Resolve to have a clean bill of health
FIRST ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLE
WE ALL make new year’s resolutions and, yes, hardly ever keep them.
But what if the resolutions are about your health? Being healthy is one of the things that is luckily within our control, and with the new year upon us, why not make some new year resolutions that could see you having a clean bill of health in 2017?
We spoke to general practitioner Dr Jafta Boitse and he gave us a list of the health resolutions you should make this year, and why.
“Firstly, I would advise calling them goals, because the minute some people call them resolutions, it makes it that much easier to go back on them. A goal on the other hand is something that you work towards, and realise the importance of achieving.
“Your health should take precedence in your life, and making it your goal to live a better and healthier life can probably be the best decision you ever make this year,” he says.
Boitse says that these are the health goals we should strive towards in the new year:
DO YOUR CHECKS
This means checking your high blood pressure, your glucose levels, as well as your cholesterol, and making sure that they are all within a healthy level. If not, speak to your doctor about how to get your health numbers back in the natural order of things, and this will include making some serious adjustments to your lifestyle. Do your checks and strive to stay within the healthy line. Boitse says one should specifically prioritise doing an HIV test at the beginning of each year.
QUIT SMOKING
This is probably another health caution that has been preached the world over, but still remains a struggle for most smokers. Scare yourself into quitting if you have to.
Consult your doctor to find out the current state of your lungs, and how much damage smoking has done to your body thus far. Most experts say that smoking cuts your lifespan by seven to 10 years, and perhaps after seeing the results of the damage caused by smoking in your body, it will finally propel you to stop.
GET ENOUGH REST
Many people underestimate the importance of getting enough rest. Sleep has the powerful ability to revitalise the body, your heart, your mind and even your muscles and joints, which can be vital for your wellbeing.
Make it your goal in 2017 to try and get at least six to seven hours of sleep every night, and do not fall for the medication-induced sleep trap. Instead, opt for more natural remedies to achieving a tranquil state of mind, which you can speak to your pharmacist about. This will eventually see you getting some much-needed sleep.
GET MOVING – NOT EXERCISE
Most people dread the word exercise, which is why the number one resolution that fails is usually to join a gym in the new year. But what I have realised is that people do not move enough.
Taking a nice evening walk around your area, or opting for the stairs instead of the lift can almost have the same benefits for your overall body health as sweating it out at the gym. Start small, but whatever you do, get moving.
GET A COLON CLEANSE
Getting a colon cleanse may not sound like the most ideal way to spend your day, but make it your resolution to have at least one a year. Colon hydrotherapy has been proven to be very effective against chronic constipation, which can often be the result of a clogged or blocked colon, and manifest in skin break-outs or excessive tiredness while doing very little physical activity. Colon hydrotherapy can revitalise you, and with many centres around the country offering these services, it is definitely worth a shot.
WATCH HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH
Guarding against eating junk food can be tricky, because it can be so tempting and difficult to resist. I would advise that you instead look at portion control as your new year goal. Once again, start small. Cut back a spoonful on how much you dish up for yourself, or take your bread intake down a notch by a slice or two. Eating less will give you lots of energy, and in the process help you maintain a healthy weight level. Do not go on a crash diet, but instead cut back on how much you eat. In this way, your body will learn to adjust without you starving it.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Do not underestimate the importance of your mental wellbeing. Speaking to a professional once in a while can ensure that you maintain a healthy mind and, as a result, a healthy body will follow. There are 24-hour helplines around the country that can assist if you feel pressured, anxious or even depressed. Make it your goal to reach out and get some help this year.