Seven Things to Do TODAY to Improve Your Physical Health

With expanding waistlines, longer working hours and the rising cost of healthcare, the importance of health in America cannot be overestimated. Not only do we need to be healthier to simply successfully maintain our daily lives, but we need to increase our levels of health to ensure we will be able to enjoy our lives - our jobs, relationships, children and activities.

The following are seven steps we can take TODAY to improve our physical health and begin living our fullest, richest lives.

1. Kick Butt

Quitting smoking is a little gift you give yourself and those around you every day. It is not only better for your own body but for the bodies of the people in your daily life, and it benefits the environment as well. Smoking is related to lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. According to OncologyChannel.com, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, can lead to lung disease, heart disease, stroke and cancer and can cause serious complications for pregnant women (both by inhaling directly and via second-hand smoke).[1] In addition to the long-term effects of smoking, cigarettes can also lead to frequent respiratory illnesses including coughs, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Second-hand smoke is also very problematic and can lead to higher rates of asthma, ear infections and upper respiratory infections in children and adolescents.[2] Not only does smoking cause serious health complications, but it is expensive and considered very rude in public. In fact, many restaurants and public places have now ban smoking altogether. So, save yourself and everyone around you by putting out the butts and cleaning up not only your own body but the environment around you! For help quitting smoking, the following websites may be helpful: http://www.quitnet.com/, http://www.smokefree.gov/ and http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/quit-smoking/QS99999.

2. The Cow and The Moon