General Health Articles

In the News A Better YOU in 2024 – Part I

Happy New Year!

As the excitement and merriment of the holidays and ringing in the New Year die down, it’s time to reflect on the past year and focus on building a better you in 2024.

Here are some ways that you can work on that goal and have a successful and mindful new year.

Practice gratitude: Take a few minutes every day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. This can help you develop a more positive outlook on life.

Learn a new skill: Trying your hand at a new skill or hobby can help you become a more interesting and diverse person. Consider taking up sport, trying to learn a new language or take a painting class. Whatever piques your interest, have at it!

Volunteer: Volunteering your time, talent, and energy to help others can be a rewarding experience. Consider helping a local non-profit or charity organization. 

Be kind to yourself: It’s important to be kind to yourself and practice self-care. This can include getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and taking the time to relax and recharge. 

Set realistic goals: Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and focused. Break down your larger goals into smaller ones. 

Connect with others: Building strong relationships with family and friends can help you feel more supported and connected to others. Connect with your loved ones on a regular basis.

(Continued in Part II…)

Healthy Living: Resolutions for a Better YOU

The easiest way to kill your New Year’s resolution sometimes is to make one at all.  So, why not make the switch in 2024 to not make a resolution but choose a way to be a better person by making some inward and outward changes.

Some suggestions include:

Get more sleep.  Besides helping you to feel energized during the day and improve your mood, getting more sleep can also aid in losing weight.  Your body repairs and rejuvenates during sleep… even calcium is added to your bones while you sleep!  Getting adequate sleep is the best way for your mind and body to be the best it can be.  While optimum sleep time varies from person to person, the average is 4 to 11 hours each day.  While getting to bed earlier is easier said than done, you should also avoid food for at least 2 hours prior to bedtime and eliminate all sources of light in your bedroom while you sleep.

Eat a fruit or a vegetable while every meal.  Studies show that Americans eat fewer fruits and vegetables than other countries, and disease prevention is directly linked to consumption of fruits and vegetables.  It seems like a no-brainer to get healthier through eating more fruits and vegetables, but for some it may be best to start small.  For example, add a banana to your morning cereal or make sure to eat a salad prior to dinner.

Cook more at home.  While relying on fast food can be a fast fix, it will have far more consequences on your health than benefits.  Restaurant foods tend to be unhealthier and portion sizes way off than the norm.  Cook healthier meals at home and leave restaurant meals to date nights or social nights.

Don’t be so hard on yourself.  Resolve to change the way you think and talk about yourself this year. If you constantly put yourself down the more, you will feel that way and act accordingly.  Turn things around with positive thoughts.

Clean Eating 101: Ways to Detox Your Food

Nearly every day we hear about our foods and how they are becoming laced with synthetic ingredients.  If you want to avoid these synthetic ingredients, you need to learn how to detoxify the foods you are eating and choose healthier foods.

Here are some suggestions to detoxify and eat healthier this year:

• Clean your Produce.
• Avoid cans as much as possible.
• Choose Whole Foods.
• Shop for Safer Seafood.
• Watch your Animal Fat Intake.

Healthy Living: Ways to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

It’s the most germiest time of the year! Isn’t that how the song goes? Oh, wonderful, that’s right! Well, it may be the most wonderful time of the year if you and your family can remain healthy throughout the flu and holiday season.

Here are a few ways that you can make your health and safety a priority this year and keep you healthy well into 2024. 

• Wash your hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. Make sure that you are washing them for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
• Bundle up when you are headed outdoors in the cold. Wear light, warm layers, hat, gloves, and scarf. And waterproof boots, too!
• Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. This is an all-year deal and not just for the holidays.
• Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke whenever possible. If you are a smoker, consider making that early resolution to quit.
• Get your yearly exams and screenings. Just because you are busy enjoying the season shouldn’t mean that you should put off those important health appointments.
• Keep an eye on children. Keep hazardous or potentially hazardous items, foods, drinks, and objects away from children. Protect them from potential accidents.
• Practice fire safety and know your family plan. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so be prepared in the event of an emergency.
• Prepare food safely. Wash hands, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to the proper temperature and refrigerate foods after eating.

Holidays 101: Handling Holiday Stress

Thanksgiving may be behind us, but we are still entering the major holiday season… or the major stress season for some. The holidays are stressful for many during a normal year, but couple that with shipping delays, shortages, and inflation, many people may be finding it hard to cope this year.

So how can you better deal with your holiday stress? Experts suggest the following:

• Talk with your family and find out what holiday traditions mean the most to them and focus on those activities and not ALL of the holiday activities.
• Make a holiday schedule and invite your family members to help you keep on that schedule.
• Make it a proactive event to find out what worked and what didn’t from year to year.