1. Floss your teeth daily
With only one-third of Americans flossing daily, you may be one of the majority who could benefit from adding this habit to your dental hygiene routine.
Too many people only floss when they eat popcorn or when they feel food stuck in their teeth, according to my dentist, Dr. Victoria Spindel Rubin. “In reality, food is always getting trapped between your teeth. … If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 40% of each tooth,” Spindel Rubin said.
In addition to fighting gum disease, Spindel Rubin pointed out that flossing is linked to better heart health and improved diabetic control.
2. Stand and move your body once an hour
Do you have a sedentary job that leads to sitting during the bulk of your day? High amounts of sitting time are associated with increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
The good news is that a little effort to break up prolonged sitting with short bouts of standing and movement can make a big difference in your overall health. Standing and moving every hour for just five minutes is effective, according to a Columbia University study published in January that investigated the least amount of activity needed to counteract the negative health implications of excessive sitting. Even one minute of walking every hour improves health, as demonstrated by decreased blood pressure in the study participants.
LOOKING A FUN, DO-ANYWHERE EXERCISE ROUTINE? Power Up Your New Year With Pilates
3. Express gratitude daily
Daily expressions of gratitude lead to many health and wellness benefits, including boosting happiness and lowering stress levels. Multiple studies during the height of the pandemic showed that practicing gratitude had the capacity to reduce stress and improve mood.
Gratitude practices can also decrease depression and increase self-esteem.
4. Cuddle with your pet more
Roughly 68% of US households have a pet, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you are a pet owner, you know the positive health effects they offer through companionship and emotional support.
Dogs, in particular, can also promote an active lifestyle, and some even detect oncoming epileptic seizures and the presence of cancer in their human companions …
HELP FOR YOUR RESOLUTION TO GET MORE EXERCISE
BY MARLA ALTBERG, HAVE FUN WITH FITNESS
Core strength and pelvic floor contractability are keys to a healthy, vibrant lifestyle no matter what your age or phase in life.
From bladder control to sexual well-being…even posture and balance, your pelvic floor and strong core are your best friends.
But how do you work your core safely, especially if you are experiencing normal run-of-the-mill back issues, such as tightness, stiffness or mild discomfort? (We are not talking serious injury here…just your basic everyday aches and pains of the aging process.) The answer is the power of Pilates.
The exercise method of Pilates was created in the early 20th century by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates. It focuses on breath, spinal alignment, stabilization, pelvic mobility and abdominal contraction. (Source: Wikipedia).
It is popular among dancers, actors and now ordinary people like you and me. Why? Because it is accessible to almost everyone, regardless of age or physical ability, provided you are mobile enough to get up and down from a floor mat.
