Why is it so important to stay healthy? 65% of all deaths in adults are caused by heart disease, cancer and stroke（中風）. It is sad but true that most of these diseases are preventable（可預防的）. Many of the behaviours that cause these diseases begin at a young age. For instance, teens who use tobacco are more likely to have heart disease, cancer or stroke in adulthood（成年）. Let’s put it in a simple way, we have to be mentally（心理上；精神上）and physically healthy to enjoy every minute we are given.
We may sometimes feel stressed at school caused by friends and classmates, or even at home after a long day. According to the national data on children’s mental health in America, mental disorder has increased more than twice compared to 10 years ago including ADHD（注意力不足過動症）, anxiety (fears or worries), depression（抑鬱症）and behaviour problems, and some of these conditions commonly occur together. *
It’s well known that laughter can be a valuable coping tool for those suffering from medical conditions. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology 2016, laughter could also directly contribute to a healthier heart. Especially among the male and female participants over the age of 65, those who reported laughing daily had drastically lower the rates of cardiovascular disease （心血管疾病）and stroke.
Always remember, find someone positive to have an easy chitchat, or sing loudly at bath, or just do something you want to do to brighten up your day. There is always a healthy sustenance（營養）for a rich mood, and there is always a way!
Your well-being（幸福）can also be improved simply by eating well. As the old saying goes: You are what you eat. We often hear about the food pyramid（食物金字塔）since childhood. It is a great way to illustrate what foods make up a healthy diet. Over the years, research has shown that healthy diet can reduce risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Nutrition （營養）for children is based on the same principles as nutrition for adults. Everyone needs the same types of nutrients – such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates（碳水化合物）, protein（蛋白質）and fat（脂肪）. A healthy, balanced diet（營養均衡的食譜）for children aged 7 to 10, for example, include at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day and foods that are good sources of protein such as meat, fish, eggs and beans. Make sure you don’t eat too much sugary or fatty foods, such as sweets, cakes, and biscuits, or drink too many sugary fizzy drinks. These foods and drinks are high in calories but contain few nutrients.
Life without good health is not life; it’s only a state of suffering（痛苦）. When you lead a healthy life, your body remains healthy and your mind is active and fresh. Having good health is of core importance to human happiness.
Therefore, a healthy lifestyle combined with healthy mental conditions, healthy eating preferences and regular exercise will certainly help us climb the stepping stool to happiness. Every day is a new day to be good to yourself. Now, take a deep breath, and think about what you could do to make things better for yourself.
References:*cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth
