STARTING ANEW
Health is wealth, and with that in mind, here are eight resolutions to usher in a brand new decade - and a whole new you 

1. SKIN
If your face is your fortune, then it pays to maintain it.

"A healthy well-balance diet, regular exercise, stress reduction and sufficient sleep make a lot of difference to the appearance of your skin and hair," said Dr Chan Yuin Chew, a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates at Gleneagles Medical Centre.

Avoid the sun
Dr Eileen Tan, a dermatologist at Eileen Tan Skin, Laser and Hair Transplant Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, said it is also important to know when to keep out of the sun. She said: "The sun's rays are strongest at midday, so stay out of the sun then or wear sunscreen, protective clothing and a hat."  The sunscreen used should provide broad-spectrum protection from ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B and come with a sun protector factor (SPF) of at least 15.

While you stay away from the heat, do not smoke. Dr Chan said: "Smoking causes premature skin ageing, skin dehydration and dullness as well as wrinkles around the mouth."

You should also make sure the chose skincare regimen and products suit your skin type. For example, people with dry skin may benefit from applying moisturiser several times a day but those with oily skin need to use only a light moisturiser once a day.

2. HEART
Your mouth may water at the sight of local delights like char kway teow and roti prata but your heart suffers when you given in to such temptations too often.

A diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sald is essential for heart health. Dr Soon Chao Yang, a consultant cardiologiest at Nobel Heart Centre at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre, is all for eating more fruits and vegetables. He said: "High salt intake induces high blood pressure and causes stress on many organs in the body including the heart. This increases the risk of heart problems and stroke."

He also advocted a regimen of moderate intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes every day or three times a week at the least. Relaxation exercises like taiji and yoga also help to reduce the risk of heart disease by boosting the body's ability to cope with stress.

Lose the flab
Weight loss is especially important for people who are overweight or obese. A waist circumference of more than 90cm in men and more than 80cm in women greatly increases a person's risk of heart disease.

Stubbing out your cigarettes can also save your heart from deterioration and collapse. Adjunct Associate Professor Tan Huay Cheem, the director of National University Heart Centre at the National University Health System, said: "It is never too late to stop smoking - even after a heart attack. Cutting back on the number of cigarettes smoked daily improves survival after a first heart attack. Cigarette smokers who quit after a heart attack reduce their risk of death by 37 per cent compared with persistent smokers." Cutting down one cigarette a day results in a 3 per cent reduction in the risk of death.

3. BRAIN
"Use it or lose it" is the mantra that sports physician and neurologist swear by where the brain in concerned.

Dr Nagaendran Kandiah, a consultant at the department of neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute, said that regular physical exercise is vital. You should also engage yourself socially and keep in touch with friends and family.

You should also eat a balanced diet and take lots of "brain food" rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Mental workout
Just like your body, your mind needs regular workouts to keep it strong, supple and flexible. Dr Nagendran suggested challenging your brain for 20 to 30 minutes a day with activities like simple arithmetics (instead of relying on a calculator), doing crossword puzzles, playing the game of Sudoku or using new computer software.

4. SLEEP
Sticking to a regular routine may be boring but it is your best bet when it comes to getting a good night's rest. Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day, even on weekends. Dr Lim Li Ling, the medical director and consultant neurologist at Singapore Neurology & Sleep Centre at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said: "Doing so helps to anchor your circadian or biological clock and establishes a consistent rhythm of sleep."

Keep bedroom relaxing
Dr Lim added that the bed and bedroom should be used only for sleep and sexual activity and the bedroom environment should be kept relaxing. Activities like watching TV, reading, eating or studying should not be done in the bedroom.

Avoid heavy meals two hours before sleeping as well as stimulants like caffeine, nicotine or chocolate close to bedtime. Dr Lee Yeow Hian, a consultant in respiratory and critical care medicine at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "Exercise can promote good sleep. You should do vigorous exercise in the morning or late afternoon. A relaxing exercise like yoga can be done before bedtime to help initiate a restful night's sleep but you should not do strenuous exercise close to bedtime."

Get exposed to daylight
Dr Lee added that it is also important to get adequate exposure to natural light. He said: "This is particularly important for older people as they may not venture outside as frequently as children and adults. Exposure to light helps maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle."

Avoid naps as they disturb the normal pattern of sleep and wakefulness.

To facilitate sleep, establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine like reading or listening to music. Dr Lim advised setting aside time to relax.

There is good news for insomniacs seeking some shut-eye. Newer classes or sleeping pills are said to be less addictive and disturb the normal sleep structure less. Nowadays, there are also melatonin agonists, which are non-addictive drugs simulating the effect of melatonin, the body's nature sleep hormone.

5. CORE
Like the word suggests, the core is central to your body's well-being.

The core muscles are located in the pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen. They help to stabilise you and are essential to maintaining balance and posture.

Mr Khalid Anuar, a senior physiotherapist at the department of physiotherapy at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said that having healthy core muscles ensures even distribution of the stresses from daily activities and protects the spine from injuries.

Watch your posture
He emphasised the importance of maintaining a good posture and an active lifestyle to condition the core. He said: "Avoid slouching as it puts stress on your joints, muscles and ligaments. If you are overweight and lead a sedentary life, chances are you may have weak core muscles. Having a big paunch adds stress to your back and alters your posture."

Dr David Paul Bell, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Island Orthopaedic Consultants, suggested doing core strengthening exercises like abdominal crunches and exercise with fitness balls, medicine balls and balancing boards. Pilates and yoga also help to develop strong core muscles.

Dr Bell said: "Regular core strengthening has long-term benefits in achieving good posture, preventing back injuries and preventing or alleviating back pain. Strong core muscles help to improve most activities, from better golf swings to bending to pick up something."

6. EYES
Your eyes are the windows to your soul, so keep them clean and clear.

Eye examinations are a must if you are above 40 years old. Dr Hoh Sek Tien, a consultant eye surgeon at Ophthalmic Consultants at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said that those between 40 to 64 years old should go for an eye examination every two to four years, while those aged 65 and above should have this examination every year or two.

Go outdoors
Singapore has one of the highest rates of myopia in the world and parents of young children here can help to break that trend. Studies have shown that outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Dr Hoh said: " What these studies suggest is that children do not need to reduce their time spent on reading and writing or other forms of near work in order to enjoy this protection. The critical factor seems to be total time spent outdoors in daylight hours." His advice is that children should spend at least two to three hours outdoors every day.

While you are out in the sun, do wear sunglasses. Your eyes, like your skin and hair, need protection from excessive sun exposure. Foods high in antioxidants like vitamin A, C, and E also promote good eye health, while regular exercise ensures blood circulation, which improves oxygen levels to the eyes and removes toxins.

7. BODY FAT
Healthy eating and regular exercise are anathema to body fat.

Dr Soon Chao Yang, a consultant cardiologist at Nobel Heart Centre at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre, said that our body converts unconsumed energy derived from our food intake into body fat. Extra fat tissue builds up in the body over time and results in serious health hazards. Dr Chiam Tut Fu, a sports physician from Healthway Medical Corporation, said: "Burning more calories than you consume is the perennial rule for lowering overall percentage body fat. It is good to start a food log to see where excess calorie intake comes from."

Manage stress
Avoid excessive drinking and manage stress levels, Dr Soon advised. He said: "Our body naturally turns to storage mode when under a lot of stress so good stress management is important for cutting down excessive body fat."

Fat loss generally occurs throughout the body and it is difficult to confine it to a particular area. If you want to tone a specific part of your body, you may consider procedures which target fat in that area. Such procedures include liposuction, or the use of laser or ultrasound energy to break down fats.

8. HAIR
Less is more when it comes to taking care of your tresses.

Dr Chan Yuin Chew, a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said: "Subjecting your hair to repeated colouring, perming, waving or straightening can damage it. These procedures may improve the hair's cosmetic appearance for a while but, in the long run, they often cause hair to lose its natural lustre."

Clean and condition
Dr Gerard Tan, medical director of NeuGlow The Aesthetic Doctors, added that you should choose gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners, especially if you wash your hair more than three times a week Dr Chan said: "A conditioner plays an important role in helping to protect and maintain the structure of the hair, especially the ends."

Your scalp and hair also need protection from the sun. Doctors advised against sun exposure. Wear a hat or use an umbrella to protect the scalp and hair from sun damage.

Style tips
When you style your hair at home, Dr Tan advised using a wide-toothed, wooden comb to remove tangles in wet hair instead of a brush and to avoid excessive blow-drying, which tends to cause brittleness and split ends. To improve the appearance of hair, he said that regular brushing helps stimulate the scalp and keeps hair looking healthy and lustrous.

For those who are losing hair, techniques like follicular unit extraction (which uses a semi-automated robotic device to extract hair follicles and then transplant them) and laser hair rejuvenation (which stimulates dormant hair follicles) can restore a thinning crown to its former glory.