Children these days have cultivated unhealthy habits such as staying up late at night to get work done, eating out very often, depending on coffee to compensate for the tiredness caused by sleep deprivation, consuming energy drinks and the list is endless!
The body and the mind are a single entity and one affects the other; hence it is important to keep a mind with positive thinking as well as follow a healthy lifestyle to keep a healthy body.
Here are some ways you can enhance your health in order to function at your best!
AN EARLY DINNER
Our biological clock is set according to sunrise and sunset. According to this circadian rhythm, every other system such as our endocrine system and digestive system function at the right pace.
Our digestive capacity decreases drastically after sunset and hence eating a late dinner which is a heavy meal would definitely interfere with our normal functioning of body system. This causes various problems such as drowsiness and laziness and this undeniably affects one’s ability to perform well in his or her work.
A SOUND SLEEP
In the issue of Gastroenterology & Hepatology (written by Drs Vikesh Khanijow, Pia Prakash, Helene A. Emsellem, Marie L. Borum, and David B. Doman), it has been concluded that sleep deprivation and irregular sleep cycles are culprits behind various gastrointestinal diseases such as,
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- peptic ulcer disease
- inflammatory bowel disease
- irritable bowel syndrome
Students should cultivate the habit of going to bed early and waking up before sunrise in order to preserve their health.
Having a deep sleep is essential for the nervous system to remove its neurotoxins, for memory formation and information consolidation to take place as well as for the rest of the major systems in the body to rest and detoxify themselves.
HEALTHY DIET
Dietary factors can affect multiple brain processes by regulating neurotransmitter pathways, synaptic transmission, membrane fluidity and signal-transduction pathways.
Apart from the nitty-gritty molecular biology details, looking at the broader strokes, when the body is free of junk food and when the body has to do little work to digest the food being put into the system, the more clarity your mind has.
Including plenty of fruits and vegetables into the diet will be best thing you can do for your body as all essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants will support the body by providing all the energy that’s required to function optimally throughout the day!
EXERCISE
It is beyond a shadow of doubt that physical exercise is important. Getting your body moving first thing in the morning or in the evening (whichever is a comfortable timing for a workout session) will be refreshing and get rid of any sort of sluggishness.
Exercise-induced increase in blood circulation to the brain and its effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis enables a physiological reduction in stress.
Moreover, it promotes a healthy limbic system and shows positive influence on the functions of amygdala and hippocampus (these centres control motivation, thinking and memory function).
IN A NUTSHELL, our overall well-being is of utmost importance in order for us to perform our duties with discipline and diligence. By eating the right food, getting the right amount of physical exercise into daily routine and giving your body the opportunity to build its own immunity when you fall sick, your health will be preserved and protected!