We’re aware of how often women tend to take care of others before they take care of themselves. As many busy moms know, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily tasks of work and family life. With Mother’s Day approaching, we encourage moms to make their health a priority and take simple steps to live a safer and healthier life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moms of every age can take the following steps below to live a safer and healthier life.

Eat healthy.

You may have told your family, “Eat your fruits and vegetables”. It’s good advice for moms too!

• Healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.
• Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health.
• Most fruits and vegetables are filling and naturally low in fat and calories.

Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

Move more.

Add physical activity to your life; it’s one of the most important things you can do for your health.

There are many benefits of physical activity. It can help:

• Control your weight
• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Reduce your risk of some cancers
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve your mental health and mood
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult
• Increase your chances of living longer

There are a lot of ways to get the physical activity you need. Walk, run, dance, bike, swim, garden, or do anything else that will help you get the recommended minimum 2½ hours of moderate physical activity each week.

Sleep well.

Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. How you feel and perform during the day is related to how much sleep you got the night before.

Manage stress.

Stress can be beneficial by helping you develop skills to cope with and adapt to new and potentially threatening situations throughout life. However, the beneficial aspects diminish when the stress is severe enough to overwhelm your ability to take care of yourself and your family.
The best ways to manage stress are through self-care:

• Avoid drugs and alcohol
• Find support
• Connect socially
• Stay active

Show others you care about their health by encouraging them to do all of the above mentioned suggestions. This is especially true for the women in our lives.