Most of us know the old, but true adage coined by Roman poet Vigil that says, “The greatest wealth is health.”
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have time to meditate on this.
With over 35,000 choices people make a day, it's easy to see why: minds are overloaded and overstimulated. With most being in a frantic frenzy to finish tasks at work, the topic of health is often put on the back burner. In consequence, sadly, you'll find that millennials and others in the working class are suffering both physically and mentally.
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With mental faculties overloaded, and red eyes glazed and locked on digital screens for hours at a time, it shouldn't be a surprise that workers are suffering both physically and mentally. For instance, according to Statista.com, an online statistical research tool, about ten percent of American millennials have been told by physicians they have high blood pressure, and another seventeen percent have been diagnosed with depression.
Clearly, this is no way to live.
These startling numbers go to show that even though today's workers may take an occasional 10 to 20-minute break, this isn't enough. Improving your health and well-being takes more effort than that.
In the next couple of sections, learn how to gain control of your health by learning how to prepare easy-to-cook dishes and much more. But before diving into these topics, first, discover what it means to be healthy.
What Does 'Being Healthy' Even Mean?
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Being healthy can mean a lot of things to different people. Being healthy can be synonymous with good genes, strong mental fortitude, proper hygiene, and more. But for the sake of simplicity, some scientists have commonly narrowed down health in terms of five factors: diet, physical activity, body weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
At first glance, these factors may seem simple enough, but according to Dr. Monique Tell, an active contributor to the Harvard Health Blog, she says that these factors “have [been] shown to have a large impact on [the] risk of premature death.” Meaning that those who eat well, are physically fit and maintain a normal BMI, and who don’t smoke and rarely drink have been clinically shown to live longer than those that do.
Although these lifestyle habits may look, at first glance, easy, you may be wondering, “How practical it is for a person, let alone, a millennial, to permanently implement some of these changes?”
Rest assured, these changes are easy and practical.
Just remember that when you change bad habits for the better, it always begins with education.
Start your journey out by first focusing on one of the five factors mentioned above: diet. Below, learn how to make affordable, nutritious, and easy-to-cook dishes perfect for any working parent, millennial, and anyone else.
Several Easy-To-Cook Dishes for a Healthy Lifestyle
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Given the fact that most working millennials and others don't have much time to spend in the kitchen, it may be difficult for some to find the best time-tested recipes that are simple and yummy to make.
To ease that burden for you, here are some tasty meals and treats that will get your stomach rumbling, and mouth watering. And best of all, you don’t need to be a pro chef to do it either.
1. Breakfast
If your breakfast is usually loaded with artificial sweeteners, trans fats, and fatty meats, then consider switching it up. Learn how to make vegan-friendly shiitake mushroom bacon, fruity parfaits and more just by reading, "The Nutritional and Organic Spice Benefits of Cooking a Healthy American Breakfast."
2. Lunch and Dinner
If you're tired of the same old, same old, then consider these healthy eats. In one of Delish.com's posts, they provide over 60 meals that meat-lovers and even vegetarians would enjoy and appreciate.
Other recipes you might enjoy would include this easy-to-make Pakistani dish crafted mainly with chicken, cream, tomatoes, and also this barbecue chicken recipe marinated with paprika, cumin, garlic, and nine other mild spices.
Once you start cooking, you’ll begin to see that these dishes are an excellent start in your journey to discover a healthier you. But just remember, that although changing your diet is a good start on the path to being healthy, other factors like your level of physical activity need to be taken into account.
Engage in Moderate Exercise
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Not much of a gym buff? Don’t worry. Below are some ways you can engage your body and mind with moderate amounts of exercise each day.
1. Tidy up your home
Although it may seem a little dull, household chores are excellent ways to engage your body and mind without having to leave your house. Just by incrementally sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming each day for 30 minutes, you can still get in a decent workout without having to go to the gym.
2. Squeeze in a quick walk or jog
If you can, squeeze in a brisk walk or a light jog for 30 minutes each day before or after going to work. For this outing to count as a moderate exercise, remember to keep up the pace. And, oh yeah, don't forget to bring your sweatproof wireless headphones and workout music to jam to.
Aside from this, other factors to consider when aiming to be in tip-top shape are how much and how often you drink alcohol.
Alcohol: When Enough Is Enough
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As we all know too well, alcohol use can be viewed negatively. Chronic abuse of alcohol has led to devastating results. As stated by Healthline, a science-based online resource, those who rely heavily on alcohol, over time, have ended up permanently damaging their liver, heart, and brain, as well as other major organs.
On the other side of the spectrum, however, alcohol use can be viewed positively. For instance, having one drink, every once in a while, in a safe environment has been linked with health benefits. According to Healthline, consuming alcohol moderately may reduce the risk of heart disease, may increase life expectancy, reduce stress, and reduce the risk of dementia.
If you're wondering how much alcohol is acceptable to consume, then follow the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) guidelines for drinking: If the average drink contains 14 grams of alcohol, then women should only drink up to one glass of alcohol per day, and men, two. Otherwise, if you drink more than this, then it’s considered a lot.
Begin Your Journey Now
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With so many priorities and tasks piling up nowadays, it's easy to fall prey to the trap of focusing only on urgent work-related tasks and other demands - frequently neglecting your own health.
But you can't let this happen.
That's why you need to build better habits for yourself. Whether you choose to create any of the easy-to-cook dishes mentioned above or decide to cut back on alcohol and give jogging a try, just know you're on the road to success.
With these tidbits of information in mind, go out, be active, and most importantly: Be healthy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janelle Adams is the Digital Content Producer at Mama's Masalas. Having a cross-functional position, she is responsible for editing blogs and product descriptions, identifying and creating needed graphics and videos, managing all social media channels, and assisting in product line development.
Being a native of Georgia and a lover of the metro-Atlanta area, she naturally chose to study in-state. While at Kennesaw State University, Janelle joined the Kennesaw Marketing Association (KMA), which allowed her to form marketing-focused connections, and attend networking events in the region. In May 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management.
Having an acute eye for design and a need to build, Janelle often creates digital art on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and practices constructing computer-based models on Rhinoceros 3D.