Expose Yourself Periodically

To get the maximum tan with the least amount of sun damage, tan every other day. Skin takes 48 hours to rebuild after sunshine. 10-15 minutes of tanning between 10 AM and 3 PM with lots of exposed skin is a good way to generate vitamin D. If you’re soaking up rays for more than 15 minutes, use sunscreen to limit the damage. Don’t overdo sun exposure, but get some summer sun while you can.

Regular Mini-sizing

Who wants to run a marathon? Not me. But we don’t need to run 26 miles to get gains from exercise. Aim for at least a 30-minute walk every day, plus 2 muscle building workouts a week. But if 3 hours a week seem daunting, start smaller. Even climbing 3 flights of stairs 3 times a week, as fast as you can, improves your health. Exercise doesn’t need to be extreme, it just needs to be regular.

Skyrocketing Stevia

Stevia is the fastest growing artificial sweetener, bypassing all other artificial sweeteners. It is an extract from a shrub and has been approved for food in Canada since 2012. Most stevia is a blend with other sweeteners, as on its own, it has a bitter aftertaste. Limit your daily intake to less than 10 packets a day.

Sugar Alcohol

These are not the sweet, girly drinks at the bar. Sugar alcohols are sweeteners that are less sweet than sugar and have fewer calories. Usually they are manufactured from sugar. They are often used to reduce the bitterness of artificial sweeteners. The most common are sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol. They are generally safe, but they can cause bloating and gas.

A Deadly Pop

Drinking regular sugar pop is risky. Although it might taste great, more pop means less health. One-a-month is OK, but more will increase health risks. This is especially true for women. Phase out sweet pop and replace it with club soda or mineral water. A dash of lime makes it a refreshing drink without the deadly sugar. And limit your diet pop to 2 a day.

Comment from the Peanut Gallery

Peanut allergies have skyrocketed. Some of this is due to keeping peanuts from young children. Now, it turns out, introducing peanuts earlier can reduce the chance of allergy. In young children, peanut allergies can even be reduced through repeated tiny doses. But this can only be done under the supervision of a medical doctor.