It’s easy to forget about your health when you’re young, fit and can demolish an entire pizza with apparently few consequences.
But is it really essential to eat well and exercise when you naturally feel at your physical peak in your 20s? Is it actually more work than it’s worth?
You may look healthy but…
… a healthy weight might not mean much if you constantly eat rubbish. Around 13 per cent of people with a healthy body mass index are estimated to be TOFI (thin on the outside, fat on the inside).
This means they carry large amounts of hidden visceral fat, which collects around the organs. Visceral fat carries risks of heart disease, insulin resistance, fatty liver and inflammation. Luckily, avoiding fructose seems to be an easy way to prevent abdominal fat and other metabolic issues.
Health issues can strike at any time.
While chronic health issues are still more prominent in the older population, youth certainly doesn’t make you immune. Diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers are all on the rise in young adults.
These illnesses are still fairly rare in young people, but worth being aware of. Especially because you’d want your body to be in tip-top shape if anything did happen!
Health issues are also accumulative.
Sure, bad lifestyle choices may not affect you too much now. But what about when you’re in your 50s and suffering osteoporosis because you weren’t mindful of your calcium intake? Or on the brink of type 2 diabetes because you drank two cans of soft drink a day all throughout your 20s?
Your older self will thank you for being proactive now.
How to build healthy habits in your 20s.
If this all seems a little scary, don’t worry. It’s never too early or too late to start being mindful of your health. And these practical tips that will have you building healthy habits for life!
- Eat less sugar. Too much of the stuff is linked to health issues like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver disease.
- Learn to cook. The more you cook, the less processed crap you eat. Make sure you’re getting plenty of veggies and whole foods, too.
- Exercise. Just being a little active can strengthen immunity, protect the brain, reduce depression and fight cancer.
- Sleep. How easy it is to form bad sleep patterns in your 20s, between studying and partying! Yet sleep is so important for our body’s repair and vital functions.
- Be sun safe. Skin cancer is almost entirely preventable with sun protection. You’ll age better, too.
- Avoid toxins. Don’t smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol, naturally!
- Practice self-care. Your mental health is always a priority. Form good foundations by practicing mindfulness and being aware of feelings of anxiety or depression.
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