The other day, I came across a new magazine that just launched called Best You --- I am sure you can imagine my surprise that a new women’s magazine was hitting the stands given the recent closings of so many beloved Magazine titles over the past year.
So being a good Samaritan, I wanted to support this little magazine that decided to launch in what some have called the “worst of times” – so I purchased a copy and immediately fell in love with it. The content is right on and while there was a lot of repetition in terms of the types of stores I would read in Self or even Fitness, it just seemed so fresh and new. The style is light and writers do a great job of incorporating research.
I actually took the magazine to the gym with me this morning and followed step by step their 20min strength training plan! I am planning to cook several of their recipes this week and have already set aside one ounce of almonds for a late day snack (a recommendation I have heard several times but just kind of skipped over). Today for some reason this magazine gave a new excitement for being healthy and living healthy!
Best You surveyed 100 doctors who specialize in preventive medicine and provided a checklist for adding 10 vibrant years to your life and a new feeling of health today!
Apparently about half of all adults live with one or more chronic conditions (by “chronic,” doctors mean an ongoing health issue like high blood pressure, diabetes or arthritis). But the truth is that many of these long-term conditions are almost entirely preventable. The majority of the doctors that Best You survey said at least 60 percent of chronic-disease cases could be avoided.
While some of these are all things we have heard, sometimes the reinforcement is all you need to really make a life change!
12 Steps to Total Health –
1. Stop Smoking: If you smoke, nothing else you do will rival the benefits you’ll get from quitting. Within eight hours of stubbing out your last butt, levels of carbon monoxide in your bloodstream drop to normal. Within a day, your heart attack risk begins to decline. Over your first smoke-free year, your senses of taste and smell will sharpen and you’ll have fewer respiratory problems. After 4 years, your chance of having a heart attack falls to that of someone who’s never smoked.
One thing I found interesting with this one is that you actually can reverse some of the damage that a lifetime of smoking can cause --- in so many other cases once the damage is done, it is done leaving you with that feeling of why should I try. While, I don’t smoke myself I do find this very encouraging for those trying to quit!
2. Get 30 Minutes of Light Exercise most days: You could slash your risk of diabetes by 34 percent, of stroke by 20 percent – and sharpen your thinking skills, whittle your waist and put some sparkle in your mood.
For me personally, I could really tell the difference in not only my body but my overall mood. I have been on a bit of a hiatus since the wedding but am fully committed to finding time to exercise. One thing I am doing is walking to or from work at least 3 days a week! Know of any fashionable backpacks?
3. Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily: The result? Increased cancer risk, cholesterol that’s m ore likely to adhere to artery walls, and damaged cartilage that can’t cushion joints properly.
Being in New York especially now that it is spring/summer, I really have no excuse to not adhere to these guidelines, with a fruit street vendor on every corner and a green market at my apartment complex I only have myself to blame. Will do better!
4. Get Recommended Screening Test: Left to their own devices, invisible little health problems turn into big ones. A “touch of sugar” becomes full-blown diabetes; prehypertension becomes high blood pressure; suspicious-looking cells become cancer. Your best defense: Catch these and other silent health destroyers early, when they can most easily be reversed and even cured.
In the magazine, they actually have a Prevention Plan that is definitely something to review. For me, I always thought I could wait until I was much older to start worrying about this stuff and then I had my own scare two years ago.. the time is now to get checkups and be mindful of when things just don’t feel right.
5. Get at Least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night
Okay, this is the one I really need to focus on and stick with. Here’s an example of a new sleep plan. Work backwards and allow for ½ hour when you start to shut down and relax, ½ hour ”get into bed time” so if you have to be up at 6:30am, you’ll need to start relaxing by 9:30pm, get into bed by 10:00 and turn out the lights by 10:30pm. Good night!
6. Take a daily low-dose aspirin: Swallowing a tiny aspirin can slash your odds of having a heart attack by 23 percent and a stroke by 15 percent. It may even cut the odds for the most common form of breast cancer by 16 percent.
Growing up and even now, I have very bad stomach ulcers and aspirin used to hurt my stomach, however due to it’s anti-inflammatory effects, I am actually more tolerant of it and if taken with food, allows me to enjoy aspirin’s anticancer benefits as well!
7. Know your blood pressure numbers: Don’t depend on your doctor to catch rising BP early, when it’s easiest to fix. Physicians often adopt a dangerous “wait and see” attitude when their patients pressures start creeping up. Make sure your doctor checks your BP every visit and pays attention to the results.
I am guilty of not knowing my BP numbers, but with the free testers in almost all drugstores I really have no excuse either. Going to check today.
8. Have happy interactions with family and friends: Research is proving that happy relationships literally change the biochemisty of your brain for the better, while loneliness raises your risk of high blood pressure, depression, and even an early death. One study found that our brains register social isolation in the same way they register physical pain.
I haven’t always been to open to adding more people into my social social, but just because you have “happy interactions” doesn’t mean everyone will have to be your BFF. New plan for me, reach out to a new person every week.
9. Cut most of the saturated fat from your diet: Steering clear of fast food drive-thrus, custard stands, and fatty meats, butter, and full-fat milk and cheeses at the supermarket could lower your LDL cholesterol by 10 percent.
I will make it a point to check the ingredient list for tropical oils (which are a big no no) and the product’s nutritional panel for the saturated fat content.
10. Get Treated for Depression: Depression isn’t a bad mood. It’s a common, serious illness that puts your health in danger. It’s linked with a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and a host of other serious health conditions.
While, I haven’t personally experienced depression, I do know others that have and treatment is very important. Some people will have to go through as many as 4 different therapies for treatment but stick with it and you will feel as good as new! Try and try again …
11. Tame Chronic Stress: The result? Beyond the obvious – tension headaches, sleepless nights, disrupted digestion – researchers are finding links to higher blood sugar levels, greater amounts of dangerous fat deep in the belly and possible even a higher risk of certain cancers.
I do have problems with high levels of stress and have decided to try formal meditation and yoga! As well as keeping a list of stress triggers and ways to address them.
12. Frequently pray, meditate, or focus on a higher sense of purpose: Strive to achieve something bigger than yourself. Studies show that faith, prayer, and the support of a religious community can cut stress, boost immunity, improve your odds of recovering from illness and even reduce chronic pain.
I believe that people should look for their higher spiritual fulfillment in whatever form that comes for them. I do believe there is a higher power and with prayer and faith all things are possible.
I hope that you will take time to think about this list and apply it to your own life to lead a more healthy, peaceful and spiritually rewarding Best You!
Be sure to check out www.bestyouhealth.com for more great tips and fresh content! If you have read it, what articles did you like?
Good luck, Best You and Congratulations on your premiere issue!
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