

1. Move More

Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it is a stress buster. Think ‘move’ in small increments of time. It does not have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. However, that is great when you are up to it. Meanwhile, move more.

2. Cut Fat

Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low-fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat-free cheeses and mayonnaise.

3. Quit Smoking

The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have reduced their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we have seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or ‘tough guy’ stance of Hollywood smokers. In addition, the trend to quit smoking has been slow to follow in France.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking water is still one of the healthiest things we can do. Water is essential for almost every function of the body. The average person needs eight 8-ounce glasses a day. Drink with meals, as well as before, during and after exercise. During exercise, cold water is more readily absorbed.

5. Reduce Stress


6. Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption

While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day can help protect against heart disease, drinking more than that can cause health problems such as liver and kidney disease as well as cancer.

7. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook

There is a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Remember, you cannot be unhappy when you are smiling!

8. Protect Yourself from Pollution

If you cannot live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when the air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It is a good pollution and dirt deterrent.

9. Floss Your Teeth

Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it is because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who do not.

The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. However, just because one or both of your parents died young in ill-health does not mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you.

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