Student life is a unique mixture of excitement and stress. Finding a healthy balance is often difficult when faced with so many demands for your time. As a student you are responsible for your emotional, social, spiritual, and physical needs as well as your schooling and perhaps a job. Even when you are short on time and energy there are still some simple ways you can keep up on your health. The first and probably hardest part of student health is sleep. It is extremely difficult to get a set amount of sleep each night, but it is worth it. Generally 7. 5 hours a night is recommended but it is up to you and should be based on your body’s individual requirements. Some people will naturally need more than the recommended amount to fully function while others can do with less. Sleeping is really an investment. It is good for your mind. You will be more alert in classes and have more fun with your friends. Sleep is also good for your body. When you don’t get enough sleep your immune system is weakened and you become more susceptible to every random cold and illness floating in the air. Getting enough sleep doesn’t just happen, it requires careful planning and prioritizing. Make sleep a priority in your life so your time awake is optimized. Another way to improve your student health is to pay attention during grocery shopping. This is sometimes challenging because it is tempting to do grocery shopping in a semi-dazed state– grabbing at whatever looks cheap and somewhat appetizing. This is bad news for your body! If you have extra money you should splurge on healthy choice foods and fresh fruits and vegetables. However, you can still make some healthy purchases on a budget. Firstly, don’t waste your money on things with absolutely no nutritional value! You may be concerned about missing your daily sugar fix but sugar is in almost everything now so don’t even worry about it. Of course you need snack foods but there are healthy options. Frozen fruits and vegetables are some of the best kept health secrets. Frozen fruits and vegetables are cheaper than fresh and last longer. Frozen berries are a perfect sweet treat that actually have nutrition and taste good. Granola bars can also be a good snack option. Look for granola with grains and vitamins for best; you can also check the back of the package to see which brand has more fat and calories and avoid those. Switch over to whole grain bread and skim or 1% milk. Choose a good cereal that still tastes good but that has less sugar and more vitamins. These small changes can make a huge difference and they won’t cost much more than the less healthy kinds. Protein is something you don’t always get enough of as a student because meat is expensive. Consider getting whey protein to add to your meals. This is a cheaper and easy way to get in your protein. Protein helps you feel full longer, so it is the perfect addition to a meal especially on a busy day when you won’t have much time to eat. Though it may cost some money, the powder lasts a long time and will save you money because you will not be consuming as much food. Also while you are at the grocery store think about getting a multivitamin. It is one way to get all your vitamins in even if you are living off of tasteless noodles. Add a gym class to your schedule. Some of the toughest problems when trying to fit exercise in with schooling are finding the time and finding the motivation. By planning a class into your schedule you are solving both of these problems?you will have a set time and place and it will be for credit. Exercising is a great way to deal with left over stress and frustrations and you will be getting in shape at the same time. Be smart about your choices in school. Taking care of these things can have a huge impact on your health and even your GPA!
Do you feel like you’re too busy to spend time on your health? Do you wish you could get healthier, look slimmer and feel younger, but don’t know where or how to start? Don’t worry ? you are not alone in feeling this way. In fact, most people want to start living healthier lifestyles but they can never seem to find enough time for it. However, being healthy shouldn’t be so difficult or time-consuming. To start things off, you just need to make a few changes here and there. Here are some tips that you can try to enjoy healthy living on the go. Don’t forget your breakfast. Health gurus can never say this enough ? never, ever skip your breakfast, because it’s really the most important meal of the day. It’s worth getting up a few minutes earlier every morning to give you time for breakfast, even if it’s just a bowl of cereals and fresh fruits. Some health experts also recommend that you drink a glass of water even before breakfast. This is because our cells lose oxygen throughout the night during sleep, and the best way to rejuvenate them is through water and oxygen. Try drinking a glass of water before breakfast for one week and observe how less tired you feel. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can squeeze some fresh lime or lemon and mix this into your water to give it a bit of tangy taste. In addition to water, have a glass of freshly-squeezed juice every morning. This is a great way to ensure that you start off the day with a boost of vitamins and minerals. You can either squeeze your own juice, or go to the local juice bar and buy a glass. You can stick to the usual fruits like oranges, apples or bananas, or you can try to spice things up by adding vegetables like carrots or even ginger. Enjoy healthy snacks Before going to work or school in the morning, bring fruits for your snack. Learn to enjoy munching on apple slices or orange wedges during the day. Fresh fruits release much-needed vitamins, nutrients and sugars that are required by your body to be able to function optimally. Add your favorite nuts like cashews, pecans, almonds and walnuts to your list of daily snack items. Enjoy a big handful in the afternoon to increase your energy and productivity level. Avoid junk food for snacks, like French fries or potato chips. These are full of “empty” calories that don’t really do anything for you except add unwanted and unneeded body fat. They can also make you lethargic in the afternoon. Sneak in some exercise For most people, it’s difficult to block off 30 minutes everyday for exercise. If you can’t devote a part of your day regularly for exercise, then try to sneak in some exercise throughout the day. Every 30 minutes, get up and take a brisk 5-minute walk around the block to get your muscles moving and your heart pumping. If you’re going a few floors up or down your building, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Deliberately park your car away from the entrance to force you to take a bit of a walk to get to your car everyday. 
Respiratory infections can be caught at any time of the year. The standard advice for the prevention of these sicknesses is to wash your hands and keep your immune system healthy by eating properly and exercising regularly. Washing your hands is one way of keeping the hundreds of different bacteria and viruses from getting into your system. Individuals with lower immune systems are more susceptible to infections, since your immune system helps to defend the body, if and when a virus slips in. In addition to the standard advice, a less publicized approach to healthy living and avoiding a respiratory infection is to keep your teeth clean. Here’s why: 1. There are 400-500 species of bacteria that live in your mouth. Viruses can use bacteria as “factories” to grow and multiply. If a virus makes its way into your mouth (usually from touching your hands to your mouth or biting your nails), the fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less likely the virus will grow. 2. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque producing bacteria. The body in defense of the periodontal disease releases cytokines. These cytokines trigger your blood-making organs to constantly fight or defend themselves, thus weakening the body’s immune system to fight other infections. 3. Periodontal disease is a potential contributing factor for respiratory diseases, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease and are taxing your immune system are breeding right now in the perfect environment of your mouth. They love the cozy, moist, dark, warm and acidic ecosystem, which is constantly being fed by carbohydrates. The areas between the teeth are particularly good breeding grounds because the damaging bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen. The bacteria grow rapidly – actually doubling their count every hour. There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on the planet Earth. The excrement or bi-product of the bacteria is what forms the sticky film that is a constant challenge to remove and what is called plaque. Symptoms of periodontal infection are often not noticeable until the disease is advanced. Some of the symptoms include: bad breath that will not go away, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or sensitive teeth. A dentist can diagnose the disease in the early stages, prior to individuals realizing they have it. Because 85% of the population have some degree of periodontal disease, it is extremely important to get regular dental check ups. Professional cleanings at a dental office are recommended every six months. Periodontal disease is the most widespread disease on earth. Visiting a dentist is only one half of the prevention equation. Daily home care is as important. Periodontal disease is prevented by thoroughly cleaning your teeth, requiring the removal of the resilient bacteria. A toothbrush does a good job in removing the bacteria from the high spots, but unfortunately, not in between teeth. In addition, most conscientious individuals who try to do a “better” job at cleaning their teeth, end up with toothbrush abrasion. This ridge between the tooth and gum line expose the root. The area then is sensitive to hot, cold, sweets and acids, and requires composites that must be repeatedly replaced. Flossing is important both in the prevention and the control of periodontal disease according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Because it is a laborious task to floss, most people don’t. The ADA reported that only about 5% of the population actually flosses. In addition, only 18 – 35% of the plaque between teeth is removed when one does floss, according to The Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Flossing can also move the contagious periodontal disease from an infected site to an uninfected site. Although oral irrigators are meant to replace flossing, they can’t cut through plaque’s sticky biofilm since they only use water. Once afflicted, patients with periodontal disease control it by a disciplined and meticulous oral cleaning regimen, both at the dental office and at home. Professional treatment may require below the gum line scraping, three-month check ups instead of the traditional six-month, and a prescription oral rinse. Oral health is critical to total health. There is evidence that point to a link between periodontal disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), among which is emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD and it is the 6th leading cause of mortality in the US. Studies published in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients with periodontal disease have a 1. 5x greater risk of COPD. The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease. ” The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs. The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that there are over 1 billion respiratory infections each year in the US. Avoid illness – wash your hands, keep them out of your mouth, eat healthy, exercise AND clean your teeth. 
Healthy foods as well as eating habits are pleasing both to the palate and plate. If you dream of having a healthy and fit body for the rest of your life, it is important to make sure that you have in your lifestyle eating healthy cooking.Given the enormous variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats and other healthy foods at the local supermarket. The Healthy Food Financing Initiative will promote a range of interventions that expand access to nutritious foods, including developing and equipping grocery stores and other small businesses. The only way you could think it’s impossible to eat healthy foods on food stamps is to define any affordable food.