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What do you eat and drink? • Do you smoke? • How much exercise do you get?
How well do you manage stress? • Do you get enough sleep?
Daily health habits contribute to how well and how long you live. Commit to improving your lifestyle, and many conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity, may be prevented.
*Recommendations from USDA, the U.S. Surgeon General's Office, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the 5 A Day For Better Health Program
Choose a balanced diet in which energy (calorie) intake is consistent with energy expenditure. To reduce caloric intake, limit consumption of foods relatively high in calories, fat, and sugar, and minimize alcohol consumption. Get regular exercise.
Especially saturated fat and trans fat—and cholesterol.
Choose foods low in fat such as vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods, fish, skinless poultry, lean meats and low/non-fat dairy products. Add little or no fat when preparing foods. Avoid or limit whole milk products, fatty meats, tropical oils, egg yolks, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (usually found in processed and packaged foods and commercial baked goods).
Fruits and vegetables contain important nutrients, dietary fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants (powerful disease-fighting compounds).
Include whole grain breads, cereals and pastas, brown rice, legumes, lentils, and beans. These complex carbohydrates provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods that are low in nutritional value, such as candy, cookies, cakes, pies, chips, sodas, etc., as well as refined white rice, pasta and bread.
Choose foods relatively low in sodium and limit the amount of salt used in food preparation and at the table.
Avoid or limit colas, juices sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, and caffeinated beverages. Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages.