Health Advice For Students

‘Healthy’ and ‘student’ are two words you rarely hear in the same sentence. It is challenging to be healthy as a student. Not only do you have the lure of student parties, but you also have limited funds, and cheap, processed food seems to be a lot friendlier to the bank account. There is then the issue of having to cook for yourself for the first time too, which can, of course, be very daunting. It can seem like the odds are stacked against you, but we have some top student healthy living tips to help you out.

• Consider a washing-up rota – Let’s face it, one of the main reasons why students don’t want to prepare dinner is because they do not want to retrieve their pots and pans from the bottom of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. So, they grab some fast food instead! Rather than doing this, it is a good idea to establish a washing-up rota.
• Freeze leftovers – Cooking for one can be difficult, as there always seems to be leftovers. But, these do not need to go to waste. You can freeze most things, meaning you have a quick and healthy meal for another day.
• Join an active club – Universities often have a wide range of sports-related clubs. This can be anything from hockey and tennis to cheerleading and soccer. Joining a club is a great way to meet new people while also keeping active.
• Limit your sugar intake – Sugar is filled with calories, however, it does not have any nutrients, and it plays a significant role in tooth decay. Why not use honey to sweeten hot drinks?
• Go to sleep – One thing that most students do not like to do is sleep! It can be tempting to stay up late with friends or to spend the time studying. However, sleep is so important for your health. A lack of sleep contributes to obesity and diabetes, and you will wake up feeling pretty rubbish too.
• Look after your skin – It can be very easy for your skin to take some damage while at university, especially if you are going to have a lot of late nights and consuming a lot of alcohol. This is why you need to make sure that you look at your skin. There are a lot of great products out there that can help with this. Duac Gel is a good example of this. You will be able to ensure you keep any skin condition under control. 
• Shop around – Eating healthy is typically expensive, but it does not need to be this way. Shop around for the best deal. From your local market to bigger supermarkets, if you buy from numerous places, you can keep your costs low.
• Plan your meals for the week – Do you ever feel like you have food in the fridge but no idea what to do with it? It is a good idea to plan your meals for the week and buy the ingredients you need, as well as any cupboard essentials. This will ensure you do not deviate from your healthy eating plan while also keeping your costs down.
• Make a packed lunch – Get into a habit of making a packed lunch every day. This is likely to be a lot cheaper and healthier than grabbing something on the go in between lectures. 
• Eat foods that are rich in calcium – In order to prevent osteoporosis later in life, you need to start building up stores of calcium in your twenties. Try to include green leafy vegetables, milk, low-fat cheese and low-fat yoghurt into your diet.
• Incorporate fitness into each day – Make sure you spend 20-30 minutes of each day focusing on your fitness, whether this means a trip to the gym or walking to class instead of catching the bus. 
• Find ways to stay motivated – You can set reminders on your phone so that you get little messages that keep you motivated. Remember, living healthily is more important than ever when you are at university, and you are relying on your brain to function to optimal level every day. It is always a good idea to try and buddy up if possible. If you find someone else who cares about their health, you can push each other to ensure you achieve your goals. 
• Keep healthy snacks on hand – Take some healthy snacks to lectures with you, for example, raw vegetables and fruits and seeds. This will stop you from heading to a nearby store or vending machine and grabbing candy or chocolate. 
• Improve your cooking knowledge – Before you leave for university, spend some time honing your knowledge of cooking. Get to grips with healthy cooking techniques and learn what you can and cannot eat.
• Eat a good breakfast – There is a lot of research that shows that if you skip breakfast, it can detract from scholastic achievement. It is so important for everyone to eat breakfast, but especially students who need the energy for their classes and lectures.
• Drink plenty of fluids – It is a good idea to carry a bottle of water around with you at all times so that you can stay refreshed on the go. This is especially important the day after a student party. There are plenty of other ways to make sure you drink enough water as well. For example, there are mobile apps that are available that will remind you to fill up your water bottle. 

So there you have it; plenty of advice to help you live healthier as a student. Of course, it can be difficult to find the balance between a healthy bank balance, a healthy lifestyle, and having fun while at university. But, if you follow the tips mentioned above, you should have no problems.