13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life: No.6

Healthy Habit No. 6: Practice Good Dental HygieneFlossing your teeth every day could add 6.4 years to your life, according to Michael Roizen, MD, author of RealAge. In his book, Roizen lists flossing as one of the most important daily activities -- along with exercise and quitting smoking -- that could extend life span.Roizen's calculation may raise some eyebrows, but the idea that oral health is connected to overall health isn't far-fetched.The

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13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life: No.5

Healthy Habit No. 5: Exercise for Better HealthWe already know that physical activity has a bounty of benefits, which makes it so puzzling why so many people just don't do it. According to the CDC, more than 60% of Americans do not get regular exercise.In case you needed an incentive, here is a review of the advantages of exercise, per the National Cancer Institute:Helps control weight Maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints Reduces r

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13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life: No.4

Healthy Habit No. 4: Make Social ConnectionsVolunteer. Go to church. Join a club. Whatever you do, do it with people. Communal activities are good for your physical and mental health, according to a study published in the March/April 2004 issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior.It makes sense, says C. David Jenkins, PhD, author of Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral Change. He says social ties have many benefits, including:

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13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life: No.3

Healthy Habit No. 3: Get Enough Sleep"Your body has to have enough time to rest," says Michael Fleming, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Otherwise, he says you may find yourself feeling cranky and tired.This may sound like common sense, but according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), more than two-thirds of older adults suffer from sleep problems and many American adults don't get the minimum amount of shu

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