New Year, New Goals
We begin a new year and with it comes a new decade. For many there are new goals: weight loss, the end or return to school, buying a house, gettting a better job, getting married and starting a family, or experiencing divorce and find new loves, and so on.
Whatever the goals, they bring new challenges. I recommend writing your goals at the beginning of the year. Some experts suggest having many goals while others recommend only having a few thoughts to better focus your energy. Whatever your style, always include that one goal that says: “I will maintain a healthier lifestyle, in the holistic concept of health, as in physical, mental and spiritual. There has always been a connection between happiness and health, and here’s where matters get more complicated. This is because we would have to define what is happiness for each of us and then attempt find endless answers. For simplicity we will focus on the relationship between welfare and health. When you attempt to answer this question please consider my suggestions for towards your list of goals for 2010. So, please take note:
Do you sleep from 7 to 8 hours per day or do you go to sleep late and get up early? Getting enough sleep is important for the your overall welfare since lack of sleep is associated with a tendency to gain weight, increases depression, anxiety, and lack of coordination.
Have you had a full medical exam in the last year? It is important to have physical examinations as often as recommended by your doctor and know your blood levels of cholesterol, sugar, as well as your blood pressure. If there is a problem, with given early treatments any abnormalities can be controlled. Remember that high blood pressure is known as the silent killer, as it can create severe medical problems without any apparent symptoms.
Do you drink alcoholic beverages in moderation or in excess? Alcohol provides empty calories. It is known that alcohol abuse also leads to addiction. The consequences range from medical problems (high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers) to social problems (accidents, family violence, job loss). Furthermore moderate alcohol consumption, defined as one drink per day for women and two men, may reduce the risk of heart ailments.
When you have stress, you know, smoke, drink, ignore it or look for any other activity that may relax you? In this case, there are many options for relaxation including activities you can do like walking, dancing, listening to music, reading a book. Also classes that require specialized equipment and instructors as yoga, tai chi, aerobics, swimming, etc. are wonderful stress reducers. To live constantly under stress more likely leads to later suffering of related diseases like high blood pressure, diseases of the heart, lungs and liver, or some types of cancer. It also leads to depression, anxiety, illicit drug use, alcohol, overeating, deterioration of family relationships or suicide.
In the next column will continue with other suggestions to make in 2010 incorporate a healthier lifestyle.
Araceli Vazquez is a dietitian and nutritionist with practices in Dallas. You may write to Araceli@Dietgenics.com or call 972-664-0846.
