Written by Ezra Vallecillo

Published on May 2, 2016

Looking your best doesn’t necessarily mean having a glamorous wardrobe or even the best hairstyle in class. It is more about how you treat your body to feel that exhilarating burst of energy, giving you the confidence to slay the day. I’d say that’s a good look.

Many of us run on a daily routine where it seems almost impossible to incorporate a much more healthier regimen. Why is that? Better yet, why invest money on companies that don’t care about your health?

That’s right, I’m talking about McDonald’s, Burger King and all the other treacherous locations promising you a “happy meal” and leaving you unsatisfied over time. According to Janet Yarrow, a Registered Dietitian and nutritionist as well as a professor at HCC, “Marketing plays a significant role in promoting all the processed junk we tend to settle for while diminishing all the good food our bodies need to sustain.”

A lot of us have things going on, in and outside of school, and have places to be. Sometimes we really don’t have the time to prepare anything for the day or sometimes we’re just too tired to make something beneficial to help our bodies feel good. A lot of that fatigue has to do with what we’re eating. People drink coffee to stay awake during an eight-hour shift while others are drinking water to stay replenished.

Every fluid, just like every food, serves its purpose. It isn’t entirely bad to drink certain fluids other than water and to eat certain foods other than salads. Our portion sizes are what’s important. A good tip to remember is to eat in moderation and substitute anything white to brown, such as bread, rice, eggs etc. Wheat is much higher in fiber, vitamins B and E, and other good sources of minerals.

A simple change like eating an apple before heading out to start your day can help you feel charged up. Other fruits like bananas, blueberries and pears can help enhance the energy your body needs to function effectively. You can buy a pound of apples roughly under two dollars at your local market. Same goes for the other fruits, depending on where you go. As Michael Pollan, author and journalist, once said, “Better to pay the grocer than the doctor.”

Aside from indulging in better foods, exercising is a good way to pump up the volume towards a healthier life. For the record, you don’t have to be about that “Gym Life” to start. By adding exercise to your day, you can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. It is also a good way to combat health conditions and diseases concerning depression, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

If you’re unable to do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, one of the few changes many HCC students can make. Remember, just like in many cases of self-improvement, every little bit of effort counts.

The best part about making some adjustments to refine your daily life is the fact that it can be done, one step at a time. Rather than rushing the process, you have to respect it.

It’s unrealistic to attempt such a radical change of routine and balance your personal life simultaneously. But when it comes down to your health it’s recommended to be a little more attentive on the food you’re eating and the amount of physical activity being made throughout the day. It’s your body and no one else’s. Treat it right.