Most of us plan our entire course in life. We plan for getting married, having children, our retirement, and our next family vacation. But, we can also plan for a healthier and more active lifestyle. Life sometimes gets in the way and we forget about the most important aspect of our well-being... our health. Without our health, our quality of life diminishes greatly.

Here are 5 nasty health habits that you should kick to the curb starting today.

Smoking
This nasty health habit tops the list as number one. Smoking causes many serious breathing problems such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and can seriously damage your health. At this point, you are probably saying to yourself "But it's not easy to quit" or "I've tried several times before and it never worked." Times have changed. There are many programs out there that can help you quit more effectively than before. Start off by asking your family doctor about quitting. As health care professionals, they are equipped to help you succeed. Quitting smoking will give you a sense of accomplishment, not to mention having broken one of the most nasty health habits. What a feeling this can give you!

Junk food
Your body needs high-quality, low-fat food to survive. So quit the junk food. I'm talking about potato chips, candy, chocolate, fast food. This means all the junk food out there that is making our society overweight and at a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Eating healthy is a choice, a choice that only you can make. Make today, the day you cut out this nasty health habit from your diet.

Lack of exercise
We all know that life just happens and in the rush of all your daily commitments and responsibilities such as work, family, friends, internet and television, exercise can easily be put off. But remember, there is only one you and only you can make the decision to put exercise on your priority list. No physical activity is a factor in many health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis. Start with a 20 minute walk or low impact workout everyday. Break out of this nasty health habit and move today for a healthier future.

Too much stress
As you know having no stress does not exist. Everyone has, at the very least, a little stress in their life. What I am talking about is a lot of stress. Reducing the stress in your life can be very beneficial to your health and can significantly reduce your chances for diseases such as heart and stroke. Reduced stress can also give you a better night's sleep. Sleep on this tidbit to eliminate the fourth nasty health habit.

Not flossing
Oral health such as visiting a dentist on a regular basis and taking good care of your teeth and gums directly impacts your overall health. Studies have shown that gum disease relates to heart health. Also, trouble chewing, biting or speaking can seriously impact your quality of life. Taking care of your teeth by brushing and flossing at least twice a day is highly recommended for improved health and well-being. So take care of your teeth and floss your way out of the final nasty health habit.



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