Youths are not just leaders in politics but leaders in Healthy lifestyle. Setting examples for younger ones and giving support to the elderly. On this year’s International Youth Day, it’s important to share the roles that youths have to play in promoting healthy lifestyle for a better planet.
During youthful age, men and women are full of strength and zeal to do and achieve a lot of things, it’s also during this period that we correct mistakes of poor healthy lifestyle as teenagers, set lifestyle that we enjoy in old age and it’s also same period that we can make a wrong choice of lifestyle that can jeopardize our youthful age, limit our old age and create lifetime health challenges.
So youths play important roles in practicing a healthy lifestyle not just for them but for others.
What is healthy lifestyle?
Healthy lifestyle is one which involves various activities that leading to a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. It means eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and drugs and getting plenty of rest. It is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying early, this is particularly those cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, lung cancer, liver and kidney failure) can be avoided.
Healthy lifestyle Practices.
1. Eat a variety of foods
A single meal can not supply your body all the required nutrients it needs, a balanced food choice in different meal over time will do justice to that.
2. Eat more of unsaturated fat
Fats are important for good health and proper functioning of the body. However, too much of it can negatively affect our weight and cardiovascular health.
3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are very important foods for giving us enough vitamins, minerals and fibre.
4. Reduce salt and sugar intake
A high salt intake can result in high blood pressure, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. There are different ways to reduce salt in the diet: when eating avoid salt at the table, replace sugar with honey and reduce intake of salty and sugary foods.
5. Eat regularly, control the portion size
6. Drink plenty of fluids
Adults need to drink at least 1.5 litres of fluid a day! Or more if it’s very hot or they are physically active.
7. Maintain a healthy body weight
The right weight for each us depends on factors like our gender, height, age, and genes. Being affected by obesity and overweight increases the risks of a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer.
8. Engage in Physical activity.
It is important for people of all weight ranges and health conditions.
9. Get enough sleep. 7-8hrs sleep at night its recommend and it’s very healthy.
The Roles of youth in Healthy lifestyle Practices and how you can participate.
1. Be a health ambassador
Being a health ambassador is all about promoting healthy lifestyle. Youths take up campaigns for a healthy lifestyle and practice them. Using both social media platforms and physical contacts to disseminate informations.
2. Quit smoking and regulate intake of alcohol,
Smoking is dangerous same as too much intake of alcohol, this leads to lung cancer, kidney and liver failure. Quiting smoking is not easy but a gradual process, if u are not a smoker don’t think of starting. Second hand smokers take in air filled with smoke. As youth we should advocate for smoke (tobacco) free air.
3. Practice and encourage safe sex
Unprotected sex is the cause of wide spread of STDs and STIs which does not encourage healthy lifestyle. As youths Looking after your sexual health is important for your overall health and well-being. Practice safe sex to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea and syphilis. There are available prevention measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that will protect you from HIV and condoms that will protect you from HIV and other STIs.
4. Keep company with good people.
The kind of people you surround yourself with is very important, youths have social influence which we can use to make our community safe and promote healthy lifestyle. Connecting with others who radiate positivity and have similar interests will excite and energize you. On the flip side, people you don’t relate to or who have negative outlooks, complain often or make poor choices will only drain your energy account. Be mindful of the company you keep.
5. Avoid news overdose, and very informations/news before you share
The news is an important way to stay connected to what’s happening in the world. It can be educational, entertaining and even uplifting. Unfortunately, the news too frequently is bombarded with stories of suffering. These stories can affect your mental health and change your view of the world and cause you to focus on your worst fears instead of recognizing the good that surrounds you. You can’t avoid these stories altogether, but try to minimize your exposure when you can, especially during trying times. filter your news feeds on social media platforms, verify every information before you share, don’t spread rumors and fake news.
6. Do something meaningful each day.
What do you feel passionate about? Do you have a special talent that you’d like to practice more often or share with others? Do something you enjoy every day, even if it’s something as simple as cooking a healthy meal or listening to your favorite song. Putting effort into the things that matter most to you will help you utilize and reserve your energy in ways that will bring out the best in you.
7. Think good thoughts for others.
Maintaining a compassionate mindset is another way to practice a health lifestyle. One example of practicing this way of thinking is called kind attention. For example, try to make eye contact with a stranger and smile, while thinking “I wish you well.” This positive act can, instead, keep you from judging that person. Judging others can cause us to place judgment on ourselves, and that type of negative internal dialogue can be exhausting.
8. Get tested and have regular check-ups
Getting yourself tested is an important step in knowing your health status, especially when it comes to HIV, hepatitis B, sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis (TB). And regular check-ups can help find health problems early when chances of treatment and cure are better. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious complications and even death. Knowing your status means you will know how to either continue preventing these diseases educate and encourage others to do so or, if you find out that you’re positive, get the early care and treatment that you need. Go to a public or private health facility, wherever you are comfortable, to have yourself tested.
9. Check your blood pressure and blood sugar level regularly
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is called a “silent killer”. This is because many people who have hypertension may not be aware of the problem as it may not have any symptoms. If left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to heart diseases, kidney failure, brain damage, heart attack and stroke. Blood sugar should be monitored to determine risks of diabetes. The risks of diabetes continues to increase because of poor lifestyle choices. Have your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly by a health worker so you know your numbers. If your blood pressure or blood sugar is deemed inappropriate, get the advice of a health worker. This is vital in the prevention and control of hypertension and diabetes.
10.Follow traffic laws
You yourself can prevent road crashes by ensuring that you follow traffic laws such as using the seatbelt for adults and child restraint for your kids, wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, not drinking and driving, and not using your mobile phone while driving. Youths are most found wanting in this area, it is the role of youths to practice and maintain a safe environment to reduce road crashes. Drive a required speed where it’s expected and drive with patience.
11. Talk to someone you trust if you’re feeling down, don’t be a reason for someone depression rather be confidential listener and supporter.
Conclusion
Like it was mentioned earlier, youths are leaders in practice of healthy lifestyle. Giving back to community through your skills, talents and professionalism, its act of volunteerism. It can be through health campaign, health talks, physical exercises, networking social gathering, free medical check ups, trainings, environmental sanitation etc. All these are roles of youths in Healthy lifestyle Practices.
All these can start from our individual families. Here are some ways in which you can help everyone in your family practice a healthy lifestyle.
1. Set regular meal times
2. Provide healthy diet choices for your family
3. Praise your teenager for making good nutrition choices
4. Eat meals together as a family.
5. Set a regular sleep schedule
6. Schedule fun family workout routine (exercise)
7. Encourage regular health check ups
8. Quit over the counter drugs
9. Monitor the activities of the younger ones.
10. Support the elderly in making right meal choices.