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The lifestyle choices you make can determine your quality of life and lifespan. There are many factors that can play a role in your general Health and wellbeing. Making the right decisions for your body could potentially help you to ward away certain medical conditions, reduce the effects of aging, lift your mood, and increase your energy levels each day. If you want to build a strong, flexible and healthy body, read the 11 best steps to take to effectively protect your health.

Step 1: Choose the Right Deductible Health Plan

No-one wants to worry about finances when ill, but that’s exactly what might happen to you if you fail to choose the right deductible health plan. Insurance must become a top priority in order to protect yours and your family’s health and finances.However, you will need to choose between a high or low deductible plan that’s right for your budget and needs. Find out more info today for help picking the right option for you.

Step 2: Attend Regular Medical Checkups

The minute you stop attending regular checkups is the minute you start neglecting your health. Regardless of how busy your life might be, make time to attend a checkup with your Doctor, dentist and eye doctor, so you can prevent a health condition and receive a diagnosis and treatment for a medical complaint.
Also, make sure you understand exactly what your health insurance plan offers, so you will not be left out of pocket for a checkup, screening, or medical treatment.

Step 3: Make Healthier Food Choices

While a little of what you like is fine in moderation, too much saturated fat, carbohydrates, and sugars will all lead to an unhealthy lifestyle and excess weight. A balanced diet should contain a mix of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates. This will reduce your risk of a heart attack, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. What’s more, it will help to lower both your weight and cholesterol. It might also be helpful to contact a nutritionist, as he or she could develop a diet plan that complements your body and needs.

Step 4: Lose Weight if Necessary

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 70.7%of American adults over the age of 20 are either overweight or obese. Sadly, carrying excess weight cannot only increase a person’s risk of various health conditions, but it can also cause weight-related injuries. For instance, it’s common for people to suffer from arthritis due to extra pressure on their joints. If you need help losing weight, visit a doctor or nutritionist to develop a diet plan that works for you.

Step 5: Exercise Regularly

Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain or lose weight. If you want to increase your endurance, fitness, strength, and flexibility, aim to enjoy between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity at least five times per week. An active lifestyle can also help to treat high blood pressure, depression, and osteoporosis. There are different exercises you can try, such as brisk walking, jogging, weight training, or a dance class. Simply find an activity that complements your personality.

Step 6: Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums

Proper dental care not only helps you to enjoy a bright, white smile and avoid tooth decay and bad breath, but it can also protect your heart. Scientists have found that maintaining healthy teeth and gums can protect your heart from disease. So, brush your teeth and gums twice each day, floss daily, and visit a dentist at least twice a year.

Step 7: Stretch Your Legs

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to various health consequences that can diminish your quality of life. In fact, it’s believed women who are inactive for 11 hours or more each day increase their risk of premature death by 12%. That’s why it’s so important to peel yourself away from the sofa or office desk to stretch your legs and go for a walk.

Step 8: Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health

Mental health is a hidden disease, which is why it’s so easy to ignore it and pretend to others as if there is nothing wrong. Rather than bottling up your emotions, you must speak to a doctor about how you are feeling, as well as a loved one. Opening up will not only make you feel better, but there could be a treatment option to help you overcome or manage a disorder.

Step 9: Protect Your Skin

Too much sun exposure cannot only lead to unwanted sunburn, but it can also increase the likelihood of skin cancer, wrinkles, and age spots. Whenever the sun starts to shine, you should apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, and you must ensure it is a minimum SPF 30. You can also shield your body from the sun by wearing protective clothing and hats.

Step 10: Stop Smoking

Smoking is not only unattractive, but it can lead to a wide variety of health conditions that can considerably shorten your lifespan. Quit smoking to add decades onto your life. For example, you can slowly reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke until you’re no longer addicted to the harmful sticks, or you could quit altogether with the help of nicotine patches and gum. Talk to your doctor for more information on how you can stop smoking.

Step 11: Limit Your Alcohol Consumption

While a little bit of alcohol is reportedly good for you, too much can seriously damage your health. Stop destroying your liver and limit your alcohol consumption. For example, men should reportedly have no more than two alcoholic drinks per day, while women should not consume more than one per day. That doesn’t mean pouring a bottle of wine into the largest glass you can find, either. One drink is equivalent to five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.”