Celebrate World Health Day by remembering the healthiest daily habits.

Health is more than ‘absence of illness’. It is a much wider concept that covers lifestyle, eating habits, culinary culture, hygiene habits and means of subsistence.

Having a healthy lifestyle habits means having daily habits that help to keep you in good physical and mental condition. They are recommendations that we’ve already heard a thousand times, but it isn’t a bad idea to be reminded.

1. Do exercise
   Whatever you enjoy most, in the conditions you prefer, alone, in company, indoors or outside. Any type of exercise you can imagine provided that it gets you up off the sofa and moving your body. Be constant and persevere. Your sessions should last at least 30 minutes to give the body time to warm up the muscles, increase your heart rate and breathing and move your fuel deposits.

2. Watch your diet
   This means eating a varied diet with moderate amounts of everything.
   Eat five times a day. Remember that breakfast and lunch should be larger meals and dinner should be light. Have a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
   Eat mainly fresh and seasonal foods, in other words, fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to get the right amount of animal and vegetable proteins and remember that the majority of the fat you eat should be unsaturated.
   Cut your intake of processed and precooked food, simple sugars and baked goods. Save them for special occasions.
   If you eat a varied, comprehensive diet, there’s no need for you to give up any type of food. There are no good or bad foods. The secret is balance.
   Don’t skip meals. Fasting will interfere with your metabolism.

3. Use simple cooking methods.
   The simpler the cooking method, the easier the food is to digest. You’ll find it easier to control calories and you’ll build up fewer toxins. Baked, grilled, steamed and boiled foods are healthier than battered and fried foods or stews with sauces.

4. Drink plenty of liquids.
   That goes for both summer and in winter. Your body needs water to carry out vital functions. As well as the water you get from food, you should drink at least two litres every day. Spread it out throughout the day, drinking eight glasses of water or other drinks like juices, smoothies, infusions, soft drinks, soups or purées. Avoid drinking too many sugary drinks that contain empty calories, fizzy drinks, which cause abdominal distension, or stimulating drinks with caffeine or alcohol, which affect the nervous system.

5. Avoid smoke and toxic substances.
   Avoid smoke whenever possible, whether it is you, your family, friends and colleagues that smoke. Smoke is harmful to the lungs, skin and mucous membranes. Try not to spend too long in polluted environments with poor ventilation, because the contaminated air that you breathe will weaken your defences and make you more likely to suffer infections.

6. Look after personal hygiene
   To protect your skin from infection from external agents.
   Handle food hygienically to avoid bacterial and viral contamination.

7. Enjoy nature
   Go out walking or on excursions and enjoy vitality and energy from the sunshine. Protect your skin from the sun so that you only get the benefits. Connect with the sounds, colours and smells of nature and release yourself from tension and worries. Be sensible and look after your surroundings.

8. Try to be happy.
   Look for happiness in small things and enjoy every moment. A kiss, a smile and a hug are also healthy habits.

Your health is in your own and in everyone's hands. That’s why the world has World Health Day.

This post is also available in: Spanish