Simple Ways to Feel Better, Look Good and be Healthy

Improving your health and fitness doesn’t have to be hard work. Sure, building an athletic, cover-model body is not easy. But if your objective is simply to feel a little healthier, look a little better and put a bit of a spring in your step, then you have plenty of simple options.

And in fact, knowing these easy hacks to improve your wellbeing is actually crucial when it comes to getting that killer body too. Why? Because making these changes can give you the energy and the ability you need to make the bigger changes. These are those first small steps that make everything else possible along the journey.

Here are some good places to begin…

Swap All Your Drinks for Water

Recent studies suggest that swapping all your drinks for water can make huge differences to your energy levels, your weight loss, and even your mental focus. The reason for this is not only that you’ll be putting fewer empty calories into your body, but also that you’ll be increasing your metabolism to burn fat at a faster and more efficient rate.

And as to how much should you take per day, it is recommended that approximately 8 - 10 glasses of water per day, but you should know that there are no side-effects if you drink more and more. This daily water drinking can at least attain that level of hydration needed for your body to function at optimal health. 

The fact about water is, our body parts comprise about 60% water and 90% of our blood content is water. Without water, our kidney can not function and your skin will develop premature wrinkles if you're too much dehydrated. Drinking water boosts skin health and beauty. 

Get More Sleep

What could be easier than lying in bed longer? As it happens, this is actually one of the very best ways to burn more calories and will also help you to wake up feeling more refreshed, energized and rejuvenated, ready for the day ahead!

Sleep is the best-known antidote for tiredness. If you're tired then get some proper sleep and your exhausted energy will be replenished, you'll be fully charged, ready to tackle the day's challenges with much more vigor. 

Research shows that your brain continues to work even when you are asleep. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you're asleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a pivotal housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.

Research also shows that a chronic lack of sleep, or getting poor quality sleep, increases the risk of disorders including high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, and obesity.

"Moderate eating ensures sound sleep.

Those who practice it rise early and feel well.

But sleeplessness, nausea, and colic 

cause distress for the glutton." 

Sirach 31:20, NLT. 

Walk More

You can burn a huge number of additional calories by walking to and from work, or just getting off your bus a stop later. This will not only burn calories but also help you to increase your physical fitness and to improve your resting heart rate. A lower resting heart rate means that you’ll feel calmer and less stressed and will reduce your chances of developing heart disease and other serious issues.

One of the things you could is taking a brisk walking. Brisk walking is good for your heart and increases the supply of oxygen needed for blood circulation. It also avoids the risk of cardiovascular diseases that attacks the heart and the blood vessels. 

The normal recommended speed for brisk walking is 100 steps per minute. If you practice this form of walking you get two benefits, one is - you move faster and therefore get more things done, and second - your body is becoming healthy and fit. It's one of those few things you could do that have a double impact on your life.

Eat Fruits

Including fruits in your meal helps your digestive system to function at an optimal level. Fruits have many vitamins which are essential for your body functioning. Fruits also have antioxidant substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that the body produces as a reaction to environmental and other bodily pressures.

Meditate

Okay, so getting into the habit of meditation isn’t easy per se. But doing it for just five minutes a day is a much easier habit and something that there’s really no excuse not to do. And the benefits of this practice are absolutely huge… so it’s time you gave it a try! Set a timer for five minutes before you start your day and tackle the day ahead calmer, happier, and more focussed.

You should understand that above all, meditation is a quest. The quest to understand the why and how in the spiritual life. If you read the Scriptures and meditating on it faithfully, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then your inner self will be confronted by the word in such a way that your heart will be stirred to pass from thoughts to reality. This is possible because meditation engages four faculties: thoughts; imagination; emotions and desires.

To ensure your prayers are answered then the key is not in the number of words you say but the key is in the fervor of your soul. This is the intensity of your excitement and enthusiasm towards God.

To grow further, you could also try what is known as Contemplative Prayer. This is the inner prayer where the attention is fixed on the Lord our God himself. Unlike basic meditation where you must find the time and place to do it, but contemplative prayer from start to finish happens in your heart. Once you've mastered it, then you can do it always, anywhere - independently of external circumstances. The aim here is to let ourselves be purified and transformed.               

"And this is God's plan.

Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News

share equally in the riches inherited by God's children.

Both are part of the same body and both enjoy 

the promise of blessings

because they belong to Christ Jesus." 

Ephesians 3:6, NLT.

Here's a video that explains clearly the difference between meditation and contemplation.

Supplement With Vitamin D

Recent studies show that this is more effective in combating colds and cases of flu than some vaccinations! And the best part of it is: you can get it alternatively direct from the sunlight without incurring any cost.

Smile Often

Smile is one of the priceless things you could do to improve your appearance tremendously. No kind of make-up can compete with what a smile could do to improve the look of your face. And you know what - it cost you nothing. All you have to do is to make your smile comes out naturally and authentically.