10 Habits of the World’s Healthiest People
If you follow the lifestyle habits of the average Australian, you’ll be living a life of probability, where you can expect to develop one or two chronic illnesses and experience a declining quality of life as you age. However, at Chiro H3, we believe in a life of possibility, where you can enjoy improved quality of life and wellbeing as you get older.
You can live this life by following the top 10 habits of the healthiest people in the world. These behaviours have been identified after years of research and through data collected from countries where over 35% of the population lives to 100 (like Greece, Italy, Finland and Sweden) compared to 10% in the rest of the world.
1. Keep your spine and nervous system healthy
Your nervous system controls every cell, tissue and organ in your body, so make sure you’re taking good care of it.
2. Exercise
The health benefits of regular exercise are hard to ignore – from weight control, improved mood and increased energy to better sleep and improved health.
3. Work on flexibility and core strength
The more strength, stability and flexibility you have, the more you’ll be able to adapt to the stress you place on your body.
4. Drink water
Our bodies are made up of 80% water, so it makes sense that water should be our main source of hydration. Other liquids like tea, juice and alcohol should be consumed in moderation.
5. Eat real food
Give your body the fuel it needs for optimal health. Avoid processed and packaged foods and eat a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods, good fats and oils, organic grass-fed meat, and fresh fish.
6. Practise meditation and mindfulness
The many benefits of meditation include improved sleep quality, increased immunity and improved metabolism. It also helps to de-stress the nervous system and can even increase happiness levels.
7. Build strong psychosocial connections
Social relationships (both in quality and quantity) affect mental health, health behaviour, physical health and mortality risk. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” – so choose your friends wisely.
8. Find a sense of purpose
Finding a direction for your life and setting overarching goals for what you want to achieve can actually help you live longer. This purpose should be focused on benefiting others rather than yourself.
9. Develop a work-life balance
Success in your professional life affords you opportunities in your personal life. But just remember, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life!”
10. Invest in your health
The healthiest people in the world recognise health as their greatest asset in life and are prepared to invest time, energy and money into maintaining it. Your level of health directly relates to how happy you are.
About Chiro H3
Chiro H3 is an Elixr Corporate Partner and currently has practices in Sydney’s CBD and Lower North Shore. Their modern, state-of-the-art practices utilise the latest technology and diagnostic procedures, coupled with gentle, safe and effective Chiropractic techniques.
About Dr Adrian Couzner
Dr Adrian Couzner is the Director of Chiro H3 Sydney City and Lower North Shore. He graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science in 1992 and then completed his Master of Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 1994.
