Holidays, stress, post-holidays, even more stress—who has the time for taking care of ourselves? You do!
A better diet, a little more exercise–healthy living is easy if you take it one tip at a time:
- Enjoy the benefits of yogurt. It’s creamy smooth and packed with flavor. Research suggests that one humble carton of yogurt may: help prevent osteoporosis; reduce the risk of high blood pressure, and aid in gastrointestinal conditions.
- Help your holiday heartburn. Try these hints and you can stop the burn before it starts: nibble–enjoy your favorite foods in moderation–packing your stomach with food makes heartburn more likely. Know your triggers–certain foods feed heartburn’s flame. Typical triggers include foods full of sugar and fat. Get up—stretching out for a nap post-meal is a great way to guarantee you’ll get reflux, instead keep your head higher than your stomach.
- Kiss holiday cold sores goodbye. If you find you are more prone to cold sores, you may be your own worst enemy. That’s because lack of sleep, too much alcohol or sugar, stress, and close physical contact (think Aunt Mary’s smooches) can all contribute to outbreaks. To keep your kisser cold-sore free, try these tips: don’t overdo on the holiday goodies. Get plenty of rest. Wash your hands. Don’t share food or drink containers. Discard used tissue.
- Start a winter tradition—family workouts. Walking is suitable for young and old.
- Eat locally. Some nutritionists think eating locally may be even more important than eating organically. That’s because a vital factor in a food’s nutrient profile is how long it took to get from the farm to the table.
- Invest in your health—literally. Having an HSA (health savings account) or flex spending account for medical expenditures. How about making time for yourself to get to those doctor appointments? After all you are worth it!
Whatever healthy steps you choose to take–eating better, exercising more, saving for medical co-pays–they are an investment in you. Bank a little more sleep this new year. Set aside stressful differences. Stock a healthier pantry. It’s your body!
