Although the United States is a developed country with excellent health and sanitary standards, the changes in lifestyle, climate, and eating habits can have an impact upon the health of a person who just arrived here. We believe that, with a little common sense, you can avoid health problems in your new living environment.

A recent trend has lot of people in the United States trying to adapt healthier eating and active exercise habits. They try to avoid fried foods, sweets, and high cholesterol, high fat diets. Instead, they are eating more vegetables, leaner meats and seafood, and watching their salt and fat intake. Regular exercise, whether mild walking, a round of golf, or strenuous cross-country training, is a regular part of some American's daily routine. Some general guidelines to keep in mind:

• Do not make sudden, dramatic changes in your diet. Attempt to maintain a regular eating routine, much as you have in your own country. As time goes by, you can incorporate American and other international foods into your diet.
• If your culture does not use heavily spiced foods, stay away from spicy Mexican, Thai, and Indian cuisine. Try these foods in small amounts and make sure that your body is comfortable in digesting them.
• Water is potable throughout the United States. Nevertheless, some areas are served by wells, and other areas have water supplements such as chlorine or fluoride. If you find the water in your locality distasteful, you may either purchase a water filter or purchase bottled water at the grocery store.
• If you are moving to a new climate - for example, from Colombia to Michigan - make sure that your wardrobe and dress habits are consistent with your new environment. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and use layers of clothing to stay warm; that way, you can add or remove layers as necessary.

In addition to staying physically fit, your mental health is something which merits close attention. You are in a new country, with new friends, in a new job. You are eating new foods, watching new television programs and shopping in new stores. Virtually everything around you is a new stimulus and different people react in different ways to such stimulation. Most young professionals enjoy the change and do everything they can to experience as much of American culture as possible. Occasionally, however, "homesickness" sets in and the new immigrant finds himself or herself longing for home. In order to preserve cultural identity and a sense of community, remember to:

• Write and call home regularly; send them small gift packages showing them photos, what you are eating, where you have visited, etc.
• Join local community organizations, churches, where others sharing your culture meet and gather. (The United States is very popular for international professionals and you can find a peer group virtually anywhere.)

Staying healthy in the United States is easy if you eat sensibly, exercise, and maintain a healthy perspective on both your newfound lifestyle and your personal cultural background.