Make 2021 Your Healthiest Year
This year, make your health a priority by adding “maintaining a healthy lifestyle” to your list of New Year’s resolutions. Getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet full of fruits, veggies and protein, such as pork, will get you on the right track. But there are other things you can do to keep your muscles strong and healthy. Here are a couple of practices that can help make 2021 your strongest and healthiest year yet!
Stay hydrated by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Dehydration is serious and can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, muscle cramping and more. That’s why water is an athlete’s best friend. If you drink only a couple of glasses of water a day, increase your water intake this year. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. That lactic acid build-up in your muscles while you’re active will cause soreness; water helps move lactic acid out of those muscles and does many other things.
Focus on your cooking skills this year and try your hand in the kitchen!
While treating yourself to a cheeseburger and fries every now and then is fine, don’t make it a habit. Instead, you can turn your creativity and knowledge of a healthy diet into an activity to try with your friends and family. Here’s a super easy recipe for Spicy Asian Ground Pork Burgers.
Eating plenty of protein, like that found in pork, can help you maintain a healthy mind and body.
Pork contains a variety of healthy nutrients that are beneficial for your muscles. It’s low in carbohydrates and sodium, yet packed with 22 grams of protein. Because of that protein, pork can help your body recover faster from hard practices and challenging workouts.
Eating even the smallest breakfast wakes up your brain and gives you energy to start your day.
Skipping the first meal of the day can have serious consequences to your health, affecting your energy levels and blood sugar. Not getting that fuel in the morning affects your metabolism, which can leave you feeling sluggish throughout the day. Eating a bowl of cereal, some bacon or even a piece of toast sends signals to your brain that the day has started and it is time to focus. Try this quick and easy breakfast sandwich.
Get 8–10 hours of sleep each night to help you wake up feeling refreshed.
Sleep plays such an important role in your health. School and practice can keep you busy during the week, but prioritizing sleep will help you stay on top of your academic and fitness goals this year. Sleep allows your body to re-set: healing and repairing your heart and blood vessels, lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and allowing you to think more clearly.
You’re never too young to start healthy habits. Incorporating some of these simple changes into your daily routine will help establish a successful and healthy future.
Learn more
Resources and Citations
Information Sources
- Iowa Pork Nutrition
https://www.iowapork.org/all-about-pork/cookingnutrition/
https://ymiclassroom.com/startstrong.html
- What You Should Know About Fluids
https://www.livehealthyiowakids.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/What_You_Should_Know_About_Fluids.pdf