Changes in Your Lifestyle To Improve Your Health

Are you as healthy as you could be? Your Brandon, FL, family medicine physicians, Dr. Joel Biggers and Dr. Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine, can help you make a few lifestyle changes that will improve your health.

5 ways to enhance your health

Improving your health can be as simple as:

1. Losing Weight: Has your weight gradually increased over the years? You're certainly not alone. More than 30% of U.S. adults are overweight, according to the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dropping those extra pounds offers important benefits for your health. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that losing as little as 5 to 10% of your body weight can lower your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
2. Eating a Healthy Diet: Add more fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods to your diet. Choose healthy protein sources, like poultry, fish and lean beef, nuts and soy products. Use olive or canola oils or other healthier unsaturated fats instead of shortening, butter or margarine when you prepare foods.
3. Resisting Temptation: Does the vending machine at work seem to call your name? It may be easier to stick to your new eating plan if you keep a selection of healthy snacks at your desk. Vegetables, nuts, low-fat yogurt, popcorn, hard-boiled eggs and fruit are better snack choices than potato chips and candy bars.
4. Exercising More: Exercise strengthens your heart and muscles, increases your stamina and energy, and can help you keep your blood pressure under control. Fortunately, you don't have to run a marathon to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Even a quick 15- or 30-minute daily exercise session can be beneficial. If you haven't exercised for a while, you may want to ask your doctor if you're healthy enough to exercise during your next visit to the family medicine office in Brandon, FL.
5. Keeping Stress Under Control: Stress can be a factor in headaches, stomach ailments, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Any activity that helps you lower your stress level, whether that's exercise, yoga or watching your favorite movie, can help you keep stress under control.

Would you like to improve your health but need a little help? Call your family medicine physicians in Brandon, FL, Dr. Joel Biggers and Dr. Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine at (813) 655-4646 to schedule your appointment.