by Ingredia USA | Oct 10, 2021 | Stress Management
A recent survey of Americans found that 71% of us rate our overall health and wellness as good (54%) or excellent (17%). The signs are that Americans are doing the main things well, like getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. However, it is also true that more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese.
So, while there is some contradiction in the state of America in terms of health and well-being, making beneficial changes to your lifestyle is easier than we think. Implementing healthy habits in our daily lifestyles can have wide-ranging benefits for our overall health.
In this blog post, we will look at seven healthy habits that you can start right now. As you will see, one of these to increase your daily intake of high-quality dairy ingredients, which is easy thanks to Ingredia.
1. Wake Up Early
People who wake up early are the envy of us all! Though it can be difficult to wake up early, after a few weeks you will have established a very beneficial habit. Waking up earlier gives you more time to plan and organize your day, as well as having more time to eat a healthy breakfast, exercise, and practice yoga.
A more regular sleeping routine, where your body knows that it will awaken at the same time each day, can lead to better overall sleep. Waking up feeling energized is a wonderful start to the day.
2. Increase Your Water Consumption
If there is one easy habit that we can all start doing right now, it’s drinking more water. Drinking more water helps to aid digestion, normalize blood pressure, carry nutrients and oxygen to our cells, flush bacteria from our bladders, and so much more.
Given that 60% of our bodies are water, it makes sense to regularly replenish the fluids in our bodies. Two liters should be the minimum amount of water we all consume daily.
3. Consume Plenty of Dairy Products
Research shows us that a worrying percentage of Americans do not consume enough dairy foods. A staggering 88% of us do not get the required amount of dairy in our everyday diet.
Dairy products are essential to our health and well-being, especially when it comes to building and maintaining strong bones and muscles. Dairy products like milk produce high amounts of essential nutrients like calcium, Vitamin D, and potassium.
At Ingredia, we create higher-quality dairy ingredients through cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions. That way, you will reap more of the benefits of consuming milk and other dairy products in an ethical and sustainable way.
4. Make Exercise a Daily Habit
In these modern times, we are increasingly living more sedentary lifestyles where exercise is often overlooked. However, the health benefits of regular physical activity are many. Exercising can reduce our risk of heart attacks, help to manage our weight, lower our blood cholesterol level, lower the risk of developing osteoporosis, and much more.
It’s worth pointing out that you don’t have to train like a professional athlete to be healthy, either. As little as 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day can have huge health benefits. Going for a brisk walk at lunchtime, for example, is a great means of getting in some exercise each day.
5. Spend Time Away From Screens
This is another point tied to our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. We spend much of our day looking at screens, be they TVs, computers, or mobile phones. Too much screen time each day can affect our sleep, result in obesity, depression, anxiety, and lead to neck and back problems.
Try and limit your use of screens when you don’t absolutely need them, like in the evenings after work. Read a book or spend time outside in nature and reap the benefits instead.
6. Swap Junk Food for Fruits and Nuts
Snaking on unhealthy foods is something that many of us do without even realizing. We may be working at our desk or watching TV on the couch and our hands will automatically go for a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate.
Instead, stock up your kitchen with healthier snacks like fruits (apples and strawberries are great options) and nuts (almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts to name just three). You’ll still be able to snack but you’ll be doing your body a favor with these healthy eating habits.
7. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Let’s tie this whole list together with getting a good night’s sleep. Adults are advised to sleep between seven and nine hours, while teenagers and children need even more.
There are many benefits to getting a good night’s sleep. These include keeping your immune system strong, improving attention and concentration, looking after your emotional well-being, reducing stress, and keeping your heart healthy. So, do yourself a favor and make time to rest!
Make a Goal of Implementing These Important Healthy Habits
As you can see, there are myriad ways of improving your overall health by implementing healthy habits. From getting enough sleep to eating more dairy products and exercising daily, you can make important changes that your body will thank you for.
The best strategy is to start by implementing small changes in your daily routine, rather than trying to do much at once. Over time, you can gradually improve the number of healthy living habits you do each day.
Since 2009, Ingredia has been creating higher-quality dairy ingredients in the US. Our clinically-approved dairy ingredients provide all kinds of health and lifestyle benefits. With our products, you can boost immunity and digestive health, regulate blood sugar levels, and promote muscle and bone health.
Check out our activities here to discover the health benefits of dairy and learn more about why Ingredia is your partner in health.
by Ingredia USA | Jun 14, 2021 | Pet Health, Stress Management
At first glance, anxiety and stress might seem unrelated to your pet’s gastro health. But, a recent study suggests otherwise.
As it turns out, gastro health or the health of the gut microbiome is “inextricably linked to pet health and disease,” according to the study.
A healthy gut equals healthy behaviors for cats and dogs. So if your pet struggles with anxiety or other behavioral problems, read on. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about stress and pet gut health.
What Exactly Is the Gut Microbiome?
Microbiome refers to microorganisms. Tiny things, like bacteria, fungus, and viruses. A whole host of which live in the digestive tracts of people and animals.
What we refer to as the gut is made up of three components:
- the stomach
- the small intestine
- the colon (also called the large intestine)
The gut is a microsystem unto itself. Scientists estimate 38 trillion different bacteria, viruses, and fungi, call it home.
The conglomeration of those bacteria is a living organism, the microbiome!
The microbiome is the biggest immune organ of the body. And it is responsible for way more than just digesting food.
New research shows that the gut microbiome:
Gastro Health, Stress, and the Microbiome
The gut microbiome communicates directly with the brain.
Think about all those times you’ve had a gut instinct or a gut feeling about something. That’s your microbiome talking.
The same is true in animals. This internal communications phenomenon is known as the Gut-Brain Axis.
You may be thinking, Hold on now, my brain and my stomach talk to each other?? How?!?
The gut bacteria create chemicals; these chemicals then communicate with the brain via the nervous and hormonal systems.
The effect of this communication on the mood of the host depends on who’s at home. That is to say, what specific bacteria are in the gut making the chemicals.
Some bacteria make chemicals that are calming. In contrast, others provoke anxiety and depression.
Therefore, an imbalance or disturbance in the gut biome could lead to increased expression of anxiety and aggression. As well as a slew of other problems.
What Causes Dog and Cat Anxiety?
Dogs and cats are very empathic. If you are neurotic and anxious, studies show that your pets may develop those characteristics too.
Aside from human influence, there are a few other common causes of dog/cat anxiety:
- the wrong type of food
- the incorrect quantity of food
- any type of discomfort
- significant pain and disease
- not getting appropriate exercise
- fear/separation anxiety
- grief
As mentioned, dogs and cats are empathetic. Which means they are very sensitive to their environments.
They appreciate routine and thrive when there is consistency in the home, much like we humans do.
How to Manage Your Pet’s Gastro Stress
Stress has a negative impact on many systems of your pet’s body. But perhaps most influential is the effect on gastro health.
It is impossible to have a healthy individual when gastro health is lacking. So it is crucial to keep the gut microbiome in tip-top shape.
Fortunately, studies show that the right nutritional interventions can cause rapid, positive changes to the microbiome.
For example, varying the number of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the animal’s diet significantly impacted the gut microbiome in one such study.
The degree of digestibility of your pet’s food is also essential. Unfortunately, many pet food brands contain high levels of fillers.
Fillers can be products like:
- corncobs
- feathers
- soy
- cottonseed hulls
- peanut hulls
- citrus pulp
- weeds
- straw
- cereal by-products
Sounds delicious right? No. You wouldn’t want to find that stuff in your food either.
These substances don’t have much nutritional value at all. They are included because they are inexpensive and have some fiber content. But, in the long term, they could disturb the gut biome and leave your pet malnourished.
When possible, opt for a high-quality, reputable brand to feed your furry friends.
Consider Bioactive Food
Sometimes a balanced diet alone is not enough to nurture the gut biome. In extreme cases, more may be needed. Such as if your pet was recently on antibiotics or is experiencing severe health issues.
Enter bioactive food.
Pet food using bioactive recipes work will work with your dogs biology. Whether they are a babies, teens, or elderly, there is a bioactive recipe for them.
The benefits are tailored for your pet’s overall health. How?
By using ingredients combined in specific combinations. These combinations are easily digested by your pet. Ensuring the highest level of nutrients are bioavailable.
With the right combination of bioactive food ingredients you can:
- establish a healthy GI environment
- control skin problems due to yeast
- support the immune system
- support healthy elimination
- reduce bad breath
Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
Just like their human companions, dog/cat gut health comes down to living a healthy lifestyle.
It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship. Both are helping the other be healthy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pet ownership can
- enhance fitness levels
- lower blood pressure
- lower cholesterol levels
- relieve stress
- improve mental health
- improve heart health
- boost overall well-being
The Bottom Line For Your Pet’s Health
There’s no way around it. If you want to support your pet’s gastro health, you’ve got to support their microbiome. However, if you are concerned about your pet’s gastro health, there are kits you can order online to test it.
They will be replete with recommendations for how to balance your pet’s gut biome.
In short, tending gastro health is easier than you think. You can support your pet’s gastro health by making sure they get:
- proper diet, including bioactive food
- supplements as needed
- adequate exercise
- routines
- consistency
And make sure to address any serious concerns to your family veterinarian. They can help guide you in making the best choices for your furry friends.
Are you still looking for more health information? Then, make sure to check out the rest of our blog!
We’ve got cutting-edge insights into a wide range of hot health topics.
