These days there are so many places where we consume content – social media, online, and on TV. And the health messages that are out there can be overwhelming. That’s why I wanted to share with you 5 healthy habits you can start today.

I know when I decided that I wanted to live a healthier life, I had no idea where to start. All I knew was that I didn’t want to diet or restrict food (as I love food a lot…and I mean A LOT!) Plus as much as I want results to show quickly, for me it became apparent very quickly that I just wanted to be healthy.

My reason for wanting this, my WHY, was because, with a family history of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes (which can both be caused by lifestyle, not just genetics), I didn’t want that path for myself, so I made some simple changes.

When I started setting smaller goals, I found myself hitting larger goals like natural weight loss, balancing my hormones, and having more energy.

Sometimes starting small can help give you that motivation to keep going. So here are some of the things that helped me get started.

5 healthy habits you can start today

Drink more water:

I try to drink at least six glasses of water a day (that doesn’t include tea or herbal tea that I also drink throughout the day). Making sure my body is hydrated is a priority for me, as sometimes when you feel hungry, it’s your body signaling it’s thirsty. I also like to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning before I have a cup of tea or coffee.

Swap fizzy drinks:

Soda’s have no nutritional value and just one can (depending on the brand!) could take you way over the daily recommended sugar intake from the NHS – no more than 30g of free sugars (around 7 sugar cubes). Carbonated water with some fresh or frozen fruit can be a great alternative.

Exercise:

Hear me out! If you don’t like HIIT, don’t force yourself to do it! Consistency is important, so find some exercise or form of movement you enjoy.

Get some sleep:

Even trying to get to bed half an hour earlier can help your body start to relax and signal you’re ready to go to sleep. Not getting enough sleep could start making your body crave food for energy, especially those sugary snacks.

Fruit swap:

If you fancy something sweet, try swapping that sugary snack for a piece of fruit. With more vitamins, minerals, and fibre when I started swapping fruit as my sweet snack, I soon noticed my tastebuds changed and I didn’t get those sugar cravings anymore. I’ve got some great recipes for homemade raw chocolate and energy balls, which were my go-to when I was trying to cut back on sugar.

Where do you struggle most when it comes to making healthy changes? I’d love to hear from you below.