Here are four simple, achievable New Year’s Resolutions for healthier and happier living
Add more citrus fruits to your grocery cart.
When you see all those gorgeous in-season grapefruits, oranges, clementines, and pomelos in the produce aisle, grab an armful! Winter citrus can help keep skin looking healthy thanks to vitamin C, which aids in collagen production. In fact, an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that people who ate foods high in C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who didn’t. Try clementine sections sprinkled with pistachios or sweet grapefruit dipped in Greek yogurt for a snack.
Eat veggies regularly.
Whether you’re slimming down or just staying well, vegetables are your friends. A doctor and nutritionalist called Dr. Mehmet Oz had women try 10 diets. One lady, who lost 31 pounds, said, “I sauté onions, peppers, mushrooms, corn — whatever I have in the freezer — and toss that on a bed of baby arugula and spinach.” Nowadays, there are so many easy recipes and so many different vegetables available, that there’s no excuse for not using them more. They’re not just healthy, they’re tasty too.
Learn a new skill.
Physical exercise keeps your body healthy, and mental exercise is key to keeping your mind sharp. Trying something new can boost memory skills and more. Turn to the (celeb) pros! Visit MasterClass’s site to take cooking lessons from Gordon Ramsay for instance. Or up your tennis skills with Serena Williams. You’ll get instruction videos, assignments and extras. Courses, which range from writing to electric guitar are all available on line, so make use of them.
Keep clutter out of the kitchen.
If you can hardly see your worktops through all the papers, Post-its, and not-yet-put-away groceries, otherwise you may pay for that chaos on the weighing scales. In one study, researchers found that when people were surrounded by clutter, they tended to eat more cookies — especially when stressed. Take 20 minutes to put it all where it belongs, and you may eat more mindfully in days to come. (And never be afraid to get rid of stuff that you ‘think you might need’, but probably don’t!)
But above all else, have an amazing 2017. I wish you health, wealth, and happiness.