Healthy Living Tips for Women from Redbook Magazine

By: Sunny Sea Gold

One of the biggest mistakes women make is putting themselves and their health last on their list of to-dos. Redbook's, Sunny Sea Gold, shares some super speedy ways to help even the busiest women stay well and feel their best!What are some tips women can follow everyday to eat right?Sunny: Steaming veggies is such a quick and easy way to eat healthy. Studies show that steaming veggies actually brings out their nutrients. Brands like Lean Cuisine are making it easy with complete meals that you pop in the microwave. Another suggestion is to add two new foods to your grocery list. Challenge yourself to come up with a couple new alternatives. For example, swap peanut butter for cashew butter and quinoa for rice. The more variety you have the greater number of nutrients your body gets. And good news. Drinking two to four cups of coffee can protect your heart, lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease. What about exercise tips?

Sunny: Short high intensity bursts of exercise are proven to burn calories and keep your metabolism revved for hours. Try doing shorts sets of cardio such as jumping rope or doing squats.What are some other things we can do?Sunny: If you have kids, they're probably up to date on their vaccines, but you might not be. Call your doctor to find out if you're due for these immunizations that all women need: Flu (annually), H1N1 also known as Swine Flu (annually); TDap, which protects against Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (whooping cough), but requires a booster every 10 years; Chicken Pox vaccine (if you didn't have the illness as a kid); and Hepatitis B, if you're sexually active, but not monogamous.Its also important to find some quiet time...at least 10 minutes a day. Turn off all your electronic devices. The average American spends 12 hours a day glued to a media of some sort--texting, surfing the web, or playing video games. This can actually lead to fractured attention and a constant inability to concentrate.For more info go to www.redbookmag.com or check out the September issue on newsstands now.