The great thing about starting a new year is that you get a fresh, new start at life—and at improving your health.

This can feel overwhelming, particularly if you have lots of things in your life that you’d like to improve. But breaking it down can make it easier, which is why our team at AFC Urgent Care TN wants to share some tips.

Am I Eating a Healthy Diet?

In many cases, a change in eating habits is the first step for people to become healthier. Most of us don’t eat as healthy of a diet as we can, making this an easy area for improvement.

Start by making a concentrated effort to fill your plate with a good blend of fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and a small amount of healthy fat. This alone will get you on a path toward a healthier diet.

Other Healthy Eating Tips

• Bake, broil and grill foods rather than frying.
• Consume more fatty fish, like salmon or tuna.
• Cut down on saturated fat and added sugar.
• Reduce your salt intake.
• Stay hydrated by sipping on water throughout the day.

How Much Exercise Is Enough?

Well, that really depends on what your goals are! If you’re looking to lose weight or are currently in poor health, you may need more exercise than other people.

But in general, guidelines recommend that you aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week for optimal health. If you break that down to daily activity, it adds up to just more than 20 minutes per day. You can fit that in, right?

Types of Exercise

• Cardiovascular activity (cardio)
• Strength training
• Balance exercises
• Flexibility exercises

If you’re aiming to live a healthier lifestyle in 2020, a checkup is a great place to begin! Stop by one of our AFC Urgent Care TN locations today for a checkup—no appointment is needed.