It’s impressed upon us from a very young age that leading a healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance. From the moment we start preschool right through to our first jobs, we are constantly reminded of the sheer importance of leading the healthiest lives possible. It’s a well-known fact that the healthier you are, the longer you live, or at least, this is what we are taught.

Millions of us believe that we are as healthy as we could be, but actually, that’s not the case. When it comes to being healthy, a lot of us don’t realise what it takes to be as healthy as possible. We truly believe that we are the healthiest we can be, but the fact is there are some serious mistakes we are making which are impacting how healthy we are.

Wondering what these health mistakes are that far too many of us are making? Then read on - all is about to be revealed.



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Eating ready-made foods

Due to the health revolution that is going on - aka everyone want to be healthy - a lot of companies now offer “healthy” ready meals and ready made sauces for foods. It’s easy to think that because these foods are labeled as healthy, it means that they are just as good for you as eating homemade food. However, the fact is that this is rarely the case. Did you know that some pasta, curry, and sauces for meat contain over 12 teaspoons of sugar? The fact is that unless you take the time to look at what is actually in your food, you have no idea whether it’s healthy or not. So if you want to be healthier, stop eating ready made foods, unless you are sure about what is in them.

Drinking too much alcohol

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We live in a time where drinking alcohol is a big part of our lifestyle, which can end up impacting our health. It’s one thing to have a glass of wine on a Friday night while watching a movie with the girls; it’s quite another to spend every weekend drinking. Going out for drinks every once in a while is perfectly fine, but drinking a large amount of alcohol on a regular basis isn’t good for you. It’s not just the alcohol that you are consuming that is the problem but also the amount of sugar and empty calories. If you are going to drink alcohol, aim to drink beverages that contain less sugar, and so, are lower in calories. Whenever you are drinking alcohol, aim to only drink the recommended amount of units for your size.

Smoking

No matter how healthy your lifestyle is, if you smoke then you aren’t healthy and never can be. It doesn’t matter how healthily you eat or how much exercise you do if you smoke you can never be properly healthy because of the chemicals that smoking allows to enter your body. If you are a smoker and want to be healthier, the best thing that you can do is quit. Of course, quitting won’t be easy, but if you are serious about improving your health, then it has to be done. The good news is that there are plenty of options available to make the process of quitting easier, such as using an e-cigarette, like the Aspire eCig options that are on offer online. Admittedly, e-cigarettes won’t give you the same hit as actual cigarettes, but they can still work well as an alternative, especially if you pick an e-liquid with a high amount of nicotine in it. You might be thinking, hold on a second aren’t e-cigarettes just as bad as smoking? The fact is that e-cigarettes are much better for you than cigarettes because they only contain steam and flavoured liquid, no nasty smoke or carcinogenic chemicals. So although it's not advised to start vaping if you don't already smoke, it is much better for you than smoking.

Failing to look after your mental health

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When it comes to our health, a lot of us make the mistake of not thinking about our mental health. However, if you are going to be as healthy (and happy) as possible, you need to look after your mental health as well as your physical health. Looking after your mental health means taking time out for yourself to de-stress and unwind. It also means finding ways to alleviate stress, such as by attending a yoga or pilates class. It doesn’t matter what you do to alleviate any stress that you are feeling, just as long as you find a method that works for you.

Being healthy isn’t just about eating right and exercising regularly, it’s about making healthy choices day in, day out. It’s about looking after every area of your health, including your mental health.