--- title: Healthy Habits for the New Year Include NFP description: Healthy Habits for the New Year Include NFP --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/01/21/healthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp#) # Healthy Habits for the New Year Include NFP Jan 21, 2012 1:00:40 PM  |  by [Ellen Gable Hrkach](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/ellen-gable-hrkach) [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/healthy-habits.png?width=319&height=211&name=healthy-habits.png "healthy habits")](http://catholicmom.com/2012/01/21/healthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp/healthy-habits/)The beginning of a new year often prompts the making of resolutions regarding lifestyle. Some will decide to exercise more or to eat better. Nowadays healthier lifestyle choices are encouraged: a diet rich in whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, low in saturated fat. Unhealthy habits are discouraged: poor diet, inactivity, smoking, excessive drinking. An important part of a healthy lifestyle also includes making good choices regarding birth regulation. Moral considerations aside, Natural Family Planning, or NFP, is very healthy. It is a highly effective method of birth regulation, and it also poses no physical side effects. In my experience, NFP fosters a greater understanding and appreciation of the couple’s combined natural gift of fertility. There are no pills or chemicals to harm a woman’s delicate system. There are no devices or operations for either man or woman. Other methods, however, are not so health-inducing. Each prescription for chemical contraception (Pill, patch, vaginal ring, injectables) includes an extensive insert outlining the numerous possible physical side effects: an increased risk of weight gain, mood swings, headaches, breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots. Vasectomy comes with an increased risk of prostate cancer and dementia. Women who undergo a tubal ligation have a higher risk of chronic pain and hysterectomy. For those who are especially concerned with the health of the environment, chemical contraception is a likely culprit in contributing to the feminization of male fish. Although chemical contraception isn’t the only cause, the following link includes more detail on chemical contraception’s effect on fish: [http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8608cover.html](http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8608cover.html) A new year can be an opportune time to adopt healthier lifestyle choices. It’s also a great time to learn NFP. My husband, James, and I are certified NFP teachers and we even teach NFP online. For more information on NFP, check out my previous column entitled, [NFP Q & A](http://catholicmom.com/2010/09/30/natural-family-planning-nfp-q-a-by-ellen-gable-hrkach/) or email me at info(at)fullquiverpublishing.com. ***Text copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F01%2F21%2Fhealthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F01%2F21%2Fhealthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F01%2F21%2Fhealthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Healthy%20Habits%20for%20the%20New%20Year%20Include%20NFP) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F01%2F21%2Fhealthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F01%2F21%2Fhealthy-habits-for-the-new-year-include-nfp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Ellen Gable Hrkach](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/ELLEN%20GABLE%20HRKACH.jpeg) ### [Ellen Gable Hrkach](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/ellen-gable-hrkach) Ellen Gable Hrkach and her husband, James, have been certified NFP teachers since 1984. Ellen is also an award-winning, bestselling author of 13 books, an editor, publisher, and self-publishing book coach. Her newest book is Life From the Bottom Shelf. The mother of five adult sons and grandmother of three precious grandchildren, Ellen lives in Pakenham, Ontario with her husband. Contact her at [Full Quiver Publishing](https://www.fullquiverpublishing.com/). [**](https://facebook.com/ellengable) [**](https://twitter.com/ellengable) ## Related Blog Articles [ Natural Family Planning - NFP - Q &A by Ellen Gable Hrkach Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/09/30/natural-family-planning-nfp-q-a-by-ellen-gable-hrkach) [ Teaching NFP has Enriched Our Marriage in Many Ways Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/08/18/teaching-nfp-has-enriched-our-marriage-in-many-ways) [ Is NFP Effective? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/04/21/is-nfp-effective) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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