As seen in the Spring 2009 issue of Stay Healthy Magazine
1. Move More
Find more ways to move your body. Climb stairs instead of taking the elevator. Toss a ball with your kids. Mow the lawn. Anything that keeps you moving is not only a fitness tool; it’s a stress buster, too.
2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods and fatty meats. Eat low-fat dairy foods. Limit your intake of nuts, sandwich meats, condiments, dressings and sauces. Read labels and think before you eat.
3. Quit Smoking
It’s obvious. Smoking is bad for you and for those around you. Plus, smoker’s age faster than non-smokers. Set a good example for your children.
4. Reduce Stress
Stress hormones are hard on your body, especially your heart. Identify the stressors around you and try to steer clear. Just taking 30 minutes a day doing something you enjoy helps a lot.
5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
Avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas and breathing in highway fumes. Plant lots of trees and shrubbery in your yard. They are good deterrents to pollution and dirt.
6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes.
7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Strong, healthy teeth help you
avoid many forms of illnesses.
8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.
9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There’s a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life.
10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn’t mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you.
