HOW MINOR EFFORTS CAN BRING ABOUT MAJOR AND MIRACULOUS CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE.
A BRIEF DISCUSSION OVER ENHANCING LIFESTYLE AND ABANDONING THE IDEA THAT GLORIFIES UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE
How is it beneficial?
Making changes to improve your health can lead to benefits for your body, your mind, your wallet, and even the environment.
- Prevents disease
Healthy habits can reduce the risk of various diseases, including those that may run in your family.
For example, in a recent study, adults who followed a standard American diet (rich in fruits and vegetables) for 8 weeks had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
In another 2020 studyTrusted Source, researchers found that every 66-gram increase in daily fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a 25 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Swapping out some refined grains for whole grains also reduces the risk of disease. In an observational studyTrusted Source of almost 200,000 adults, those who ate the most whole grains had a 29 percent lower rate of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least.
And a reviewTrusted Source of 45 studies concluded that eating 90 grams (or three 30-gram servings) of whole grains daily reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 22 percent, coronary heart disease by 19 percent, and cancer by 15 percent.
In terms of exercise, as little as 11 minutes a day may add years to your life. In a 2020 study, researchers tracked more than 44,000 adults. Those who got 11 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day had a lower risk of death compared to those who only exercised at that intensity for 2 minutes. This comparison held true even if people sat for 8.5 hours every day.