Get Healthy and Stay Healthy

       With the new year now under way and new resolutions determined, many people are aiming to live a healthier lifestyle in 2013. New year’s resolutions are never a bad thing, but it’s crucial to stay committed to such a lifestyle, or in our culture’s vernacular, to “stick with it” every day. Even in the WC community, the high school faculty is striving to live more healthfully through a special “Employee Wellness Contest” via loseit.com in which individuals earn points for a healthy diet, consistent exercise, and spiritual development. The individual who has collected the most points at the end of nine weeks receives $200. A hefty reward, to be sure, but the benefits of a healthy lifestyle far outweigh any monetary prize.

            Nearly everyone knows the components of good health: a nutritional diet and regular exercise. This sounds simple enough, but actually applying these concepts daily is more of a challenge. According to Mrs. Smith, WCHS health teacher, the average high school student should get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day for 5-6 days a week. This may sound daunting, but she suggests fun ways to get active, such as group fitness classes and pickup games at parks. “I’m not a morning person,” she admits, but she stresses that consistency in your workouts is what counts. The benefits to regularly exercising are abundant: “Exercise boosts your immune system,” Mrs. Smith offers. She also adds that “it helps to decrease depression” and that emotionally, exercise releases endorphins, which bring out good feelings. Jessica Bush, a WC senior, calls her mom “inspiring” as she “works out every day.” It is no wonder that her mom is her “healthy lifestyle” role model. “She’s a good example of what I want to be like when I’m her age,” Jessica explains.

            Exercise, however, is only a part of a healthy lifestyle; nutrition is equally important. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a drag: even simple additions and changes can improve your diet. Mrs. Smith suggests consuming something every two hours or so “to keep metabolism up.” Satisfying and nutritious snack choices abound: she offers apples and almond butter, carrots and hummus, and celery and low-fat peanut butter as healthy options. Even in a lunch, students can incorporate nutritious food. Mrs. Cunningham, WCHS school nurse, suggests adding fruit, such as an apple or orange, or vegetables such as bell peppers to your lunch to boost its nutritional value in a simple way. In fact, she recommends healthily abundant intakes of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to maximize a diet. Quinoa, too, which she calls “the perfect protein in plant form” and “super nutritious,” lives up to its hype and offers a beneficial addition to your health. Despite the need for a healthy diet, sometimes high school students are just that--high school students. Citing popcorn and tacos as some of her favorite foods, Jessica admits that she “could make a lot wiser choices.” However, she teaches us that the right balance of effort and enjoyment is crucial. “I’m a teenager,” she laughs.

            Lately, the flu and other colds have affected countless numbers of people. Although people mistakenly think that many germs are spread by mouth, Mrs. Cunningham corrects this misconception by saying that germs are mostly spread by hands. The logical conclusion, then, is to frequently wash your hands. “Some people just have stronger ones [immune systems],” Mrs. Cunningham explains. This, however, does not nullify actions that can improve your immune system. A “nutritious diet” as well as “good hand washing and plenty of sleep” are simple lifestyle changes that people can factor into their lives to be at their healthiest, as Mrs. Cunningham offers. When people inevitably catch a cold or the flu, Mrs. Cunningham recommends that people “increase sleep, increase fluids.” She also suggests eating foods that are high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, and also even chicken noodle soup, which has been proven to be effective in improving sicknesses. Although for many cases, it is practical to let the illness “run its course,” these simple methods can be of great help in quickening recovery.

            With the new year come new goals, and many people aim to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Jessica wants to train for a half marathon, and pertaining to college, she expresses, “I want to make wiser decisions, food-wise.” Whether WCHS chooses to exercise more often or incorporate healthy food into its lunches, may 2013 be a year where students and faculty alike seek to care for their bodies in the best possible way by making healthy lifestyle changes. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get healthy, and stay healthy!

 

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By Joy Cho