Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion

Think back on what you did this week. For college students all over, myself being one of them, a hectic schedule is not unlikely. There are many things going on in our lives which force us to feel overwhelmed, weighed down, and above all else, stressed out. These things, in return, cause us to ignore one of the most important and vital factors in our lives - our health.

It's no question that we face numerous temptations of harmful choices. This has caused unhealthy eating habits to become one of the most common issues among college students.

Remember the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?"

This may not be 100 percent truth, but daily servings of fruits and vegetables happen to be one of the most important keys to keeping your body going.

Lisa Tartamella-Kimmel, a registered dietitian and outpatient nutrition coordinator from Yale-New Haven Hospital, said college students come nowhere near the recommended amount of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Instead, they tend to choose foods low in fiber and high in saturated fat. This is why fruits and vegetables are so important. Not only do they boost your body with essential vitamins and minerals, they're also high in fiber and low in fat - perfect, right?

As stressed out college students, we need as much extra boost as possible. So don't be afraid to experiment with your meals and mix things up a little bit. The next time you go out to eat with friends, choose a salad as an appetizer instead of nachos.

After you finish dinner in the cafeteria and you're wondering what to eat for dessert, try some fruit to satisfy that sweet tooth. You're probably thinking that something as simple as fruit will not do the job - don't knock it until you try it!

Along with nutrition, exercise is also an essential key in managing your health and your stress level.

Many students feel as if they have no extra time in their day to get in a decent, well-planned work out. Some students often find balancing studies alone to be extremely difficult. However, I highly encourage you to find the time to exercise.

If you have class at 10 a.m., for instance, try waking up early to go biking for a half hour. When you come back from an exhausting day at work, head to the gym and run a mile or two to let off some steam.

If you don't have a pass to the gym but have a two-hour break in between classes, don't be afraid to try some simple exercises in your room.

If your workout ranges from as short as 20 minutes to as long as two hours, it can make a huge difference in improving your overall health, stress level, appearance, mood and concentration. Keep in mind however, that the more vigorous the physical activity, the better the health benefits. Not only does exercise improve health and physical well being, it also makes you feel better about your body and about yourself.

If you decide to follow these simple guidelines, I guarantee that your lifestyle will improve greatly.

Keep in mind that getting the adequate amount of nutrients through fruits and vegetables is extremely important. Following a well-balanced diet with the appropriate amount of physical activity will revitalize your body and your mind, while giving you an extra energy boost to keep you going throughout the day in order to help keep you focused and alert.

So choose your meals wisely, and try and squeeze in that recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day. These wise choices will benefit you greatly and give you the motivation needed in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Flesch is a freshman print journalism major and guest columnist for The Spectator.

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