Coffee
& Wellness
Starting a healthy habit
September 23, 2006 • Manila
Bulletin
You may not realize it but, more often than not, it's the
little things that we do on a regular basis that can have
a huge impact on our health, fitness and well-being. That's
the premise behind the development of NESCAFÉ PROTECT,
the breakthrough coffee that contains three times more antioxidants
than green tea.
 Studies
have shown that coffee is a significant source of antioxidants
in many people's diet precisely because drinking it is such
a constant in our daily routine. Antioxidants found in a variety
of fruits and vegetables help prevent the formation of degenerative
diseases. Antioxidants also play an important role in delaying
visible signs of aging, which are consequences of natural
oxidative stress.
To set you on the easier road to a healthy lifestyle, here
are other simple things you can work into your daily routine
to improve the way you look and feel. Its time to take a proactive
approach to wellness by developing some healthy habits that
can work wonders for your well-being.
START EVERYDAY WITH BREAKFAST. As wonderful as that
first cup of coffee in the morning may be, be sure to have
something to eat along with it. Perhaps the single most important
habit you can have to improve your general health is to start
each day and everyday with a good breakfast composed of carbohydrates,
proteins and a small amount of fat. Just remember that no
single food gives you all the nutrients you need, you should
eat a variety of foods to maintain good health. Research has
shown that breakfast eaters are less likely to overeat throughout
the day. As a result, they tend to have leaner bodies and
lower cholesterol counts.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Feeling tired and cranky? Then you
may not be getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can spark
a range of physical, emotional, and mental health problems,
not to mention vehicular accidents that occur as a result
of reduced alertness on the road. There's certainly no substitute
for getting the minimum seven hours of sleep essential to
good health and mental well-being. But in case you find yourself
nodding off when you shouldn't, try napping for 15 to 20 minutes.
Studies have shown that taking a "power nap" can
significantly improve alertness while longer naps actually
tend to have the opposite effect, reducing alertness even
further.
 MOVE!
Regular exercise provides a wide variety of long-term benefits.
It helps control weight gain, maintains healthy bones, muscles
and joints; reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure
and diabetes; in addition to promoting psychological well-being.
And if you can't find the time to work out at the gym or play
your favorite sport, there are still lots of ways to incorporate
physical activity into your day. For instance, take the stairs
instead of the elevator or walk to your destination if its
not too far. Soon, physical activity becomes a habit and your
body will thank you for it.
DRINK LOTS OF LIQUDS. Avoid dehydration. Your body
needs to stay hydrated to operate at its best. Drinking plenty
of liquids, especially water, keep vital organs like our heart,
brain, kidneys and liver in proper working order. Although
water and fruit juices are the best ways to fulfill your body's
need for hydration, coffee drinkers need not despair. Despite
being a mild diuretic, the diuretic effect of consuming moderate
amounts of coffee (four cups a day) is no greater than that
of water. True, caffeine is a mild diuretic, but drinks that
contain caffeine also provide fluids. In other words, you
do not need to drink more fluids to compensate consuming coffee,
provided that your are normally hydrated to begin with.
INTERACT WITH PEOPLE. According to a study published
in the American Journal of Health Behavior, community activities
are good for your physical and mental health. Social interactions
with other people allow us to access a network of health information,
which we might otherwise not be aware of. It also provides
access to people who can provide physical and emotional support
in times of crisis as well as providing us a sense of belonging.
We are social creatures and being part of a social group helps
overcome feelings of anxiety and depression. By being active
in a community, we maintain desirable levels of serotonin,
a chemical in our brain that is associated with mood. And
what better way to elevate mood and enjoy the company of friends
than with a cup of Nescafé Protect - a healthy habit
that brings wellness into our daily routine.
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