We all know that we should be eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep. But there are other areas of our health that are often overlooked. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing seven lesser known areas of your health you need to care about and why holistic health is important.
Why You Need to Take a Holistic Approach to Your Health
When it comes to your health, it’s important to take a holistic approach. This means considering all aspects of your health, including your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. By taking a holistic approach, you’ll be more likely to identify potential health problems early on and take steps to prevent them. Taking a holistic approach to your health also means being proactive about your wellbeing. This means making lifestyle choices that promote good health, such as exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet.
1. Dental Health
You brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly, so your dental health is probably in good shape, right? Not necessarily. Even if you’re diligent about your at-home dental care, you still need to see a dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. Dental problems can escalate quickly and lead to bigger issues down the road, so it’s important to catch them early. In addition to regular visits to the dentist, be sure to brush and floss twice a day, use mouthwash, and avoid sugary drinks.
2. Eye Health
Your eyesight is precious, so it’s important to take care of your eyes. Start by seeing an eye doctor for regular checkups. If you wear glasses or contacts, be sure to clean them regularly and replace them as needed. In addition, try to limit your screen time and take breaks often to reduce eye strain. And finally, eat foods that are good for your eyesight like leafy greens, salmon, nuts, and eggs.
3. Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it’s often overlooked. If you’re feeling stressed out or anxious, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a professional. There are also many things you can do on your own to improve your mental health such as exercise, journaling, meditation, and spending time in nature.
4. Digestive Health
Your digestive system is responsible for breaking down the food you eat and extracting the nutrients your body needs. So it’s important to take care of your digestive system by eating a healthy diet full of fiber-rich foods and drinking plenty of water. You should also avoid processed foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. If you’re having trouble with digestion or frequently experience bloating, gas, or constipation, see a doctor for help.
5. Skin Health
Your skin is your body’s largest organ so it’s important to take care of it both externally and internally. Externally, you can protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and avoiding too much sun exposure. You should also moisturize regularly and avoid harsh chemicals or irritants. Internally, you can improve your skin health by eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and taking probiotics.
6. Bone Health
As we age, our bones start to lose density, making them more fragile and susceptible to injury. If this is something you’re worried about, you can look into a DEXA scan for bone density to see how you measure up. To keep your bones healthy, make sure you’re getting enough calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, zinc, boron, and silicon. You can get these nutrients from food sources or supplements. In addition, weight – bearing exercise like walking, running, lifting weights, or dancing helps maintain bone density.
7. Brain Health
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. To keep our brains healthy as we age, we need to exercise them regularly. This means engaging in activities that challenge us mentally such as puzzles, brain games, learning a new skill or language. Additionally, eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants helps protect brain cells from damage.
Seeing Your Health More Holistically
There are many areas of our health that we need to pay attention to in order to live happy and healthy lives. While brushing our teeth twice a day is important for dental health, we also need to see the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. It’s just as important to take care of our mental health as it is our physical health; one way we can do this is by exercising our brains through puzzles and brain games. Our bone health deteriorates as we age but we can slow down this process by getting enough calcium through food or supplements. Taking care of all aspects of our health may seem daunting but it’s worth it for our overall wellbeing.