res·o·lu·tion

Noun: A firm decision to do or not do something.

What do you plan to do differently in 2012? Is it bold to say that I think most of us realize where we can improve our health? Am I naive to think that most of the savvy Diabetes Sisters reading this know certain areas they can work at and improve upon? Or do we need someone else to steer us in the right direction?

This time of the year cold weather sneaks under the door and into our lives.  Along with this type of weather seems to be an increase in illnesses such as the common cold and the flu.  These can create quite the roller coaster in blood glucose control for people with diabetes. Thus, we start to think, “How can I possibly avoid a week in bed feeling miserable?  

Diet plays an integral part of overall immunity.  This starts with the food we eat, but also includes our digestive system’s health as well.  Did you know that your gut is a major factor in immune function? Getting enough immune boosting foods in our diet on a daily basis can, for many people, mean the difference between a real winter vacation and one spent with a box of tissues and Julia Roberts movies.

Is your credit card statement filled with dining-out transactions? Are your cupboards barren and produce drawer empty?

Whether you are cooking for a family, or you are a bachelorette, you likely have experienced being in a rut and needing to drive thru the fast food window. Personally, between juggling several jobs and training for an Ironman triathlon, time is precious, and I am often challenged with taking the time to cook. This past year I have had to dig deep to avoid this common diet pitfall of frequent eating out.

I’m sure most of you have heard the health benefits of including olive oil in your diet. It is emphasized in the Mediterranean Diet that has been recognized of one of the healthiest diets from across the world to help you live a longer, active life.

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats, a healthy type of fat that can lower your risk of heart disease. These fats also help reduce total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol and can also raise the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. As well as protecting your heart and lowering your cholesterol, olive oil, especially extra virgin and virgin olive oil, contains high levels of polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that are essential in our diet and can reduce the effects of aging.