The S&A Health Report: Happy New Year!

SLEEP. I try to get eight hours of sleep nightly. It's hard to do this time of year – with parties and traveling. My extroverted nature keeps me out late, but I'm trying to leave earlier every year. In 2008, a lot of new scientific research showed how valuable sleep is: The immune system needs it, and there is good evidence linking heart disease with poor sleep habits. Also, avoid leaving the TV on when you sleep. I try to turn the TV off early and read a good book.

MASSAGE. Last year, massage was No. 4, but I'm convinced it is close to sleep in its health-giving and feel-good properties. I try to get a full-body massage twice a month. If you find the right person, the energy flow and "recharging" alter your life for at least a couple days. This past year, I started doing Thai yoga massage... Wow!

SUN. I make sure to get sun on my body all year long, especially during the winter. Sunlight lowers the risk of several cancers. The Vitamin D produced by the body from sunlight may be critical in preventing diseases like multiple sclerosis and depression. Don't get burned, but be sure to avoid the poisons in sunscreen!

MOVEMENT. Call it "exercise" if you'd like. Either way, it's critical to move for 30-45 minutes daily. The simplest thing to do is to walk. I also lie down on the floor and stretch several times a week.

AROMATHERAPY. This moved up from No. 8 last year... Smells can be uplifting and stimulate the soul, body, and mind. Cleopatra loved the smell of roses so much, she had 15 inches of rose petals covering the floor of her bedroom. I regularly place a few drops or sprays of my favorite scents around the house: lavender on the inside of pillow cases, orange on the air filter, pine on the bathroom rug, bergamot or patchouli in my car... Aromatherapy is a luxury to be afforded. Plus, don't forget the value of flowers that smell good.

MEDITATION. I meditate at least three times a week, usually in the morning. As I get older, I find meditation is an easy way to create peacefulness and mindfulness. The same physiologic and spiritual benefits occur for some people during religious services and time spent in prayer. The benefits include weight loss, improved oxygen use, and a boost to the immune system. For physical health, meditation is probably better than aerobic exercise!

FRUIT. I eat fruit whenever I can (berries are especially good for you). The benefits from fruit are impossible to ignore: less arthritis, less cancer, and better bowel movements are just a few. Remember that an apple a day (washed well), keeps the doctor away.

ASPIRIN. I take one 325 mg tablet every week. The simple but miraculous effects last seven to 10 days. This drug is perhaps the most powerful drug known to mankind... It reduces the risk of heart attacks by 50%, colon cancer by 40%, and strokes by 15%. There's even some evidence it slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease. For the money, this is the best deal there is. The cost of a one-year supply is only about $1.50!

WINE. I drink one or two five-ounce glasses of wine each weekend day. Occasionally, I'll have a small four-ounce pour if it's early on a weeknight. Regular consumption of wine improves digestion, decreases the risk of diabetes, and decreases the risk of stroke and arthritis. Red wine is more powerful than white wine (although whites have plenty of benefit) because it contains more antioxidants. (By the way, an old German saying goes: "There's more old German wine drinkers than there are old German doctors.")

DON'T SHARE UTENSILS. I avoid sharing or tasting from other people's drinks and food (this and Vitamin C will practically guarantee you never get a cold again). In the past around holidays, I'd share spoons, forks, and glasses. This year, I didn't do it and I've avoided the usual colds, sore throat, and GI distress! So... you've been warned.

ANTIBIOTICS. I take an antibiotic once a year whether I am sick or not. Generic doxycycline is my choice this year. I believe this will help me avoid and delay the onset of many inflammatory diseases caused by infections. Ever since my first pathology course in medical school, I have suspected that many chronic diseases, like arthritis and heart disease, are linked to an infectious process. More research is needed. But many doctors are skeptical and buy into the dietary cholesterol nonsense, so money for research is lacking.