Which lifestyle factor impacts your health the most?
Verified by Dr. Vaishali Lokhande, Senior Consultant General Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.
Most of us have heard of poor lifestyle triggering health issues. But which lifestyle factor impacts our health the most? Let’s find out.
Diet
What you nourish your body with becomes the foundation of its every function. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein helps in the optimal functioning of the immune system, regulates blood sugar, among other benefits. Conversely, a diet laden with processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats acts as a slow-burning toxin, triggering chronic diseases, obesity, low energy levels, and mental fogging.
Sleep
While diet provides us with essential energy, sleep provides restoration of energy after a day’s work. During sleep, the body repairs & recharges. Lack of sleep can trigger a weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, and cognitive decline, impacting everything from your physical health to your mood and productivity.
Exercise
Regular exercise or physical activity, whether a brisk walk or a HIIT workout, helps energize our body. It promotes blood supply, strengthens the muscles and bones, and boosts mood. Exercise regulates hormones, improves sleep quality, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol, promoting well-being.
Stress
When cortisol, the stress hormone, increases in the body, it disrupts the body, weakening the immune system, elevates blood pressure, and disrupts digestion. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and other health problems.
Are these lifestyle factors connected?
Yes, it’s crucial to remember that these lifestyle factors don’t exist in isolation. A poor diet can disrupt sleep, while stress can disrupt a dedicated exercise routine. It is important to recognize the harmful effect one lifestyle factor has on the other. A balance of all factors leads to well-being in all forms.
So, which lifestyle factor impacts your health the most?
The answer is personal to every individual. One should recognize the lifestyle factor that affects them the most, once disrupted. Health can be achieved by maintaining balance among all lifestyle factors.
Consult our expert, Dr. Vaishali Lokhande, Senior Consultant General Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.
Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.