Your health: 10 things to do in March

6. Try a new grain
Variety is key when it comes to healthy eating. Not only should you be focusing on whole grains, but eating a number of different grains is the best way to take in a wide range of nutrients. Stuck on wheat, oats and rice? Try adding other grains to your diet: barley, wild rice, quinoa and spelt are some delicious options. Here are some recipes to try:

• Two-Mushroom Barley Soup
• Curried Lentil, Wild Rice and Orzo Salad
• Greek Quinoa Salad
• Apple Spelt Cake

7. Watch your posture
Are you slouching in front of your computer, head jutted forward and shoulders rounded? Well, sit up! Hours spent in front of the computer take their toll on your back and neck. If you must spend your days glued to your chair (and many of us, sadly, must), make sure to get up regularly to stretch and give your body a break.

8. Laugh out loud
Laughter isn't just for fun anymore -- turns out it's good for your heart, too. According to one study, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, daily laughter improves blood flow and has much the same effect on your body as exercise (which, researchers add, is no excuse to hang up your sneakers).

9. Cut the trans fats
It's official: Trans fatty acids are one of the nastiest things in the typical Canadian diet. They've been implicated in increasing your risk of heart disease, and research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that they cause you not only to gain more weight than eating other foods with the same amount of calories, but also to gain that weight in your abdominal area -- and who needs that? Instead, make a choice to be healthy and cut trans fats from your diet as best you can.

10. Get your numbers and know your risk factors
One of the keys to taking care of your health is knowing where you stand. Make sure to know your family history and the diseases you may be at risk for -- perhaps your parents and grandparents all had high cholesterol, for instance. Then discuss this information with your physician, and get any tests that will help you keep track of how you're doing. (For more on staying on top of your well-being, read homemakers.com's Whole Health Report Card.)