New Year’s resolutions for beauty and health

It is a new year – the time when you take your secret notebook and write down all your wishes, dreams and promises for the year. Below are a few suggestions for New Year's resolutions that will keep you healthy and beautiful:

1. Sleep more. Give your body the rest it needs and it will reward you with beautiful, radiant skin. Sleep is also an excellent stress reliever.
2. Have breakfast every morning. It is easy to neglect this healthy habit in the morning rush. Having breakfast every morning will energize you and help you manage your food intake for the rest of the day, so you can maintain a healthy weight.
3. Cook. Eating out may be fancy but preparing your food at home is healthier. Be mindful of what you put in your food - use low sodium and low fat ingredients – and enjoy a slimmer figure.
4. Take a walk every day. Walking is not only a great exercise. Being outside will expose you to natural light, which will raise the serotonin levels in your body and will naturally reduce your stress level.
5. Take a bath once a week. This relaxing activity is ideal for the end of the week. Pamper your skin with moisturizing bath products and relax in the tub. After the bath, you will feel reenergized and your skin will glow.
6. Eat small meals frequently. Aggressive diets are shocks for the body and, often times, their positive effects are short-lived. Maintain a healthy weight and feel great by limiting the size of your portions. Make sure you snack on fruits and yogurt in between meals to manage your sugar levels and to stay energized throughout the day.
7. Always use eye cream. The skin around the eyes is extra sensitive so, starting in your mid-20’s, using eye cream is instrumental to maintaining the fresh and healthy look of your face. Apply eye cream with your day cream, both in the summer and in the winter months.
8. Limit fried foods. Fried foods are delicious but, unfortunately, they are rich in fat and their frequent use can raise your cholesterol levels as well as ruin your figure. Grill or oven-bake your meats and fish instead of frying them, and you will enjoy much healthier meals.
9. Enjoy fruits every day.  Besides being tasty, fruits also contain vitamin C and minerals, which will strengthen your immune system and will make your skin and your hair strong and beautiful.

Whether you decide to include the resolutions above in your list or not, remember to use nature’s gifts and your common sense to take care of your body. May your year overflow with health, positive energy, harmony and everything else that we call natural beauty.