Why The Teen Years Are Important For Your Adult Health

As a teenager, it’s really hard to imagine what our lives will be like in adulthood. 

There are times during our teens that we find it hard to imagine what our bodies will be like. We often wonder how our faces will look when we reach our mid-twenties. School keeps us busy, and trying to fit in when we’re going through so many changes is tough.

So how do you ensure that your adult body is every bit as healthy as you’d like it to be? It’s not easy. During our teens, our bodies are misbehaving in every possible way. Hormones run rampant whether we can feel the effects of them or not. Even our sleep patterns are completely different during our teens than at any other time.

Sleep is really important during these years. But teenagers tend to drift into a pattern of staying up later and wanting to get up later. This just isn’t practical when you consider the school timetable. 

Instead, we struggle through the day feeling tired on the hours adults have set for us. This is where and why some key parts of our health can be neglected.

None of us like visiting the dentist, but during our teens a lot changes in our mouths. We are more prone to cavities because of diets of convenience. And who hasn't skipped flossing when we’re in a rush to get to school. The early teens are a good time for correctional work for teeth that aren’t aligned well too. But dentists aren’t the only healthcare professional we should see more often.

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Doctors are pretty good at helping us through those hormonal problems we all suffer from time to time. Blemishes and acne can be really embarrassing so prescription creams can be quite helpful. Periods can be a bit of a problem too. Most doctors will tell you that a good diet can help all these problems. So what goes into a good diet during the teens?

It is thought that a good diet and plenty of exercise now can help prevent you becoming overweight later in life. To be honest, though, how many teens can get through a day without a big hit of sugar from a soda or something? There are healthier alternatives to keep your energy levels up when you’re feeling tired. Pushing yourself into some exercise can clear the cobwebs. Nuts and dried fruit can help give you that quick boost you need too.

Fruit is absolutely packed with natural sugars. These are a healthier alternative to processed sugars in candies and soda. Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals to help stabilize those wayward hormones too. Avocados are thought to be particularly helpful for girls each month. Whole wheat bread can help at those times to reduce the feeling of emptiness, thanks to the starch.

You may be tired, and you may be busy, but looking after your body now will pay dividends later in life. It’s going through a lot of changes, but you really can help shape how it ends up in adulthood. Take care of you now for a healthy future.