Time for New Year’s Resolutions

I’ll be kind. Here are just two resolutions that may or may not apply to you. If they do, choose one (or both, if necessary), and follow through.

1. If you drink, limit it. Women who have more than two alcoholic drinks a day are more likely than nondrinkers to experience breast cancer, hypertension and stroke. And if losing weight is a secondary goal, you could do without that martini's 150 empty calories. Don’t get on the right-hand side of the J-shaped curve!

2. If you smoke at all, quit. You know smoking is bad for you; in fact, smoking harms nearly just about every organ of your body. Even a few minutes after quitting, your health begins to improve.

If these don’t apply to you, make fitness your new goal:

3. Exercise regularly. An ideal combination includes aerobic exercise, weight-training, stretching, and recreational activities, such as dancing and swimming. Get exercise during your day by walking at lunch and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Physical activity helps you avoid cancer, improves heart health, reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, strengthens bone against osteoporosis, improves balance to prevent falls – I could go on and on, but you see there are plenty of reasons.