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New Year Resolutions

a Functional

Doctor’s

Perspective

by Svetlana Kogan, M.D.
he New Year is here, and with throwing bags of chips into my shopping basket – I caught myself
it are people making resolutions thinking that it had probably been at least 25 years since I ate such
T towards a healthier lifestyle. Many processed things. When it comes to healthy eating and preaching
patients ask me for the tips or steps on how this lifestyle to my patients – I try to walk the walk and it hurts to
to get started, and I wish it were as simple realize that there are many people out there who still eat processed
as everyone taking the same magic pill that foods daily because this is what their environment fosters. It comes
would take their troubles away and cleanse down to education, rather than socio-economic status, to explain
them from their transgressions of previous why people are brought up to make the wrong nutritional choices.
years. In reality though, holistic medicine In fact, in the analysis of 27 studies from 10 countries, it was
envisions revamping your lifestyle to be as found that eating healthier, fresh foods costs just $1.56 more /day
much of a spiritual journey as it is a physiological process. We are based on a whopping 2,000 calorie diet. Studies suggest that social
encouraged to identify the parts of ourselves which require a reset cohesion around eating healthy is critically important. So, make
and proceed to address all these aspects, one by one, as much as is sure that you and your loved ones are eating better together this
sustainable for a person. The most important lifestyle factors we year. Get educated. Speak to your doctor about it.
address are: Also make sure to pay attention to sleep quality improvement.
• Nutrition How is sleeping better this year going to benefit you besides the
• Exercise obvious of feeling more well-rested? Good sleep helps us to lose
• Sleep & Relaxation weight, cope with pain better, improves our immune system, and
• Emotional fitness, including the way the person handles stress decreases the inflammatory burden for the body by giving it time
• Spiritual health, including relationships with the friends, to detox. Once again, your partner who shares your bed has to
family, and the higher conscience/G-d. help you stick with your New Year’s new routine for getting better
The key here is that for every change we are planning to make, quality sleep.
we must take into consideration not only the patient themself, but And, of course, we must emphasize the importance of building
also his or her family and friends. Without their participation, strong and meaningful relationships this year. Belonging to
New Year lifestyle changing resolutions will not be sustainable. a caring social network of people – whether it’s a religion or
For example, it is very difficult to stop drinking alcohol if your spirituality-based group – will prolong your life and decrease your
best friend is an alcoholic who is not onboard with going sober. risk for depression, suicide, and substance use.
If you make a resolution to quit smoking but are married to a Let your inner beauty shine through this year and always
smoker – your chances of failing are higher. If you are trying to by leading a healthy and meaningful life, which incorporates
eat better, but spend most of your time around obese individuals feeding your cells with healthy food, moving your body with
who are not in the same frame of mind – your chances of resetting some kind of exercise which feels right to you, sleeping well,
your lifestyle are slimmer. You get the idea. practicing a good relaxation technique you can relate to, and
While getting ready for our recent hurricanes, I was shopping spending time with your tribe.
for non-perishable foods for no electricity scenarios, and while

The author of ‘Diet Slave No More!’, Svetlana Kogan, M.D. is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine,
Holistic & Functional Medical Doctor with 25 years of experience.
Her website is CustomLongevity.com Office Phone: 239-676-6883
32 32 www.LifeInNaples.net