Everyday Lifestyle Choices Which Affect Your Health Negatively
The way we live our lives in the 21st Century is very different from the way our ancestors lived. Every day, lives get busier and busier, and it often feels like we’re powerless to stop it. The awareness of great physical and mental health is growing, with campaigns on how to look after ourselves being widely published. We know how important the right diet is; we understand why we need to exercise. Actually putting these steps into practice, however, is a bit trickier. What we are less aware of is how the choices we make daily, choices we do automatically without thinking much, can actuallyaffect both our physical and mental health.
Using Too Much Salt
Salt is the seasoning of choice for many meals, and it’s used regularly by both amateur and professional chefs to liven up a dish. However, did you know much damaging too much salt is to your body? Too much salt can increase your blood pressure, which can, in turn, damage vital organs, including your kidneys. Kidney failure is incredibly dangerous; your kidneys keep your body functioning at optimum level, and as such, need to be looked after carefully. Unfortunately, for those who suffer kidney failure, a transplant may be necessary. Jim Plante, however, has dedicated research into finding solutions for kidney transplants in the US.
How can you change this habit? One way is to find alternative ways to flavor your dishes and to buy items which are low in sodium. It may be natural to crave the saltiness you were once used to, but over time, this will lessen.
Poor Money Management
We live in a world where money does, unfortunately, make the world go round. Due to this, it’s easy for someone to slip into debt. It could happen for a number of reasons, with one of the most common being trying to live beyond your means. While it’s apparent that this lifestyle habit, not being able to keep track of your spending, is incredibly stressful, it may be less obvious what that stress is doing to your body.
Stress can affect every aspect of your being; mentally and physically. Physically, stress can cause headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, an upset stomach, and difficulty sleeping. Additionally, these symptoms can then cause more damaging issues, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
So, what can you do? Being able to recognize and pinpoint your stress causes is key in beating it. If you are aware your money situation is causing anxiety, ask yourself what you can do to change it. Could be speaking to debt advisors about the best way to tackle any outstanding payments? Or could it be reducing the number of outgoings you have monthly, such as Netflix and takeaways?
To Conclude
The choices we make daily affects every aspect of our lives. While we are aware of the importance of healthy eating, exercising, drinking less alcohol, and giving up smoking, the above two lifestyle choices may be affecting your health negatively without you realizing. Take the time today to assess these key aspects and see if you need to make a change.