Healthy Lifestyle & Myths Untold!
In this century where almost everything can be done with a click, unfortunately HEALTHY LIFESTYLE is something that can be achieved only by an individual's effort. With the rise of desk bound jobs, easily accessible processed foods and no work and life balance it is no surprise that obesity and other health conditions are on rise as well, making it even more important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Often resulting in healthy lifestyle conversations turning into debates between exercise is better or diet is better to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Truth being told, both exercise and diet play an important role in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Let’s start by debunking a few common myths surrounding exercise and diet:
Exercise Is Only For Weight Loss
Most of us believe that we need to exercise only if we have to loose weight. Daily Exercise definitely aids in weight loss by burning calories but also helps in building muscle mass which benefits far beyond shedding pounds. Regular exercise helps you have a better skin, better body, reduced risk of chronic diseases like stroke and diabetes, improved bone health, boosts moods and energy levels promoting better sleep and having a calm and a fresh mind.
2. Dieting Means Restricted Food
Many people believe that dieting involves restricting yourself from enjoying your favorite food. This is so not true, and because of it people feel that they will be deprived of food leading to binge eating instead. A healthy diet can include all your favorite foods as long as it contains nutrient dense foods, including whole grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits (seasonal - if possible), vegetables and even some indulgences in moderation. Don’t forget to have the required portions in every meal, not less and not more!
3. Only A Specific Diet To Be Healthy
With so many fad diets circulating on the internet, social media and advice from a so-called person who knows it all, it is pretty easy to fall into such traps and believe that there is one perfect diet which will lead to an optimal health. Like everyone has a different life story and unique fingerprint similarly every individual has a different body and different nutritional needs. So stop following every latest diet trend and focus on your body, understand your body requirements and make the correct dietary choice which will work for you!
Now that we have cleared up the most common myths, let’s look at why both exercise and diet are equally important for a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise
In this generation where technology has become more sedentary than ever, it is important for us to incorporate EXERCISE in our daily routine. Exercises need not be boring or feel like a chore, you just need to find different ways like dancing, playing sports or going for a walk making it a habit for your body to keep working on itself.
Understand your body and work on it daily with pure gym exercises or any activity you like to help it detox the not required fats and maintain a calm body and mind. Also remember exercise not only helps in maintaining your body weight but keeps you at a low risk from any chronic diseases helping your body in fighting it.
So just find an activity for your body to realize what it can do and celebrate it rather than considering it as a punishment for something you ate!
Diet
While exercise is crucial for overall health it is often said that you can't out-exercise a bad DIET. This statement holds true because what we put into our bodies has a significant impact on our health. A healthy diet should consist of a variety of whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats that help your body to absorb all the nutrients, minerals, protein, good fat and vitamins fueling our daily activities and help our organs function properly. And as I have mentioned earlier, remember that every body is different and so is the body’s requirement of diet.
Try and avoid processed or packaged foods since there is nothing for your body to gain from it apart from the fact that you can only feed your stomach’s hunger. Consider your body as a temple and always have fresh and hot food and not consider it as a dustbin by eating anything and everything.
MOREOVER, EXERCISE AND A HEALTHY DIET have been linked to improved mental health. Studies have shown that regular exercise can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression AND a healthy diet provides the necessary nutrients for the brain to function and mood regulation.
Both exercise and diet are equally important for a healthy lifestyle, both provide countless benefits of physical and mental well being and should not be seen as separate entities but as complementary components. Nevertheless, It’s not about choosing one over the other but it’s about finding a balance between the two as per your body’s requirement.
Let’s break away from the myths and embrace the power of both exercise and diet for a healthier and happier life!
