Being healthy is not a goal so much as a state of being. If you asked a person to define what perfect health is to them, they may struggle to come up with a clear answer. That is because wellness is so complicated and encompasses many subjects. Some might think of health simply as eating well or exercising often. But there is so much more involved in health that it is hard to define clearly.
The list of healthy practices you could adopt is long. Everyone knows about the basics of health such as sleeping well, eating balanced foods, engaging in physical activity, and supporting mental health. But adopting these habits is not the only way to promote health.
Sometimes, the actions we take in our lives can be detrimental to our wellness. In these cases, adding new habits is not going to do us much good. Instead, it is better to cut out some of those practices that are slowing down our progress.
Here are 5 habits that are damaging your health that may need to be eliminated.
Imbalanced Diet
Just as a balanced diet can improve health, an imbalanced diet can diminish wellness. Your body requires a lot of energy to function properly, with each cell looking for specific nutrients that help it perform its duties. These nutrients are primarily delivered from the foods you ingest. If your diet is missing out on a specific food group, then your cells are being deprived of what they need to function. This could cause health issues depending on what nutrients you are lacking.
The solution is to focus on a nutrient-rich diet. You can support your cells’ needs further with additional nutrients in the form of eye health supplements or other dietary products.
Poor Hydration
Your body is made up of 70% water, so hydration needs to be a priority. Not drinking enough water can negatively affect the structure of your cells. It also makes it harder for your blood to deliver nutrients throughout the body. Eliminating waste is another function of water, so insufficient hydration can also cause a buildup of waste and contaminants in your system that will affect functionality.
Drink the recommended amount of water each day, which is often stated as half an ounce to an ounce of water per pound of body weight.
Drinking Alcohol
While moderation in alcohol consumption can typically have a minimal effect on your health, there are still some consequences to deal with, especially if you drink excessively. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest consequences of frequent drinking, which reduces your energy levels and makes heath harder to achieve. You may also experience additional aches and pains throughout the body. Alcohol can also increase your appetite and cause unhealthy cravings, making it harder to eat a balanced diet.
Moderate your drinking to reach your fitness goals or cut it out completely if possible to avoid these negative symptoms.
Isolation
Humans require relationships to thrive. The more alone people are, the more likely they are to suffer mentally, emotionally, and even physically. We need that social support to enjoy a higher quality of life. Self-isolation can be a detriment to every aspect of our health. Loneliness is a common cause of depression and other mental health issues. It can also result in a lack of motivation to care about physical well-being.
Whatever reason you have for isolating yourself, reverse this habit and spend more time with those closest to you.
Excessive Time Indoors
Just as isolating yourself from other people can be bad for your health, so too can isolating yourself from the outdoors. While shelter is a basic human need, we are not meant to spend our days cooped up inside. No matter how large your home or workplace is, this limited amount of space can greatly diminish your health. Being outside allows you to breathe more fresh air that has not been circulated through an HVAC system. It also provides sunlight which is great for vitamin D production in the skin.
If you find that you spend very little time outdoors, take steps to rectify the issue. Being outside encourages exercise and socialization while providing many other health benefits that you are missing out on by being indoors all the time.
Cut Out Unhealthy Habits Yesterday
It is never too late to start taking steps to support your health. Habits like eating a deficient diet, drinking less water, drinking alcohol regularly, isolating yourself from others, and being inside all the time can all contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. Cut these practices out of your life as soon as possible so that your journey toward wellness is no longer being held back by these decisions.
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