You don’t need to overhaul your life to improve your health. Here’s a list of simple routines you can follow to live a longer, healthier life. They come from our friend Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of the new “Dr. Oz Show.” He not only recommends these routines, he follows these routines himself every day! We found these in Rodale Publishing:
- Routine #1: Never skip breakfast. Breakfast eaters tend to be skinnier and healthier than people who rush out the door. Why? Because breakfast jump starts your metabolism, and the more fiber you eat in the morning, the less hungry you’ll be after lunch – when people tend to gorge on fatty sweets. So, aim to eat what Dr. Oz eats: a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal, mixed with raisins or walnuts.
- Routine #2: Keep a medical history journal. Accurate health information can do more to keep you healthy than hiring the best doctors! So, Dr. Oz recommends keeping a daily written journal of your medical history. Or consider storing it online, using a service like Google Health, or Microsoft Health Vault. That way, you’ll have access to your medical files even if you’re away from home.
- Routine #3: Lower your daily food intake by 100 calories. Dr. Oz says forget fad diets to lose weight. You simply need to eat less of the food you already eat. By cutting just 100 calories a day, you’ll lose about 10 pounds in a year. Over time, that’ll also reset your appetite, so you won’t crave as much food.
- Routine #4: Anytime you feel stressed, take a deep breath. However, instead of breathing through your mouth, inhale through your nose. Dr. Oz says the back of your nose contains nitric oxide, a natural chemical which helps open up blood vessels and improve blood flow. That’ll rush more oxygen to your brain, making you feel happier while calming your nerves.
- Routine #5: Learn yoga. Studies have shown that yoga eases stress, lowers blood pressure, and increases muscle flexibility. That’s important because flexible muscles will reduce your risk of injury as you age, which is why Dr. Oz practices yoga every day, at the age of 49.
