Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Health Resolutions: 5 small changes you can make for a healthier heart, brain, breasts and more!

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New Year’s health resolutions don’t have to fail. Make yours last all year by focusing on one small change. We found 10 that are so simple you’ll be willing to start before January!

Gaming for brain power
Try sudoku or do part of a crossword puzzle for a few minutes every day. According to one study, after two weeks of memory exercises and puzzles, the brains of participants actually used less energy while thinking. (Did you now that breaking a sweat makes you smarter?)

Hug your way to a healthier heart
Hug someone at least once a day; it triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that has been shown to increase cardiovascular health. Cuddling and holding hands count too!
 
Change your shoes—get softer feet
Change up your footwear. Alternating flip-flops with closed-back shoes will help keep your heels from becoming cracked.

Avoid that not-so-fresh feeling
Sleep naked! Clothes, including your skivvies, can cause the genital area to be damp, which may lead to inflammation and a higher risk of infection, says Marjorie Greenfield, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. (10 things he's thinking when you're naked.)

Improve your hearing
Lay off your iPod (even just a little). Doctors have seen an increase in young women with hearing loss, and it could be from our nonstop listening habits, which don’t give ears a chance to recover from the noise exposure.

Find resolutions 6-10 for a healthier you here!

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The greatest gift exchanges require thoughtfulness, listening, and really understanding who another person is and what they like and need—that's what I always strive for in giving and it's the only thing I hope for in receiving.