Immortal: a word that college students never use to describe themselves. However, students tend to forget that they indeed are. Not a whole lot of thought goes into the future besides graduating college and starting a career instead of working for wages. People get so caught up in studying, extracurriculars and trying to not be in a pile of debt that they forget about one thing: their health. I've compiled a short list of ways to boost your health now and for the future so that you can stay on your toes and continue with your busy everyday life until that dream called "graduation" is finally achieved.

1. Eat real food.

And by real food I mean the stuff on the perimeter of the grocery store.

Fruits — To keep things simplistic, really any fruit is good for you. However, try to focus on berries; they're packed with antioxidants to help keep your immune system humming along smoothly and protect you from many forms of cancer. Not to mention they're low in calories and pretty guilt-free. Bananas, pineapples, melons, grapes, apples and other citrus fruits shouldn't be neglected either; the calories and sugar can just start to add up pretty fast.

Vegetables — It's hard to go wrong with any vegetable. None of these are calorie-dense and all of them contain countless vitamins and minerals (with the exception of a few types of lettuce). They're not very expensive either because they contain a relatively large amount of fiber and water, which helps you stay fuller longer. For those who wish to spice up the flavor profile of veggies a bit, I recommend dipping them in some hummus or cooking them up in a stir fry.

Lean proteins — Generally speaking, the fewer legs, the better. Aim for poultry and fish, especially fish. Our body needs omega-3s, which have the capability to help lower our blood pressure, reduce joint pain, and prevent Alzheimer's. There are also vegan/vegetarian options, such as adding textured vegetable protein to different recipes or tossing some hemp protein (which also has the good omega-3s in it) in a smoothie.

Whole grains — They contain soluble fiber on top of many other benefits. Soluble fiber helps lower your bad cholesterol and keep you feeling fuller longer as well. Many Americans are deficient in fiber and the consumption of things such as oats, minimally processed whole grain breads, and several types of pasta such as brown rice, quinoa, or whole wheat will help you achieve a number that will make your doctor proud.

2. Drink green tea or coffee.

There are numerous studies that point to the consumption of these two beverage being very beneficial for your health, so go ahead and treat yourself to a night at The Rootnote with a few friends or any other of La Crosse's numerous cafes, such as McCaffery's or Moka (the home of the lifesaving Detox SportTea). Coffee, AKA, life-blood, contains a lot of antioxidants and caffeine, which can help stimulate your sympathetic nervous system. In short, this helps you release fat for energy and suppresses your appetite a little (a little is good for those who tend to mindlessly eat while they study). On the other hand, green tea contains caffeine and ECGC (green tea's very powerful antioxidant). In combination, these two can provide for an increase of fat loss that seems to be concentrated around your stomach area (researchers aren't quite sure as to why this is yet). Two things to remember: Don't overdo it on the caffeine, and know that all of the "white girl" coffee drinks usually contain more calories than soda. Be wary of how much you consume and what you order!

3. Up your fruit and vegetable intake.

See number one. I really cannot stress this enough. Just replace your food-like items with a nutrient-dense option instead.

4. Lift weights.

The only true way to actually boost your overall metabolism. Muscles require more calories, and one extra pound of muscle burns about 50 calories more a day. 50 calories isn't that much, right? Wrong. Let's add it up. Roughly, one has to be in a deficit of about 3,500 calories to lose one pound. There are 365 days in one year: 365*50=18,250 calories. 18,250/3,500=5 pounds. Again, five pounds may not sound like a lot, but just imagine if you gained five pounds a year instead of losing them, that's about 25 pounds (let's be honest, four years is only a dream). On top of that, people tend to gain more than one pound of muscle a year if they workout consistently. There are more benefits than just weight loss; you can have more functional strength, and weight-bearing activities help prevent osteoporosis (help your future self out a little here). Also, you will not get bulky, girls.

This doesn't require you to go to the Rec and grunt out a workout; I realize many of you may not have time in your day to do this, or you may be intimidated by all of the guys eyeing you up in the weight room. This can be as simple as doing bodyweight squats and pushups in your room every other day, or purchasing a couple dumbbells as well and completing more lifts. If you keep it intense, a bit of full body circuit training can take as little as 15 minutes and burn initial calories as long as long-term calories.

5. Remember the cardio.

"But broooooo... it'll kill my gainz," say way too many of the guys at the Rec. "I can't flex my heart, dude," says the one guy with the disproportionately large upper body. Let's set aside the aesthetics debate for a bit and look into the future; neglect of aerobic exercise can be linked to countless problems like high blood pressure and heart disease. We can also get a little sappy for a second and think about your potential future family. I know a lot of people aren't thinking about this at the moment, but it's gonna be tough to run around with your kids and be around for their lives if you don't have a healthy heart. It's just also nice not to get winded walking up the stairs of Wimberly or Centennial, and really nice not to show up to class out of breath and sweating.

Here's an option for those on a tight schedule: high-intensity interval training. This is a method of working out that involves 10 minutes of your time at most. It works by going all out for a period of time and taking it easy for a period of time. Some examples of this include the Tabata method, which is 20 seconds hard and 10 seconds easy for four minutes (I recommend doing this on a stationary bike); 15 seconds on and 45 seconds off or 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off on an elliptical, treadmill, stationary bike, or rowing machine; or sprints on The Curve treadmill if you're feeling sadistic (I usually sprint all out for seven to ten seconds and walk for 53 to 50 seconds).

6. Don't neglect your mental health.

I feel like those with a busy schedule almost neglect this as much as they do their physical health. People forget to take time during the day to stay sane. The nice thing is, lifting weights and cardio can help relieve stress and allow time for yourself. However, La Crosse offers many more options than just the Rec. Nature is my favorite mental escape when I can utilize it. I love going out for a ride, run, or walk on our beautiful bike trails, heading up to the Human Powered Trails, or hiking the bluffs and pausing for a few minutes on the top to reflect on the beauty of life. If you are a bit time-crunched, simply take some time at the end of the day to disconnect yourself from all technology and read a book or meditate in the dark.

7. Sleep.

Quite possibly the most-prized commodity besides money for a college student. Not getting enough can lead to many problems now and in the future. Everyone knows the zombie-like feeling of sleep deprivation and we've all seen or been the person doing the "head nod" in class. Chronic lack of sleep has been linked to many problems later in life, such as low testosterone (you don't want to have "the blue pill talk" with your doc, guys), countless heart-related diseases, weight gain, mental deterioration, and skin aging. It is recommended that you get at least six hours a night.

8. Enjoy life.

I cannot stress this enough. People get so caught up in life that they forget to do this. Countless hours of school, studying, work, and extracurriculars need a release valve. By no means am I saying that you need to go out and drink, because that's not necessarily good for you either. What I am saying is spend some time with those who matter to you and find something to do that you truly enjoy. I recommend many things such as a form of physical activity you find enjoyable, going for a drive and letting the wind blow your hair around, actually having a conversation with your friends that doesn't involve school, watching a movie, cooking up a dinner that involves some preparation besides the microwave, or heading out to Goose Island and having a picnic down by the water.

By no means am I an expert on life; I'm still trying to figure things out myself. But these are some simple tips to keep your body and mind running along smoothly now and in the future.