Kick the Unhealthy Student Lifestyle with Small Steps

Health is always a hot topic but it’s one that many students will have on their minds at the moment. With warning labels and fitness advice seemingly flooding in from all directions, the message is clear: get healthy. Of course, it’s easy to say that but making wholesale lifestyle changes isn’t easy. In fact, even those with relatively “healthy” lifestyles could always do better. Now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t try. It’s also not an attack on anyone that isn’t “healthy”. However, it’s a commonly accepted assumption that student eating behaviours aren’t ideal. Therefore, we can all probably make some changes.

Image: Pixabay

Of course, we know it can be tough, particularly if you’re a stressed-out student on a budget. Therefore, it’s best to start small. Don’t pledge to cut out X or Y completely and run 20 miles a week because you’ll probably fail. In fact, this is true in any walk of life. Going from 0 to 100 rarely works out well and, even if it does, it rarely lasts. Thus, the best way to improve your health is the make subtle but potentially effective changes.

It’s important to point out that no single solution is guaranteed to make you healthy. Moreover, none of the following suggests can be taken as definite solutions. In most cases, completely cutting out something harmful is best. However, to reach any goal, you need to take small steps. With that in mind, here are a few “alternatives” that could help you overcome bad habits on route to building a healthier lifestyle.

Snus Instead of Smoking

Data from the University of Birmingham found that 14% of students smoke. That’s in line with the national average, but it’s a statistic most of us would like to see reduced. Anyone wanting to get healthy shouldn’t consume tobacco in any form. However, if you’re a smoker and want to start the process of quitting, snus might be an option. A study cited in the Harm Reduction Journal found that smoking rates among men dropped to under 9% as the prevalence of snus increased.

Image: PixabayYou can currently get a variety of products, including Odens, at Taxfreesnus. These products are designed to be placed behind the top lip and slowly release tobacco into the bloodstream. No expert will say that snus is 100% healthy. However, some believe that it’s a better alternative to smoking, as it’s omitting breathing toxins into the lungs. Michael Steinberg, MD and director of the tobacco dependence program at Rutgers University, says snus is most likely less harmful than smoking.

Sugar-Free and Zero Calorie Products

There’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding the health profile of low and zero-calorie drinks, syrups, and additives. From an energy expenditure perspective, they’re fantastic. A zero-calorie syrup has, as you’d expect, zero calories. That’s fantastic news for anyone on a diet. If you look through the selection of sauces on Skinny Food, you’ll see everything from burger sauce to something for kebabs.

OK, so you can’t smother a late-night takeaway in zero-calorie sauce and expect to be healthy but it’s a start. What’s great about these products is that misconceptions about the chemicals in them being harmful, isn’t born out by the research. A video (see above) by fitness expert and PhD Layne Norton reviewed a study that found no negative impact on blood markers from consuming diet soda. Does that mean you should go wild? No. But if you’re looking to make the first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, these products could certainly help.

Tags: lifestyle, unhealthy

Category: Health