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A Healthy Lifestyle: Care Instructions

A healthy lifestyle can help you feel good, have more energy, and stay at a weight that's healthy for you. You can share a healthy lifestyle with your friends and family. And you can do it on your own.

Eat meals with your friends or family. You could try cooking together.

Plan activities with other people. Go for a walk with a friend, try a free online fitness class, or join a sports league.

Eat a variety of healthy foods. These include vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods, and protein foods.

Choose healthy portions of food. You can use the Nutrition Facts label on food packages as a guide.

Eat more vegetables and fruits. You could add vegetables to sandwiches or add fruit to cereal.

Drink water when you are thirsty. Limit pop, juice, and sports drinks.

Try to exercise most days. Aim for at least 2½ hours of moderate to vigorous exercise each week.

Keep moving. Work in the garden or take your dog on a walk. Use the stairs instead of the elevator.

If you use tobacco or nicotine, try to quit. Ask your doctor about programs and medicines to help you quit.

If you drink alcohol, try to drink less. Your risk of harm from alcohol is low if you have 2 drinks or less per week, moderate if you have 3 to 6 drinks per week, and high if you have 7 or more drinks per week.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

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