It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your day-to-day life that you neglect your health. But there are inevitable mistakes people tend to make over and over again without realizing it. And when they finally do, it could be too late to do anything about it.
If you don’t want that to happen to you, consider avoiding these six common health mistakes people might not realize they’re making:
Mistake #1 You’re not eating enough vegetables
You can’t say you eat vegetables if all you’re eating is the lettuce and pickles that come with your burger. Try to eat veggies as often as you can because they are packed with healthy nutrients. Also, eating lots of veggies can help you lose weight because they keep you feeling full for longer.
You could also try eating them raw with a dip or steamed. Swap out lettuce for baby spinach, bell peppers, or broccoli florets. Add sliced tomato to your burgers instead of cheese and pickles, or use cucumber slices for a sandwich wrap with hummus. Vegetables are packed with vital nutrients and help you feel full for hours.
Mistake #2 You’re drinking too many sugary drinks
Some drinks are loaded with sugar and carbohydrates. For example, one cup of orange juice has 21 grams of sugar. That’s about four cubes! What’s worse is that it doesn’t make you feel full because sugar causes blood sugar levels to spike and then fall quickly, leaving you wanting more.
However, these drinks are also terrible for your teeth, so all the sugar you’re drinking is wasting away your pearly whites. So, it would be best to reach for water more often. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it also helps fill you up and isn’t loaded with sugar.
Mistake #3 You’re not getting enough sleep
Staying up late and hitting the snooze button can affect your productivity at work or school, but it’s also bad for your health. Not getting enough sleep means your immune system is weak, making you more likely to get sick. It also affects the quality of your skin and hair.
You must aim for anywhere between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. It would help if you also tried to avoid screens before bedtime and not take your phone into the bedroom because this can keep you up later at night.
Mistake #4 Your diet is high in processed foods
Processed foods aren’t always bad, but you should make sure they make up only a tiny portion of your diet. These are typically foods that have been chemically treated, refined, or altered from their natural state.
Eating lots of these foods can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and obesity. It can also cause digestive issues such as constipation and bloating. Although you don’t have to get rid of these foods entirely because they are an easy way to add some variety into your diet, make sure you limit the amount you eat.
Mistake #5 You’re taking antibiotics without a break
If you take antibiotics and don’t give your body a chance to fight off the infection on its own, you can make yourself more vulnerable to other infections or diseases. Most doctors suggest taking a break from antibiotics every three to five antibiotic prescriptions and only taking them when necessary.
They also recommend taking probiotics to restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in your body. You must take this break if you’re taking antibiotics for an extended period, such as for an infection like acne. So, if you think that the antibiotics are not doing their job, don’t hesitate to go to an urgent care clinic to switch to something else.
Mistake #6 You exercise but don’t care for your body’s needs
Although exercise is good for you, if you don’t eat the right foods to help your body burn fat or build muscle, all that energy is probably being stored as fat. It’s essential to eat a healthy diet along with exercise because it reduces your risk for chronic diseases, improves sleep and weight, and helps you fight off infections more efficiently.
To keep your body and mind healthy, aim for 3-5 cups of low-fat dairy, 3-5 fruits and veggies, 5-8 ounces of grains, and 4-6 ounces of lean protein each day. This might seem like a lot, but you can always snack on fruit between meals or enjoy whole grain pasta.
If you do this, your body will thank you by helping keep your immune system functioning correctly and being less susceptible to disease. It doesn’t take much to make a difference, and you’ll feel better in more ways than one!
