Physical activity

Everyone needs to be active and eat well to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It increases your quality of life and your sense of wellbeing.

Physical activity reduces your risk of a range of health conditions, and helps you manage the ones you already have.

It doesn’t have to be half an hour at the gym – physical activity includes:

walking
swimming
cycling
dancing
sport and recreation (structured and unstructured)
gardening
housework
active transport (eg, walking to the shops, cycling to work or school)
a physical job.

Remember: Even small increases in physical activity can improve your health. It’s never too early or late to start.

http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/food-and-physical-activity/physical-activity

http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/food-and-physical-activity/healthy-eating

Healthy eating

What and how much you eat and drink, and being physically active are important for your health.

Being healthy improves your quality of life and your sense of wellbeing. Being healthy also means that you are more likely to be around longer for your whānau.

Healthy eating:

helps your body to work well and helps you to feel good
can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers and help you to have a healthy bodyweight
means eating a variety of foods that give you the nutrients your body needs.

Eat from the four food groups

Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods, including:

Plenty of vegetables and fruit

Grain foods, mostly whole grain and those naturally high in fibre

Some milk and milk products, mostly low- and reduced-fat

Some legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and other seafood, eggs or poultry, or red meat with the fat removed.

Legumes include lentils, split peas, chickpeas and cooked dried beans (eg, red kidney beans, baked beans).

Find out more at The four food groups.