New year, healthier you? Here are 4 big ways to give your health a boost

There’s no quick fix or life hack to improving your health or giving your immune system a boost. The solution requires more dedication than that – a well-rounded lifestyle is a good starting point. Still, if your health took a bit of a nosedive last year, here are some improvements you can make to get it back on track.

#1 Exercise more

Exercise not only reduces the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, it also keeps your energy levels up, promotes good mental health, helps you lose weight and builds up the muscle strength in your body to reduce the likelihood of chronic aches and pains as you get older. Doing more weight-driven exercises also helps protect your bones from osteoporosis.

#2 Eat better

The health of your gut is one of the most important things affecting your immune system. Maintaining a healthy digestive system is going to play a big role in your overall health. Fruits and vegetables are a great way to boost your antioxidant and vitamin intake. Eat lots of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, broccoli, red bell peppers, dark leafy greens, red grapes, berries, pomegranates, cherries, oranges and plums, as well as green and black tea, dark chocolate and red wine. If you aren’t getting enough nutrients or vitamins, it pays to take probiotics, multivitamins or supplements like zinc or calcium or magnesium that you may be lacking.

You should also focus on consuming complex carbohydrates instead of processed simple carbs.

Choose good carbs such as whole grain products, which include brown rice, whole grain pasta, beans, legumes and buckwheat, while minimising your consumption of simple carbohydrates like white flour, white rice, potatoes and white sugar.

#3 Get enough sleep

Singaporeans work some of the longest hours in the world. This means it’s not uncommon for some of us to get an average of five to six hours of sleep a night, some even less. Five to six is hardly enough, and sleep deprivation can do you significant amounts of harm in the long run. Things like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, stroke and high blood pressure have all been associated with a lack of sleep. There’s a reason doctors always advise you to get a lot of rest when you’re sick. Sleep can help activate your immune system and restore your body’s balance. Most people actually need seven to eight hours of sleep a night to feel well-rested.

#4 Stress less

Aside from stress bringing about anxiety, a loss of motivation, irritability and sadness, it’s also linked to health issues like stomach upset, hives, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. If you can’t do much about the stress levels at work, find ways to destress at home like meditation or exercise, and other enjoyable hobbies that will give you something positive to do with your time. Lowering your stress levels will also help you sleep better, make your headaches less frequent, and more productive at work!

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