Nourishing Body and Mind: The Power of Holistic Health

Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that healthy habits can extend your lifespan by 12 – 14 years. Making small changes, like reducing your alcohol intake and getting enough sleep, can meaningfully improve your longevity and enhance your quality of life.

Taking steps to properly nourish your health can help you handle stress more effectively, too. Exercising regularly, eating a healthy, nourishing diet, and sleeping 7 – 9 hours will improve your resilience and ensure you always have enough energy to take on life’s challenges.

Practicing emotional self-care and engaging in mindfulness can also improve your relationships. You’re far more likely to be at your best when you feel refreshed and may find that leading a healthy lifestyle helps you bond with your family and friends.

Emotional Self-Care

Before you start blending highly nutritious smoothies or lace up your running shoes, practice some emotional self-care. Emotional self-care is foundational to your efforts to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, as people with high self-esteem tend to be healthier than those who lack confidence.

You can raise your self-esteem and practice emotional self-care by engaging in fun, healthy activities like:

• Spending Time Outside: Getting outside is a great way to boost your self-efficacy while working up a sweat. A few minutes in the park will improve your mood, too.
• Meditation: Practicing meditation and mindfulness can help you become more self-aware. Get started with guided meditations with beginners in mind.
• Gratitude: A short journal note that expresses gratitude for a simple pleasure or treasured loved one is a great way to start your day and boost your confidence. If you don’t enjoy writing, consider finding a mantra that expresses your gratitude for the new day.

These holistic habits can do wonders for your mental and physical health. Keeping a journal can motivate you to lead a more mindful, healthy lifestyle. Short entries that express your gratitude for organic foods or your ability to exercise can ground you in the present moment and bolster your efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Mindful Diets

A healthy, nutritious diet can fuel your efforts to stay in shape and regularly exercise. Consuming whole foods helps you fight off diseases like deep vein thrombosis. Eating fresh produce and real foods ensures you get your fill of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. This keeps you feeling your best and can protect your mental health. You can boost your brain health by:

• Eating more oily fish;
• Increasing your intake of leafy greens;
• Add some sweetness to your life by eating inflammation-reducing berries;
• Promote your cognitive function by eating more seeds and nuts.

Following these dietary principles will ensure you get all the micronutrients you need to flourish. Eating your fill of yogurt, kefir, and kimchi can improve your gut microbiome and boost your mood. This diet can meaningfully enhance your day-to-day health and wellness if you’re used to eating processed foods and sugary snacks.

Taking control of your diet can reduce your stress, too. This benefit is crucial if you are suffering from stress-caused heart pain. Noncardiac chest pain can occur when you have stress-induced Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Similarly, dietary choices that help you manage inflammation and stress — like going alcohol-free and eating whole foods — may be just what you need if you’re experiencing broken heart syndrome. A stress-reducing diet won’t make your stress disappear, but it could help you manage your symptoms.

Holistic Exercise

Eating a diet high in whole foods and slow-releasing energy will surely boost your desire to work. Staying well hydrated throughout the day can aid your efforts to exercise during your lunch break or after work. However, if you want to make the most of your newfound energy, you’ll need to take a holistic approach to exercise. Get started by:

• Consulting with Professionals: Checking in with a healthcare professional to assess your health. You may need to adapt your workout plan, and you shouldn’t put too much strain on your body if it’s been a while since you laced up your running shoes.
• Set Goals: Do you want to boost your aerobic fitness? Gain some muscle? Get a little stronger? Set realistic goals related to your aims and look for programs that will help you move in the right direction.
• Focus on Forming a Habit: Don’t feel like you have to hit the gym six days a week to see any benefit. Instead, use that spark of motivation to form healthy habits that get you moving on a daily basis.

You don’t have to start Olympic lifting or distance running to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Sometimes, a brisk walk in the park is all you need to improve your holistic health. If you’re unsure where to start, consider signing up for a beginner-friendly fitness class or club, like a couch-to-5K group or a yoga class.

Conclusion

Nourishing the body and mind can improve your longevity and quality of life. Tending to your emotional, physical, and mental needs will make you more confident and self-assured. Making a few straightforward changes — like eating more leafy greens or taking a brisk walk at lunch — can boost your mental health and enhance your overall well-being.