Health and wellness can be confusing.
With an overwhelming amount of information for the everyday person to sift through, combined with influencers and sales pitches, the situation only becomes more complicated.
How do we get to the truth? How do we know what to incorporate into your life in an easy, practical way? Well, let’s look at common denominators. The following principles are what I believe to be the commonalities that make up the bulk of a healthy lifetyle:
Eat enough to support your life, and consume enough protein.
Sleep well.
Exercise.
Foster your relationships.
Below are some excellent free resources to help you improve your health. However, if you would like to work with someone to enhance your nutrition and physical fitness specifically, see my services here. Also, before making any changes to your health, please consult your physician or primary care practitioner. Chris Trejbal, CNP, is not affiliated with any of the below resources.
Source- NIH News in Health
Eat Enough To Support Your Life, and Consume Enough Protein
Many of us lead busy lives, so we don’t always prioritize nutrition. However, food is crucial! We eat to provide us with energy and the building blocks to support our bodily processes. Nevertheless, nutrition can be very confusing. Start by referring to Canada’s Food Guide plate.
Use this resource to assess your nutrition status. Download a free app called Cronometer (or visit their website) to track your intake for a few days by entering your basic information (age, height, weight, activity level). This tool offers a comprehensive analysis, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbs, and fats.
Lastly, why emphasize protein? Protein has often received criticism over the years, but it’s crucial, particularly because muscle mass declines with age. A good starting point is consuming 1.6g/kg of body weight from plant, animal, or mixed protein sources.
Source- NIH, NIA
Sleep Well
Ensuring you get a good night’s sleep is important for your day-to-day, but pretty much every aspect of your life. Sleep is crucial.
Sleep tips from Dr. Matthew Walker, a well-known sleep researcher
Source- NIH News in Health
Exercise
Exercise is extremely important for general health, especially as we get older. And no, we don’t need a full gym to start exercising. Start here first by knowing the Canadian physical activity guidelines.
Canada’s physical activity guidelines- CSEP
Below are free exercise resources:
Source- NIH News in Health
Relationships Are Important
The quality of our relationship with others, including friends, family, co-workers, and yourself, should not be overlooked when considering good health. Our relationships can majorly impact mental, emotional, and physical well-being.