25 Steps to a Healthier You, 11-25
Here you will find the rest of our steps to a healthier you, including eating and sleeping right, and...singing in the shower!11. Start cooking healthy. Stop frying your food and opt for roasting or grilling instead. Frying only adds unnecessary calories to food.
12. Enjoy every morsel of food. When eating, chew food slowly. Relish it and pay attention to flavors and taste. The longer you chew, the fuller you'll feel!
13. Be an early riser. Start your day early. Rising with the sun helps reset your body's clock. This builds better sleep patterns so you're energized all day.
14. Be sun smart. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Sun exposure increases your risk, so when you're in the heat of it, either cover up or slip, slap, slop on a high SPF sunscreen!
15. Stay emotionally in shape. Poor emotional health can weaken your body's immune system. Don't ignore what's going on in your heart and mind. It is healthy to acknowledge your emotions.
16. Keep your teeth healthy. A common cause of tooth loss after age 35 is gum disease. Keep your teeth and gums healthy and free of plaque by brushing and flossing every day.
17. Eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies per day. Keep fruits and vegetables on the front shelves of your refrigerator so they are easy to get to when you reach for a snack!
18. De-stress your life. Stress can cause or aggravate many health conditions. So, don't sweat the small stuff!
19. Know thyself. Knowing your family's health history can help you stay healthy. Many diseases are hereditary and preventable with early screening.
20. Look after your mental health. Depression is a serious illness that needs to be treated. It's not your fault, so you shouldn't be afraid to talk to a doctor for help.
21. Get a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep causes stress on the body. It increases cortisol and insulin, promoting fat storage and making weight loss difficult.
22. Ladies, perform regular breast examinations. The best time to perform a breast self-examination is the week after your menstrual period, when breast tissue is less tender and swollen.
23. Take a nap. Many have commended the benefits of a good 30- to 45-minute nap a day to keep refreshed and lower stress. Try it -- it doesn't mean you've passed your use-by date!
24. Open your lungs. Sing your heart out! It doesn't matter what you sound like! In the shower, in the car, or wherever you are, sing out loud. It's a great stress reliever.
25. Take time to enjoy your life. While it's important to do a good job and take care of responsibilities, life is also meant to be enjoyed. Loosen up! Laugh at yourself, and play as hard as you work!
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman,
Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David
Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve
Theunissen
