Healthy Lifestyle Benefits: 5 Tips for Living Your Strongest, Healthiest Life Yet

Starting a healthy lifestyle can involve eating nutritious foods, engaging in regular physical activity, and prioritizing your mental health.
A healthy lifestyle simply means doing things that make you happy and feel good. You get to decide what your healthy lifestyle looks like.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, as well as things you can do to start.
How is it beneficial?
1. Prevents disease
In a 2020 study, adults who followed a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for 8 weeks had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
Another 2020 studyTrusted Source found that every 66-gram increase in daily fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In an observational studyTrusted Source of almost 200,000 adults, those who ate the most whole grains had a 29% lower rate of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least.
In a 2020 study of 44,000 adults, researchers found that 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.

۲. Saves money
You should always see your primary care physician for an annual physical exam.
Even if you think you do not need to see a doctor, some health conditions can be “silent.” This means they do not present with any symptoms.
Seeing a doctor regularly increases your chances of catching it early, which can lead to improved outcomes.

The healthier you are, the less often you will have to see a doctor. This could save money by reducing:
• co-pays
• prescriptions
• other treatments
3. Lengthens lifespan
Basic healthy habits are connected with living a longer life.

At age 50, you could live up to 14 yearsTrusted Source longer if you have:
• never smoked
• maintain a healthy weight
• are regularly active (over 30 minutes per day of moderate or vigorous activities)
• follow a healthy diet
Making even a few of these changes may lengthen your lifespan.

۴. It can be good for the environment
Ultra-processed foods are those that contain refined grains and additives to change the texture, taste, or color. More than 70 percent of foods in U.S. supermarkets are ultra-processed.

The making of ultra-processed foods contributes to:
• greenhouse gas emissions
• water scarcity
• decreased biodiversity
• plastic waste
• deforestation

What is the easiest way to start?
Consider the following tips for beginning to improve your overall health.
1. Eat more vegetables
2. Swap in whole grains
3. Be more active
4. Maintain friendships
5. Control stress