5 Improvements That You Can Make to Your Health Today

When you decide to improve your health, it can be hard to decide where to start. Don't let that keep you from working toward your goal, though. These five improvements are all easy to implement, yet they can have a big impact on your overall health.

1. Reduce Chronic Inflammation

When faced with an infection or injury, the body produces an inflammatory response. This helps support the healing process by attracting white blood cells to the affected area. Sometimes, however, the body is in a state of chronic inflammation. This is characterized by continuous healing and destruction of the tissue at the site of inflammation and can affect any area of the body. Basically, your body is attacking itself. Unsurprisingly, this can lead to widespread health problems.

There are treatments available that can reduce and manage inflammation. In fact, cannabidiol has emerged as a possible weapon against chronic inflammation. Not all products are the same, however, so it is imperative that you learn how to choose CBD oil that is right for your condition.

2. Keep Your Cholesterol in Check

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can drastically reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present in your blood. The body uses it for cell formation and in the synthesis of certain vitamins. In healthy individuals, the liver produces enough cholesterol for the body to use. You also get some from dietary sources, particularly animal-based products.

There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL (bad) and HDL (good). High amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood is a significant indicator of future heart disease. So, what are healthy cholesterol levels? Recommended levels vary somewhat, but in general, adults should aim to keep their total cholesterol reading below 200. Of that amount, try to keep the HDL levels higher than the LDL ones. Dietary changes, such as eating more high-fiber fruits, vegetables and legumes, may help keep LDL levels in check.

3. Learn How To Manage Stress

You can't avoid stress altogether, but you can keep it from affecting your health. According to the University of Minnesota, prolonged or repeated negative reactions to stress can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and digestive disorders, impair immune function and accelerate aging processes at the cellular level. It is beneficial to learn your stress triggers before you start to learn how to control and reduce its effects.

Luckily, there are many effective and simple to implement strategies that have been shown to reduce the effects of stress. Relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation, progressive relaxation and guided imagery are all popular and scientifically proven to be effective. Many people report positive results with increased physical activity, which helps counter the production of stress hormones. Yoga and Tai Chi are gentle forms of exercise that can lower stress levels while also improving other markers of health. Spending time outside in nature has also been shown to help with stress management.

4. Support a Healthy Gut

The gut plays a tremendous role in bodily functions. Beyond the obvious role of breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and distributing them throughout the body, it is also responsible for a large portion of the immune response. It appears to be linked to certain types of cancer, brain function and heart health as well. Millions of microscopic organisms that live within the gut make this all possible. Supporting them by consuming prebiotic fiber and probiotics in fermented foods, exercising and avoiding processed foods helps you maintain better health levels.

5. Lower Your BMI

The body mass index is a rough scale based on height and weight — it does not take body composition into account — that can be used to determine if someone is a healthy weight or not. A BMI over 25 indicates overweight, while one over 30 indicates obesity which increases your chances of developing an array of serious health conditions. Take a minute to calculate your BMI and then take steps to get it within a normal range if necessary.

Whether you work to lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation or improve your gut health, you can take concrete action to improve your health today.