Are you working on your health resolutions for 2022? Add these to your list and you can be much healthier next year, with less stress and fewer health problems.
Eat Mushrooms
Mushrooms are very affordable, and can be prepared to eat very quickly and easily. Mushrooms also have an anticancer effect, and they can even lower your risk of developing your depression.
This could be because they contain an antioxidant called ergothioneine, which protects against cell and tissue damage. In high levels, this antioxidant is an anti-inflammatory, can reduce the risk of oxidative stress in your body, and reduce symptoms of depression. Mushrooms are the best way to get ergothioneine into your diet.
If you are struggling with depression, however, don’t rely on mushrooms. Seek proper support, and avoid depressants like alcohol. If you’re giving up alcohol in 2022, you can get help from https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/texas/pasadena/.
Take Naps, But Short Ones
It is considered to be healthy to take naps during the day, but only if you can nap for the right amount of time. Napping for too long, longer than about 60 minutes, has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease when compared with not napping at all. It’s not quite clear why longer naps come with these risks, but it has been suggested that cause could be naps being associated with higher levels of inflammation, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Sleeping for too long during the day can also leave you feeling sluggish and more tired than before you nap, which won’t make you feel much like keeping up with your healthy habits. Shorter naps can be refreshing and can lift your energy before a workout, for example.
Napping relaxes and recharges the body and mind, but try to keep your naps to around 20 minutes. Anything longer than that can put you into a deeper phase of sleep, so you will feel drowsy when you wake up.
Go For Regular Health Screenings
Health screenings can be used for the early detection and management of all kinds of diseases and health conditions. Doing this can greatly improve your quality of life and prevent premature death. The screenings you have can be personalized to suit your needs, so your doctor might talk you through any medical concerns that you might have, and should take your age, gender, and lifestyle into account to determine which screenings and tests you ought to have.
You should have blood work done every year, to check your liver and kidney function and your cholesterol levels. Women over 40 should have annual breast and pelvic scans, and a pap smear. Men over 40 should have testicular exams over year, and men over 50 should have a prostate exam.
Mental health checks are just as important as physical ones. During a physical health check, your doctor can also assess your mental health using evidence-based questionnaires. Patients can present with physical symptoms, which could just be a physical manifestation of mental health issues.