Alcohol
Alcohol is high in calorie content and low on nutrition. It contributes to weight gain and if you drink too much, too often, it can lead to all sorts of health problems, such as high blood pressure and liver damage.
We may all overindulge from time to time, but try not to make this a regular thing. Drinking a lot in one session is never a good thing for your health.
There has been a lot of emphasis on young binge drinkers, but if you are female and have one large (250ml) glass of red wine at home each night, you will exceed the government guidelines for safe drinking.
Exercise
Most people think of exercise solely in terms of weight loss, but it also builds muscles and bones, lifts mood and is a great way of beating stress.
If you don’t do 30 minutes of walking most days, plus one or two aerobic sessions a week, you aren’t exercising enough.
If you want to make changes to your routine, bear in mind it takes three weeks to adopt a new habit, so you should draw up a plan that carries you beyond this point.
Sleep
Most adults need six to eight hours of sleep each night. When we sleep, we rest and our body is able to renew its energy. This may be why a good night’s sleep seems to improve the immune system, minimising our risk of illness.
Sleep is also important because of dreams. When we dream, we process all the events of daily life. Getting a good night’s sleep, therefore, influences our psychological wellbeing.
Smoking
Smoking causes cell damage, which can lead to illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. It can also worsen other diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and asthma, and is linked to poor wound healing and premature aging of the skin, the so-called ‘smoker’s face’.
Smoking stops you absorbing vitamin C and other nutrients. The only way to avoid this damage is to stop smoking and better still, avoid starting in the first place.
