Your health: 10 things to do in September

6. Check your water bottle
While the jury's still out on the health risks of drinking from certain types of plastics, it's better to be safe than sorry. So replace your hard plastic bottle with one made from stainless steel or aluminum -- one popular brand is Sigg, whose stylish aluminum bottles are lined with a taste-neutral inner coating.

7. Try a new vegetable
Variety's key when it comes to nutrition. From artichokes to zucchini, each veggie offers a unique range of vitamins and minerals -- so to boost your health, it's important to change things up. Why not buy something you've never tried before? Then when you come home from the store or market, search online to find out how to prepare it -- a culinary adventure awaits! (Try our recipe search for inspiration and ideas.)

8. Cut back on driving
It's estimated that air pollution is responsible for 16,000 premature deaths in Canada every year -- and vehicle use is a significant contributor to our poor air quality. You don't have to make a major change to make a difference (imagine how much cleaner the air would be if we all drove 10 minutes less every day!). Look at the small things you can do, from keeping your car well-tuned to not idling to cutting back on how long you let it "warm up" in the morning. (Check out these 7 easy ways to fight smog.)

9. Get more sleep
Come on, be honest. Do you get as much sleep as you'd like? If you're like most Canadians, the answer is probably no. It isn't just a matter of snoozing enough to get by -- sufficient sleep is essential for your health. Up your rest time by even 20 minutes a night and you'll feel the difference.

10. Change your makeup
If you can't remember when you bought your current tube of mascara, then it's time to replace it -- not to mention the other probably bacteria-laden items in your cosmetics bag. Think of it as an excuse to go shopping for new fall colours. For tips on what to buy, read our article on makeup application tips and fall 2006 makeup trends.

Spend your time wisely with September's to-do list from homemakers.com.

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