The lifestyle that each person follows will not only mark their relationship with the world around them, but will also determine the degree of health they possess. Bad habits will result in illnesses while good habits will improve their quality of life and increase their longevity.
Everything a person consumes from the moment of birth, their family, school, cultural, health, nutritional and sports education will define their lifestyle and this, in turn, will determine more than 50% of the quality of life they will have.
“Lifestyle (with emphasis) is the summary of all the education , of all the knowledge that you have learned throughout your life since you were a child (…) When one reaches adolescence or pre-adolescent age, and is going to pass into adulthood, that is when the lifestyle is formed, which is nothing more than the way any of us express ourselves and relate to the environment and to ourselves,” explains Dr. Luis Montel, in conversation with The Americas Newspaper.
The specialist in Sports Medicine, Traumatology and Master in Natural Medicine, Metabolism, Aesthetics and Anti-Aging, points out that the practice of all stored life knowledge will be what defines the degree of health and the ability of the individual to get sick.
“Lifestyle actively modifies human biology and makes us get sick more often or be healthier, allowing us to be people with greater potential, whether psychologically, physically, biologically or in terms of health. Everything, everything, everything can be summed up in lifestyle,” he says.
Even before a human being comes into the world, he or she is defined by a lifestyle : that of his or her parents . An alcoholic, smoking, drug-addicted mother can cause the child she is raising to have unfavorable abilities or health conditions.
Habits before birth are already important. “ It is the innate lifestyle that we are born with , the one that our mother gave us. It is so important that we do not even know how to speak or exist yet, but it is already marking us, because it is our mother’s way of relating to the environment,” says Montel.
Added to this is the way of life that the person will develop with his or her environment in adulthood, thanks to the knowledge accumulated since birth.
“Adult lifestyle is the way we relate to our environment. We will be more or less wise, very educated people or less educated, there will be some who will come out with bad habits and steal what is not theirs, others will come out with good habits and good moral codes. Lifestyle is directly related to the education received ,” he explains.
Our eating, sports and sleeping habits can help people lead a more or less healthy life. The doctor points out that lifestyle determines 60% of a person’s quality of life and health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature mortality.
“For example, a person who has a mobile lifestyle, who eats as healthily as possible, who exercises at least three times a week, who takes care of and monitors his or her weight, will have less probability of diseases, from a cardiovascular point of view ,” explains Montel.
On the contrary, he says, if the individual does not move enough, because he has a sedentary lifestyle, or moves around but eats too much fat and drinks too much alcohol, “he has a huge capacity to get sick.”
The other 40% of a person’s quality of life, he says, is determined by genetics or “coincidences of the world ,” such as, for example, an accident.
The doctor says that lifestyle is malleable, so “it is never too late” for a person to start taking care of their health.
“A person can return to a healthy lifestyle at any age (…) Adopting healthy habits can have significant benefits regardless of age, and can improve quality of life and reduce the risk of disease,” he notes.
He also points out that a change in lifestyle can even improve health after having suffered from a disease related to it. “Resuming good habits can help control and, in some cases, reverse the effects of certain diseases. For example, a balanced diet, regular exercise and quitting smoking can significantly improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of relapses,” he stresses.
Taking care of your diet, doing regular exercise, staying hydrated and getting adequate sleep are some of the tips given by the specialist to maintain a healthy lifestyle that helps reduce illnesses and increase longevity. The recommendations are:
- Balanced diet: Eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods and foods high in sugar and saturated fats.
- Regular exercise: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, such as walking, swimming or cycling. “Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, strengthens your heart and improves your mood,” she says.
- Hydration : Drink enough water throughout the day. “Hydration is essential for the proper functioning of the body,” she says.
- Adequate sleep: Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. “Sleep is crucial for recovery and overall well-being,” she notes.
- Stress management: Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga or deep breathing to manage stress.
- Avoid smoking: Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of lung and cardiovascular diseases.
- Moderate alcohol consumption: If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. “The general recommendation is no more than one drink per day for women and two for men,” Montel says.
- Regular medical checkups: Make regular visits to the doctor to monitor your health and detect any problems early.
“Adopting these habits can have a positive impact on your health and well-being in the long term. It is never too late to start taking care of yourself! ” emphasizes the doctor.
