How Can You Optimize Your Physical Health?

The CDC estimates that roughly 23% of the adult population in the United States receives enough exercise and physical activity necessary for maintaining a healthy body. Not only that, but they estimate that only 10% of American adults eat enough fruits and veggies every day.

What’s even more concerning is the 2.7% of American adults that live a healthy lifestyle – meaning they eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and control body fat – according to the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey. That means 97% of us don’t.

These statistics raise a lot of red flags about the way we live our life and the things we spend a majority of our time and energy on. It’s clear we could all use a bit of optimization when it comes to our physical health and there are real, practical things we can start doing today to help.

How Can You Optimize Your Physical Health?

We all want to live a happy, meaningful, rewarding, and purposeful life. While a lot of that is dependent on your mental health, it often starts with your physical health. Together, they pave the way for your emotional health, spiritual health, social health, and overall health and wellness.

By focusing your efforts on making positive change and taking up positive habits on a daily basis, your physical health will begin to thrive and everything else will fall into place with it. With optimal health and wellness, you not only look your best, but you feel your best always.

As a primary care physician, I take great pride in helping my patients get the most out of their life – not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. That’s why I’m going to share with you some of my most prominent tips on how to optimize your physical health below!

1. Eat a Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet

One of the keys to a healthy mind and body is healthy eating with a well-balanced diet each and every day. That means getting the necessary amount of fruits, vegetables, protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and all the other essential nutrients the body needs daily.

In addition to eating healthy foods, you should also make sure to stay hydrated by drinking enough water – preferably between one-half and one ounce of water per pound of body weight. That means if someone weighs 150 pounds, they should drink 75-150 ounces of water daily.

2. Commit to a Regular Exercise Routine

A healthy diet is essential, but it’s only half the battle. It must be met with a regular exercise routine that includes roughly 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity per week – according to the CDC. When combined with your new diet, you’ll start to see results.

A regular fitness routine comes with a wide range of benefits. For example, you can expect an improvement in cognitive function, confidence, self-esteem, stress management, and quality sleep. Of course, you’ll also learn to lose weight and eventually manage your healthy weight.

3. Get Enough Quality Sleep Each Night

Many people don’t quite understand the importance behind a regular sleeping pattern that promotes at least seven hours of sleep each night. Getting into a regular pattern helps your body get into a flow and helps improve your circadian rhythm. You’ll notice the difference.

Not only do we need to make sure we get enough sleep each night, but we need to make sure it’s quality sleep. That means limiting the amount of light in the room, ensuring the temperature of the room is comfortable, avoiding electronics before bed, and wearing comfortable clothes.

4. Avoid Smoking or Excessive Drinking

Aside from your diet, fitness, and sleeping patterns, you should always make sure you’re making the right lifestyle choices and sustaining healthy habits on a daily basis – for example, avoiding smoking cigarettes or vapes, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, and staying away from illegal drugs.

Not only can these things damage your physical health – both short-term and long-term – but they can result in mental, emotional, spiritual, and social distress if it gets out of hand. Of course, that’s not to mention the distress your friends and family members will experience.

5. Improve Stress Management Techniques

A lot of people aren’t aware of the deep connection between mental and physical health. An issue physically can result in an issue mentally, and vice-versa. This is especially true if the issue isn’t dealt with in a timely manner. With that said, don’t ignore signs of poor mental and physical wellbeing.

Learn practical and effective stress management techniques to calm your nerves down when stress or anxiety levels rise – whether you choose to meditate, listen to music, journal, go for a walk, or talk to someone. We all deal with stress, but it shouldn’t get in our way of a quality life.

If you’re struggling with mental health and need immediate assistance, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – the line is open 24/7, 365 days per year. And if you notice someone else struggling with mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out to them.

When Was Your Last Doctor’s Appointment?

Perhaps one of the most valuable and essential things you can do for your physical health is schedule a regular, annual appointment with your primary care physician. This gives them the ability to closely monitor your health over a long period of time to promote long-term health.

Your primary care physician will have the necessary knowledge, experience, and equipment to detect any problem areas in your health in their earliest stages. This gives your doctor enough time to find a proven and effective treatment plan, which might require a trip to a specialist.

If you’re looking for a new primary care doctor, have a health concern that you’d like to get checked out, or simply haven’t scheduled an appointment with your doctor in a while, contact Good Samaritan LV today! Dr. Shaun Jang can’t wait to help you achieve optimal physical health!