GRAHAM A.COLDITZ Sightman Cancer Center
Taking care of our health is not always easy. And to be honest, it can be a little overwhelming. But one of the things we recently remembered is the importance of health.
As you may feel when scrolling through news and social media, taking steps to improve our health is easier than you might think. Let’s look at four concerns about making sound changes and why they aren’t as difficult as they seem.
There are so many health recommendations that it is difficult to maintain.
Undoubtedly, many different groups offer health recommendations. There are many reasons for this, but it can be difficult to know which advice to follow. Fortunately, many steps to improve your health and reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and other conditions are very simple. They include:
• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains to minimize lean meats, sweet drinks and alcohol.
• Exercise a certain amount every day.
• Trying to control weight gain.
•no smoking.When
• Talk to your healthcare provider about screening tests and other important care.
I have trouble reaching my health goals.
Whether you’re eating three servings of whole grains a day, sleeping seven hours at night, or working on something completely different, it’s great to have a health goal. But it can be frustrating if we don’t contact them. A good way to avoid that is to set smaller, more achievable goals along the path to larger goals. The success of achieving smaller goals will continue to build you. In addition, even small changes have health benefits in their own right.
Healthy behavior is expensive.
There are many ways to spend a lot of money on healthy activities-and they are often fully visible on social media. But just as the basics of a healthy life are very simple, they can also be affordable. Walking is a great exercise and you just wear really good athletic shoes. Indoor exercise classes can be streamed for free on a variety of platforms. And while healthy foods can cost more than unhealthy options, with a little extra effort you can find affordable healthy options.
I don’t always feel motivated to be healthy.
It can be difficult to find motivation at any time of the year. But in the midst of winter, in the third year of a pandemic, it can be especially difficult. Take a moment to help and remember why you want to be healthier. Family and friends, or the activities you are passionate about, may be motivating. In many cases, simply initiating an action can create its own motivation. Instead of waiting to be motivated, plan to take action instead. Walk for just a few minutes or promise to start the first step in the vegetable chili recipe. That way, you may find the boost you need to continue. It’s not always easy, but it can be useful.
The world around us may seem more and more complex, but a few relatively simple actions can greatly help improve well-being and reduce the risk of illness. And small changes can bring significant benefits now and in the future.
It’s your health. Partition.
Dr. Graham A. Corditz, Deputy Director of Prevention and Management at the Sightman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and a free prevention tool, YourDiseaseRisk. Is the creator of. .com.
