Five Easy Ways to Improve Your Health

Jan. 1, 2009 — -- Want to kick-start a healthy new year? "GMA" medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard has five easy ways to improve your health.

Vitamin D: The so-called "sunshine vitamin" benefits your bones, brain and heart, but most of us don't get enough, especially if you don't see a lot of sun in the winter. Vitamin D does not occur naturally in most foods, so you should take a high-potency supplement.

Cod Liver Oil: It's full of Vitamin D, as well as Omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin A for skin, eyes and bones. Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, protect your cells and improve brain function.

Fiber: With a diet heavy on processed foods, most Americans don't get enough fiber. Fiber is important for colon health, but it also helps lower insulin levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation. You can take a supplement like Metamucil or Benefiber before a meal, which if taken before a meal, can make you feel more full and so eat less. Or you can try Savard's homemade granola -- see the recipe below.

Calcium: This is another mineral we don't get enough of. Studies show most Americans get about 600 mg a day, when we need 1,200 mg or more. We need calcium in order to absorb vitamin D, and it helps build bone and healthy blood vessels. You can get calcium in milk and other dairy products, but people who are lactose intolerant can take a pill or a sweet-tasting chewable supplement like Viactiv.

Throw Out Your Scale: Instead of weighing yourself, measure your waist size. Your waist size predicts future health, says Savard, so if you need to, resolve to lose two inches off your waist in 2009. Simple exercise like walking will help, even if you're not burning massive calories.

Step 1: Mix following dry ingredients in any amounts in a large roasting pan or two cookie sheets. You can experiment with proportions but oats should take up most of the mix.

Step 2: Mix together in a two-cup glass Pyrex bowl and heat in microwave at 50 percent power until hot and able to stir, about 3 minutes:

½ cup of canola oil

½ cup of natural unsalted peanut butter

¼ cup of honey and 1-2 tbsp of ground cinnamon

Step 3: Pour above liquid into roasting pan with dry ingredients and mix well.

Step 4: Bake at 325 degrees for about 20-30 minutes until lightly toasted.

Step 5: After mixture cools, add dried cranberries, raisins or any small or cut-up dried fruit such as cherries or figs.

Cool for a long time before storing indefinitely in freezer.

For breakfast, add ¼ to ½ cup of granola to a large dollop of plain yogurt with ½ cup of fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey and a ¼ - ½ cup or so of granola.