Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet

There's an easy recipe if your goal is to keep away problems like heart disease and strokes.

Eat more fruits and veggies.

Choose whole grains. Try brown rice instead of white. Switch to whole wheat pasta.

Choose lean proteins like poultry, fish, beans, and legumes.

Cut down on processed foods, sugar, salt, and saturated fat.

Exercise Every Day

Aim for 2 and a half hours of moderate activity, like brisk walking or dancing, every week. If you're OK with vigorous exercise, stick to 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of things like running or playing tennis. Add a couple of days of strength training, too.

If you're busy, try short bursts of activity throughout the day. Walk often. A good target is 10,000 steps a day. Take the stairs. Park your car far away from your destination.

Lose Weight

Aim for a slow, steady drop. Try to lose 1 kg per month by being active and eating better.

Visit Your Doctor

Get regular checkups. Your doctor keeps track of your medical history and can help you stay healthy. For example, if you're at risk for osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, he may want you to get more calcium and vitamin D.

Cut Down Your stress

It can take a toll on your health. You probably can't avoid it altogether, but you can find ways to ease the impact. Don't take on too much. Try to set limits with yourself and others. It's OK to say no.

To relieve stress, try:

Deep breathing

Meditation

Yoga

Massage

Exercise

Create Healthy Habits

If you make the right choices today, you can ward off problems tomorrow.

Brush your teeth twice a day and floss every day.

If you have medication, take it exactly how your doctor prescribed it.

Improve your sleep. Aim for 8 hours. If you have trouble getting shut-eye, talk to your doctor.

Use sunscreen and stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Take time every day to invest in your health.