10 Tips for A Healthy New Year
10 Tips for A Healthy New Year
- Eat a balanced diet of whole foods—grains, legumes, and fresh vegetables and fruits
- Buy wholesome snacks for you and your family. Select foods such as apples, plums, nuts, seeds, or
popcorn. - Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. In other words, consume most of your food early in the day so you’ll have energy for the day’s activities.stretching and strengthening as well as 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic activity.
- Drink 8 to 12 glasses of filtered or spring water daily. It’s best to consume water first thing in the morning as well as up to 30 minutes before meals. This helps satiate the body and minimize appetite.
- Exercise for at least one hour daily, four times a week. Include stretching and strengthening as well as 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic activity.
- Cut back on overly processed candies, cookies, cakes, sodas, chips, lunchmeats, and cheeses. These foods are high in calories and/or fats.
- Take time to enjoy eating. Chew slowly and thoroughly, satisfying yourself with each mouthful.
- Forgive yourself for any weight problems or holiday weight gain. Get back on track with low-fat,
low-calorie, wholesome foods. - Realize that overweight involves many genetic and emotional factors. You may need support to
help change bad habits. - Rather than just going on a shortterm diet, change your diet for life to create the appropriate body
weight for you.
About the Author
Elson Haas
Elson M. Haas, MD, has been in medical practice for more than 30 years and is the founder and director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin in San Rafael, California. Dr. Haas is the author of seven books on health and nutrition including the new twenty-first-century edition of Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine ($39.95, Celestial Arts, 2006), as well as The New Detox Diet, The False Fat Diet, and the latest 2003 edition of Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Visit his Web site for more tips on healthy living.
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