Читать книгу Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine - Labros S. Sidossis - Страница 76

Adhering to a healthy lifestyle means practicing a way of living that builds, maintains, and promotes health and well-being.

The main characteristics of a healthy lifestyle include following a healthy diet; being physically active; maintaining a healthy weight; avoiding tobacco use, excess alcohol use, and the use of other harmful substances; controlling stress; and resting adequately (Figure 4.1).

A healthy diet throughout our lifecycle starts from infancy through breastfeeding. Optimal nutrition through childhood and adolescence helps to foster healthy growth; adequate nutrition throughout the adult life preserves health and maintains a good quality of life. In general, a healthy diet may vary greatly, depending on the personal characteristics, age, gender, physical activity habits, dietary preferences, and cultural habits, but also on food availability and accessibility. Chapter 6 presents the various dietary patterns that are considered healthy, based on extensive research conducted over the past 50 years.

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of CVD, certain types of cancer, hypertension, and depression and contributes to weight control and prevention of overweight and obesity. To ensure good health, physical activity should be an essential component of everyday living. Physical activity may include sports or planned exercise; walking, biking, or running as transportation; leisure time physical activity (such as dancing); occupational (i.e., work) or household chores; play; games; and activities in the context of daily family and community life. Combining aerobic, muscle‐strengthening, and bone‐strengthening types of exercise provides optimal health benefits. Chapter 9 summarizes the various forms of physical activity and the benefits accrued from them.