You may eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, and keep up with your doctor’s appointments to keep your health in check. However, there are more things you can do to keep yourself healthy in the long run.
The average American life expectancy is 78 years. More precisely, for a child born in 2015, the average expected lifespan is 78.8 years according to the National Center for Health Statistics. For males born in 2015, the average life expectancy was 76.5 years. For females, it was 81.2 years. Significant differences also correlate with income, region of the US, and other demographics. So, what else besides eating well and exercising can you do to make sure you’re the healthiest you can be for the rest of your life? Here are some of the most unique and best ways to improve your health in 2020.
Use Natural Products
Switching to natural products could be one of the best ways to improve your health this year. We use so many products in our daily lives. These products include cleaning supplies, shampoo and conditioner, soap, makeup, and cleansers. Have you ever looked at the ingredients for these products, though? They may be more harmful than you realize.
Cleaning products may contain toxins like phthalates, chlorine, and 2-butoxyethanol. Shampoos and conditioners could contain chemicals that damage your hair and have toxic effects on the body, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and even formaldehyde. If you’re exposed to these chemicals over a long period of time, it could have a negative impact on your health.
Instead of using these products, use natural products instead. There are a variety of all-natural cleaning supplies and beauty products available. You can find them in a local store or online. You can also substitute these items for natural items you have in your home. For example, you can use newspaper and diluted vinegar to clean your windows instead of using window cleaner. That way, you don’t have to buy new products if you’re trying to stick to a budget.
Prioritize Your Oral Health
Many people may not realize it, but one of the best ways to improve your health is to make your oral health a top priority. Your dental health and your overall health are connected. If you have poor dental health, your overall health will suffer as well.
This year, make your oral health a priority. Stick with your dentist’s appointments so you can monitor your dental health closely. If you don’t have a dentist, you can visit your local family dental clinic to get cleanings. Conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay can lead to larger health issues like heart disease if they aren’t treated properly. This year, don’t skip the dentist. Closely monitor your oral health and see what you can do to improve it for the sake of your overall health.
While you’re focusing on your oral health, you can also use this time to research orthodontists in your area. You could need work done on your teeth to help them be the healthiest they can be. That could mean getting braces or other oral work done. Getting this kind of work done on your mouth may seem intimidating at first, but it’ll be worth it when your mouth and smile is healthier.
Visit The Chiropractor
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to improve your health is to think about the things you haven’t checked on in a while. When was the last time you went to the chiropractor? If it’s been a while (or if you’ve never done it before), take the time to make an appointment this year.
There are numerous health benefits to visiting the chiropractor. For starters, chiropractic adjustments can help reduce any back or neck pain you feel. This comes in handy for anyone who has this kind of pain, whether it comes from day-to-day life or it started because of an accident you were involved in. Perhaps your personal injury lawyer recommended it, or maybe your cousin shared how it helped them overcome pain. No matter how you heard about it, going to the chiropractor can help relieve the pain you’ve been feeling for a while.
There are other health benefits to visiting the chiropractor as well. It can help boost your immune system, lower your blood pressure, and even improve your digestive system. Visiting the chiropractor could make you a healthier version of yourself. If you’ve never been to the chiropractor before, do your research before booking an appointment so you know what to expect.
Try Acupuncture
When thinking about the best ways to improve your health, something you may not think about right away is trying acupuncture. However, this could be one of the best things you can do to be healthier in 2020.
Acupuncture is a form of medicine that has been used for thousands of years. The Chinese have used it for centuries to help treat illnesses and improve overall health. Acupuncture uses needles to trigger a response in your body. Acupuncturists will stick needles into the skin to trigger the reaction. It may sound intimidating, but the practice in minimally invasive and can improve your immune response.
There are other health benefits to trying acupuncture. Acupuncture can help you manage allergies, headaches, migraines, insomnia, and chronic pain throughout the body. There’s some research to show that acupuncture could also help with fertility issues. Before you make an appointment, it’s important to research acupuncture so you know what to expect. You may also want to call your insurance company to see if it will cover your appointment. Some insurance carriers do cover it, but others may not.
Consult A Nutritionist
One of the most underrated best ways to improve your health is to consult a nutritionist. A nutritionist is someone who is an expert in food and nutrition. They can help you create a plan that incorporates all the nutrients you need to be healthy.
Consulting a nutritionist could be a game-changer for your health. There’s so much content on the internet that tells us what the best diet is and what vitamins and nutrients we need to be healthy. However, by working with a nutritionist, you’ll get a plan that truly works for you. The nutrients you need may not be the same as what other people need, which is why you should work with a professional to determine what you need to be healthy. They could recommend you start injecting b12 or taking a supplement that you’re not getting enough of. Once you start working with a nutritionist, you’ll gain valuable insights into what you can do to improve your nutrition and overall health.
Get Tested For Allergies
Do you know what you’re allergic to? If not, you can go to the doctor and get tested for any allergies you may have. You can develop allergies as you get older, so even if you think you know what you’re allergic to, a precautionary trip to the doctor could uncover any new allergies you’ve developed.
Some people have mild allergies to pollen, which can act up in the springtime. However, there are several things you may not realize you’re allergic to. For instance, you could develop an allergy to poison ivy over time. You can tell if you are allergic by looking at the signs of poison ivy. If you have it and the reaction is severe, you may have an allergy. You can also develop allergies to certain foods and materials over time, so regularly getting tested for allergies can help you stay healthy in the long run.
Evaluate Your Living Space
The place you live could be having an impact on your overall health. When thinking about the best ways to improve your health, you should consider checking on your living space’s structure and safety. There could be things that are impacting your health, and you may not even realize it. For example, if your place has mold or mildew, you could have allergy-like symptoms and feel run-down. If you constantly have a runny nose, itchy eyes and develop a rash, there may be something in your home that’s making you sick.
You should also test your home for things like radon and lead paint. Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that can cause cancer if one is exposed to it for long enough. Exposure to lead paint can cause headaches, abdominal pain, and mood disorders if prolonged. Have your home regularly tested for these issues so you can stay healthy.
You can also look at improvements you want to make to your home to help your overall health. Your living space could impact your mental health, especially if you’re not happy with it. If you want to make changes, start making a plan for them. If you want your lawn to be better, research lawn care and look into garden sprinkler services to help improve it. If you want to expand your living space so it feels more open, see where you can knock down some walls and make plans for some renovations. The more comfortable and happy you feel in your home, the better your mental and overall health can be.
Analyze Your Location
Your mental health is important to talk about when exploring the best ways to improve your health. One thing that could be impacting your mental health is the place you live. Are you try happy in the town you live in? If not, it may be time for a change.
Think about the reasons you’re living where you are. Is it because you truly want to be there, or is something else keeping you there? Would you rather be in a place that’s closer to loved ones? If you have a loved one who is in-home care services or is in the hospital, you may want to be closer to them and spend more time with them. Can you do that where you are right now? If not, you could consider moving. Moving to a new place could help your mental health, which can help improve your overall health.
Size Up Your Job
Your job is a big part of your life. Are you truly happy with what you’re doing right now for work? If not, take the time to evaluate your employees and see if it aligns with your passions and goals. Let’s say you work in firearm sales or a similar industry. Do you agree with the core values your industry has and can you see yourself doing your job for years to come? If not, it may be time to look for another job.
How you feel at work can have an impact on your mental health, which can impact your overall health. One of the best ways to improve your health is to focus on external influences that could impact your mental health. If those influences are doing more harm than good, it’s time to re-evaluate their place in your life. Not only is how you feel about your employment important to your mental health, but even just having a job in the first place can improve your mental health. Additionally, having an income means you’re more likely able to afford physical health treatments and checkups.
Start Journaling
An effective way to help manage your mental health is to start journaling. You can write down the things that happened to you throughout the day, how you felt about them, and how you can use them to improve yourself and your health. There are times we have things we want to share with someone, but we simply can’t. If you write it down, you’ll get it out of your mind and out into the open. This can help you process how you’re feeling about a certain situation, which can help your mental health. The more you can process, the better.
Sometimes, some of the best ways to improve your health are the things you may not think about every day. They’re still important, though, and should be prioritized to help your overall health. Doing these things can help you clarify where your overall health is and what you can do to improve it. Why not take the time to do these things and see what you can do to improve your health?
