Why is it important for Nurses and Healthcare staff to exercise and eat healthy?

Nurses & healthcare staff are facing many challenges, in their profession, such as high workload, overnight/irregular shifts, long working hours etc. To provide the best care, it is essential for them to exercise and eat healthy. Healthy diet and exercise is very much important for physical and mental health.

Why is healthy eating a challenge for nurses & Healthcare staff?

Because of the irregular shifts, most of the nurses & healthcare staff do not get enough time to prepare & eat healthy food. By taking quick processed foods like chips or other high calorie & low-nutrition food items, they face health problems.

Most of the time they skip their meal breaks. When you skip meals, body’s blood glucose level drops which causes dizziness and it affects your working ability.

Importance of doing exercise & healthy eating:

Exercise & Healthy meal can help;

• In maintaining a normal body weight and boost the immune system
• To lower the risk factors such hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, certain kinds of cancer, heart disease
• To increase energy levels
• To get tight sleep which helps to improve mood and concentration during work and helps in handling stress

Healthy food choices:

1. Fruits & Vegetables:
   – Having plenty of fruits & vegetables can help in reducing the risks of many illnesses.
   – Try adding fruits such as bananas, apples etc to your breakfast
   – After each meal, try to have fruit/fruit juice
   – Try to prepare new recipes which includes more fruits & vegetables
2. Milk & dairy foods: Milk and dairy products like cheese and yoghurt provides calcium which is necessary for healthy bones & teeth. So these product are essential in your diet.
3. Fibre & Carbohydrates: Having higher-fibre foods such as oats, beans, peas, pasta, bread etc can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Try to add these in your diet.
4. Protein foods: Try to have protein-containing foods include meat, fish, eggs and plant sources of protein include nuts, seeds, tofu, beans etc

Don’t have too many sugary foods: Sugary foods and drinks are high in calories. Consuming too much of sugary foods can cause weight gain. So try to avoid too many sugary foods.

Skip energy drinks and caffeine: Such drinks can cause insomnia, restlessness, stomach upset, muscle tremors, and tachycardia. Try to get rid of these and rather you can take green tea which is good for health.

Don’t eat too much salt: Try to avoid consuming too much salt since it increases the chances of developing high blood pressure. Herbs and spices can be used rather than salt to flavour food.

Exercise and making healthy food choices can bring a huge impact on your health and work life and your work life can’t jeopardize your health.