BOOSTING well-being in 2024
Health analysts assessing well-being challenges and trends for 2024 have begun reporting on some areas of the Government’s health focus for this year. The King’s Fund, an independent charity working to improve health and social care in the UK, states the following: “In spring, the Government has committed to publish its major conditions strategy, laying out the next steps to tackle the major causes of ill-health mortality; and beginning to grapple with the issues faced by the one in 4 people living with more than one long-term condition, who too often experience fragmented care.
In spite of external influences and predicted National Health Service changes and challenges, setting our own health goals enables us to have some control over our well-being by making healthier lifestyle choices.
Health aspirations - Forbes Health undertook a survey to glean the most prominent health goals for 2024. The data of the top 5 out of 14 New Year resolutions revealed the following:
• Improve fitness: 48% * Improve finances: 38% * improve mental health 36% * Lose weight: 34% * Improve diet: 32%
If you were to voice your health goals for this year, would any of these feature in your top 5?
• Recently, Sharon Platt-McDonald connected with health leaders, well-being professionals, and church members as she sought to ascertain their health goals. The top repeated responses were:
* Lose weight * Eat better * Exercise more * Better life balance & stress-less (joint 4th place) * Improve spiritual life.
Boosting well-being - As you seek to accomplish your health goals accessing evidence-based research is one place to start. Heathline, in their article title ‘9 ways to Boost Your Body’s Natural Defences’, give some useful advice. Here is their must-do list to assist you in boosting your well-being and achieving your wellness aspirations for this year.
* Get adequate sleep. This helps to boost immunity. Research indicates that inadequate or poor-quality sleep is linked to a higher susceptibility to sickness.4
* Eat more whole plant foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that could help combat harmful pathogens. Antioxidants in these food groups reduce inflammation, which can safeguard against chronic disease.
* Eat more healthy fats. Avocado a rid olive oil are good sources. Olive oil, which is highly anti-inflammatory, is linked to a decreased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.6
* Eat more fermented foods (or probiotic supplements if required.) Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and natto are rich in beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which enhance gut flora, boosting digestive health. Non-dairy probiotics are available.7
* Limit added sugar. Mounting research, reveals that added sugars and refined carbs may contribute disproportionately to overweight and obesity, which increases the likelihood of chronic illness.
* Engage in moderate exercise. Regular moderate exercise like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, and light hiking, help to boost the immune system, enhancing well-being both physically and psychologically.
* Stay hydrated. An intake oi adequate fluids to remain hydrated is key to general health. Dehydration impacts negatively on body functions and increases the susceptibility to illness.10
* Manage your stress levels. Key to boosting well-being and enhancing immune health is the management and alleviation of stress and anxiety. Research indicates that long-term stress promotes inflammation and increases imbalance in immune cell function.11
* Supplement wisely. Only use supplements when needed. However, in reference to boosting immunity, there is some evidence to indicate that supplements like vitamins D and C, zinc, elderberry, echinacea and garlic may strengthen your body’s general immune response.
Try the above health tips for the rest of the year, and assess their impact on your well-being. Then, at the end of the year, look back to see whether your health choices enhanced your well-being during 2024. Good health1.
1 www. kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2024/0 l/challenge-change-what-does-2024-hold-for-the-health-care-system
2https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-year-res ... rvey-2024/
3https://www.heathline.com/nutrition)/how-to-boost-immune-health
4 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26118561/
5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881064
6 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27580701
7pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19913684/
8 pubmed.miii.tilm.nih.gov/28507007/
9 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26477922/
10 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/
9 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24798553/
BOOSTING well-being in 2024.
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