Photo by Ben Earwicker, Garrison Photography

The friendships in our lives are important. The people we surround ourselves with become our support system, and we become theirs. Our friends become a part of how we live our lives. We can choose to support each other be healthy and safe.

What is one new way you and your friends can support each other be healthy?

The CDC shares some tips in celebration of last week’s National Girlfriends Day:

Be Active and Eat Healthy
Make healthy choices when you get together with your friends. Find fun ways to get physical activity like walking, dancing, gardening, or swimming. When eating out or cooking at home, be sure to include fruits and vegetables and other foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods and beverages high in calories, saturated fat, or added sugars and salt.

• Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Children and teens need at least one hour of activity daily.
• Exercise with friends and get the many benefits of regular physical activity.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid portion size pitfalls. Split an entrée with a friend.
• Find ways to cut calorie intake and still feel full.

Prevent Violence
Intimate partner violence has significant adverse health consequences. Nearly 1 in 4 women (24%) and 1 in 7 men (14%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. This violence and its heavy toll can be prevented. Promoting respectful, nonviolent relationships is key.

If you are, or know someone who is, the victim of intimate partner violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or contact your local emergency services at 9-1-1.

Give Up Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco
Friends can be important sources of support. Resources are available for people who are trying to quit or cut down on drinking or give up smoking.

• Binge drinking (defined for women as consuming four or more drinks on an occasion) increases the chances of breast cancer, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, and other health problems.
• Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) — to get information about drug and alcohol treatment in your local community.
• Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. You lower your risk for different types of cancer, and don’t expose others to secondhand smoke—which causes health problems in infants, children, and adults.
• Call the state tobacco quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669); TTY 1-855-855-7081; relay service 1-800-833-6384 or visit smokefree women.