Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how many of us work and live. And surprising as it might be, when it comes to health and wellness, it actually has a lot to offer. From finding healthy recipes to providing a list of self-care activities, AI can help you find many ways to improve your well-being.
What is AI?
AI uses machines (typically computers) to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. You likely have already used AI, such as a Google search, Siri or Alexa voice assistants — or even recommendations from Amazon or Netflix.
Many more AI platforms have emerged over the past few years, and some are specifically designed to make it easier to enhance your health and wellness. Consider fitness trackers and smart watches, for instance, that can measure your activity, monitor your heart rate and track your sleep.
Here are 5 ways to use AI to better your health and wellness.
Healthy Recipes
One simple way to get healthy recipes is to ask ChatGPT, a popular AI tool. Give it a prompt that specifies your food likes and dislikes, any allergies and specific dietary preferences. This can include vegan, gluten free, low-calorie or high-protein options. You can also indicate how much time you have to cook or how many ingredients you want to use.
Then ask it to give you recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks that meet your guidelines. And if you don’t like the results or have more parameters, simply put that in a new prompt, and ChatGPT will suggest different ones.
Other AI options for healthy recipes include:
- DishGen: crafts unique recipes based on your desired ingredients, recipe ideas or dietary preferences
- Yummly: learns your preferences and provides recommendations based on your tastes, diet, allergies and cooking skills
Tailored Workout Routine
Looking for personalized guidance on exercising? AI can serve as your virtual personal trainer. You can ask ChatGPT to create a workout plan for you based on your goals, preferences (high-impact versus low-impact), limitations (such as a knee injury), equipment available and time you can commit to exercise.
If it recommends something you don’t like, such as running, you can tell it to revise the workout routine without running included. For the best results, be sure to specify a goal, such as lose weight, gain strength, run a 5K, etc.
Additional options include:
- Fitbod: features exercise videos and a comprehensive exercise library
- GymGenie: creates custom routines and tracks your progress
Grocery Lists
Making a grocery list can be a hassle. Capitalize on AI to help simplify this repetitive chore. ChatGPT is most effective at making grocery lists if you first have it create a meal plan for you. Once you’ve agreed to the meal plan, AI can draft a list based on the ingredients and foods in the plan.
Or if you tell ChatGPT what type of diet you’re following (low-fat, keto, vegetarian), it can suggest products to buy at the store. You also can add your regular items to the list, or tell it typical meals you make, and it will add products.
Other tools may be more helpful for making grocery lists, including:
- AnyList: separates groceries into categories, lets you add notes about quantity, coupons and more; allows sharing lists with others
- Bring!: automatically groups items on your list, imports ingredients from online recipes and lets you share lists with others
Activities that Can Improve Your Well-Being
Sometimes you might need extra motivation for self-care. Prompting ChatGPT to create a list of activities that can improve your physical and mental well-being is a simple solution. You’ll likely get some ideas you hadn’t thought of or didn’t know about.
After receiving your recommendations, you can always add to your prompt. You can ask for more details about a specific activity or additional ideas to support your mental health, for instance.
Beyond ChatGPT, you may try the following:
- Happify: helps you overcome negative thoughts, manage stress and form new healthy habits
- Fabulous: uses behavior science to help you develop healthy habits, find purpose and create structure in your life
Intention-Setting
Feel like intentions are a good idea, but aren’t sure how to create them? Tell that to ChatGPT, along with your goals, values and struggles. Then it can offer intentions that help you stay aligned to those. Intentions may involve productivity, self-care, personal growth or other areas that are important to you.
If the results don’t match your preferences, indicate that in a follow-up prompt and ask for different intentions.
Or try apps such as:
- Daylio: helps you craft intentions to keep you on track toward your goals
- Intentions: supports you in setting intentions, reaffirming them daily and providing personalized affirmations
Smart Use of AI
AI is a powerful tool that can help you proactively support your health and well-being. It doesn’t replace human brainpower or professionals like personal trainers, counselors, coaches and others, but can serve as a convenient supplement.
Remember that AI isn’t flawless, and consider doing more research on its recommendations. You may prefer different AI tools and apps, so experiment to find what works best for you. Note that not all options are free.
Learn more about personalized, proactive wellness care at AdventHealth, including our whole-body CREATION Life philosophy.
