The new year is the perfect time to make a commitment to looking after your body and living a healthier life, but these promises are often forgotten before January ends.
This happens for a few reasons – we aim too high, or find it difficult to give up sugar, dairy, carbohydrates, and preservatives cold turkey. The trick is to see your new commitment to a healthy lifestyle as a permanent change and not just an idea you will try to hold onto.
If you are ready to make the change, then here are five of the top New Year’s resolutions to consider.
Reduce Sugar Intake
While there are still people out there who are arguing that sugar isn’t that bad, most evidence and research suggests otherwise. Sugar offers little to no nutritional value and has a terrible impact on your body. Almost all of us are addicted to sugar, and even if we don’t notice it, there’s sugar in everything from bread to ketchup.
Find out what you are putting in your body. Sodas, sweets, and even some fruit have a ridiculous amount of sugar. When you eat them your blood sugar spikes and crashes, which means you are hungry and you reach for whatever you can find to stabilize it – and that normally means more sugar. Instead, you should opt for water or sugar-free drinks, reduce the sugar you add to your tea or coffee, and read the labels on food you buy. You will soon start losing weight, feeling more energetic, and find that you don’t need sugar.
Take Better Care of Teeth
A dental hygiene routine of brushing, rinsing, flossing, and regular visits to your dentist will not only save you from unwanted bad breath and unsightly tooth decay, but also protect your teeth so that you can enjoy healthy food for your entire life. If you don’t have it already, invest in cheap dental insurance this year too. It will cover the cost of important regular check-ups and any drastic surgery you might need.
Get Active
We are all guilty of living lazy lives. We sit at work, sit in traffic, and sit on the couch watching TV all night. Try to move around. Take the stairs, go for a walk during lunch, or even just stretch when you wake up. Moving is important for circulation, muscle development, and overall weight maintenance.
Visit a Doctor
Even if you feel healthy, it is always wise to pay your doctor a visit. They are trained to pick up problems early and can tell you if you need to make any lifestyle changes. Plus, it’s always good to know that your body is going strong.
Eat Fresh Foods
Processed food is packed full of preservatives and chemicals that we were never meant to eat in the first place. While you obviously need some long-life foods in your pantry, decide to eat fresh produce as much as you can. Trust us, you’re going to feel better.
Make 2017 the year of healthy living with these simple resolutions and you’ll start feeling a difference in your overall health in no time.