Most people include exercise in their daily routine when they want to shed some weight or gain some muscle. But did you know that regular exercise today can affect your health for up to 20 years from now.
According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, new research from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany suggests that your health and fitness habits can predict the outcome of your overall fitness and health almost 20 years later. The researchers analyzed 243 women and 252 men who were an average age of 45. The researchers used a four-stage "biopsychosocial model" to pinpoint factors that could have an impact on future health and fitness. The first stage included environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status and migration background. The second stage consisted of personal factors, including social support, stress management strategies and the feeling of coherence. Behavioral factors, such as smoking, physical exercise and nutrition habits made up the third stage, while the fourth stage consisted of physical fitness and health. The researchers found that nutrition and physical exercise habits reported at the baseline of the study affected the fitness of participants during the following 18 years.
To keep yourself healthy follow the following steps:
1. Eat healthy
Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. This will provide you with fiber, antioxidants and other trace elements which are necessary for overall health. Choose grilled, roasted, sauteed or steamed food over fried.
2. Take enough sleep
Rest is really important for your body because lack of sleep can lead to disturbed physiology of your body. When you do not get enough sleep it may lead to cravings and an over-consumption of calories.
3. Do your workout
Make a routine of working out at least 5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Exercise has many health benefits such as helping you in avoiding sugar cravings, giving you a toned body, burning fat, keeping your body’s organs functioning well, etc.
4. Water
Water keeps your body hydrated which is really important for proper functioning of your internal organs. Drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day will keep your body hydrated and when fully hydrated, your body eliminates waste more effectively, which can quicken your digestive system and help you lose weight.
So, make exercise a habit. It might start with the goal of losing weight or gaining muscle, but make it a permanent lifelong routine for its holistic lifelong benefits.