Four Steps to a Healthier You in 2012

Easy Resolutions for a Healthier You in 2012
 
1.Prioritize Sleep: When things get busy with school, work, and our social lives, we tend to put getting enough sleep on the backburner. So it’s not surprising that 30% of adults in the United States are sleep deprived. What we tend to forget however, is that sleep is the key to functioning efficiently in our daily lives. Catching enough Z’s improves alertness and attention span, which can potentially decrease the amount of hours you need to study—and certainly make it less of a struggle. Enough sleep also strengthens your immune system, helps you to maintain a healthy weight, and improves your memory. For optimal health, try 7-9 hours of rest a night.
 
2. Eat only when you’re hungry: As obvious as it sounds, how often do you reach for a snack simply because you’re bored or just because it tastes good? Start tuning into your body, feed it only when you truly feel hungry and eat your meals slowly. Thoroughly chewing your food is not only a blessing for your digestion but it also gives your body enough time to process the amount you’re eating, clueing you into the fact that you’re full long before you get up for seconds. Forget the fad diets and crazy weight loss techniques; this simple and often overlooked strategy is probably the healthiest and most effortless way to drop a few pounds.
 
3. Do Yoga: The benefits of a regular yoga practice are endless. Besides the more obvious benefits of improved flexibility and lower stress levels, some benefits you might not know about include improved memory and concentration, better circulation, increased mind-body awareness (including the cessation of unhealthy food cravings), development of muscle tone, and improved cardiovascular endurance. Find a style that works for you and try to hit the mat at least 3 times a week!
 
4. Get Enough Vitamin D:Vitamin D has been a hot topic in nutritional science and medicine this past year. Why? Recent studies have shown that low levels of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Not only that, but experts believe that up to 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient! So in addition to getting about 15 minutes of sun exposure a day (which is not always feasible in the winter months), add a Vitamin D supplement to your diet. Doctors have recently been recommending 1,000 IU/day.
 
Sources:
Huffingtonpost.com
Womenshealthmag.com