A lot of the time, we look at ourselves and scrutinize our faults. Whether it's our weight, our appearance, or the way we carry ourselves, we always think that there is some way we could improve.
However, our bodily concerns might not always be external. Sometimes, we might worry about what's going on inside — like whether or not we're suffering from any nutritional deficiencies.
But sometimes, all our worrying can be completely in vain, as there might be absolutely nothing wrong with our bodies at all — neither inside nor out!
"We want health to be a number and say, 'This blood pressure equals health.' But that's just one [factor], and health is so much more nuanced," Fall Ferguson, a health educator, told Cosmopolitan.com.
In an exclusive look below, we explore some of the very subtle, everyday signs that you're actually pretty healthy. You might not even be aware that you're already doing several of these things…
Scroll further to see if you're doing things in life that already make you a healthy person, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
1. You Stop Eating When You're Full
It's respectful to finish eating everything on your plate — but according to Caryn Honig, R.D., a nutrition counselor, it may be better to eat exactly like a child does: to eat when hungry, and to stop eating when full. This way, you neither starve yourself, nor end up overeating.
As we get older, our view of eating and dieting may get scarier. At times, we'll want to lose weight, or gain some weight back, or have a sudden, inexplicable desire to binge eat.
If you are able to gain satisfaction from every one of your meals, without constantly checking your eating habits, then you're already really mindful.
2. You Move Around Every Day
Not all of us have the time or luxury to join a gym and exercise with equipment for hours every day.
However, it turns out you might already be exercising a fair amount already — you just didn't realize it. You might be picking up after kids or pets, running to stores for daily errands, or bending down repeatedly while doing laundry.
Even if you're doing little hand, leg, or muscle movements right on your chair, you still indirectly (and subconsciously) make sure to have your body do intermittent movements.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician who specializes in nutrition, some routine exercise is much better than sporadic exercise, or no exercise at all.
3. You Have Enough Energy For The Day
There are a lot of factors when it comes to feeling focused and energetic. There are definitely plenty of supplements, including vitamins, caffeine, and power foods, that can stimulate your energy.
But if you're feeling good the minute you wake up in the morning, that probably means you have no problem sleeping through the night on a regular basis.
Even if you experience bouts of insomnia at times, you're likely perfectly healthy if you feel moderately refreshed and energetic at any given point during the day, according to research done by DivineCaroline, where women learn from experts in the health field.
4. You Have Firm, Pink Nails
We already know that the color and shape of your nails can indicate the levels of your physical well-being.
In general, if your nails are a pink hue and are firm and smooth, you're pretty healthy, according to AskMen Health.
If you experience a drastic change in nail color or texture, beware of the symptoms. Studies have linked thick, yellow nails to bronchitis, indentations to diabetes, and spoon-like nails to an iron deficiency.
5. You Weigh Within 10 Lbs Of Your Ideal Weight
Like diets, weight-watching can become tedious and overbearing. At times, we'll become consumed with weighing ourselves, just to see if we've shed those two or three pounds that week.
The truth is, all of our weights fluctuate, and that's perfectly natural. And sometimes, if you happen to notice a more significant increase on the scale, chances are it's probably because of the water stored in your body, says Anita Petruzzelli, M.D., a doctor for BodyLogicMD.
Everything from eating, exercising, and going to the bathroom can have changes on your weight. The important thing is that you're not consciously stressing out about how much you weigh, and that in the back of your mind, you generally do have some goal weight in mind.
6. You Know When You Last Had A Full Medical Checkup
As we age, we need to routinely have doctors perform checkups in order to always know what to expect from our bodies.
Knowing when you last conducted a full physical exam is important purely because it means you're staying ahead of the game, being responsible, and willing to understand certain changes or disruptions that are occurring in your body.
7. You Enjoy Indulging In Favorite Foods
The whole idea of "indulging" in a food you really like, whether they're some salty chips, candies, or fried chicken, is that you don't do it every day.
Eating your favorite foods in moderation means you're not depriving yourself of things that make you happy. According to Sara Taylor, M.D., a family physician, this is a common sense approach to eating.
If you're not skipping meals, and are generally mindful of the types of nutrition your body needs to function, and aren't tempted by fad diets, you already are normal and healthy.
8. You Have Regular Bowel Movements
A lot of people think that having regular bowel movements means that your bowels have to move every single day. However, in a report reviewed by Dr. Pat F. Bass, M.D., a professor of medicine at Louisiana State University, everyone's bowels are unique.
You can have a bowel movement anywhere from one to three times in a day, or even three times in a week. As long as it is a usual, recurring pattern that's unique to you, there is no reason to be alarmed.
But if your stool is bloody, painfully hard, or loose, it's probably best to consult with a doctor.
9. You Have A Libido
Like appetite, weight, and bowel movements, your habits in the bedroom are unique to you, and varies from one person to the next, and even between partners.
There are several things that affect libido, including age, your relationship status, stress levels, and physical well-being.
Generally, if you and your partner feel comfortable and perfectly content about your sexual relationship, then you definitely have a healthy libido.
However, nearly half of premenopausal women out there have experienced low sex drives. So unless this is negatively affecting your relationship, you have nothing to worry about.
10. You Can Manage Your Everyday Challenges
We all have bad days. But if you usually wake up feeling ready to start the day, and if you don't consider a day's work or challenges to be daunting, then you are a resilient and strong person.
"There's more to health than physiology," said Fall Ferguson, president of the Association of Size Diversity and Health, and a proponent of health education.
She stresses that those who are ready to face their challenges are generally more well-suited to combat stress, and have lowered chances of having stress-related chronic diseases.
In the best cases, if you can manage to find some meaning or purpose in what you're doing, then you're absolutely perfectly healthy.
Did you learn anything new about the healthy ways that you're already living?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and please SHARE with family and friends!
