Guest Contributor
Jan 26, 2011
Do we choose to live a healthy lifestyle? Or do most of us not have the money to afford to live healthily? I used to think that a healthy lifestyle meant countless hours at a gym or eating organic food at an expensive grocery store. However, I found out these are not true. Healthy lifestyle can be achieved at no additional cost. The following are some healthy living ideas that anyone can start today:
1. Walk at least 30 minutes a day
Walking is free and it is easy to find 30 minutes a day either in the morning or evening. If it is too cold to walk outside near your neighborhood, then you can walk in a mall, department store or at any big store. Some strategy I have used in the past is to park my car farthest away at the parking lot so that I can get a good walk.
2. Stop Smoking
It is easy to say that you need to stop smoking. In reality, this is the hardest thing you can do. Stopping smoking has several healthy benefits. The strategy I used to quit smoking was to have a firm resolution and then never look back. It did take a few tries. My final attempt was successful because I exercised more, and snacked on raw fruits and veggies whenever I had any urge to smoke or snack.
3. Less Alcohol
Alcohol is good in moderation, but excessive alcohol can be detrimental to your liver. Also, you will be drinking lots of calories whenever you drink beer or any mixed alcoholic beverages. In my own experience, taking vitamin b complex supplements and eating more unprocessed food has helped to reduce my craving for alcohol.
4. Healthy Food
Junk food, processed food with preservative, fried food and soda have a negative effect on healthy. Instead you can choose to eat 80%-90% of your diet in the form of unprocessed food such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Seafood, nuts, apples, bananas, brown rice, beans and green salads are excellent for anyone’s diet.
Adding a well-rounded multivitamin or women’s vitamin is another great way to live a healthy lifestyle on a budget. This acts as an insurance just in case we do not get all vitamins despite our best efforts to eat healthy. Multivitamins are also a great way to round out a diet that may have a few nutritional holes.
5. Find Time for Inner Peace
In this modern world, we are always busy and stressed. That’s why it is important to find some time for relaxation, soul-searching and ponder if there is any reason to be stressed. Yoga and meditation will help you achieve this to some degree. Since chronic stress is bad not only for your heart but also your brain, it is a good idea to find some time to think and put your life in perspective.
(The information in this article reflects the opinion of the writer and not the opinion of healthonabudget.com. This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider or nutritionist to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. The ideas mentioned in this article may not work for everyone.)
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