Have you ever heard the adage "an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure?" Well, it's never been truer than it is right now. We rely so heavily on remedies such as antibiotics and painkillers that we have to take more and more just to get on with our jobs and lives. If instead we all decided to take a just a little better care of ourselves on a daily basis, we could avoid these illnesses and injuries before we get to the point where we need to pump ourselves full of drugs. Here are some tips for preventing illness and injury.

Eat Healthy

Preventing illness starts with eating a healthy, balanced diet. Get yourself a copy of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating to see whether your current diet is cutting it. If it's not, try taking a course on choosing and preparing healthy food. Some community centers and grocery stores, such as Superstore, host them. Ask your chef to provide you with healthy menu options, read the labels on food packages before you buy them, and ask for nutritional information when eating out. This helps you avoid excess fat, sugar, and byproducts you may be allergic to.

Exercise

You've seen though your experience that exercise is a great cure for injury, but it can also prevent it. By making sure to get a half hour of exercise at least three times per week, you're keeping your heart, lungs, and muscles strong and less likely to contract disease or be injured. Exercise also helps keep your weight at a nominal level, which is important as obesity will put you at greater risk for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries.

To keep yourself healthy, avoid things which can adversely affect your health. This includes harsh chemicals, dangerous situations, and even the tools of your trade. Always take proper safety precautions when you're doing something dangerous, like repairing a roof or even changing a flat tire. Use natural products instead of chemical riddled ones, avoid being around people who are ill, and take time out of the day to relax, as stress makes you more susceptible to illness.

Vaccines

Some illnesses, such as the flu or meningitis, are very hard to identify and avoid until it is too late. That's why you should always get your vaccines, especially if you're an optometrist who has to interact with a lot of people in the run of a day. There are rumours floating around that some vaccines can cause diseases like Autism, but tests have not borne this out, and the diseases the vaccines prevent, such as mumps, polio, and diphtheria, can cripple or kill you. Many thanks go out to Apple Tree Dental for Kids for their support.