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By Pat Wingert
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Forget 2006. It's so last year. Now that 2007 is upon us, we're determined to do a better job of staying healthy. But this year, we're going to try a new approach. Instead of wholesale change—losing 20 pounds in a month, taking up mountain climbing or preparing for a marathon—we're going to sweat the small stuff. Many studies have shown that even minor changes in diet or exercise can lead to substantial improvements in your overall vulnerability to disease. So here is the enemies' list we're planning to attack in the New Year, step by step:
Trans fat: We put this at the top because it's flat-out bad for you and we're determined to avoid it as much as possible. There is no safe level of trans fat. Trans fat is formed when manufacturers add hydrogen to unsaturated vegetable oil, a process called hydrogenation. This makes foods more solid and increases their shelf life—a plus for the grocer but not for you. Trans fat is bad because it raises the level of LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and lowers the level of HDL cholesterol (the good stuff). A high level of trans fat in your diet raises your risk of having a heart attack. New York City made the news recently by banning trans fat in restaurants. We're going to do the same in our kitchens. It's easier now that the percentage of trans fat must be listed on nutrition information on labels. Check before you buy. We will.
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Stress: More and more research shows that too much stress has a negative effect on everything from your heart to your immune system to your mood. We're going to try and take this more seriously in 2007 and set aside some time every day to slow down and chill out—maybe with a long, luxurious bath, a good book or a half-hour of yoga. These days, downtime is hard to fine (and our BlackBerrys aren't helping). A few minutes a day won't completely counteract the negative effects of the other 23-plus stress-filled hours, but it's a start.
Creaky joints: We've been reading about the increased importance of maintaining flexibility as you get older, so we're adding daily stretching to our workouts. There's no excuse for avoiding these exercises; you can do them anywhere and they don't require any equipment. For some suggestions on specific exercises,
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