Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Thanks for all that you do, which includes taking care of everyone else. Unfortunately, this sometimes means that mom puts her health and well-being last. Here are five tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that I want to share with moms of every age for a safer and healthier life (CDC).
Eat Healthy: Healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals that are important for good health. Most fruits and vegetales and filling and naturally low in fat and calories.
Move More: Add physical activity to your life, in whatever capacity you can. I know that some have difficulty with movement, but every little bit helps. Health benefits include better control of your weight, reducing risk of heart disease, reducing risk of diabetes, and some other diseases. More movement also can strengthen your muscles and bones, and also improve your mood.
Sleep Well: Insufficient sleep is associated with increased risk for many chronic diseases like disease, heart disease, and depression. How you perform during the day is related to how much sleep you had the night before.
Manage Stress: I realize that this is easier said than done. But, there are healthy and unhealthy ways to manage stress. I encourage my patients positive self-care steps like leaning on your support system, staying physically active, connecting socially, and other self-care steps. And, of course, avoid alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other unhealthy behaviors.
Share History: Mother’s Day is a perfect day to teach and pass on family medical history. Family members share genetics, environments, and lifestyles that may influence the health of others in the family. Your family’s health history could be important for determining your and your child’s health risks as well.