Alongside healthy habits, there are numerous bad habits that can be harmful and should be eliminated as soon as possible. Let’s explore the bad habits you should give up when entering the new year to increase your lifespan!
1 Stop eating processed foods
Processed foods often contain additives, preservatives, and flavorings to make them taste better and have a longer shelf life. Examples of processed foods include packaged snacks, canned goods, frozen meals, and fast food.
These processed foods usually have fewer nutrients but are higher in calories and unhealthy fats compared to whole foods. Consuming a lot of processed foods can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems.
Therefore, it is recommended that you consume more fresh and healthy foods. If you are too busy in the new year, you can prepare and store fresh foods in smaller portions in advance.
Stop eating processed foods
2 Quit smoking
Smoking not only harms your own health but also affects the health of people around you due to secondhand smoke. Smoking is the leading cause of premature death due to its harmful toxins, especially .
According to a study published in BMJ, smokers may shorten their lifespan by up to 10 years. Therefore, you should quit smoking today to have a longer and healthier life. Once you quit smoking, you will notice significant improvements in your cardiovascular system and blood pressure.
Quit smoking
3 Stop sitting for long periods
Sitting for extended periods without exercise can disrupt your metabolism and lead to excess fat and belly fat. Moreover, prolonged sitting can contribute to various health issues.
According to Very Well Health, just 15 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day can add 3 years to your lifespan, significantly reducing the risk of early death if maintained daily. Therefore, no matter how busy you are, avoid sitting for prolonged periods and take about 15 minutes each day for light exercise!
Stop sitting for long periods
4 Stop anger and stress
When you experience anger and stress, your body releases a negative hormone called cortisol that affects your heart, immune system, and metabolism. Therefore, try to maintain a relaxed mindset and increase social interaction by meeting and talking with friends and family more often.
Stop anger and stress
5 Limit excessive alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of premature death and various alcohol-related diseases such as heart, liver, and pancreatic diseases. Drinking alcohol is not inherently bad, but you need to control the amount to avoid health consequences.
Additionally, red wine is good for your health as it contains which is beneficial for the heart, nervous system, and diabetes patients.
Limit excessive alcohol consumption
6 Avoid overeating
Controlling the amount of food you consume each day can reduce the risk of obesity, overweight, and other related health issues. A piece of advice is to eat more nuts as they are rich in nutrients that promote heart health, reduce inflammation, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.
Avoid overeating
7 Avoid staying up late
Staying up late is a common bad habit among young people nowadays and can be detrimental to your health if prolonged. According to Very Well Health, getting less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours of sleep each day is detrimental to your health and can shorten your lifespan.
Therefore, you should establish a consistent sleep schedule and avoid using electronic devices or engaging in high-intensity activities or heavy meals before bedtime!
Avoid staying up late
8 Avoid self-diagnosis
Instead of self-diagnosing or self-medicating, you should seek early medical advice to accurately diagnose the disease and receive effective treatment. Self-diagnosis is not always accurate and can sometimes lead to health hazards.
Avoid self-diagnosis
Lifespan is closely related to a healthy lifestyle and avoiding bad habits that can be actively and effectively accomplished. Therefore, start today to cultivate a positive and scientific lifestyle to prolong your lifespan!