Our Take: Reset your health and wellness this spring with tips from a Beacon physician

We asked Dr. Megan Boyk, Health Services Management Fellow, Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, for her perspective on ways to reset your health and wellness this spring.

Dr. Megan Boyk, Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency

Spring is a great time to start working on being more active. As the weather gets nicer, it’s very easy to go for a walk in your neighborhood or a local park, or here in South Bend, to get involved with the free outdoor summer fitness program on Saturday mornings at the Gridiron. Don’t forget to lather up with sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 before you go out.

This is also a wonderful time to work toward making healthier food choices. Lots of our local grocery stores and farmers markets will have fresh and healthy produce throughout the season. One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is head over to the South Bend Farmers Market and get recommendations from the vendors for good recipes that incorporate fruits and vegetables I haven’t tried before. You can also put a few pieces of fresh fruit or cucumber in a bottle of water to stay hydrated in a healthy, low calorie and tasty way.

As you prepare to see family over the springtime holidays like Eid and Memorial Day, this is also a convenient opportunity to check in with your parents, siblings and children about your family medical history. Make sure your doctor is up to date on what you learn, because sometimes your family’s health history can affect what screenings your physician recommends for cancer, diabetes or possible heart issues.

Implementing these tips, as well as the CDC’s other recommendations from this CDC flyer, such as getting plenty of sleep, brushing your teeth twice daily and avoiding tobacco, can help to set you up for a great year for your health.

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