What is Healthy Living?

By: Aimee Brown PA-C, Billings OB-GYN Associates

As spring and summer approach, we often feel the desire to get outside, to be more active, to “get healthy.” We hear about “healthy lifestyles, healthy living, and being healthy” but what does this really mean? How do we achieve healthy living?

A healthy lifestyle is defined as a pattern of living to promote health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

Healthy Living is a process of steps, actions and strategies put in place to achieve wellbeing. It is also about taking responsibility for our decisions and making smart choices for today and for the future.

Healthy living starts with healthy choices:

• Quality of life-Quit Smoking! Limit alcohol use to no more then 1 drink per day for women and no more then 2 drinks per day for men.
• Diet- A well balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains is still the gold standard. A daily diet should consist of 2,000 calories a day for Women and 2,500 calories for men.
• Exercise-A minimum of 2 ½ hours of aerobic exercise per week or 20-30 minutes a day. This could be a high intensity work out or even a daily brisk walk.
• Mental wellbeing-Take a break! Allow yourself time to decompress. Read a book, go for a walk, or listen to music.
• Social wellbeing- Be social. Volunteer in your community, start a new hobby, join a book club, or organize a night out with friends.
• Good health practices-See your primary practitioner at least once a year for an annual exam. Follow her recommendations for appropriate screening tests.

Start living healthy today.

• http://www.healthylifestylesliving.com/health/healthy-lifestyle/what-is-a-healthy-lifestyle/
• WWW.AHA.org
• www.CDC.gov

KALE AND APPLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN, FETA, AND TOASTED WALNUTS

• Author: Healthy Recipe Ecstasy
• Recipe type: Salad
• Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

• 2 medium sweet apples such as Honeycrisp, Gala or Pink Lady
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 generous pinch of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 4 cups loosely packed kale, hard stems removed and leaves massaged and torn into smaller pieces
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• ½ cup feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pinch of kosher salt
• Lemon zest and black pepper for garnish