Today I'm going to give some tips on staying healthy. Without good health, nothing else really matters so it is really important. People that are sick with millions of dollars would give it all away for good health.
1.) Drink enough water. Our body is made of mostly water, so you really need it to be healthy. If you ever see that your pee is dark yellow in color, it means you are not drinking enough. Light yellow is okay. While anything with water is good for you, including fruits and veggies, please AVOID SODA at all costs. Both regular and diet sodas are one of the worst things you can do to your body. You are just asking for diabetes or worse later in life if you drink it. Even one can a week has been shown to be harmful.
2.) Get enough exercise. At least 30 minutes a day is good and make sure it is something that gets your heart rate pumping. Don't overdue it either, since you can get injured. If you do something active that you like, like a favorite sport, that makes it easier. For some people, listening to music can be very motivating. Just dancing in place to music you like is good too, but try your best to break a sweat. Exercise is good for just about everything and not doing it can lead to all sorts of nasty problems later down the road, like heart disease.
3.) Keep a healthy weight. You can be a little overweight. In fact, people who are slightly overweight live longer, but don't be "fat" since it can lead to many diseases, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, joint problems and even some cancers.
4.) Stay away from people who smoke. Even second-hand smoke is harmful. Of course, never even think about starting yourself.
5.) Eat a healthy diet. Junk food like burgers and fries are okay once in a while, but you need to eat healthy. A diet with plenty veggies and whole grains is good. Eat fish, and especially fatty fish like wild salmon, sea bass and sardines as often as you can. Stay away from farm-raised fish, since it can be bad for you. Fish is really great tasting when prepared properly. 2-3 times a week is good. Fish has oils that are very good for you. Eat meat (beef / pork / chicken ) as if it was ketchup, just for flavor and never the biggest item on your plate. Chicken is better for you than beef or pork. Avoid eating too much sugar and reserve it for very special treats. You should be eating whole grains, veggies, fruits and fish for the majority of your food. AVOID processed lunch meats. They will eventually make you sick. AVOID bacon and sausage. In general, try to only eat things that are not processed. If a food item has an long ingredient list with chemicals you don't even understand, just don't eat it. Nuts are very healthy and a good snack. Canola is a healthy oil. Avoid too much fried food. Potato chips and any fried snacks are not good for you. Eat organic foods whenever possible.
You will feel so much better if you eat like this that you will want to after a while. It will give you more energy and keep your weight in check. You won't get sick as often and will think better too. Try it for a few days to understand.
6.) Brush your teeth after meals. This will help prevent cavities and also reduce inflammation in your body. Bacteria left too long on your teeth also gets in your bloodstream and can lead to heart problems later in life. Brush after meals and floss daily too. Flossing is even more important than brushing.
7.) Wash your hands often to help prevent disease. The reason doctors don't get sick all the time, even though they are around plenty of sick people is that they are always washing their hands with soap and water. Wash for at least 30 seconds to make sure your hands are clean. Don't forget the backs of your hands and under your fingernails. Try to avoid touching your face too, since that is a main way things like the flu can infect you.
8.) Get enough sleep. If you are between 5-12, get 10 to 11 hours each night. That is when your body and brain repairs itself. Adults need around 7-9 hours. Sleeping too little can lead to high blood pressure and many other diseases. Sleeping too much can be bad even worse.
9.) Have close friends. Social people have stronger immune systems, so make sure you maintain lots of strong social contacts.
10.) Keep positive thoughts. Tell yourself and believe each day that you are a healthy person. Lots of evidence shows this can make a huge difference to keep you healthy. Stand in front of a mirror and say "I am a healthy person. My mind and body is getting stronger each day." You can also pick any age you want to feel like and say "I look and feel like a healthy __ year old. My biological age is _." You might increase the age a little as you get older. For example, when you get to be 30, you might say your biological age is 16. Your body will do whatever you tell it.
11.) Do something you love. People who spend their lives doing things they love are healthier in general. If you do what you love you will feel like you never worked a day in your life. It will also keep your mind sharp and prevent brain problems.
12.) Lastly, get all your immunization shots and have yearly check-ups. If you follow steps 1-11, you should have a great healthy report.
