When we are talking of health, it is not just about a healthy body but also about sound mental health. Good health can be described as the condition where both our body as well as our mind are functioning properly. The main causes behind poor health conditions are diseases, improper diet, injury, mental stress, lack of hygiene, unhealthy lifestyle, etc. Over the past few years, our lifestyle has changed and we often tend to ignore the importance of healthy living in one way or the other.

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When to make the smartest health moves- from scheduling a pap to popping a vitamin.

TO SHARPEN YOUR BRAIN

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  • Play sudoko or do a crossword between 10 and 11 AM or 8 and 9 PM: try not to waste a minute- the brain boost lasts only for about an hour.
  • Take a nap at 2 PM: the sip in body temperature that helps ease you into sleep at night also occurs mid day, which is why afternoons can be so unproductive. But if you can catch a catnap around 2 PM (the slumps usually hit between 1 and 3’o clock), it should boost your alertness for several hours. Ten minutes will do the trick- nod off for more than 20 and you may wake up feeling groggy. If a nap is out of the question, eat plenty of protein at lunch, which will give you longer lasting energy.
  • Mid afternoon is also a good time for “strategic caffeine use”. If you don’t exceed a cup or two per day, caffeine works phenomenally well at increasing your alertness.

TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY

  • Follow a sleep schedule: several studies suggest that obeying your alarm clock can help relieve day time fatigue. And sleep researchers are finding that people who get at least 7 hours of sleep a night are much less likely to be obese and weight gain can act as an energy drain. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day also keeps your biological clock on schedule. This clock regulates your body temperature, hormones, blood pressure and other important functions.
  • Head to bed at least 2.5 hours after eating dinner: it ensures more efficient digestion and because eating too much food before sleeping can cause heart burn or deeper sleep. If you want a drink have it early to give your body plenty of time to metabolise the alcohol.

TO POWER UP YOUR PILLS

  • Swallow your multi vitamins with a meal: your body absorbs vitamins better when you take them with food. This will minimise the potential for stomach upset, too and make you more likely to remember your multi vitamin every day.
  • Take heart pills before bed: if you take blood pressure medication before turning in, it will still be working by early morning, which is a time associated with a 30 to 50% increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. And because the liver revs up cholesterol production overnight, you’ll maximise the lipid lowering ability of statins if you take them before hitting the sack.

TO GET MORE FROM YOUR WORKOUTS

  • Do your cardio exercise early in the morning: ultimately, the best time to exercise is when you’ll actually do it. That’s the reason for scheduling it early in the day. You have fewer distractions and if some does interfere, you can reschedule for the afternoon or evening. If you exercise outdoors, mornings are better because air pollution is lowest at that time. And research demonstrates that working out boosts brain activity afterward- a great way to begin your day. Experts say it is not good to exercise on an absolutely empty stomach.
  • Learn or practice a skill sport between 4 and 6 PM: hand-eye coordination is highest then, so it’s a good time for any form of exercise that requires a high degree of skill, like a tennis lesson or dance class.
  • Start exercising in February: with impending university and school exams students and parents are busy, so are officials and corporate with the financial year drawing to a close, attendance at sports club or gym is low so you are likely to get more attention from the trainer.
  • Begin your diet in June: you’ll naturally lose a kilo or two because of lack of appetite in this weather. Capitalize on that initial loss by starting a full-fledged diet and exercise program. All the fresh fruits and veggies will make it easier to eat right without feeling deprived.

TO PROTECT YOUR PEARLY WHITES

  • Brush at night: if you can only fit in one brushing session per day, your teeth will benefit most if you do it before going to bed.
  • Have a root canal after 2 PM: pain medications used in dentistry typically last 8 to 10 hours, so you’ll stay comfortably numb until you’re ready to hit the sack.

TO MAXIMIZE YOUR MEDICAL CARE

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  • Get the first appointment of the day: early in the morning doctors are more attentive and alert, so make the most of it with an early appointment. You encounter less traffic on your way to the doctor.
  • Test your cholesterol and triglyceride levels twice a year: to get a complete picture of your lipid levels have them checked once in the summer and then again in December. Research shows that these levels especially those of triglycerides fluctuate between the seasons and generally tend to peak in mid winter, especially in women.
  • Arrange your elective surgery for winter or: avoid July, august and September, when the hot moist weather in most parts of the country makes for ideal conditions for infections. The operation theatre may be sanitised, but once the patient is out of operation theatre, chances of secondary infection is high. Of course much depends on the kind of surgery.