Ever notice that certain health, nutrition and fitness trends were simply better back in the day? You’re not alone. New up-and-coming health trends can be just plain confusing, which is why sometimes going back to the old-school way of doing things just makes sense.
1. Functional Fitness
In today’s day and age, many U.S. adults and kids alike sit at computer screens as a way to learn and earn a daily living. Back in the day, functional fitness was the way to make physical activity a part of day-to-day routines — whether it be doing yard work, walking to school, riding a bike to work, working construction jobs, or farming. Today many Americans spend the day sitting at desks, and drive to gyms to workout on stationary machines.
2. Good Sleep
Sleep is an important part of a daily living, aids in healthy weight management, and reduces your risk for chronic diseases. Unfortunately, with the stresses of this day and age's faced-paced way of living, many Americans are chronically sleep deprived (a whopping one in three U.S. adults, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Now days, some people pay for “nappercise” classes (which provide opportunities for structured adult nap times) just to help boost sleep.
3. Eating Fish
Though fish is still encouraged as part of a heart-healthy meal plan, you should limit the amount of fish you eat if you’re pregnant, nursing, or are a small child due to environmental toxins present in water bodies (and therefore the fish we eat). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends women of childbearing age and young children limit low-mercury fish to two to three servings weekly.
4. Old Fashioned Workouts
Ever get tired of confusing new fitness routines that are difficult to follow or require lots of expensive equipment? The good thing about old-fashioned fitness (pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, rope jumping, jogging, biking outside — and even roller skating) is these exercises are making a comeback, and you can do them anywhere (even at home). Old fashioned workouts are easy to follow, and you’ll still get excellent tightening and toning results. You don’t need an expensive gym membership or equipment to stay in shape.
5. Skipping the Scale
Weighing yourself regularly can drag you down, and isn’t a true indicator of how healthy you really are. In today’s day and age, muscles are sexy for men and women. Because muscle weighs more than fat, it’s time to focus on how well your clothes fit and how you feel instead of numbers on the scale.
6. Full-Fat Dairy Recommendations
Low-fat dairy foods are still a trend, as these foods are lower in calories and saturated fat. But full-fat dairy foods, popular back in the day, appear to be making a comeback. Full-fat dairy foods may not be as bad for your heart (or your midsection) as once thought. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that full-fat dairy foods are associated with lower chronic disease risk factors. And, a study published in 2013 in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Healthcare found that higher intakes of dairy fat are associated with lower rates of central obesity.
7. Face to Face Conversations
With technology advancing as it has, face-to-face conversations seem to be a lost art. People are on their phones and computers more than ever, and virtual jobs (with no face-to-face interaction requirements) are common. Make time to socialize, as the art of the face-to-face conversations (and phone calls versus texting) seem to be slowly disappearing from society.
8. Disease Prevention
Chronic disease (overweight, obesity, cancer, diabetes and heart disease) prevalence is much higher than it once was. Even mental health is suffering in America, as suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Stress and anxiety in a fast-paced competitive world (that likely won't slow down anytime soon) may be one reason for poor nutrition, lack of exercise, poor sleep quality, and simply feeling down in the dumps.
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