Everyone wants to be healthy, to have bones that do not creak, a back that does not ache, and to not be bedridden when the summer sun is begging you to go to the beach. Every parent will want to have happy and healthy children. All this is easy to achieve by having simple practices and norms at home that will improve the body’s natural immunity and prevent illness. These practices and models are:
1. Eating Healthy Balanced Diets
Proper nutrition plays an indispensable role in your health. Adequate nutrition will entail having your fruits and vegetables together with your proteins and carbs or starch. Try to incorporate foods rich in fiber in the diet too. The latter helps you fill your stomach faster without over-eating. Proteins can either be meat or plant-based.
A balanced diet also includes taking enough fluids. It is recommended to take at least one and a half litres of water daily. Try to avoid too many flavoured juices or carbonated drinks. These drinks are likely to increase the risk for obesity and systemic diseases. Natural organic juices are a good alternative and can be used to supplement water intake.
2. Keep Active
Exercise goes a long way to enhance the general well-being of your mind and body. Encourage your younger children to play outside for at least an hour daily. For older children and adults, at least thirty minutes of activity daily go a long way to improve your health. Try jogging, taking a walk, cycling, or in-door exercises like using a treadmill to break a sweat and your heart pumping. While keeping active, try to have a regular sleeping schedule for both kids and adults. Sleep helps the body rejuvenate and clear out metabolic toxins from the cells. Children should get a minimum of 12 hours of sleep daily, while for adults, a minimum of 6 hours serves the purpose.
3. Maintain Proper Hygiene Standards In Your Home and Pool
Poor hygiene practices cause a variety of illnesses. Basic preventive disease measures will include:
- Coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or your sleeve.
- Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces using known proper disinfectants like chlorine based disinfectants.
- Staying up-to-date immunizations and doctor’s appointments.
- Regular hand washing using soap and running water or sanitizing using alcohol based sanitizers with at least 70% alcohol composition especially after using the bathroom or when coming from outside.
- Washing fruits and vegetables before eating them.
If you have a pool at home, always ensure that the water undergoes proper filtration and that it is well chlorinated. Proper chlorination and filtration serve to prevent the growth of yellow algae in pool areas.
4. Limit Screen Time
Screen time refers to the time spent working on your computer, phone, tablet, or watching television. Research has shown that limiting screen time helps reduce anxiety and stress, both of which can significantly reduce your quality of life. Reducing screen time, especially before bed, also allows you to get a more restful sleep. Limiting screen time for kids helps improve their mental development and has them spending more time outdoors playing and making new friends.
5. Talk About Your Feelings and Build A Community
Mental health has become more prominent in this day and age. Often, people stick to social media and making friends online while forgetting to physically socialize with people. There is a saying that goes, a problem shared is a problem half solved. Parents should create a safe space at home for their children to talk about their feelings. Parents should also debrief and talk out their stresses to avoid having pent-up emotions. Building a community involves talking to your neighbors and getting friends you can trust to confide in.
