Are you one of the millions of people in the world who owns a smartphone? If so, are you making the most out of that wonderful little gadget? You probably use your phone to make calls, send texts, and keep up with what’s going on in the world of social media. But have you thought about using your phone to get healthy? If not, here are just some of the ways your phone could help to boost your health.

Food diaries and nutrition apps

Do you struggle to lose weight or are you worried that your diet isn’t quite as healthy or diverse as it could be? Do you prepare and eat meals without giving calories a second thought or are you renowned for serving up huge portions? If so, a food diary could help you to lose weight and make your diet healthier and more varied. Using an app, you can track everything from your daily calorie intake to how much fiber, sugar, and salt you consume on an average day. You can input your details, such as your height and weight, and your app will suggest a recommended calorie intake to help you lose, gain or maintain the same weight. You can scan the bar-code of items you buy from stores or cafes or enter in nutritional information manually. If you don’t have much knowledge about ingredients or calorie counting, this is a quick and easy way to see if you’re eating the right foods, identify areas where you could improve, and keep track of your weight.

Online health services

You can book a table at a restaurant online, but did you know that you can also arrange consultations with trained doctors and get advice sent directly to your phone? With sites such as Babylon Health, you can access a wealth of health services at the touch of a button. You can engage in conversation with doctors, start a video call or schedule an appointment. We all have busy lives, and if you struggle to find the time to get to a clinic or you simply need advice fast, these kinds of services are there to make life much easier.

Exercise and fitness

If you’ve got a modern cell phone, you can use it to get fit and keep an eye on your progress. You can download or buy apps to help you get in shape, increase your fitness, and count your steps, or you can connect your phone to devices that will measure your heart rate and tell you how active you have been each day. You can watch workout videos on your phone, get tips from trainers or follow plans that are designed to take you on a fitness journey over a period of time. If you’re new to exercise, it can be hugely beneficial to see how your body is responding to physical activity.

If you have a smartphone, and you’re interested in boosting your health and wellbeing, there are all kinds of features and apps you can use to get healthy. At the touch of a button, you can find healthy recipes, get cooking tips, check your calorie intake, follow a fitness plan or even book an appointment with a doctor.