When we think about a healthy lifestyle , familiar advice always comes to mind: “don’t eat that”, “exercise”, “don’t drink alcohol”, “don’t smoke”… and there is truth in it. Unhealthy habits harm our health. We live in a society where stress is commonplace and we eat poorly and in a hurry — the opposite of how things should be.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “healthy habits are behaviours we have made part of our daily lives that positively affect our physical, mental and social wellbeing. They determine the presence of risk factors and/or protective factors for wellbeing”.
What are healthy habits and lifestyles?
When we choose to prioritise our health and adopt good habits that balance mental and physical health and harmonious living, our aim is overall wellbeing and a better quality of life, helping us avoid illness or face it with greater strength.
There is no need for sudden, drastic changes or to change every habit at once. Introduce changes gradually and choose ones you feel comfortable with. Make a short list of goals and work through them until you find a lifestyle that suits you and meets these three pillars:
1. A balanced diet that gives your body the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein and fats it needs in proportions appropriate to your height, weight and physical activity. Include a variety of fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, pulses, cereals and vegetable fats such as olive oil. Everything in moderation. A balanced diet offers many benefits.
2. Physical activity every day and on a regular basis, because a healthy lifestyle is associated with exercise. Physical activity — from higher-intensity exercise to gentle assisted movement for older people — offers physical and mental benefits, helping your body feel better and reducing everyday stress. The aim is to make activity part of daily life in the best way for you, and above all to choose something you enjoy.
3. Sleep helps maintain a healthy lifestyle when you get appropriate, good-quality rest. Sleep is one of the most important parts of the day: it allows the cardiovascular system, muscles and brain to rest, ready for a new day.
Put these three pillars into practice at Can Toni d’Atzaró— we look forward to welcoming you.