Caring for Your Body

Your body is like a high-tech computer. And, as with computer programming, you get out of it what you put into it. Preventative medicine, taking care of illness, raising your heart rate, and getting quality fuel, are some of the ways to keep your body and brain functioning well.

College students are extremely busy, have many demands placed on them, and come from a variety of economic backgrounds. No matter what your situation, follow these tips:

• Avoid catching an illness by getting vaccinated, washing your hands frequently, and keeping your distance from others who are sick.
• Eat healthfully to stay protected from illness and enhance academic performance. Find easy, simply recipes that provided a balanced diet. Need more motivation? Consider cooking for the week with a group of friends or making freezer meals together monthly.
• Work efficiently during the day to ensure you get in eight hours of sleep nightly.
• Stay hydrated by drinking 7-8 cups of fluids daily and getting another 20% from food.
• Drink your calories wisely by choosing low-fat options, black coffee, or red wine instead of adding creamer or consuming hard liquor.
• Keep exercise simple and interesting by doing activities you like. Walk or bike instead of driving if going to a gym is too time consuming or expensive.