Category: Health

With a heavy year behind us, many are looking to 2021 as a clean slate. With new beginnings come new opportunities to build healthier habits, reconcile relationships and create new year’s resolutions. If you are one of the millions of Americans who made a list of new year’s resolutions you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to stick with these promises.

1. Seek support.

Accountability is key for many people when they are working toward a goal. Often, letting down others can be enough social pressure to keep you on the right track. Try joining an online group of individuals looking to reach the same goals as you, whether that’s exercise encouragement or a professional group you can learn from.

2. Approach Goals vs Avoidance Goals.

As you work on your new year’s resolution consider what type of goal you’re looking to reach – it can spell out success or failure. A 2017 study on New Year’s resolutions found that individuals had more success with approach goals as opposed to avoidance goals. The difference is in framing: rephrase your resolution as a positive habit you’re trying to build, rather than a thing you want to stop doing. Try replacing your bad habit with a constructive behavior in its place.

3. Reminders are Key.

Have you ever made a new year’s resolution and couldn’t even remember what you told yourself you’d do once the clock struck midnight on January 1^st? This is the reason for failure for so many. Life happens, and your self-improvement goals can fall on the wayside. Keep reminders to yourself on your refrigerator, mirror, your desk; anywhere you’ll see it frequently. Try writing yourself new notes when you notice the reminder becoming less impactful over time.

4. Keep Them Time Bound and Evaluate.

There is a reason businesses review their performance on a quarterly basis. Keeping goals time-bound allows you to gauge how long you have left in order to accomplish your new year’s resolution. You’ll start to notice how small actions every day build to progress over time. Reward yourself for small wins and acknowledge failure, knowing that there is always time to improve.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton M.D. internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

While eating meat provides many necessary nutrients for the human body, the vegetarian approach can still support a healthy, varied diet. People become vegetarians for many different reasons, either wanting to incorporate healthier foods to their diets, for ethical reasons,  and environmental sustainability. Whatever the reason, starting a vegetarian diet can have many beneficial impacts on your health, if done in a healthy and manageable way.

Health Benefits

A vegetarian diet reduces the risk of chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, stomach, lung and esophageal cancer. Preventing these diseases may lead to a longer life expectancy. Additionally, going vegetarian may help manage weight, since a plant-based approach incorporates fewer calorie heavy meals. In an experiment done by the Medicine Research Institute, overweight people that went on a vegetarian diet lost an average of 24 pounds within the first year!

What foods does a Vegetarian diet consist of?

When going vegetarian, people focus on eating plant-based foods. Typically, vegetarians do not eat meat or fish but will still consume dairy products. By sticking to whole foods, vegetarians eat high amounts of nutrients and fiber. While there are many benefits to the vegetarian diet, it is crucial to plan ahead, as deficiencies in vital nutrients such as iron and vitamin B-12 can occur.

Why should I try this diet?

For the health reasons listed, as well as a more sustainable diet for the environment, going vegetarian may be a great option for you. To start, slowly reduce the amount of meat you consume each week in order to gradually transition into the new way of eating. Also, plan accordingly to make sure you are eating foods that give you the necessary vitamins and minerals. When done correctly, the vegetarian diet has had many positive impacts on people that have made the switch.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton M.D. internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Cente