Gavin Akehurst

Dr. Cassel

English Composition II

20 April 2020

Alternative Genre Project (Website Article List)

Top 5 Tips to Live a Healthy Life

By: Gavin Akehurst

There are plenty of websites or products out there that promise people they will lose

weight fast and easily, but obesity is still a major problem in the world today. Obesity can also

lead to other major health problems like heart disease or diabetes, so living a healthy life is very

important. However, those websites that promise fast results are not backed by science, and the

only true way to live a healthy life is through diet and exercise. Do you want to really lose

weight and be healthier overall? Well here are 5 tips that will help lead you to your healthiest

you!

#1: Eat the Goof Stuff

It is important to know what foods are important to eat. Fats like monosaturated fats,

found in products like olive oil or avocados, as well as Omega-3 fatty acids, found in different

types of fish, are considered to be healthy fats and are good for the body. Leaner types of meat

and fish as well as nuts and seeds are all healthy ways to get protein to the body. Fruits and
vegetables should be a large part of your diet, as they are good for the body and provide a good

source of fiber as well. When looking for dairy products, it is healthier to go with the products

that are lower in fat. Also, when deciding on different types of bread, pasta, or other types of

carbs, whole wheat is the healthiest choice (“Diet and Exercise for a Healthy Heart”).

#2: Avoid the Bad Stuff

Just like the foods that are god for your body, knowing which foods to avoid is an

important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Healthier fats were mentioned earlier, but there are

some fats that should be cut out of any diet. Saturated fats, found in products like butter or fatty

meats, and trans fats, found in frozen pizzas and desserts, should both be avoided whenever

possible (“Diet and Exercise for a Healthy Heart”). Another ingredient that should be limited is

sugar. Added sugars make up a lot of other ingredients, like high fructose corn syrup, and they

are in many soft drinks or energy drinks in the stores today. A good substitute for these types of

products is water, as water can help cut out some unnecessary added sugars in your diet, and it is

really good for the body (Lim 41-43). Win-win!

#3: Try a Diet

While following these rules can help you on your path to a healthy lifestyle, trying a diet

can also be beneficial. Be careful, though: there are tons of different diet plans that are not

backed by science and could actually be harmful to your body. The best diet out there right now

is the Mediterranean diet. This diet mostly consists of plant-based foods like nuts, seeds,

legumes, and, of course, fruits and vegetables. There is also a low amount of meats and dairy
products, eggs, and poultry (Bundy 286). Another good diet backed by science is the vegetarian

diet. Some vegetarian diets allow animal products like eggs and dairy, but others, vegan diets for

examples, do not include any animal products (Craig). Both of these diets can help you lower

blood pressure and lowers your risk of problems like heart disease and diabetes. There are other

diet plans that work, like the DASH diet for example, but it is important to make sure that there

is scientific evidence backing the diet before you choose to go on it.

#4: Exercise Frequently

Exercise is the other crucial part of living a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart

Association says that you should exercise for 30 minutes per day for at least 4 days of the week

(Fotuhi). Aerobic exercises, like running for example, are very good for your body, especially for

your heart. These exercises make your heart work harder to pump blood through the body, which

means you burn calories and make your heart healthier at the same time. And there are a variety

of different aerobic exercises that you can do. If you don’t like running, you can try walking,

biking, or even swimming!

#5: Stick With It

The most important part of trying to live a healthy lifestyle is sticking with it. It is going

to be hard, and losing weight will be gradual, but if you focus on eating well each and every day,

try out a healthy (and scientifically accurate) diet plan, and exercise whenever possible, you will

be able to make a big difference in your life and become a much healthier person.
 Works Cited

Bundy, R., and A. M. Minihane. “Diet, Exercise and Dementia: The Potential Impact of a

Mediterranean Diet Pattern and Physical Activity on Cognitive Health in a UK

Population.” Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 43, no. 3, Sept. 2018, pp. 284–289. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1111/nbu.12339.

Craig, Winston J., and Ann Reed Mangels. "Vegetarian Diets Help Prevent Disease." Can Diets

Be Harmful?, edited by Christine Watkins, Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/

EJ3010463223/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=69bb9c32. Accessed 28 Mar.

2020.

“Diet and Exercise for a Healthy Heart.” FamilyDoctor.org. https://familydoctor.org/diet-and-

exercise-for-a-healthy-heart/. Accessed 26 February 2020.

Fotuhi, Majid. "Exercise May Help Prevent Alzheimer's." Alzheimer's Disease, edited by Adela

Soliz, Greenhaven Press, 2006. Contemporary Issues Companion. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/EJ3010386209 /OVIC?u=

dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=d5c2f25a. Accessed 10 March 2020.