We all know that healthy eating habits are great for your overall wellbeing, but did you know they can also make you better at hobbies and your work?

We thought we’d take a look at how being healthy can generally help you perform at peak levels.

Be a Better Gamer

“Poker!” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Viri G

We all know that athletes and sporty folk put a lot of effort into maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After all, we don’t think Usain Bolt would have gotten this far by eating three donuts before every run, do we? If he did everyone would have a chiselled physique and a cabinet full of gold medals.

Fortunately, gamers don’t have to be quite as preoccupied with their health as Olympians, but good levels of fitness can help you to boost your performance and winnings. If you’re sat playing poker for long periods of time for example, you can slip into bad habits like snacking on chips or drinking a lot of soda. If you continue to do this, the chances are you’ll swiftly become lethargic, may have mood swings and will perform poorly overall.

One of 888Poker’s authors Lee Davy decided to see how much a healthy lifestyle could impact on his ability to play by following Dr Cabot’s eight-week Liver Cleansing Diet (LCD). Over the eight weeks, he discovered how important the liver really is to our health, lost weight, experienced reduced hunger and even turned sugar-free. To this day, Davy continues to be a successful poker player and often says that his diet is crucial to his vast accomplishments.

Be a Better Musician

“Universelle” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by DEWEGGIS

Anyone who plays a musical instrument is sure to know the true extent of musical maladies. Fingers, hands, arms, legs, backs, necks, vocal cords, ears and almost every other part of the body you can think of can (and probably will) be injured at some point during a musician’s life. Leading a healthy lifestyle is crucial so you can bounce back.

For singers, keeping the vocal cords healthy is incredibly important. This is why they are encouraged to stay hydrated as it lubricates the vocal folds, helping them to vibrate proficiently. This – unfortunately for musicians – also means switching caffeine and alcohol for water whenever possible, as the two former beverages actually pull water from your system.

Exercise and nutrition are also a great way to ensure you improve musically as it will increase your stamina and vigour. After a few months of regulated exercise and a healthy diet, musicians are sure to see changes in how long they can hold a note and play their instruments.

Be Better at Work

“WORKING!!” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by onigiri-kun

All of us want to be the best we can when it comes to our jobs but it’s extremely difficult to do well when you’re ill or tired. This is why most successful people tend to put a lot of emphasis on their health and have created habits that are sure to help them perform well.

One of these habits is scheduling their meals, as that leads to consistent energy levels and a reduced chance of snacking. If and when they cannot control what food is available to them – let’s face it, cafeterias aren’t always the most accommodating places – business people tend to already have a game plan in their mind. They know which foods are healthy and they moderate what they put into their body, be it food or beverages. The more you can improvise and ensure your diet remains healthy, the more successful you will be.

As for exercise, you must commit to making time around your busy schedule. Although eating habits will get you so far, exercise will push you that little bit further and keep you active for much longer.