enjoyable). Shape lists the following as the ten best exercises for women:
- Single-leg deadlift
- Side plank
- Pushup
- Second position plies
- Cardio intervals
- Triceps extension
- Stepups
- Bridge
- Plank with arm raise
- Shoulder stand
- Watch Your Cholesterol
Did you know that heart disease kills more women than anything else? Even more than breast cancer. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year and kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. More than half the women in the US display one or more risk factors for heart disease, so take the necessary precautionary steps to prevent heart disease by watching your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Watch Your Calcium Intake
While it’s certainly important to get enough calcium to maintain strong, healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis, it’s also important not to consume too much. Doing so increases the risk of kidney stones and heart disease. WebMD advises women under 50 to aim for 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, while women over 50 should get 1,200 milligrams per day. In either case, your diet should be your main source of calcium as opposed to supplements. It’s never a bad idea to monitor the calcium in your body to make sure you’re not overdoing it or not getting enough.
- Cut Back On Nighttime Cell Phone Use
Using your phone before bed can be detrimental to your sleep quality – and really – the same could be said for any screen (TVs, tablets, computers). Studies have shown a correlation between increased nighttime cell phone use and poor sleep. If you can avoid the phone thirty minutes to an hour before bedtime, you will thank yourself the next day.
- Find The Humor
They say laughter is the best medicine. As cliché as that sounds, laughing really does have positive health effects. “Laughing not only eases stress, promotes social bonding, and lowers blood pressure, it may also boost your immune system.”
Whether it means watching funny TV shows or movies (but remember – not too close to bedtime!), reading a funny book, listening to a funny podcast, or going out with friends, find things that make you laugh and engage with them regularly.
While women’s health obviously doesn’t end with the tips herein, incorporating these activities into your daily or weekly routine will put you on a path toward a healthier – and hopefully funnier – life.
Image via Pixabay by sabinemondestin
