Making health your top priority isn’t selfish. In fact, studies show that people who are healthier are more engaged with others and more successful. However, you must prepare yourself for this drastic mindset shift. Start by prioritizing the things you care most about most. Then, focus on the healthy living tips that you enjoy the most. This will make the process of achieving a healthier lifestyle a whole lot easier. Read on for 10 of Dr. Kit Lee’s health tips to make your life healthier and happier.

While it may be difficult to find the time to exercise, practicing healthy habits is crucial for overall wellness. It’s also important to keep in mind that we’re all busy and have little spare time to do so. However, if you’re committed to living a healthy lifestyle, you can find ways to get started right away. By making these changes, you’ll be more productive and perform better at work. You won’t need fancy equipment or memberships at the gym. You can use a secondhand bike from Freecycle and get in a regular routine of exercise and eating healthier.

Healthy eating includes a variety of healthy foods. Including a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet can help you avoid malnutrition and other non-communicable diseases. By increasing the variety of foods in your diet, you’ll also lower the chances of contracting other diseases. Eat smaller meals more often, and take half of your meal home instead of grabbing a large meal. Similarly, make it a point to get plenty of physical activity, whether walking around the neighborhood or taking a bike ride.

Another health tip is to limit your sodium intake. This should be kept to under 50 grams or 12 teaspoons a day. Avoiding sweetened foods can greatly reduce your sugar intake. Reducing your sugar intake will help prevent heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some cancers. Also, fats should constitute 30% of your total energy intake and should be mostly unsaturated. Limit the intake of processed, baked, and pre-packaged foods.

Drink plenty of water. The government recommends that we drink six to eight glasses of water a day, which includes both food fluid and non-alcoholic beverages. Avoid sugary sodas and high-calorie soft drinks, as these are harmful to our teeth. Also, avoid unsweetened fruit juice or smoothies as they contain free sugar. Instead, aim for 150ml of water per day, especially during hot weather and exercise. This is a good starting point for a healthy lifestyle.

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is another health tip to keep you fit. Vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals and have many health benefits. However, they contain plenty of calories. You can choose fruits and vegetables that are fresh, frozen, canned, and juiced. Try to avoid foods that contain high levels of sugar, and stick to vegetables and whole grains. You can even cut down on the amount of salt you eat by switching to healthier snacks.