Advanced Nutritional Products - Herbalife Australia Distributor Herbal Life

Kickstart your Lifestyle

How to kick-start your healthy active lifestyle

Healthy diets and regular, adequate physical activity are major factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course.

Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity, which are a major public health challenge. "The world Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese."

According to the WHO, "the fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories expended on the other hand. Global increases in overweight and obesity are attributable to a number of factors including;

a global shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars but low in vitamins and other micronutrients; and
a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanisation."

Most countries throughout the world have adopted the WHO strategy into their national health policies.

In Australia and New Zealand, there are educational resources available to help you achieve a healthy, active lifestyle,. Two excellent resources available online are the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and New Zealand food and Nutrition Guidelines to Healthy Adults: A Background Paper.

Lifestyle and Exercise

Exercise doesn't mean you have to join the gym. There are plenty of ways to gradually increase your levels of physical activity and integrate them into your day-to-day life:

Keep hydrated by consuming at least two litres of water each day. It is even more important to drink water before, during and after exercise. Even low-intensity exercise requires you to be well-hydrated.
Keep physically active with at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, at least five times each week. You can split each half-hour into three 10-minute sessions. If 30 minutes are out of reach right now, start with what you can do and gradually build up.
Choose a form of exercise that will easily fit into your everyday routine:
Taking a brisk walk, playing sports with the kids, walking the kids to school instead of driving, getting off the bus or subway a stop earlier, using the stairs, etc. Have a garden? Get out there and wrestle with the weeds. All the digging, mowing and raking can provide a surprisingly good workout.
Choose activities that you can do with your family or with friends who will help you to stay motivated.
Rest and relaxation are essential. Stress can cause health problems, and some believe it can leave your body more prone to illness. Take time to relax by exercising, spending time with family or friends, or meditating. Aim to get at least seven hours of good-quality sleep each night to enure you wake up feeling refreshed.
Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol provides 'empty calories,' which offer no nutritional benefit.
Quit smoking.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements

Your body needs nutrients to function properly. Getting the right amount of these nutrients is necessary for a balanced nutrition, which provides fuel for your daily activities and can help you achieve a heathy, active lifestyle.

Always eat a healthy breakfast. After you have slept for hours, your body cries out for food. That's why breakfast is such an important meal; It kick-starts your metabolism and provides energy to start your day.
Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to help prevent energy slumps and cravings for sugary snacks.
Having a healthy snack like fruits, vegetables and small servings of protein, such as unsalted nuts, yogurt or low-fat cheese, during midmorning and mid-afternoon, will help you avoid overeating at lunch or dinner time.
Actively shift your food choices towards a balanced, healthy diet. Aim to provide your body with a wide range of nutrients, in including protein, whole grains and seven servings of fruits and vegetables, every day.
Protein is an essential nutrient and is contained in every part of the body. Protein has a number of different roles, including: Building and maintaining body tissues, providing a source of energy and controlling many of the important processes related to metabolism. Protein can be found in animal sources like meat, fish, poultry eggs, and dairy products, and plant foods such a beans, lentils and soybeans. Plant sources of protein contain less fat than animal protein. Aim to eat two to three servings of protein from different sources every day.
Fibre is an important component of a healthy, balanced diet. It helps your digestive system to process food and to absorb nutrients. fibre is only found in foods that come from plants. good sources of fibre include fruits, vegetables, beans, oats, whole-grain rice and pasta, whole wheat bread, nuts, seeds and brans.
Reduce levels of sugar, saturated fat and salt in your diet by checking the nutrition information of food labels and limiting the amount you consume.
Ensure a regular intake of fluids to stay properly hydrated.

Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements typically supply vitamins, minerals, proteins or other healthful nutrients. They do not replace the variety of foods important to a healthy diet, but are intended to 'supplement' the diet when needed. Dietary supplements should not replace prescribed medications.
Always read and follow the instructions on the label and pay special attention to and cautionary notices. Do not exceed the recommended usage as stated on the label and do not give to children any products intended for adults.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have pre-existing medical conditions that require medical supervision, have known allergies to foods or medications, consume high levels of alcohol daily or are planning to have surgery, always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any dietary supplement.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist about the dietary supplements you take. Share the products label or other information, as some health care professionals may not be familiar with the composition of that particular dietary supplement. If you have any unusual sypmptoms after taking a dietary supplement, stop using the product and consult your doctor. If you have been using Herbalife products, please also contact the company, or ask your doctor to at 08 8154 0220 (Australia).
Store dietary supplements in a cool and dry place and out of the reach of children. Most of us aspire to having a healthy, active lifestyle. It truly is within our reach if we commit to some gradual, long-term lifestyle changes.