When it comes to certain lifestyle choices, many people inherently think that more is always better. This is not the case, because while more is often better than a little, overdoing it can often leave you worse off. This is true in three key aspects of our life – diet, exercise and sleep. Today, we’re going to explain how a fairy tale character can help ensure you find a happy medium in all of these lifestyle choices.
The Goldilocks Rule
Whether it’s diet, exercise or sleep, there are drawbacks of getting too little or too much. For example, overexertion or a sedentary lifestyle can lead to the development of inflammation in the body, which can lead to pain or other health conditions. You’ve probably experienced a similar ill-effects when you’ve tried to function on 4 or 14 hours of sleep. To find an optimal balance in these areas of your life, medical experts want you to remember Goldilocks.
Goldilocks struggled to sleep when the bed was too firm or too soft, and she ran into similar problems with the porridge in the kitchen. She finally achieved peace when she found a happy medium. You should use a similar mindset when it comes to exercise, sleep and your diet.
“Not too much, not too little.”
This phrase best applies to exercise, but it applies to other arenas of health as well. The drawbacks of a sedentary lifestyle are well-documented, but people aren’t always aware of the negative effects of overexertion. Overexertion leads to inflammation in joints and can increase your risk of osteoarthritis and acute injury. Some exercise, like between 30 and 90 minutes, if often far better for your body than zero minutes or five hours of activity.
The same can be said for our sleep patterns. Studies have shown that “long sleepers” faced some of the same health risks as “short sleepers,” as the groups were at greater risk for inflammation, depression, increased BMI, cancer, lung problems and much more.
Finally, you should also keep Goldilocks in mind when it comes to your eating habits. You should try to eat a range of healthy food options, because too much or too little of one food group can lead to health problems. Your body functions best when it gets an appropriate amount of vitamins and nutrients from different food sources. Don’t just focus on one food type while neglecting others.
So when you’re making exercise, dietary or sleep choices, keep Goldilocks in the back of your mind. “Not too much, not too little,” and your body will be at its best.
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