What is it about Spring that makes everything seem so fresh and new? With Spring comes the type of attitude “out with the old in with the new”.

Here are five steps to help jumpstart your Spring in a healthy and fresh way:

1- Adios Germs

It’s Spring cleaning time! Staying healthy and fighting sickness is one of the first steps in starting out fresh this spring. Not only do clean spaces make us happier and more productive, it helps combat all the sickness lingering from the winter months.

Start with tossing sponges after 8 weeks, getting a new toothbrush every 3 months and consider replacing all dish towels and cutting boards as they are not immune to the wear and tear that leads to extra germs. Get dusting and remove all those dust bunnies that can lead to allergies, hives and even asthma attacks. Finally, declutter your workspace. Clutter on your desk contributes to 10 million germs lurking around your workspace. Wipe down your keyboard, mouse and phone everyday.

2- Make your kitchen a healthy space

Now is the time to throw away all the unhealthy foods that we collected over the winter months. Give your kitchen a healthy makeover by removing all processed foods and replace them with natural, whole foods like vegetables, fruits and nuts.

3- Take your workouts outside

There is nothing like breathing in that fresh air after being cooped up all winter long. Now that the temps are up, head outside for your workouts. Discover your passion for running, hiking or biking while breaking free from the sweaty, germ-filled gym. Soak up the sun and get a fresh sense of renewal.

4- Giver your body a much needed detox

We are not talking about a detox diet, but a more natural way of detoxing your body by exercising and eating right. Cut out the alcohol and refined sugars and start eating healthier. This will make you feel rejuvenated and does wonders for your mood.

5- Go see your doctor   

Spring is a great time to get checked out for your annual physical. By taking the appropriate measures and checking in with your ob-gyn, dentist, optometrist and family doctor may help prevent emergencies and late detection from occurring.

These five great steps will give you a jumpstart to a more active you, and what a better time than Spring to start on a healthy track.

Did you know that colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and curable cancers? So why is it that this cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths?

The lack of knowledge and routine screenings make colorectal cancer so deadly. Which is why March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. This is the time to the word out about how important it is to get screened. Unless you are at high risk or have family history, people 50 years or older should be getting screened for colon cancer. If detected early enough, these screenings could save your life. In fact, 90% of all colon cancer cases can be prevented with recommended screenings.

A polyp is usually the first sign of colon cancer. Those polyps should not be there and overtime can turn into cancer. By getting routine screenings such as a colonoscopy, polyps can be found and removed before turning into cancer. Professionals in this field believe that a widespread adoption of these screening practices could save as many as 30,000 lives a year.

Along with routine screenings, the American Cancer Society also suggest eating healthy and living an active lifestyle can prevent colorectal cancer. Here are their suggestions:

-Increase physical activity

-Limit red and processed meats

-Get recommended levels of vitamin D and calcium

-Eat more fruits and vegetables

-Avoid obesity and weight gain

-Avoid excess alcohol

While kidney disease can develop at anytime, it is more likely to occur in those 60 or older. Researchers from John Hopkins University have found that more than 50% of seniors over 75 are believed to have kidney disease.

Kidney disease can sometimes be hard to detect since it develops slowly and with very few symptoms. “Many people don’t realize that, as we age, we lose kidney function,” said Beth Piraino, MD National Kidney Foundation President. “Unfortunately older Americans may not realize they are at increased risk until it’s too late.”

Those with diabetes, high blood pressure and family history of kidney failure are more at risk than others. Becoming aware of kidney disease is the first step in prevention.

The National Kidney Foundation encourages everyone over the age of 60 to be screened for kidney disease. World Kidney Day is on March 13, 2014.

Dr. Henri Lanctin, a urologist at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, was honored on February 22, 2014, in Brooklyn, NY, by the Aesclepius Medical Society for his work to improve urological care in Haiti.

"Dr. Lanctin was selected because of his outstanding medical care he has been providing to the indigenous population of Pignon, Haiti, for the past few years," said Nicole Francis of the Aesclepius Medical Society. "Dr. Lanctin is instrumental in the practical medical education of the urology residents of the Faculty of Medicine and he has worked diligently to bridge the gap between the different foreign medical entities providing urological services in Haiti."

Dr. Lanctin has been actively involved in Project Haiti, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for the people of Haiti, for 3.5 years. In addition to sending teams to the area to provide medical care for the community, Project Haiti puts a strong emphasis on providing medical education to Haiti's own health care workers. Dr. Lanctin has organized and led many urology teams to Pignon, Haiti, where team members work side-by-side with Haitian urologists.

"Haiti has 26 urologists," said Dr. Lanctin. "The goal of our work in Haiti is to work with these urologists—teaching them, supporting them and increasing their knowledge of urological care."

In November 2013, an international committee was formed to try to coordinate urological care efforts in Haiti. Dr. Lanctin is part of this committee, which includes both administrators and doctors from America and Haiti. The committee’s goal is get a bigger return on the efforts to improve urological care in Haiti.

"This award was very unexpected," said Dr. Lanctin. "I do not do this work for personal accolades. I do it for the love of the Haitian people."