12 Health Lessons Santa Should Learn

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12 Health Lessons Santa Should Learn After 30 days of the harried holiday shopping season, for many of us, even those who don't celebrate Christmas, December 25 is a welcome reprieve from the madness. The stores finally close up as families come inside for a day off work. But for one man, the real work is just beginning. We're looking at you, Santa. That's right -- Santa Claus is coming to town. And while he spends most of the year enjoying a flexible work schedule, monitoring naughty-and-nice behaviors around the world (on what we can only imagine is a freelance basis), everything revs up in December. To be honest, we're a little concerned about Santa's health (that belly fat! that all nighter! those cookies!). And, especially since we're not sure what North Pole health insurance policies are like, we think it's time for an intervention. Here, 12 things that really have us worried about Santa's health. Get Flat Abs: 10 Crunch-Free Moves Stairs Get You There Faster Than Elevator, Study Shows The Holiday Treats We Just Can't Resist: HuffPost Holiday Food Vices Why Your Contact Lenses Are Dirtier Than You Think BLOG POSTS Jeff Deitz, M.D.: Children's Sleep: Time For A Wake-Up Call Except for a handful of forward-thinking school districts, the continuing resistance to starting high school later to accommodate the biological time clocks of teenagers speaks to the attitudes of the adults in charge of our children. Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick: 12 Keys To Having A True Heart-to-Heart Relationship So far, we have shared eight keys or ways you can build a more intimate and mutually fulfilling heart-to-heart relationship. And now, here are an additional four keys we've found that work wonders. David Katz, M.D.: How About Plan 'D, For Data' For Plan B? I have an opinion about Plan B. It's that we can, and should, do better than opinion when making decisions that affect health, and have the potential to change the course of lives. Dr. David White, M.D.: Circadian Rhythms: Are Yours In Sync? Ingrained in all of us is a natural instinct for continuity in our sleeping and waking schedule each day -- our circadian rhythms. While we can choose to ignore this need for continuity by working at night or sleeping late into the day, it carries consequences.

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