Doctor lists Santa's naughty and nice habits
Children around the world look to Santa Claus to help them behave, but this 500-year-old bearer of goodies can also teach adults about the importance of staying healthy as we grow older.

Is Santa healthy? In many ways, Santa is the picture of successful aging. In other ways, he certainly has some room for improvement. Here are some of his "naughty" and "nice" health habits:

Naughty: Santa certainly appears like he could lose a few pounds. He should skip some of the cookies that children leave out. Sugary, late-night snacks can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, which increases the risk of developing conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and can cause heartburn, a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Nice: On the other hand, the milk left with the cookies is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, both of which build strong bones. He should stick to low- or no-fat milk. Drinking milk will help Santa avoid the chance of developing osteoporosis and will reduce his risk of fractures.

Nice - but used to be naughty: Years ago, Santa was often depicted smoking a pipe, a habit he apparently has given up. Most oral cancers occur in people who use tobacco products, and lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in America. No matter how old you are, quitting smoking

immediately improves your health.

Nice: Preparing all those toys for delivery

during one night requires a lot of preparation, and Santa can't do it all by himself. Instead, Santa probably works with the elves throughout the year to make the toys. Studies have shown that maintaining strong social networks is an integral part of healthy living and can even reduce the risk of diseases like dementia.

Nice: Santa keeps lists and checks them twice. This could be a sign that Santa is starting to experience some age-related memory difficulties. Making lists is an excellent technique for compensating for this.

Nice: Santa keeps a herd of reindeer. Even though pets aren't for everyone, having and caring for them seems to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and can also decrease feelings of loneliness and provide opportunities for exercise.

Nice: Marriage is good for the mind and body. Research has shown that married individuals are more likely to be active and less likely to have psychological problems or engage in unhealthy habits like smoking.

Dr. Anita Chopra

Director of Education and

Clinical Programs New Jersey Institute for Successful

Aging, UMDNJ-School of

Osteopathic Medicine

Stratford