Tips for a healthier 2008
Good health involves much more than just maintaining your ideal body weight. In general, you need to eat right, exercise more, wash your hands often, see your doctor regularly and get your flu shot (if you haven’t already).
Sounds easy enough, right? Well, some of it, at least. The tough part for all of us, of course, is incorporating that advice into our already busy daily lives. The following tips will help.
Eat right
There’s no magic formula for healthy eating. Be sure to eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Also include low-fat or non-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish and legumes.
The less those foods are processed, the better. When you do eat processed foods, read the labels. Avoid foods containing high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils, and go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol and saturated fat. Also, drink lots of water. It will boost your energy level and help you feel less hungry.
Finally, watch portion sizes—especially at restaurants. What counts as a single serving today is two or three times greater than the single serving of 10 years ago, so don’t be embarrassed to split an entrée. It will help you save calories and money.
Exercise more
When you already feel like you’ll never get everything done, the thought of fitting in time to exercise seems impossible. And try as we might, there’s no way to create a 25-hour day.
What we need to do, then, is learn to prioritize and make time for ourselves. Each morning, plan how you’ll work in your 30 minutes of exercise. Consider how you can reorganize your day, delegate tasks or pare down your schedule. Thirty minutes of exercise each day can make a huge difference in your health—and your happiness.
See your doctor
Preventive care is key to staying healthy. See your family doctor for an annual checkup (including a skin cancer screening), and get dental cleanings twice a year. Also, get your flu vaccination—especially if you live or work with young children or the elderly. And don’t ever put off getting emergency medical care if you have chest pains or other warning signs.
Don’t give up
It can be tough to change lifelong habits, but don’t give up. The positive steps you take now to improve your health will pay off for years to come—not only in fewer illnesses but also in a better quality of life overall.
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