The healthy habits you need to pick up in 2021
Is your action plan ready for a successful 2021? Here are some habits you should consider in order to make the new year a healthy one.
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The new year sparks many healthy promises among Canadians. In almost every survey, eating better, exercising more and quitting smoking appear in the top “resolutions”.
If the idea of getting these resolutions underway has you thinking, “where do I even start?” Don't worry! We’ve done the homework for you! Our experts have assured us that they’ve got everything you need for a healthy new year.
Boost your health with the right foods and supplements
First we will start with not just eating healthier but also making supplements a part of your routine. Rexall pharmacist Sylvie Druteika says, “many people will benefit from supplementation.”
Sylvie has curated an easy to follow list!
Vitamin D - The sunshine vitamin is known as an immune booster and helps us decrease the risk of infection. Vitamin D is important for absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, as well as immune system function.
This supplement can come in the form of liquid drops or a pill. Vitamin D is also found in foods like fatty fish, fortified milks and egg yolk; however, it's hard to eat enough to maintain proper levels.
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Zinc - Zinc is an important mineral to help our immune system work best during cold and flu season. This mineral assists in any wounds you may be healing and is great for metabolism function.
Meat, shellfish, chickpeas, lentils and beans all contain zinc if you are looking to stock your grocery list with this healthy mineral. You can find zinc in the form of a pill or a lozenge as well.
Vitamin B12 - It’s important for circulation and oxygen levels in cells and tissues. During the winter it’s harder to get those fresh legumes that have high levels of this vitamin, so many need to boost it up with a supplement. Eggs, liver and chicken provide natural sources of B12. It’s also known to be naturally energizing which will come in handy if you are conquering fitness goals into the new year!
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Vitamin C - This vitamin is available through many food options like fresh red peppers or juicy oranges. However, during the colder days we are not always reaching for these vitamin filled foods.
Luckily, supplementing vitamin C comes in many options from chewable tabs, to pills, sprays and powders. Vitamin C is important to cell and tissue processes and can help boost energy when the temperatures dip.
Calcium - Calcium is important for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis. Your heart, muscles and nerves will also benefit from proper calcium levels. About 99% of the calcium in our body is in our bones and teeth! Cheese, yogurt, milk and dark leafy greens all naturally contain calcium.
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It’s important to remember that every Canadian is unique and some may require more of one vitamin/mineral than the other. Sylvie’s top 5 list is just a sample of where you can start.
In order to get a personalized look at what vitamins may work for you, Rexall’s Vitamin Finder could be a good tool to get started. The finder will ask for your age, diet and health goals. From there, a more refined list of options will be populated to help you achieve a unique list of recommendations.
The more you know about how vitamins work inside your body the more you will want to make supplements a habit.
Say goodbye to smoking
In a study by the FDA, they reported that only 7% of people who claimed they wanted to quit smoking were actually successful in doing so for 6-12 months.
Quitting smoking can be very challenging, and many people need support during that time.
“People should know that if they are looking for advice or help to quit smoking, they are not alone! Pharmacists are available to answer questions and do assessments based on smoking history to see what will work best for them,” Sylvie explains. “Once you quit, you will likely be able to say goodbye to that chronic cough, you’ll have increased energy due to having better circulation of oxygen in the body, and, of course, you will have the pride of being able to say you did it!”
Another benefit to quitting smoking is the money saved!
“On Rexall’s website, you can find very useful tools that help you calculate a rough estimate of how much you currently spend on cigarettes and how that money will be saved when you kick the habit,” Sylvie adds.
Put a routine in motion
These healthy habits are all just “good ideas” until a plan is actually in place. Get organized and map out how these goals will be achieved.
When will I quit smoking? Set a date, write it on the calendar and stick to it.
What supplements will I actually put into my diet? Understand what your body needs, write them down and set a time to pick them up.
How will I keep medication organized? The RightDose medication packaging from Rexall is an easy way to have your meds conveniently sorted by date and time to be taken, so you never forget or mix things up.
What will healthy eating look like this season? Consider meeting with a nutritionist to get inspired about healthy eating. Then tune up your grocery list.
How will I know if I am making progress? Track your results as you adapt to a healthier lifestyle. It will be amazing to look back and see how far you have come.
And don't forget, the team at Rexall is here to help you introduce healthier habits into your routine, simplify your care, and improve your well-being this year.
