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Saturday, November 7, 2009

3 ways to be healthy (without being perfect)

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Good health does NOT have to be expensive, time-consuming, or a lot of hard work. A much better approach: Realize that every little bit counts. For those of us with a perfectionist streak (guilty as charged), learning to relax your standards can save you loads of frustration—and you can still protect your health. Here’s my short list of three healthy living essentials—the gold standard when there’s time and the good enough version that will deliver all those disease-fighting, healthful-weight-maintaining benefits you’re looking for.

Sunscreen
Gold standard: Slathering on SPF 30 multiple times a day
Good enough: Applying SPF 15 once in the morning
Unless you’re poolside or beach bound, you can easily stretch your sunscreen dollar by protecting your face, neck, and hands (and any other exposed areas) once early in the day. Studies show that SPF 15 blocks about 93% of rays (SPF 30 blocks about 97%), so if you’re outside for only a short time, you’re still getting substantial protection.

Exercise
Gold standard: 30 minutes of cardio five times a week
Good enough: 17 minutes a day
Conventional wisdom says that to get the health benefits of a workout, you need to devote time and sweat, when, in fact, you can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by 27% in less time than it takes to watch a sitcom.

Fruits & Vegetables
Gold standard: Up to nine servings of fruits and veggies a day
Good enough: Five servings a day
This is sufficient to get the antioxidants and fiber you need to reduce cancer risk and maintain a healthful weight. Because I’m a big fan of slightly higher priced organic produce (which has more readily available antioxidants, and thus more bang for your disease-fighting buck), this is particularly happy news for my wallet.

Get six more “good enough” tips to live healthier today.

What healthy shortcuts are you looking for? Let me know and I’ll share more great ideas in a future post!


More Tips on How to Live Better:
100 Ways to Look Younger
Find Natural Cures
Top 10 Belly-Flattening Foods


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 Want more from Liz? Check out Flat Belly Diet to slim your tummy.

Related: splurge, skip, prevention magazine, healthy lifestyle

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From the Community…

Comments 1-8 of 8
  • 's Avatar
    Posted by Wed Jul 9, 2008 1:18pm PDT

    That sounds simple enough. I think that when people in general start focusing on the health benefits as to the get skinny quick superficial benefits it will be less of a compulsion and more of a positive benefit. By compulsion I mean the fact that most people are willing to take and do any thing just to be "skinny". The positive to going about things such as the things you are recommending is that you feel great when your anatomy inside feels great. These days it's all about the appearance and yeah I like to look good but I know the benefits of how it is to feel good inside out. That's enough for me to see the benefits of your advice. Great blog.

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  • Calypso's Avatar
    Posted by Calypso Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:45pm PDT

    Thanks Liz -- what a relief. You start to think that if you don't follow the rules exactly, something will go wrong or won't work. It's nice to know that if I slip up (with the sunscreen or exercise) -- it won't be all that bad!

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  • blue^eyed^beauty783's Avatar
    Posted by blue^eyed^beauty783 Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:20pm PDT

    Woo-hoo! The standards they put in for us to be "healthy" are ridiculous. I bet the people who made them up don't even get enough servings!

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  • claran's Avatar
    Posted by claran Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:10pm PDT

    i saw a commercial on tv if you want to lose wieght eat more often quess what it worked i lost 28 pounds eating small amounts more often during the day

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  • Carrie D's Avatar
    Posted by Carrie D Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:55pm PDT

    Yep the food pyramid helps and soft music alone!!!!Thanks at least I feel better knowing that!

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  • Jackie's Avatar
    Posted by Jackie Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:19pm PDT

    Very true - exercise and sunscreen are big ones - after all, the skin is the most important organ on your body

    Report Abuse
  • Vincent's Avatar
    Posted by Vincent Sun Nov 2, 2008 9:36pm PST

    Hi Liz Vaccariello,

    I am doing a Senior Project on nutrition and health, and I see some of your articles deals with that. I must complete an interview (list of questions to be answered) in order to complete my project and graduate from high school. Yes, I must complete this project in order to graduate. I was wondering if i could interview you? Please e-mail me back at vhytsui@ymail.com .

    Thank You.

    Report Abuse
  • negili's Avatar
    Posted by negili Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:08am PST

    tanx god i found you!

    Report Abuse
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