AMA: Resolutions for a Healthy New You in th...( CHICAGO Dec. 17 -- The holiday s...),Health

CHICAGO, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The holiday season is a great opportunity to relax, spend time with family, reflect on the past year, and focus on new goals for the next 12 months. These top resolutions, offered by the American Medical Association (AMA), arm people with the knowledge to become a healthy new you in 2008.

"Creating and sticking to a new year's resolution to get healthier is the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season," said AMA President, Ron Davis, MD. "Talk to your physician about your health care plan and what you can do to ensure you remain healthy in 2008 and for many years to come."

Top ten resolutions for a healthy new you in the new year:

1. Eliminate trans fat from diet: Research shows that eating foods high in trans fats raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of coronary artery disease. Replacing trans fats with healthier fats and oils, such as extra virgin olive oil, can prevent approximately 30,000 to 100,000 premature deaths a year.

2. Get more exercise: Increasing physical activity to at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week can drastically improve overall health and lower the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.

3. Quit smoking: Smoking, and being exposed to secondhand smoke, is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. When smokers quit, within just twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes to combat the damage cigarettes cause. Need help quitting? Consider talking to a physician about a smoking cessation program.

4. Keep heart healthy: Heart disease is the number one cause of death in this country. Having cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked regularly by a physician can reduce the chances of heart disease and stroke. People who have a higher risk of heart disease may benefit from taking low-dose aspirin; ask your doctor if this applies to you.

5. Stay away from excess salt: A d
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