The human body performs countless functions throughout the course of each day. These are vital to ensuring each system is able to operate in its natural capacity. You can help support these functions by adopting a few simple lifestyle changes.
Drink Plenty of Water for Natural Detoxification
The liver is well designed for detoxifying the body. However, it needs proper support to perform this job well. For most people, that means drinking plenty of water and water-based beverages and limiting alcohol consumption. Coupled with a clean diet, these habits support liver health and function.
You can take additional steps to further support natural detoxification and liver health. This could be beneficial if your diet is less than ideal and lacking appropriate nutrients. Liver support supplements may help bridge any gaps. Look for products that provide antioxidants, natural anti-inflammatory agents, and choline. These may aid metabolic processes and the elimination of waste.
Eat a Clean and Balanced Diet
Your body’s systems rely heavily on nutrients obtained from the foods you eat to perform their prescribed roles. However, this is only possible if you eat a healthy, balanced, and clean diet that provides those essential nutrients.
Focus on Whole Foods
Whole foods are those that have only one ingredient. For example, a piece of fruit or cut of meat is a whole food. Once you start adding other things, such as by making a fruit pie or tuna salad, then you are no longer eating whole foods. As a general rule, the further removed a food item is from its original form, the lower the nutrient content will be. Keep this rule in mind when shopping for groceries.
Limit Added Sugars
Added sugars are in almost every packaged food item on the shelf. Even seemingly savory items often contain ridiculously high added sweeteners. This is a much larger issue that it might otherwise seem. Sugars can impact blood sugar levels, lead to weight gain by disrupting metabolic processes, and may negatively affect gut health.
Be careful when checking ingredient labels, because companies use many different terms to refer to different types of sugar. Corn syrup, agave nectar, and cane syrup are just a few of the many names for sweeteners commonly added to foods. That’s why it’s a good idea to look at the added sugars column on food labels when possible.
Avoid Ultra-processed Foods
If you can’t stick completely with whole foods, your next best bet is to limit the amount of ultra-processed foods. These sit on the exact opposite end of the preparation spectrum. They have multiple ingredients, many of which are designed to mimic the texture and taste of a whole food item.
Many packaged food products fall into this category. In addition to lacking essential nutrients, ultra-processed foods are also associated with poor gut health and weight gain.
Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Life
Exercise is crucial to several body systems. It supports cardiovascular health and strong muscles, bones, and joints. To get these benefits, you want to aim for about 30 minutes of physical activity each day. A brisk walk, swimming, or active gardening all count as exercise.
It is also a good idea to include strength training into your routine. Weight-bearing exercise supports muscle strength and bone density. The body naturally slows its production of bone mass over time. As a result, the risk of fractures and frailness increase with age. However, strength training may slow this process and help you retain strong bones.
Schedule Regular Checkups
Seeing a doctor isn’t just for when you are sick. Annual exams and routine health screenings are a great way to check for deficiencies that you can then address early. For example, you should know your normal blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels. This way, you can respond if there is a sudden or unexpected change.
Including exercise in your routine, drinking water to cleanse your body, and eating a clean and balanced diet support healthy body systems. You should also consider annual checkups with a healthcare provide to track common measurements of health in order to spot any problems early.