1. Eat a balanced and healthy diet

This is the first piece of advice we can give you. If you want to be healthy, watch your diet. The sacrosanct "eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day" is a rule you must have heard dozens and dozens of times, but there is a reason for it. These fruits and vegetables have a protective role in the prevention of diseases that can appear with age, such as cancers (see also: Preventing cancer, tips for a healthy lifestyle), cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes ... They also provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

For some doctors and nutritionists, you should even eat 7 or 10 fruits and vegetables a day! It is therefore important to avoid eating too much fat, too much sugar, or too much salt. To help you eat better, it is possible to go and see specialists, or to use your smartphone: some applications like Yuka, available on Android or iPhone, allow you to consume better by telling you if a product you can find in supermarkets is too salty, sweet, or full of additives. Easy to use, these applications will make it more fun!

2. Practice a physical activity regularly

This is probably something you've heard a lot. But regular physical activity is essential for your health, at any age. Physical activity helps to maintain your body and mind, to reduce mortality, and to prevent the onset of certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or being overweight. It also helps to fight against stress and to sleep better.

You don't have to be a great sportsman to practice physical activity. Walking or biking to work or avoiding the elevator and taking the stairs are small everyday things that can only do you good. Going to the pool or jogging regularly are also beneficial activities that don't take too much time.

The amount of time you need to spend doing this physical activity depends on your age: you can look at the World Health Organization's advice on this subject HERE. "WHO defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by muscles that require the expenditure of energy - this includes movements made while working, playing, doing household chores, moving about and during leisure activities," the WHO states on its official website.

Good to know: "The term 'physical activity' should not be confused with the term 'exercise', which is a more deliberate, structured, repetitive subcategory of physical activity that aims to improve or maintain one or more aspects of physical fitness. "

3. Drink plenty of water

Water is essential to our survival. As a reminder, our body is composed of 60 to 70% water. Drinking water allows us to maintain a certain level of physical fitness (even if it is not enough to be healthy, of course), ensures us a good mental shape as well and has virtues for health that you probably don't even know about. So you need to make sure you drink enough water in a day to be at your best. Doctors recommend drinking between 1.5 and 2 liters of water per day for an adult. A figure that can be increased in case of hot weather like this summer or if you practice a sport, in order to keep you well hydrated.

4. Get enough sleep 

Did you know that you spend almost 25 years of your life sleeping? That's how important sleep is in our lives, and we shouldn't neglect it. But with work, school, family, and all the other pressures of daily life, your sleep time is greatly impacted. And that can be detrimental to your health. Lack of sleep can affect your mood, your mental state, your physical state, can disrupt your metabolism, and even increase the risk of developing certain diseases. So many reasons that should push you to adapt your life rhythm to get enough sleep. According to the American National Sleep Foundation, the recommended number of hours of sleep depends on your age. It ranges from 14 to 17 hours a day for newborns to 7 to 8 hours for seniors (over 65 years old). A teenager (14 to 17 years old) will need 8 to 10 hours of sleep, a young adult (18 to 25 years old) 7 to 9 hours, and an adult (26 to 64 years old) 7 to 9 hours of sleep. These are of course guidelines and everything depends on the individual.

5. Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol

Again, this may seem like common sense to you. But to be healthy, smoking and tobacco are strongly discouraged. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is the direct cause of 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million during the 20th century.


Alcohol is another major cause of death: it is associated with 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2016. And while it was long believed that a small glass of wine or a beer now and then was not so bad for your health, a recent study confirmed that this was not really the case (see also: Alcohol is never good for your health).

"The most surprising finding is that alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, contributes to global health loss," says the leader of the research, Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of public health at the University of Washington. "We're used to hearing that one or two glasses of alcoholic beverages are fine, but the evidence points to a different situation. "

Alcohol and tobacco, the combo to absolutely avoid if you want to stay healthy and should be banned, even in moderation so!

6. Relax

This may sound simple to say. But sometimes you need to mentally "disconnect" from your daily life and relax. This can be done through a relaxing activity, which you can practice alone or in groups (yoga, relaxation...). Clearing your mind can only be beneficial for your body, especially if you follow the previous tips!

7. Take time for yourself and do what you love

Again, this is easy to say but sometimes hard to do. Because in the hustle and bustle of daily life, between metro, work and sleep, it is sometimes difficult to take time for yourself. Not only to relax, as explained above. But to go out, to see friends, to do an activity (sports, culture...), to visit your family... So many important moments for your personal balance.