Being aware of your health is an all-consuming task nowadays. It can range anywhere from casual advice to being hit from all directions with experts telling you that you aren’t doing enough and that you must immediately implement a myriad of changes. It can be overwhelming. So what does it actually mean to be “a ”healthy woman”? 

Body, Mind and Soul

Being healthy is all-encompassing. If you excel in, say, physical health but your mental health is lacking, it’s not exactly accurate to consider yourself healthy. It’s always in your best interest to consider all factors that contribute to your overall health because simply eating right and exercising isn’t enough. For example, there are several risks to your health that are associated with having high levels of unmanaged stress. 

In addition to the more commonly known side effects of stress, like high blood pressure and gastrointestinal issues, there are also disruptions to sleep and your ability to foster amicable relations with friends and family. Whereas it’s healthy to try to circumvent high levels of stress with meditation and/or exercise, in desperation some turn to the more short-term escapism provided by drugs and alcohol. 

While you are taking the time to evacuate your health and how you deal with it, be sure to survey your own alcohol intake. Also, be honest with yourself about whether or not you abuse medications or illicit drugs to cope with everyday life or extenuating stressful situations. If you find that you’re dealing with your stress in an unhealthy way, seek the help you need at a rehab center for women.

Be Proactive

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Like many other things in life, it is imperative to strike the ideal balance between all involved aspects to be able to, with any certainty or accuracy, assert that you are healthy in any respect. 

Men Are From Mars…

While it’s true that men and women deal with health issues and stress differently, you probably wonder why that is. It all boils down to the fact that men and women face different pressures in their day to day lives. Traditionally speaking, men were typically the strength of the family and the breadwinners. 

It’s not exactly as straightforward for women; especially in today’s world of single-family households and women assuming less gender-binding roles. Women have the added, sometimes self-imposed, pressures of competing not only with the outside world but their own expectations of success and what being a successful woman entails. Some women struggle with perfection, or at least their notion of what perfection is.

Your DNA Plays a Part

When considering your health, do not forget that factors beyond your control play into your overall health. Genetics, for example, has a lot to answer for. Certain diseases and predispositions may run in your family; some may be preventable by a healthy lifestyle, others may not be that accommodating. There are also other factors such as your socioeconomic standing, geographical location, level of education, and your interpersonal relationships that play into the equation of determining overall health. 

Too often it’s discounted how important it is to maintain healthy relationships and how those relationships can impact overall health. Mental health should not take a backseat to physical health. As a matter of fact, poor relationships directly correlate to poor health. Not only will a toxic relationship make you ill, but a healthy relationship will help improve your overall health. With due care and attention, you can work towards striking that perfect balance and enjoy living a happy and healthy life.

Superfoods are nutritionally dense foods that are believed to be highly beneficial for your health. These foods are loaded with various nutrients like antioxidants, healthy fats, and fiber with minimal calories. These nutrients are then critical in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and providing a host of other benefits. Below are some of the top ten superfoods and their benefits.

1. Leafy green vegetables

People often consider spinach, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, and beet greens as superfood vegetables. These veggies contain plenty of vitamins A, B, E, K, and C, as well as iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The high water and fiber content in leafy greens help in preventing constipation and promotes regularity along with a healthy digestion system. Depending on what you’re lacking, taking supplements from brands like essential12 may be a good choice. However, you should always get medical advice before doing so.

2. Avocados

Despite the high-fat content, avocadoes contain beneficial monounsaturated fat that is linked to reducing susceptibility to diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Avocados help in tissue and blood regeneration and stabilizing blood sugar. They are also filled with fiber and are an excellent source of the antioxidant lutein that is associated with skin and eye health. It is no wonder that Australians love their avocados.

3. Blueberries

Blueberries are the antiaging superfoods that are full of antioxidants, like anthocyanins, that improve brain function and vision. Research shows that consuming blueberries helps to slow down impairments in memory and motor coordination that come with aging. They also reduce the inflammation linked to nearly all chronic diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

4. Salmon

A tasty and highly nutritious superfood, salmon is full of healthy fats, B vitamins, selenium, protein, and potassium. It also contributes omega-3 fatty acids that are known to offer multiple health benefits, like reducing inflammation and minimizing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

5. Garlic

Garlic lowers overall blood fat and cholesterol levels, helping to avoid clogged arteries. Patients with heart disease can reduce their odds of getting heart attacks by adding three cloves of garlic per day into their diet. Garlic is also an antiviral and antibacterial, which boosts tolerance to infections and colds.

6. Almonds

Rich in monounsaturated fat and fiber, almonds are superfoods that help to reduce cholesterol. Like most nuts, eating almonds in a low cholesterol diet may lower your potential for heart diseases. These nuts also help to support weight loss as their fiber, monounsaturated fats, and protein leave you feeling full, preventing overeating.

7. Dark Chocolate

The bitter dark chocolate variety is excellent for your health. These benefits come from the antioxidants and flavanols, which are the same beneficial nutrients found in apples, cranberries, and strawberries. When consumed moderately, dark chocolate has few calories and helps to lower LDL cholesterol and avoid plaque accumulation in the arteries.

8. Eggs

Eggs offer an excellent quality of protein, consistently outranking beef, milk, soy, and whey. Besides containing all the essential amino acids, whole eggs contain vitamins, antioxidants, selenium, phosphorus, and iron. The egg yolk contains choline that helps to protect brain and heart function and also to prevent fat and cholesterol accumulation within the liver.

9. Pomegranates

Eating pomegranates give you nearly double the number of antioxidants in green tea and red wine. The juice of this superfood also reduces plaque formation, which prevents stroke and heart disease. Research also shows that pomegranate juice can help slow down aging.

10. Mushrooms

Mushrooms have been used for decades in ancient eastern medicine practices due to their healing properties, particularly the shiitake, reishi, and maitake varieties. Mushrooms like maitake can prevent cancer and even deal with the adverse effects associated with radiation and chemotherapy. Meanwhile, shiitake mushroom consumption can lower blood cholesterol by nearly 45%. Furthermore, chaga mushroom benefits include reducing tumors and improving blood cell health.

Conclusion

Remember to include superfoods in your diet on top of your healthy, well-balanced nutrition. Eating these nutrient-rich foods with poor nutrition will not provide any protection from health problems and chronic ailments. Instead, your aim should have a varied and nutritious diet that includes these superfoods and other healthy foods and not just limiting yourself to individual foods.