Here are five changes that consumers have embraced in order to improve their health and lifestyle:
● Evolved Eating Habits
People have now realized that food is not just to feed the body, but to nourish it. For the longest time, our rich and traditional cuisine was given a bad name for being too oily or unhealthy. But we ought to understand that it isn’t the food that is the culprit. But our sedentary lifestyle, overeating, our need to seek validation and ape the West. While we should certainly respect other cultures, cuisines and integrate their best practices, we need to go back to the basics. We need to identify the magic of traditional Indian food that our ancestors prepared and ate. It not only nourished them but acted as a medicine too. No wonder, the happiness quotient at their time was the highest and disease was at its lowest.
These days, people use their access to nutrition information, which is making them increasingly aware about their food products and overall health. People should develop the habit of reading the food ingredient list and the nutrition label of a food product. People are more alert about their health and hence, they are making health-conscious food choices. For example- People are not only aware of what they put on their plate, but they are also concerned about the food being organic.
● Digital Health Adoption
Mobile health technology or apps support consumers pursuing health and wellness goals, like weight management, smoking cessation, stress management, and self-management of chronic lifestyle conditions. Studies have found that apps are effective in facilitating self-care and promote healthy lifestyle changes. With the help of these apps, consumers have quick access to physicians, therapists, health and lifestyle coaches, nutritionists and dieticians. They are designed in such a way that consumers can track their step count, keep a record of their blood glucose and blood pressure readings, log in their food and water intake, and the number of hours they sleep. Some health apps also remind people to drink water or perform breathing exercises from time to time. In other words, these apps have made self care an easier and exciting task for consumers. You can book a TeleVisit appointment easily with your health care provider and get the best advice without moving out of your house.
● Increasing Support to Mental and Emotional Health
Major efforts have always been taken to promote physical health, however, tackling mental health challenges is an area that requires significant improvement and consistent efforts. Recently, consumers have realized that mental and physical health are interconnected and the two are equal components of good health and well-being. For example, anxiety, stress and depression may increase the risk of physical health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Here are 5 tips to deal with mental and emotional stress:
● Talk to someone and share your problems
● Take a nature walk
● Play with your pet
● Quiet your mind by trying meditation, mindfulness and prayer
● Writing a journal is a great stress reducer
These were a few quick tips to keep your mind calm. Do not shy away from seeking professional help if required.
● Getting a Good Quality of Sleep
Every process in the human body operates according to the circadian rhythm. When you challenge this natural clock and skimp on sleep to work or socialize more, you subject your body to inflammation and a gamut of diseases. It isn’t about how many hours of sleep but about how well you do it. You could sleep for ten hours and still wake up tired and drowsy, or sleep for only five hours and feel ready to seize the day. Healthy sleep is essential because it allows the body and mind to recharge, thus leaving you fresh and alert when you wake up. Hectic lifestyle and work overload have left little or no space for a peaceful sleep. But you need to know that, no one can get used to little sleep. ‘Revenge Bedtime Procrastination’ is a phenomenon, where people who are busy during the daytime, sacrifice their sleep to make time for those pending activities. This leads to sleep deprivation, which can hurt the ability of your brain and body to function effectively. Little or no attention is paid to this part of the lifestyle. Consumers need to focus more on their sleep schedule and sleep hygiene. While some people do not realize the importance of sleep, there are some workplaces that encourage their employees to nap during breaks at work.
According to a survey from the National Sleep Foundation, 34% of U.S. companies allow naps during breaks at work. Some offices have even designated nap rooms and nap pods.
If you are struggling with a messy sleeping schedule, here are a few tips for you to get into the habit of sleeping on time:
● Have early dinners, usually before or close to sunset
● Avoid consuming stimulants like tea, coffee and alcohol around bedtime
● Maintain darker surroundings
● Sprinkle or dab essential oils on your pillow
● Take a warm shower before bedtime
● Making exercise a permanent habit
Gone are those days, where people assumed that exercise is just for those who want to lose weight. Today, people have realized the importance of exercise and so many of us have involved ourselves in different exercise and activity plans. People want to keep themselves physically fit and active, hence, they are moving more and ditching the sedentary lifestyle. However, we need to follow adequate exercise because overworking out without rest or recovery can be equally harmful to your body because it can add stress.
Do not let your busy schedule become an excuse for not exercising.
Here are some tips that will allow you to make way for physical activity by combining it with recreation:
● Walk when you talk or even shop!
● Go out for a walk or run in the nature
● Dance is a great aerobic exercise, hence it is a perfect combination of leisure activity and physical activity
● Involve yourself in household chores
● Interrupt your computer time with some stretching exercises
● Make yoga and breathing exercises a regular part of your lifestyle
Summary
Consumers are now leading a ‘wellness-oriented lifestyle’ that is concerned with balanced nutrition, adequate physical activity, good quality of sleep, and emotional detox. We have also started accepting responsibility for our health. People have realized that those who lack wellness orientation are identified as candidates for high health risk groups. Hence, people are taking extra efforts and accepting new technologies to improve their health and to keep themselves fit. To learn more you can enrol for diet and nutrition courses in India, Mumbai.