It's Almost A New Year, Are You Ready To Turn Over A New Leaf?

Deciding to be healthier for the New Year can be easy and rewarding.  Here are a few things that can make a substantial difference in your overall heath.

Sleep

Sleep affects the very foundations of our health.  It is a time when our bodies regenerate (healing and repairing your heart and blood vessels for example) and allows for healthy brain function.  Getting the most out of your sleep starts with getting enough sleep.  Eight hours is ideal and just as important as overall time is to strive to be in bed by 10pm. The deepest and most regenerative sleep occurs between 10pm and 2am.   Allow yourself a fresh start to every day with enough sleep.

Water

Water consumption impacts every cell in your body.  It allows your cells to take away toxins from your organs and delivers important nutrients to your cells.  On average, women need 9 cups of water a day and men need 13 cups a day.  Of course this is different for everyone, depending on how much you exercise and how hot your environment is.   Strive for drinking a glass of water every hour between breakfast and dinner. 

Vegetables

Vegetable intake gives you many nutrients, vitamins and fiber your body needs to run properly and fight infections.  They also help protect you from chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke, help prevent some types of cancer, and guard against cataract and macular degeneration.  Adults should have 9, 1/2 cup servings per day, so grab some veggies for mid meal snacks and load up during lunch and dinner.  Try eating a rainbow of colors every day to get all the different benefits vegetables have to offer and remember potatoes are considered a starch, not a vegetable.

Exercise

Exercise helps increase your energy levels, keeps your body strong, and improves your mood.  It can control your weight, decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease, promote sleep, and improve your sex life.   No matter what you are currently doing, find something you enjoy and begin an exercise program for 15 minutes a day.   Once you have a meaningful routine you enjoy, you can work up to a minimum of 30 minutes a day.