When it comes to priorities many of us would put good health at the top of our list.

But when only 5% of us are getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day, and less than 8% of the population eating enough vegetables, most of us are lacking a strong foundation for achieving good health.

Many people don’t realise that your health impacts every part of your life, so achieving balance isn’t just good for your body, but also for your mind.

Luckily there are many ways to get your health up to scratch, such as incorporating supplements into your diet and meditating, which will provide a foundation for optimal wellbeing.

To help you navigate your way through the murky myths about good health, here are some of my dos and don’ts:

DO:

1. Know what you’re putting into your body. A key method to achieving good health is to always know what ingredients you’re putting into your body. By becoming familiar with labels, whether they are on food products, supplements, or even drinks, you’ll be able to make more educated decisions when it comes to which items you consume.  This could save you from significant amounts of calories and chemicals.
2. Play as hard as you work. These days it’s not abnormal to work 50 hours a week, so it’s important to enjoy yourself just as much. Going out with friends, watching movies, or doing whatever you genuinely enjoy, not only helps create a happier you, but it also lowers the amount of physical and mental stress within your body, creating a more balanced sense of wellbeing.
3. Utilise supplements. Often people forget about supplements when it comes to a balanced diet and achieving good health. Finding a product that contains a full array of vital nutrients to help you fill nutritional gaps plays a huge part in having optimum health and wellbeing levels.
4. Keep your mind active. Everyone knows exercise is important when it comes to health. However, mind activities are just as important. Whether it’s a crossword, or playing along with a game show, make sure you’re getting enough mental stimulation in your day-to-day life.
5. Time yourself. Timing plays a large part in achieving good health. Whether it’s taking your supplements in the morning to give them the best chance to be absorbed into your system and kick start the day with a good nutritional foundation, to knowing what time your body best responds to going to sleep, all of these timing factors vary from individual to individual. It’s important to follow your body’s natural clock and try to adapt your routine to suit it as much as possible.

DON’T:

1. Think exercise makes up for a bad diet. Just because you’re going to the gym doesn’t mean you can put whatever you like into your mouth. Research shows that often exercising leads to weight gain due to people believing it allows them to significantly increase their food intake, but this isn’t the case. So, if you don’t want to waste your hard work, make sure you’re aware of how much you’re consuming compared to exerting.
2. Always opt for fat-free or low-fat foods over full-fat varieties. It’s a common belief that the less fat, the better, but this isn’t always the case. Some foods, such as sauces and dressing, swap mono, and poly-unsaturated fats, which are good for heart health, with artificial chemicals. So make sure you do your research and know which foods you should opt for in terms of fat content.
3. Think if you eat well you don’t need vitamins. A well balanced diet is a solid start; however that doesn’t mean you are necessarily meeting all of your body’s nutritional needs. Your body’s needs can vary depending on factors such as age, stress, training, etc.
4. Think frozen or canned vegetables are less nutritious. There’s a long running rumour that vegetables that come from a tin or are frozen, are less nutritious, but this isn’t correct. Often the foods you find in the produce section have been there for a while, whereas quick-frozen products still have most of their nutrients intact due to the speed in which they are frozen, and the lack of bruising during shipping.
5. Cook yourself in the sun. It sounds obvious, but going out into the sun is a definite ‘don’t’ when it comes to your health. Although Vitamin D is great for your sense of wellbeing, unprotected exposure to the sun can have numerous harmful effects on your skin, as well as your entire body, with heat commonly causing dehydration. When you go outside, make sure you use sunscreen to protect yourself and avoid any harmful rays, or for a Vitamin D boost look at supplements.

Do you have any other tips to add to the list? Please share with us below.

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Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Use only as directed. Always read the label.