Our team at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City wants to help welcome you into a brand-new year. 2018 has arrived! Forget the poor choices and unhealthy mistakes you made in 2017. A new year means a new chance at becoming a healthier version of yourself—starting now. 3 Steps You Can Take to Stay Healthy in 2018 Maybe you have specific health-related resolutions in mind for this year. Or maybe you just know you want to start practicing a healthy lifestyle. Either way, let’s take a look at a few steps you can take toward healthier living. First, get moving for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week for optimal health results. That 30 minutes doesn’t necessarily need to come all in one chunk, so if you think that won’t fit into your busy life, break it into several parts to get in your daily activity. The best part? Walking is an easy and cheap way for you to enjoy our beautiful area! If you don’t want to join a gym or walk around the neighborhood, take your walk to one of the greenways and trails around the Knoxville area! Don’t forget to bring Fido and the rest of the family with you, since they can benefit from a walk just as much as you. Make exercise time a family affair that all can enjoy! Second, fuel your body with the right kinds of foods. Fill your plate at meals and snacks with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and a small amount of healthy fat. And don’t feel like fresh fruits and veggies are the only way to go—frozen and canned produce can be just as healthy as their fresh counterpart. Just be sure to choose options that don’t contain added ingredients like sodium or sugar. Finally, be sure to get plenty of quality sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. While you might think staying up late to catch up on your favorite Netflix series is important, getting plenty of sleep should be a priority. Not getting enough sleep can affect your body in many negative ways, including difficulty concentrating, impaired performance, memory problems and mood changes. Know you aren’t getting enough sleep, or that the sleep you’re getting isn’t exactly high-quality? Take steps to improve your sleep health. Make your bedroom a sanctuary for sleeping, with a cool temperature and few electronics. Turn off your electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime and wind down with some type of relaxing activity, like taking a bath, reading a calming book or meditating. Do you know your health numbers? Stop by AFC Urgent Care Fountain City for a checkup and lab work to determine where your health stands—and where it can be improved.
