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Live Healthsmart Alabama Heersink School of Medicine
The Live Healthsmart mobile market van, with a dragon topiary in the foreground.

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Our daily lives are framed by the policies, systems, and environments that either support or limit our ability to make healthy choices. An individual’s health also depends on factors such as our education, income, zip code, race, and family history. Live HealthSmart Alabama meets people where they are, evolves how communities interact with their environments and removes barriers to good health at a systemic level. These are four of the areas addressed by Live HealthSmart Alabama: Nutrition, Physical Activity, Prevention and Wellness, and Education.

Tips to Live HealthSmart

  1. Take steps in the right direction: Experts say you’re supposed to exercise 150 minutes per week. Start with five minutes a day—then add five more the next week. Over time, small steps can become lasting habits that boost your energy and support your health.
  2. Add color to your plate: Eating more fruits and vegetables doesn’t have to be complicated. Even one extra serving a day can help your body get the nutrients it needs to fight illness, feel better, and stay strong.
  3. Cut back on the junk: Processed snacks and sugary drinks can take a toll on your body over time, leading to obesity, diabetes, and all many other unwanted problems. Try reaching for water instead of soda, or swap chips for nuts or fruit. These small changes can make a big difference.
  4. Pass on fried foods: Fried foods are a staple for many, but they can raise your risk for chronic diseases. Choosing grilled, baked, or roasted options when you can is a simple way to support heart health.
  5. Rethink that extra drink: Not only is alcohol is filled with empty calories without offering any nutritional value, but it also suppresses your metabolism. This makes your body work harder to burn off what you drank. Hold off on that last drink, and you’ll be glad you did.
  6. Avoid tobacco and vaping: Whether it’s cigarettes, vaping, or smokeless tobacco, all forms put your health at risk. Quitting isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take for your health and for the health of those around you.

Learn how to Take Down Tobacco, Alabama opens a new website.