Tips for Staying Healthy
Posted on April 7, 2017
There is more to staying healthy than seeing your doctor when you are sick. It’s also about making healthy choices and improving your overall well-being. From exercise to eating right and quitting smoking, there are many things you can do to improve your health.
Exercise can be fun
Regular exercise makes you strong and flexible. It also reduces stress, boosts energy and helps you control your weight. Exercise can even help you sleep better.
With benefits like these, it’s no wonder the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week and strength training two or more days per week.
Get started by doing what you enjoy. Exercising doesn’t mean you have to join the gym. That can help, of course, but here are some other creative ways to fit exercise into your life:
- Go for a walk or a bike ride.
- Exercise at home to workout DVDs or videos on YouTube.
- Do some gardening or mow the lawn.
- Dance around the house when no one’s home.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walk to the store instead of driving there.
Get strong. Strength exercises such as lifting weights, doing push-ups, sit-ups or any other type of strength training can help you stay fit. Strong muscles protect your joints, reshape your body, and actually burn calories, even when you’re standing still.
Don’t forget to stretch. Stretching keeps you toned and limber, prevents injuries, and helps you move freely. Simple stretches or yoga can protect you from muscle tears and aches.
Eat your way to better health
Proper nutrition is a fundamental part of good health. It is not always easy to know what good nutrition is, how to eat right, or how to compare different food choices. Learn more at http://healthnewengland.org/wellness/healthy-eating. Here you’ll find some helpful nutrition webinars about the basics of nutrition.
Prevention is key
Preventive care helps you get ahead of any health issues. Routine checkups, immunizations, lab tests and health screenings may help you lower your risk for disease and can help your doctor diagnose and treat any health concerns early. So remember to see your primary care doctor for your yearly wellness visit.
Free extra benefits for Be Healthy™ members
At Health New England, we want you to succeed. Whether you are working to maintain a healthy diet and weight, or trying to quit smoking, we can help. That’s why we have free extra benefits to support our Be Healthy™ members in all that you do.
- Wellness reimbursement allowance ($50 per member, $200 for a family of four)
- FREE dental kit (call Member Services to request this)
- FREE gifts and items for you and your baby through our “Bee” Healthy Babies Program for expecting mothers and children
- HNEPlus Discount Program – get discounts at local vendors by showing your Health New England Be Healthy™ ID card – visit hne.org/hneplus for more details
- Smoking cessation – get help to quit smoking through the Start to Stop® smoking cessation program
Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program or if you have any concerns about your health.
For more about your Be Healthy benefits, visit http://healthnewengland.org/behealthy/benefits or call Member Services at (413) 788-0123 or toll-free at (800) 786-9999, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Comments are currently closed.