As the year is gradually coming to an end, it is better to be conscious about the choices you make in terms of food and drinks, considering that in festive periods, many people tend to throw caution to the winds.
Yet, it is very necessary to take deliberate, systematic and intentional steps to improve your life so that you can have a healthier celebration and start the new year on healthier scale.
To achieve that, take these simple but profound steps:
Drink safe water: Drinking unsafe water can lead to water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and others. If you are not sure of the safety of your water, please, boil it before drinking it.
Choose a healthy diet: Eat a variety of different foods, including fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. By eating healthy, you will reduce your risk of falling ill or having diabetes, cancer, stroke, etc.
Be physically active: Physical activity is defined by the National Institutes of Health as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure. The energy expenditure can be measured in kilocalories.
Physical activity in daily life can be categorised into occupational, sports, conditioning, household, or other activities. The World Health Organistaion said the physical activity you need depends on your age group but adults aged 18-64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week.
Check your blood pressure: Over the years, there has been a rise in the burden of hypertension in Nigeria, and hypertension is a silent killer.
It is better to check your numbers regularly. If your blood pressure is high, an expert can advise on how to put it under control.
Practice safe sex: Practice safe sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections or HIV by using condom, not changing sex partners or, better still, abstinence if you’re unmarried.
Have regular medical check-ups: Regular check-ups can help find health problems before they start. You can go for a breast examination, mammogram, check your heart, sugar level, etc.
