A healthy lifestyle is your best insurance policy against life-robbing diseases. Unfortunately, many Americans don't do all they can to manage their health risks.
Much of the burden of America's top killers—heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes—could be reduced greatly if individuals would manage high blood pressure and cholesterol, quit using tobacco, maintain a healthy body weight, be physically active, and improve their nutrition.
Instead, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 to 80 percent of people with high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol do not have it under control. Twenty-three percent of Americans still smoke. About 60 percent are overweight or obese. Twenty-five percent have no leisure-time physical activity. And more than three-fourths of adults in the U.S. do not eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
It's time to eliminate these risk factors. Read on to discover how you can position yourself for a healthier future.
Physical Activity
Adults need at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week to prevent disease and maintain a healthy body weight. Here are ways you can add physical activity to your daily routine:Instead of spending the evening in front of the TV, take an hour for a walk. Evenings not good for you? Many successful exercisers find it easiest to work out early in the morning. Time of day doesn't matter; doing something you enjoy does.
Get connected. Find a buddy or a group that motivates without overwhelming you. Exercising with others increases accountability. And that's one key strategy to helping you stick with it.
Be flexible. If the weather is bad, try indoor activities such as walking in the mall. Or use the rain and snow as an excuse to try something new, such as Pilates, hot yoga, or spinning.
Nutrition
Managing your health also means a commitment to nutrition. Eating a varied, well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fat remains the cornerstone of healthy eating. Here are some basics to keep in mind:
Experience variety. Nutrients need to be "on call" whenever the body needs them. That's why it's best to eat an array of foods. Healthy Choice® meals and entrees offer endless options for adding variety to your diet.
Enjoy balance, avoiding overemphasis on any one food or nutrient. Chefs at Healthy Choice are experts at balancing nutrition while creating culinary delights. Hungry for an example? Try delicious Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo or exciting Sweet Bourbon Steak.
Use fruits and vegetables to add color, flavor, and great nutrition to meals and snacks. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins such as A and C. They also are rich in phytonutrients, which are thought to protect against disease.
With Healthy Choice, healthier eating is a delicious proposition. For ideas about how to bite into fruits and vegetables at every opportunity, go to Solutions.
