Many Americans look for a quick fix pill to cure what ails them rather than swallowing the more bitter pill of developing a pro-active healthy lifestyle that concentrates on preventive medicine. The point of this area of the newsletter is to provide information that will help you form healthy habits that are easy to incorporate into your daily life. You not only will feel better, you will look better. Your skin will be clearer and brighter, you will move with more grace, and your attitude will be more positive. Your well-being will be evident in your face. A few reminders:

1. Eat more whole grains. When surveyed, three fourths of all Americans are indeed doing this, though only seven percent get enough each day. The number of whole grain products has doubled in the last two years, brown rice is becoming more popular at restaurants, and people are paying more attention to bakery items and snacks. Whole grains are a source of nutrients and fiber that help ward off constipation, diverticulosis, high cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and possibly even certain cancers.
2. Eat less and move more. Obesity is rampant and the health problems associated with it are numerous. If you have ever watched the series, The Biggest Loser, you know that they use no pills, tricks, or gadgets beyond exercise machines. They simply watch what they eat and move more. A lot more.
3. Wear a pedometer. Fifty percent of American men and forty-seven percent of American women engage in regular exercise, defined as moderate activity (including walking) for thirty minutes, five or more times per week. This is as simple as walking briskly as you go about your day. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that simply clipping on a pedometer motivated people to walk a mile more per day, decreasing weight and blood pressure. The authors of the study wrote that if just 10% of all American adults began a regular walking program, nearly $6 billion in costs related to treating heart disease could be saved. And while the studies involved adults, overweight children would certainly benefit. In fact, they would be even more likely to view it as a game, making it very painless. It could be a family event, with charts and tables, and rewards.
4. Add more turmeric to your diet. An increasing number of studies document the benefits of curcumin, the active agent in turmeric. If curry is not in your diet, an easy way to obtain a daily dose of this anti-inflammatory antioxidant is to add it to your morning coffee. Add directly to brewed coffee whether in the pot or in the cup, or mix a small jar of turmeric spice into a sixteen ounce jar of instant coffee. You will obtain turmeric along with the coffee crystals and will barely notice the taste. Turmeric is an important skin care active in several of the Abbey's skin creams. It contributes to the yellow color of The Yellow Creme.
5. Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids are necessary for cellular metabolism and the flushing away of unwanted toxins. Drinking eight glasses of water a day has been the accepted standard, but that is misleading. You get plenty of fluids from other sources, including fruits, so use common sense and don't get distracted by the eight glass mantra. Just stay hydrated.
6. Take a deep breath and relax. Eastern spiritualists emphasize breathing techniques because they believe the mind and the breath are as one. Calm the breathing and you will calm the mind.