2008 Article
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 Hearts 'n Habits©By Patrick D. Sculley, DDS, Major General (USA Ret.) By the month of February the many good intentions of our New Year's resolutions are becoming a distant memory! It is likely that we probably didn't stick with them long enough to turn them into habits (think how long it took to develop all those bad habits!). A habit is a behavior pattern that occurs almost unconsciously, after much repetition. That's why when we stop and add up all the calories we actually consume in a day, we are shocked and awed. It is said, "you are what you eat". The same can be said for what you drink. Now that's a scary thought, because many of our eating and drinking habits contribute to poor health. The all too common habit of sugary snacks washed down with sugary soft drinks and sports beverages can lead to tooth decay, contribute to gum disease (periodontal disease), and pile on those calories. Four 12-ounce cans of regular soda equal 620 calories. Drinking two to four sodas a day can cause a weight gain of a pound a week! You'd need to burn off 155 calories through exercise to compensate for each of those sodas. Substituting a café latte won't help as even a single small latte may contain 125 calories, and we also have the unfortunate habit of upsizing our beverages, adding more calories and sugar content. To make matters worse, we tend to consume our usual amount of solid food each day, no matter how many sodas we drink because the drinks don't make us feel full. More than half of the adult US population is considered overweight. There is an increased incidence of high cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension) in overweight people, even children under the age of 12. Hypertension and high cholesterol are associated with heart disease and strokes, leading killers of Americans. This should give us all cause to think about the things we consume, including what we drink. We can commit to small changes and reconsider decisions to reach for a soda, latte, or other sugary pick-me-up. Small changes reap big rewards over time. Maintaining good health is all about maintaining good habits. Keep repeating those smart, healthy choices until you're doing them without thinking about it. It's up to you to recognize your temptations and come up with a plan to limit indulgence in fast foods and sugary beverages. February is a good time to revisit the great resolutions you made in January. Healthy choices plus healthy habits are the best Valentine's Day gift you can give to your loved ones.
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