Healthy living starts right now. Experts tell you how.

Healthy living is within your reach, starting today. Sure, healthy living is a long-term commitment, not a flash-in-the-pan fad. But there are steps you can take right now that will make today healthier than yesterday and pave the way for healthy living tomorrow, too. Here's your checklist of practical healthy living tips that are ready to go. Let's get started. Healthy Living Step No. 1: Take stock. Your first step toward healthy living is to get a handle on your health status right now. Here's your to-do list: Make appointments with your doctor and dentist. Catch up on your routine screening and immunizations, and take the opportunity to ask your doctor any questions you might have. Gauge your girth. Measure your height and weight to check your BMI, and measure your waist circumference to see if you're overweight and if your waistline is putting your health at risk. Assess your activity. How much physical activity do you get in a typical week? How intense is that activity? How much variety do you get in your activity, and how much do you enjoy it? The CDC recommends that adults get at least two and a half hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or one hour and 15 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week. Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat for a day -- and no fair skipping the items you're embarrassed about. "The idea is to write it down ... without judgment," says Kathianne Sellers Williams, MEd, RD, LD, a nutritionist, wellness coach, and personal trainer with Cafe Physique in Atlanta. "You can't change what you're not aware of or don't acknowledge." Check your mood and energy. Healthy living includes emotional wellness and adequate rest. How has your mood been lately? Are you experiencing any symptoms of depression or anxiety? Do you usually sleep well for seven to eight hours a night? Consider your social network. How strong are your connections with family and friends? Are you plugged in with social or spiritual groups that enrich your life? "People have a fundamental need for positive and lasting relationships," C. Nathan DeWall, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, tells WebMD. If you're not thrilled with the answers to some of those questions, remember that the point is to figure out where you are today so you can set your healthy living goals. It's not about being "good" or "bad," "right" or "wrong."

Bites & Stings

Whether you’re in the water, on a mountain trail, or in your backyard, wildlife you encounter have ways of protecting themselves and their territory. One method of defense involves biting or stinging. The wounds can range in severity from the bite of a shark or venomous snake to the sting of a wasp or yellow jacket to the annoying itchy bump resulting from a mosquito bite. Regardless of how severe the attack, a variety of complications can result if the wound is left untreated or not treated properly. Prevention is certainly the best medicine, so knowing how to recognize and avoid biting and stinging animals or insects is the best way to stay safe. The animals you should recognize and understand depend very much on where you live or where you’re visiting. Different regions of the United States are home to many of these creatures. Season also matters: mosquitoes and stinging bees and wasps, for example, tend to come out in force during the summer. Although not comprehensive, here are some animals and bugs that can be dangerous. Poisonous Snakes Pit vipers and coral snakes are two types of poisonous snakes that are indigenous to the United States. Pit vipers account for 98% of venomous snake bites in the U.S. The three types of pit vipers include: rattlesnakes cottonmouths (water moccasins) copperheads Biting and Stinging Insects, Arachnids, and other Bugs Bugs that Bite Many bugs bite, but only a few do so intentionally. Most bites are relatively harmless, leaving just an itchy patch of skin behind. Some, bites however, can carry disease; Lyme disease, for example, is typically carried by ticks. Intentional biters include: ticks chigger mites scabies mites bed bugs fleas head lice pubic lice horse flies black flies bed bugs mosquitoes Many larger insects and other bugs won’t seek you out, but will bite if handled. Spiders These include many types of spiders, some of which have poisonous fangs. Poisonous spiders found in the U.S. include: brown recluse spider black widow spider hobo spider grass spider mouse spider black house spider wolf spider Stinging Insects Insects will sting humans only as a defensive move against a perceived threat. Typically, a bee or stinging ant’s stinger will be accompanied by a small amount of venom that, when injected into your skin, causes most of the itching and pain associated with sting, as well as any allergic reaction. Common stinging insects in the U.S. include: bees paper wasps (hornets) yellow jackets wasps fire ants Scorpions Scorpions have a well-deserved reputation for stinging. Many species of scorpions have barbed tails equipped with poison; 25 such species worldwide have poison capable of killing a human being. The most venomous species of scorpion native to the United States is the Arizona bark scorpion. Dangerous Water Creatures From the deepest seas to shallow inland ponds, the waters of the earth are teeming with unique creatures, many of which are dangerous to humans. These range from aggressive animals that bite to poisonous fishes and invertebrates like jellyfish that can sting to crabs that are poisonous to eat. Biting Water-Dwelling Animals Perhaps the most feared sea-dweller is the shark. However, there are hundreds of species of sharks, many of which are not at all dangerous to human beings. Only a select few have been known to attack humans, and even these shark attacks are few and far between: great white shark tiger shark bull shark mako shark oceanic white tip shark Other water-dwelling animals that may bite if provoked include barracuda, crocodiles, alligators, caimans, sea lions, moray eels, octopus, and squids. Stinging Fishes Some fish have venomous fins or other body parts: lionfish scorpionfish stonefish stingray catfish surgeonfish weeverfish Jellyfish and Other Invertebrates Many jellyfish are venomous, including the very dangerous Chironex (AKA deadly box jellyfish) and the Portuguese man-of-war. Other venomous invertebrates include fire coral, sea anemones, stinging seaweed, and sea urchins. Other Venomous Water Creatures Other types of water-dwelling animals that have the ability to bite or sting include: blue-ringed octopuse cone shell crown of thorns starfish sea snake sponge sea worm Larger Land Creatures – Both Wild and Domestic Many wild large land-dwellers, such as bears and large cats, can be dangerous. Even less fearsome-seeming animals, such as deer, can be dangerous in certain situations. Large land animals are rarely spotted in the wild, and are unlikely to attack unless the animal is provoked or feels threatened. If you come across a large mammal or other animal, do not approach, feed, or follow it. Although an animal may look tame and friendly, if it is wild, it can act unpredictably. Closer to home, bites, scratches and other injuries suffered at the hands of domesticated animals like cats and dogs are not uncommon. For example, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur every year in the United States. Luckily, these are rarely dangerous. Nevertheless, cat and dog bites can become infected (animal saliva can carry harmful bacteria), so if a household animal bites you, wash and disinfect the wound carefully and visit a doctor as soon as possible. More Resources Is My Bee Sting Infected? Recognizing Fish that Sting Questions About Snake Bites Avoiding Shark Attacks Are Sea Lion Bites a Concern? Avoiding Alligator Attack When to Carry Bear Spray Are Sting Rays Poisonous? Recognizing Dangerous Jellyfish Avoiding Poisonous Sea Urchins Copperhead Snakebites Dog Bite Deaths Avoiding Mountain Lion Attacks

HEALTH BENEFIT OF ROSE

Health Benefits of Rosemary Memory Booster: One of the earliest reported or documented uses of rosemary for health reasons was as a cognitive stimulant. It was said to improve memory and help to increase intelligence and focus. While many of those claims are still being researched and studied, its effects on the brain do indicate an increase in memory retention, which is never a bad thing; keeping your mind quick will help to keep it young. In that same vein, rosemary has been linked to stimulating cognitive activity in the elderly, as well as those suffering from more acute cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. This is an exciting alternative or supplement to more modern treatment for these as yet uncured conditions. Mood and Stress: The aroma of rosemary alone has been linked to improving mood, clearing the mind, and relieving stress in those with chronic anxiety or stress hormone imbalances. When the plant is consumed or applied topically in some sort of salve of the leaves, it can have similar effects. Aromatherapy also uses rosemary essential oil for this purpose, but that concentration of active components isn’t necessary to have positive effects on stress and mood. Immune System Strength: The active components in rosemary are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic in nature. This represents a three-pronged attack against many different diseases and pathogens that could threaten the immune system or damage the integrity of the body. Antioxidant compounds form a secondary line of defense behind the body’s own immune system, and rosemary contains a significant amount of those powerful compounds, including rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, betulic acid, and carnosol. Antibacterial Potential: While the general immune boosting qualities of rosemary are impressive enough, it is specifically powerful against bacterial infections, particularly those in the stomach. H. pylori bacteria is a common and very dangerous pathogen that can cause stomach ulcers, but rosemary has been shown to prevent its growth when consumed. Similarly, rosemary is linked to preventing Staph infections, which kill thousands of people each year. Stimulate Blood Flow: Rosemary acts as a stimulant for the body and boosts the production of red blood cells and blood flow. This helps to oxygenate vital organ systems and areas of the body, ensuring that the metabolic activities in those areas are running smoothly, in addition to stimulating the movement of nutrients to cells that require repair. Pain Relief: As an analgesic substance, rosemary has been topically applied in a paste or salve for hundreds of years to the affected area of the pain. When consumed orally, rosemary acts as a pain reliever for harder to reach spots, such as headaches and pain from a condition. In fact, one of the most popular uses of rosemary is for the treatment of migraines. Applying a decoction to the temples, or simply smelling the aroma of rosemary has been linked to reducing the severity of migraine symptoms. Anti-Inflammatory Qualities: Perhaps the most important function of rosemary is as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body. Carnosol and Carnosic acid are two powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds found in rosemary that have been linked to reducing inflammation of muscles, blood vessels, and joints. This makes rosemary an effective treatment for many things, including blood pressure, gout, arthritis, and injuries sustained during physical exertion or surgery. Rosemary is effective in oral or topical form for these anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the reduction in inflammation in the cardiovascular system can help to boost heart health and prevent atherosclerosis from appearing. Stomach Soother: Rosemary has traditionally been used by dozens of cultures as a natural remedy for upset stomachs, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and everything in between. Its anti-inflammatory and stimulant effects are largely the cause of these effects, so adding rosemary to your weekly diet can quickly help you regulate your bowel movements and your gastrointestinal system.