10 Ways to take control of your health

I have always enjoyed reading articles about how to stay healthy. In the newspaper today there was an article on 10 ways to take control of your health. Besides washing your hands for 20 seconds, avoiding certain behaviors like smoking, drinking and eating too much these ten things can dramatically improve your health. They are easy and inexpensive.

1. Take a walk. Walking triggers all of our bodily systems: digestion, stress relief, thinking and preparation for sleep.

2. Keep a food journal. Writing down everything you eat can double your weight loss.

3. Stop drinking soda. Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages have contributed to skyrocketing rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

4. Strengthen your muscles. It keeps them from weakening as we age.

5. Chill out. Stressed-out people are more vulnerable to colds and other viruses.

6. Eat out less. It is one of the main reasons for the dramatic global rise in chronic diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

7. Be a social butterfly. Joining a club, sports team, belonging to a church group or keeping contact with friends can help reduce your risk of having a stroke, dementia and even the common cold.

8. Get your zzzzzz. Sleeping well is critical to good health, especially during the flu season.

9. Eat whole foods. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs and whole grains have low glycemic index. Which means they won't raise blood sugar and insulin levels as quickly as processed foods.

10.Find your passion. Do things that bring meaning to your days.