3 Simple Health Hacks Anyone Can Master

With the new year inevitably comes lots of new goals and resolutions.  As I have said before, I don’t really have New Year’s Resolutions.  But I do always start the year with fresh and simple goals.  The key word there is simple.  If you read my recent post New Year, New You, you know that I believe in having goals that are actually within reach.  It’s one thing to dream big, and I am all for that.  But goals should be tangible and within reach if we want to stay encouraged and motivated to reach them.  So as we take on this new year, I think it’s important to keep that in mind.  In doing so, I want to share three simple health hacks with you that literally anyone can master.  These health hacks are all super simple, but they all make a huge difference in your daily life.

Drink more water.

You’ve heard it before, I know.  What’s so fresh about that?  Well, most people aren’t actually doing it.  Either they forget or they think it just isn’t that important. I’m here to tell you it’s one of the most important things you could possibly do… and for that reason, it’s time to make a point to remember this health hack.

Why is it so important though?  Well, that list is endless, but here are few simple reasons.  First of all, your body is 60% water, and it’s important to help maintain balance in those fluids.  The fluids in your body play vital roles in your digestion, circulation, and even body temperature.  If you are dehydrated, all of these things can be off, and you can end up with poor digestion, poor circulation, and altered body temperature. Water also helps to energize muscles.  Without proper fluid balance, electrolyte balance can be off, and that may result in muscle fatigue.  To put it plainly, when your muscles don’t have enough fluid, they just don’t work.

Here’s a big one that may give you reason to remember— drinking water can help control your calories and boost your metabolism.  At a very basic level, replacing high calorie beverages with water can eliminate unnecessary calories from your diet.  But even further, drinking an 8oz glass of water before every meal will not only help you feel full faster, but it will also aid in the proper digestion of that food! The role water plays in your diet is so much more complex than we realize.  If we are drinking enough water, nearly every part of our body will function better, including our metabolism.

It doesn’t have to be a huge deal.  That’s why it’s a simple health hack. I am not telling you to drink five gallons of water a day.  But here are some simple ways to add more water:  Drink a glass of water the moment you wake up.  Make it a morning routine. Drink a glass of water before every meal— that’s the most important one for me.  Then make a point to have your water how you like it.  What I mean is, if you know you will drink more water through a straw, keep a straw in your glass.  If you know you’ll drink more with ice, keep your water cold.  Whatever does the job— that’s what you need to do.

Eat more veggies.

I am not pushing for you to be a vegetarian.  But everyone can benefit from a few more servings of veggies each day.

This health hack should be a no brainer.  Veggies are loaded with vitamins and minerals, and the average adult is deficient in at least three!  Isn’t that crazy?  The role these vitamins and minerals play in our cellular function is absolutely vital.  And maybe you take a butt-load of supplements, and that’s great… but I’d be lying if I said that was the best way.  The truth is, if we were consuming everything we need in our diet, there would be no need for all of those supplements. The best possible way for us to get our vitamins and minerals is through our food, and it’s time we reevaluate our everyday plates.

Want to know another exciting fact?  Eating more vegetables truly can help with weight loss.  If you compare the amount of carrots you can eat for a hundred calories to the amount of rice, bread, or even meat… it’s shocking.  Again, I am not saying to cut those things out, but I am saying that we need to make veggies a priority. If we put our veggies first, then we will naturally eat less of the other things, and consume less calories overall.  It’s not rocket science, but somehow many of us still miss it.

Here are a few tricks to make this health hack more simple:  Get creative with your veggies.  I think many of us have an idea of carrots just being a boring mushy vegetable when cooked.  Try sautéing them with garlic, honey, and ginger.  Or get super funky and roast them with smoked paprika and pepper. Having fun with foods makes it more exciting. Then, serve yourself veggies first.  If you make a point to have half of your plate be veggies, you’ll have less room for other things. Finally, be open minded.  It may take time, but eventually you will start to crave them.  I think many people are conditioned to believe that veggies don’t fill them up.  And I get that… our bodies are all out of whack because of years of inadequate nutrition.  Give it time and don’t give up.

Say no to negativity.

Think this isn’t a health hack?  Think again.

Too many of us are absolutely plagued with negativity.  And even the ones of us that think we aren’t… we probably are.  Negativity is everywhere, and it’s easy for us to give in to it even in the most disguised of ways.

And it’s time we stop.

Why?  Because negativity has an impact on our health and it’s not worth it.

Negative attitudes and emotions can lead to chronic stress and anxiety, which can upset the body’s hormone balance and disrupt the immune system.  Negative attitudes overall can then lead to anger and bitterness, and studies have shown that poor managed or repressed anger can lead to a wide range of health problems, including poor digestion, cardiovascular disease, and infection (due to weakened immune system).

All this for some negativity?  No thank you.

But it’s such a way of life for so many that we might even deny we struggle with it. So how do we combat it?

We need to start taking inventory of our feelings.  Then, once we know what we are really dealing with, we can come against all negativity.  And it doesn’t have to be complicated.  We can simply say no to it.  WE can stop gossiping and allowing others’ offenses to affect us.  There’s no need to be angry just because someone else is.  We can choose to say no to negative conversations when possible, and we can also choose to not let the inevitable negative conversations affect us.

You might be surprised at the difference this makes in your life.  I know it’s easier said than done— but oh so worth it! This health hack could be the one that changes your life.

So all these changes are simple yet highly effective.  And anyone is capable of making them!

Here’s to a happier and healthier you this year!  Enjoy yourself, love yourself, and live your life with your health in mind.

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