Healthy Lifestyle

“We are what we eat” (Nutrition and Exercise, 2000). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not easy. Luckily, my family taught me at early age how important maintaining optimal health by having nutritional strategies. There are two specific nutritional strategies I would like to share with you. The first one is eating less sugar. I grew up not eating a lot of high sugar content junk foods and so as an adult, I rarely eat pastries, ice cream, candies or drink sodas. I prefer water and the only high sugar content I have in my pantry is frosted flakes cereal. I love frosted flakes but I only eat it when I crave for sweets which is not every day. Because of the less sugar nutritional strategy, I am keeping my blood sugar level stable and importantly preventing health problems like obesity and diabetes. The second nutritional strategy I continue to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle is eating vegetables and raw fruits every day. Its challenging to maintain this strategy if you work long hours and do not have time to prepare or cook your meal; so on weekends, I go shopping at the Amish market near my house to buy fruits and vegetables. I usually buy strawberries, banana, peaches, mangoes, papayas, oranges, blueberries, avocados, spinach, carrots and beets. I cut them in small pieces then freeze it for my smoothies. I also add aloe vera juice and sometimes Greek yogurt. With this strategy, I am able to eat my fruits and vegetables serving of the day, plus I eat fewer calories. Not only that, I feel full longer because it contains complex carbohydrates. Another way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is physical activity (Student Health 101, 2013, Slide 3). “According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in America. Lack of physical activity is clearly shown to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease” (Nutrition and Exercise, 2000). The first exercise strategy I incorporate into my life is walking every day for 2 miles from the parking lot to the office. I don’t have a choice to park close to the building where I work. So for 4 years I walked for at least 30 minutes every day including up the stairs to the fifth floor. This exercise is moderate but it is still a good way to improve my overall health. The second exercise strategy I have to incorporate into my life is running. I do not like running but I have to do it because i don’t have a choice while I am in the military. I run 2-3 times a week to pass my physical test every year and out run my son. Because of this strategy, I also improved my overall emotional and mental life.
Student Health 101. (2013). Bulletins: What’s Your Favorite Way to Sweat?. Retrieved from http://readsh101.com/ashfordu.html
Films Media Group. (2000). Nutrition and Exercise [Video File]. Retrieved from http://digital.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=32432&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=400&h=340