If you’re about to write a “benefits of a healthy lifestyle” essay, make sure to check out our sample below! Here, you’ll get some ideas for your “benefits of a healthy lifestyle” essay. 
Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle: Essay Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as ‘A complete state of mental, physical and social well-being not merely the absence of disease.’ Physical fitness is one area of my lifestyle that I currently fail to meet this organization’s guidelines.
WHO’s guidelines recommend physical activity for all ages. In my bracket (18-64), it is recommended that I do a minimum of 150 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity aerobics in bouts of at least 10 minutes. Muscle strengthening undertakings should also be carried out at least twice a week.
It is in addition to leisure time and physical activities such as walking, hiking, swimming, and gardening. A healthy balanced diet should accompany it (Greenberg et al., 2004). An analysis of my routine depicts that I fall short of following these guidelines. As such, I have resolved to adopt a different lifestyle to enhance my physical well-being.
Choice of Lifestyle
My new choice of lifestyle will entail healthy eating and increased physical exercise. Eating a healthy diet will be necessary for weight management and improvement of the quality of life, especially during my old age. Using scientific data to determine the amount of calories accrued from each food type, I can regulate my intake to ensure I only take the nutritionally recommended portions.
Nutritionists state that eating more fruits and cereals is vital in providing vitamins and minerals. Vitamins contribute to the functioning of various body processes. These include in-tissue growth, antioxidants, and mediating cellular regulation. They facilitate chemical reactions in the body cells by functioning as cofactors in enzymatic pathways.
Such other vitamins as biotin are essential in the formation of fatty acids. I also intend to lower my fat intake (Richards, 2009). In response, I will adopt only skim milk and fat-free yogurt and shift from full-fat salad dressing to non-fat alternatives. It is because fat has twice as much the number of calories as protein or carbohydrate sources.
Furthermore, fats raise cholesterol levels in the blood, increasing the risk of pulmonary disorders. Taking appropriate ratios of carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals such as potassium, iron, and calcium and taking the recommended daily water intake, my health will be on the way to recovery through losing unnecessary fat deposits (Winson, 2010).
Adopting a well-informed physical exercise program is another part of my healthy lifestyle change. Engaging in constant physical activity is known to burn calories. It, in turn, reduces the risk of accumulating excess energy trapped by adipose tissue in the body. It is essential in the regulation of body weight.
Physical activity also promotes the uptake of high-density lipoprotein, or the “good” cholesterol, while decreasing the uptake of the low-density cholesterol form known to be responsible for increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other disorders, including stroke, diabetes, cancer, and depression.
Regular physical activity also improves muscle strength and increases endurance. It is in addition to enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery into body tissues. It significantly boosts the performance of the cardiovascular system enabling it to work efficiently (Hu et al., 2011). Therefore, I will reap all these benefits and lose weight by adopting this new lifestyle.
Short and Long Term Health Benefits
The benefits accrued from adopting a healthy lifestyle are numerous. In general terms, a nutritious diet and regular exercise contribute immensely to improving the quality of life. According to medical and nutrition professionals, proper nutrition helps curb the accumulation of unhealthy body fat and cholesterol. The appropriate diet will also reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disorders.
The reason is that the diet provides all the necessary elements for health maintenance (Thomson et al., 2011). Conversely, exercise reduces the chance of premature death from disorders related to inactive lifestyles.
By increasing the level of high-density cholesterol, exercise will minimize the risk of coronary and other related health complications. Regular exercise increases bone density in the long run, which is vital in preventing osteoporosis. It also enhances general body composition by maintaining acceptable limits of tissue-to-body fat ratio, thus discouraging overweight and obesity (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009).
Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle: Essay Conclusion
The importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle cannot be overemphasized. The benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle are numerous, with overall improving the quality of life. The WHO’s description of health as the absolute harmony among physical, mental, and social life components and not necessarily the absence of disease indicates that a healthy lifestyle is essential.
However, the simplicity with which this can be achieved depends solely on the individual. One can effectively lead a healthy lifestyle by adopting healthy nutrition, physical exercises, adequate rest, stress management, and high self-esteem. It has informed my decision to change my lifestyle to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Reference List
Chodzko-Zajko, et al, 2009, ‘Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults’, Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise, 41, 7, pp. 1510-1530.
Greenberg JS, Dintiman GB, & Oakes BM, 2004, Physical Fitness and Wellness: Changing the Way You Look, Feel, and Perform. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics.
Hu F, Liu Y, & Willett W, 2011, ‘Preventing chronic diseases by promoting healthy diet and lifestyle: public policy implications for China’, Obesity Reviews, 12, 7, pp. 552-559.
Richards S, 2009, ‘The building blocks of a healthy diet’, Practice Nurse, 38, 3, pp. 12-17.
Thomson J, et al, 2011, ‘A Simulation Study of the Potential Effects of Healthy Food and Beverage Substitutions on Diet Quality and Total Energy Intake in Lower Mississippi Delta Adults’, Journal Of Nutrition, 141, 12, pp. 2191-2197.
Winson A, 2010, ‘The Demand for Healthy Eating: Supporting a Transformative Food ‘Movement”, Rural Sociology, 75, 4, pp. 584-600