Barefoot Workouts Gain Ground
December 13, 2011 § Leave a Comment
If you’ve ventured onto a running trail in the past year or so, you realize that barefoot running has become all the rage, and now the workout is gaining ground across the exercise spectrum.
Fitness experts from aerobics instructors to modern dancers are lauding the benefits of barefoot workouts.
Connecticut-based fitness instructor Ellen Barrett teaches a mixture of Pilates, yoga and dance and conducts all her low-impact classes barefoot.
“I’ve been teaching barefoot forever. Shoes give you a false sense of a platform. You don’t connect to ground,” explained Barrett, creator of the DVDs “Grace and Gusto” and “Power Fusion.”
“So goes the foot, so goes the body. If your foot is balanced and strong the rest of the body is too,” said Barrett. “That connectedness between foot and core and balance, that core connection, that’s ultimately what balance is.”
Read more about barefoot exercise and its benefits!
November 21, 2011 § Leave a Comment
C-Health Online recently posted an interesting article that begged the question, “what’s on your bucket list?” We all have bucket lists, things we want to do or accomplish in our lives, and C-Health urged readers to consider something a little different when thinking about our bucket lists… cholesterol.
As the article states, not everyone gets to accomplish everything on their bucket list. Heart disease and stroke represent some of the leading killers in the U.S. and Canada. High cholesterol puts you at an increased risk of developing one of these two conditions. Whether you are at low, moderate, or high risk of developing heart disease, the goal is to reduce your LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) by at least 50%.
You can calculate your heart disease risk yourself or ask your doctor about your risk at your next visit. In general, people are classified into 3 risk groups. Do you know where you stand? Take a look, and study up… because with something like cholesterol, prevention is key!
- low risk: Less than 10% risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that less than 10 out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
- moderate risk: 10% to 19% risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that 10 to 19 out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
- high risk: 20% or greater risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that 20 or more out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
Does Green Tea Trim “Bad” Cholesterol?
November 21, 2011 § 3 Comments
Whether its consumed in a liquid form or taken from a capsule, studies are showing that green tea may shave a few points off “bad” cholesterol readings, according to a U.S. study.
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and showed that green tea trimmed 5 to 6 points more from people’s total cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol levels than dummy capsules or other treatments.
Common Myths About Multivitamins
October 26, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Via Fox News Latino
It’s a huge industry, often driven by misinformation. In my first article, I started a list of eight myths to watch out for when it comes to getting the right vitamins and minerals inside you. Here are the remaining six red flags to keep in mind.
1. Is liquid form is better than a tablet?
According to Tod Cooperman, MD, and president of http://www.consumerlab.com, the form does usually not matter.
“You can do your own test on tablets at home. Put tablets in warm vinegar—swish it around—keep it warm for 30-45 minutes—most of the pills should break apart. If they don’t, the product may not be delivering what it promises,” he says.
The test is only for regular pills, not for chewables, time-release or enteric-coated pills.
When you buy them—check best-by date—make sure you use up the content of the bottle by the time you reach that date. The best to store is in cool, dry place away from sun. However, fish oil/probiotic should be refrigerated.
Susan B. Dopart, MS,RD, C.D.E, author of the book A Recipe for Life, http://www.susandopart.com/store/, also advises not to fall in the trap of the “natural” and “synthetic” claims
“If a vitamin supplement were truly ‘natural,’ it would cost so much than no one could afford to buy it,” she says. « Read the rest of this entry »
Snacks That Give You Energy: Day 3
August 31, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Here’s another great tasting, lightweight snack that can provide that much needed mid-afternoon energy boost. Pumpkin seeds are packed with minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium, vitamin K and protein. These seeds will be sure to satisfy that craving for a crunch when you need a boost. Pumpkin seeds are much lighter than nuts, Kimberly Snyder suggests trying a quarter of a cup of them in the afternoon a few hours after lunch, especially if you are working out after work or have a long stretch before dinner.
Source: Kimberly Snyder
What’s the Cause of Mid-Afternoon Slump?
August 23, 2011 § 2 Comments
Most of us are familiar with that mid-afternoon lull that seems to set in around 3 pm. Why is it that our energy level seems to drop so low?
Did you know that a mid-afternoon slump, feelings of irritability, and a down-in-the-dumps sensation may be caused in part by eating not-so-smart foods at not-so-smart times of the day? Your food choices impact how you feel in a number of different ways. One bodily process which is impacted by the foods we eat is neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals which are made from amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. If you limit the amount and types of protein in your diet, or over-eat concentrated sweets and other simple carbohydrates, the balance of neurotransmitters in your body may be affected. Following these tips can help prevent the afternoon slump:
- limit sugary desserts, jams, jellies and sodas to only occasional treats.
- Remember to eat complex carbohydrates along with protein-containing foods at meals and snacks.
- Eat every 3 or 4 hours.
Over the next 10 days I will be featuring one of these smart foods a day; stay tuned for the next one a bit later today!
Don’t Neglect Your Joints!
June 28, 2011 § Leave a Comment
As a fairly avid runner, I’ve experienced a significant amount of joint and knee pain in the past few years; this has triggered my interest on the issue of joint health and how to minimize damage through exercise. The best way to maintain joint health is to keep moving. This is because joints need movement to get the fluids with the necessary nutrients that they require.
Elisa Brenner, who holds a Masters in Nutrition Therapy and is founder of Silver Nutrition LLC, explains that one of the most important minerals for the joints is silicone, which repairs and renews them. Consuming more lettuce, buckwheat, millet, oats, brown rice and strawberries will result in great benefit to the joints.
One point that I found interesting is that joints would be the exact same as bones if not for the cartilage that provides cushion to keep them sliding without a problem. The main component of cartilage is vitamin C, therefore you should be sure to include oranges, grapefruits, kiwi, and sweet peppers to your diet to ensure that you are receiving proper levels of vitamin C.
Make sure to pay attention to swelling of the joints. If you overdo it and cause strain on the body, there’s a good chance that your muscles will be sore along with your joints. It’s essential to get rid of inflammation naturally before going to anti-inflamatories, which prevent the remodeling process the muscles need to become stronger. Start by adding salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds for a healthy dose of Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet. Likewise try to avoid pro-inflammatory foods such as sunflower, corn, and soybean oils if you struggle with pains from inflammation.
Magnesium Foot Bath (via Novasans)
June 26, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Magnesium foot bath therapy is a powerful hydrotherapy treatment drawing toxins from the tissues and restores cellular magnesium to an optimal level. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, and is also essential for good health. Magnesium is crucial for the natural self-cleansing and detoxification process of our body. It is also vital for the nervous and endocrine system, helping to maintain normal muscle and nerve functions, support a healthy immune system and to keep the bones strong. … Read More
via Novasans
Brain Foods That Boost Concentration
June 14, 2011 § 1 Comment
We’ve all heard it said that certain foods can give the brain that extra boost to help improve focus, memory retention, and concentration. I found this list of “brain foods” to be especially informative and helpful:
- Sugar can enhance alertness. This is referring to glucose, not table sugar. Glucose is your brain’s preferred fuel source and is why a sweet drink can offer a short-term memory boost!
- Eat breakfast! Studies show that eating breakfast can improve memory and attention span. To maximize its benefits, try to eat a high fiber breakfast and include a dose of dairy and fruit.
- Fish really is brain food. Rich in omega 3 fatty acides, which are linked to lowering dementia and stroke risks, fish is associated with a healthy brain boost!
- Add a daily dose of nuts and chocolate. This one shouldn’t take too much arm twisting! Nuts and seeds are a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E, which prevents cognitive decline through aging. Dark chocolate also has powerful antioxidants and contains natural stimulants to enhance focus and concentration.
- Add avocados and whole grains. Eating a diet full of whole grains and fruis like avocados can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower bad cholesterol. This reduces plaque buildup and enhances blood flow, offering a simple way to boost brain activity.
