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The New Year's holiday is a perfect time to develop a new outlook, especially regarding your health.
Taking proactive measures now can ensure a healthier you—physically and mentally—in 2010. Here are some simple steps to better health in the coming year.
1. Eat organic Not only are organic foods chemical- and pesticide-free, but they contain more cancer-fighting antioxidants than conventional foods.
2. Develop a yoga practice Yoga is a fantastic way to build physical strength and stamina, and it has a profound effect on your emotional and mental state. Yoga’s breathing techniques work to calm your mind, relieve stress, fight illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, and infuse your body and mind with a sense of well-being.
3. Unplug We spend a majority of our day being bombarded with news or radio broadcasts, emails, phone calls, and text messages. Taking at least 15-30 minutes each day for yourself, with no interruptions, is a surprisingly efficient way to decrease your stress levels and recharge your inner battery. Drink tea in a quiet space, go for a walk in the park, or just take time out to think.
4. Connect with friends and family A 2008 Gallup poll found that spending at least six hours every week of pure social time with people we love increases our happiness levels and decreases stress levels.
5. Garden Digging in the soil is a great way to enjoy some physical exercise, and also to tune in to the relaxing rhythms of the earth.
6. Drink more water Eight glasses a day can keep a host of unwelcome symptoms and illnesses away. Water detoxifies the body, contributes to optimum brain functioning, prevents fatigue, and reduces the risk for certain types
of cancer.
7. Increase your home air quality Most of us spend about 90% of our time inside. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, toxins from household cleaning products could render the air inside our homes 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside. Buy green cleaning products like those made by seventhgeneration.com or mrsmeyers.com, or stock up on a few safe, simple ingredients that can be used in most cleaning situations. Soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and a coarse cleaning brush will conquer most household dirt.
8. Read Experts say reading is a great way to fight off dementia related to aging and helps to preserve your cognitive abilities.
9 Clean up your cosmetics Everyday use of daily grooming products may be exposing your body to chemicals that have been linked with cancer, neurological damage, and more. Check out cosmeticsdatabase.com, which lists thousands of products, their ingredients, and the toxicity levels present in each.
10. Laugh It may sound like a cliché, but laughter can boost your immune system, lower your blood sugar levels, and help you get a good night’s sleep. Aim for a good belly laugh every day.
