Pharmacist Shares Top Tips for a Healthy New Year

Meet Pharmacist and Consultant Dr. Linda Dumas

Simple Solutions for a Healthy New Year

2020 has been a tough year, especially from a personal health perspective. As a Pharmacist, I’ve had a lot more patients coming to the pharmacy disappointed because they’ve gained the “Quarantine 15” and are feeling bad about themselves. I’ve also heard that patients have missed appointments with their primary care physicians over the course of the pandemic, and are now dealing with the aftermath of poor eating & less than perfect lab work as a result.  Everyone is looking forward to making some New Year's resolutions that include eating better and making some dietary changes.

With 2021 around the corner and fresh beginnings on the horizon, there is a lot of hope for a healthy new year! I always remind my patients to be kind to themselves, implementing changes takes time. You can’t change months of poor eating habits overnight. If you slip up and have a bad eating day, forgive yourself because tomorrow is a new day and another opportunity to make change.

There are systems that you can put in place to help, a trend that has taken off during the pandemic include; home workouts and subscription based healthy food options. With pandemic-induced stress there have been numerous companies offering home exercise programs, you don’t even have to leave your bedroom! Maybe you need accountability, there are options for that as well! Personally, my local gym has transitioned to Zoom, I am motivated by my instructors and we’ve grown closer via accountability.

Being proactive is the first step to success! If you are changing your diet, having healthy food on hand before you get hungry is key! If you're still not leaving your home, there are companies you can subscribe to that can help you take the guesswork out of what to buy. The food industry can be a confusing world to navigate, with advanced marketing and length ingredient lists. 

SmartBox is a great way to get healthy snacks delivered right to your front door. It also introduces you to snacks you might not have known about before. If you are vegan or gluten-free, there are options for you! It takes all the guesswork out of shopping and conveniently sends you just what you need.

Fuel Your Resolutions.