Avoid Chronic Illness With Our Top 10 Healthy Lifestyle Tips

By Ruth Dekker

As a parent and breadwinner it is one of your first duties to both you and your family to stay physically healthy and avoid the long and ugly list of chronic illness that you could fall victim to, including cancer, heart attacks, organ failure, strokes etc.

Medical aids, life insurance and chronic illness cover might provide you with the financial protection you need but you will never be able to protect your family from the emotional and psychological trauma of a serious illness. I could share the terrifying true life experiences of affected families or list a string of statistics about how likely you are to suffer from some horrible disease before you turn 60. But I am not going to, because this article is about the positive. It is about the 10 simple things that you can do to stay healthy. For you, and your family.

1. Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake

2. Exercise for at least 20 minutes three times a week

3. Drink lots of water and do not drink diet drinks or any other soft drinks except diluted, pure fruit juice

4. Avoid processed foods - eat your foods as close to their original state as possible. For example eat a bowl of oats for breakfast and not a sugar-laden breakfast cereal

5. Avoid saturated fats - these are the fats found mainly in animal products: meat, dairy and eggs

6. Eat a variety of fruit and vegetable every day - preferably organic and only lightly cooked

7. Avoid red meat, rather eat lean chicken and fish

8. Avoid sugar and limit your intake of salt

9. Eat a lot of nuts, pulses, legumes and grains

10. Never skip breakfast and eat small regular meals.

Remember the food you eat can be your poison or your medicine - the choice is yours. With the right food choices good health is within your reach.

Good health is not about reaching your goal weight or building muscles at the gym. Good health is a way of life that we should teach our children by example. It is about giving our body the fuel it needs and then using that body, actively, every day. Good health is about being able to prevent illness. Good health supports an active mind, good focus and concentration. And lastly, a healthy body equals a happy mind, with the link between health, a sensible diet and good mood well documented.

Learn more about life insurance and chronic illness cover from life insurance provider 1Lifedirect.

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Healthy Feet Are Happy Feet

By Cynthia Soguero

It has been estimated that over a lifetime, the average person will walk 50-100,000 miles. When our feet are healthy, it is easy to take them for granted. Healthy feet allow us to sustain an active lifestyle. More importantly, feet that are healthy and pain-free contribute to good balance which may prevent falls, a major cause of injury and hospitalization in seniors. Keeping an eye on our feet can provide early warning signals for other health concerns such as diabetes, arthritis, poor circulation and nerve damage.

Many foot problems can be avoided by using some basic foot care techniques. It is important to examine your feet daily. Have someone else look at your feet if you have difficulty seeing them or use a mirror. Check for dry, cracked skin. Look for blisters, cuts, ulcers, or other sores. Observe any redness or tenderness when touching any area of your feet. Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses. Wash your feet every day using warm (not hot) water. Pat feet dry and make sure to dry well between your toes. Keep your feet soft and smooth with an unscented lotion. This will help prevent cracks which can lead to infection. Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft. You may want a podiatrist or foot care nurse to cut your toenails and reduce corns and calluses, especially if you have diabetes.

Always protect your feet by wearing shoes or hard-soled slippers or footwear. Avoid walking barefoot, even indoors. Avoid shoes that expose your toes or heels (such as open-toed shoes or sandals). These types of shoes increase your risk for injury and potential infections. If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, leave it intact. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes. Try on new footwear late in the day and wear the type of socks you plan to wear with the shoes. Inspect the insides of your shoes before putting them on to make sure there are no foreign objects or rough areas. Avoid tight socks and choose natural-fiber socks to prevent sweating. Wear special shoes if your health care provider recommends them. Wear shoes/boots that will protect your feet from various weather conditions (cold, moisture, etc.). Make sure your shoes fit properly.

Maintaining healthy feet will help you stay safe, active, and comfortable. Preventative foot care is the best medicine. If you need help with toenail and foot care, please contact your local foot care nurse or your health care provider.

Cynthia Soguero, RN, CFCN

Owner/RN Professional Foot Care

Estes Park, CO

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