For many of us in the midwest, summer is the time of year when we get back into shape. In the winter we tend to be sedate and overeat. If you are not in good shape or in poor health you must be careful when getting out and moving. Take it slow. If you are concerned about how it may affect you, please by all means go talk to your DR. first.
Here are some simple steps to help you ease back into activities in the summer.
1. Start out by walking, two or three times per week for 15 minutes, gradually extend your time and speed as you feel comfortable.
2. Go for a swim but never do it alone. Swimming is a great way to get moving and is less stressful on your joints. Try doing this one or two times a week.
3. Begin a lighter diet, eat less carbos and more protein, but try to balance the two. Less carbos such as bread and baked goods, but more veggies and whole grains. Less cheese but more turkey and chicken. Salads and fruit instead of bread and rolls.
4. Stretch daily, this is important all year round.
5. Always use sunscreen when you go outside even if it is only for 10 minutes.
6. Drink lots of water, at least 8-8 oz glasses a day.
In conclusion, remember that when it is very hot and humid you are losing water quickly and your chances of dehydration are very high. Always have water with you on walks or working outdoors.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Almost Spring
It has been awhile since my last post, mostly due to nothing new or interesting to talk about. Lately since the weather has gotten warmer I find my energy level increasing and my mind waking up from the deep winter freeze.
This will be the first spring in my new house. My husband has lived here since March 09, myself and Travis since the end of June. Before moving here I lived in a very small house with a small yard and no ambition to work outside. Now I find myself excited about getting out there as soon as I can and cleaning up the last remnants of fall that were buried in snow. I plan on removing the black lava rock in all the flower beds and replacing it with colorful river rock. Our yard is so beautiful and simple there is very little I want to change. There is that icky plastic edging along the flower beds and trees that I want to get rid of and put brick borders there instead.
I have been playing with the idea of planting a veggie garden. The neighbors behind us have a magnificent yard with flower and vegetable gardens in the summer. Honestly when you look out from our patio it looks like a park here. All of our neighbors take great pride in their homes and yards.
I feel blessed to have a beautiful home in a very nice neighborhood. That's about it, until next time. Take care!
This will be the first spring in my new house. My husband has lived here since March 09, myself and Travis since the end of June. Before moving here I lived in a very small house with a small yard and no ambition to work outside. Now I find myself excited about getting out there as soon as I can and cleaning up the last remnants of fall that were buried in snow. I plan on removing the black lava rock in all the flower beds and replacing it with colorful river rock. Our yard is so beautiful and simple there is very little I want to change. There is that icky plastic edging along the flower beds and trees that I want to get rid of and put brick borders there instead.
I have been playing with the idea of planting a veggie garden. The neighbors behind us have a magnificent yard with flower and vegetable gardens in the summer. Honestly when you look out from our patio it looks like a park here. All of our neighbors take great pride in their homes and yards.
I feel blessed to have a beautiful home in a very nice neighborhood. That's about it, until next time. Take care!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Good news about coffee
A perfect day for me begins when I wake up next to my wonderful husband, he says "good morning my love" I give him a kiss and get out of bed,make coffee, prepare fresh juice for everyone and greet sleepy eyed kids. That first taste of fresh brewed coffee is like a warm hug. Over the years there have been alot written about whether or not coffee is good or bad for you. I have always thought it was good for us, but now I am sure it is. Here is the article from Naturalnews.com about the benefits of coffee.
NaturalNews) Patients coming to the Whitaker Wellness Institute sometimes express surprise that we serve coffee. Doesn't it increase the body's acidity? Aren't health-conscious people supposed to drink tea instead? Isn't caffeine bad for you?
If coffee were harmful, then every morning emergency rooms around the world would be choked with people suffering the ill effects of our favorite breakfast beverage. Of course, this isn't the case. Coffee is not harmful. On the contrary, I consider it to be a health food, and hundreds of studies bear this out.
From Protection Against Parkinson's...
Research shows that drinking coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease by as much as 80 percent and protects against other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. It increases insulin sensitivity, and a high intake- at least six cups a day- lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 54 percent in men and 30 percent in women.
Coffee improves concentration and alertness, boosts mood, and decreases suicide risk. In fact, just the smell of coffee relieves stress in animals. This popular drink also controls asthma and can even halt a full-blown attack in its tracks. Additionally, coffee can stop migraine headaches, curb appetite, prevent tooth decay, and increase the effectiveness of aspirin and other analgesics (Anacin and Excedrin both contain caffeine). And if you drink it before working out, your endurance will improve and you'll have less exercise-induced muscle pain.
...to Increased Longevity
Compared to people who avoid coffee, those who drink at least two cups a day are 80 percent less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver (even if they drink a lot of alcohol), half as likely to have gallstones, and 25 percent less apt to get colon cancer. Coffee is also protective against cancer of the liver and kidneys, and although it's long been suspected of increasing risk of breast cancer, a recent study spanning 22 years and involving nearly 86,000 women found a weak inverse association between the two in postmenopausal females.
Finally, coffee may even increase longevity. A large 2008 study found that drinking up to six cups of regular or decaffeinated coffee daily is associated with a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer, and other causes.
What Makes Coffee So Healthful?
So what is it in coffee that provides such remarkable benefits? First, that cup of java is a terrific source of protective antioxidants. Researchers evaluating both the antioxidant levels of various foods and drinks and the frequency with which those items are consumed have found that the average amount of coffee consumed by American adults per day- 1.64 cups- provides 1,299 mg of antioxidants. Tea, the second richest source, supplied only 294 mg, followed by antioxidant-rich (but sparingly eaten) fruits and vegetables, which provide fewer than 75 mg each of antioxidants per day. Believe it or not, coffee even contains fiber- nearly 2 g per cup.
But these aren't the only components that make coffee a health food. Although some studies reveal that regular and decaffeinated coffee both have benefits, oft-maligned caffeine gives the drink much of its oomph. In addition to perking up the nervous system, caffeine increases the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine and enhances delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and brain.
So, the next time you feel like a cup of Joe, indulge yourself. It's a good way to boost your mood, your energy, and your overall health.
Reference
Schardt D. Caffeine: The good, the bad, and the maybe. Nutrition Action Healthletter. March 2008.
NaturalNews) Patients coming to the Whitaker Wellness Institute sometimes express surprise that we serve coffee. Doesn't it increase the body's acidity? Aren't health-conscious people supposed to drink tea instead? Isn't caffeine bad for you?
If coffee were harmful, then every morning emergency rooms around the world would be choked with people suffering the ill effects of our favorite breakfast beverage. Of course, this isn't the case. Coffee is not harmful. On the contrary, I consider it to be a health food, and hundreds of studies bear this out.
From Protection Against Parkinson's...
Research shows that drinking coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease by as much as 80 percent and protects against other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. It increases insulin sensitivity, and a high intake- at least six cups a day- lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 54 percent in men and 30 percent in women.
Coffee improves concentration and alertness, boosts mood, and decreases suicide risk. In fact, just the smell of coffee relieves stress in animals. This popular drink also controls asthma and can even halt a full-blown attack in its tracks. Additionally, coffee can stop migraine headaches, curb appetite, prevent tooth decay, and increase the effectiveness of aspirin and other analgesics (Anacin and Excedrin both contain caffeine). And if you drink it before working out, your endurance will improve and you'll have less exercise-induced muscle pain.
...to Increased Longevity
Compared to people who avoid coffee, those who drink at least two cups a day are 80 percent less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver (even if they drink a lot of alcohol), half as likely to have gallstones, and 25 percent less apt to get colon cancer. Coffee is also protective against cancer of the liver and kidneys, and although it's long been suspected of increasing risk of breast cancer, a recent study spanning 22 years and involving nearly 86,000 women found a weak inverse association between the two in postmenopausal females.
Finally, coffee may even increase longevity. A large 2008 study found that drinking up to six cups of regular or decaffeinated coffee daily is associated with a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer, and other causes.
What Makes Coffee So Healthful?
So what is it in coffee that provides such remarkable benefits? First, that cup of java is a terrific source of protective antioxidants. Researchers evaluating both the antioxidant levels of various foods and drinks and the frequency with which those items are consumed have found that the average amount of coffee consumed by American adults per day- 1.64 cups- provides 1,299 mg of antioxidants. Tea, the second richest source, supplied only 294 mg, followed by antioxidant-rich (but sparingly eaten) fruits and vegetables, which provide fewer than 75 mg each of antioxidants per day. Believe it or not, coffee even contains fiber- nearly 2 g per cup.
But these aren't the only components that make coffee a health food. Although some studies reveal that regular and decaffeinated coffee both have benefits, oft-maligned caffeine gives the drink much of its oomph. In addition to perking up the nervous system, caffeine increases the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine and enhances delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and brain.
So, the next time you feel like a cup of Joe, indulge yourself. It's a good way to boost your mood, your energy, and your overall health.
Reference
Schardt D. Caffeine: The good, the bad, and the maybe. Nutrition Action Healthletter. March 2008.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A disturbing article about Provac
I have always felt that drugs like Prozac are "bad" I recently discovered Naturalnews.com a great website that isn't afraid to expose all the unhealthy goings-on. I also discovered they have a face book page and while reading comments from fans saw this article. It is quite disturbing..
Scientific studies proving that Prozac encourages psychopathic behavior and suicidal tendencies in young people are voluminous. Red Lake High School killer was on Prozac. "The Uni bomber", Michael McDermott, John Hinckley, Jr., Byran Uyesugi, Mark David Chapman and Charles Carl Roberts IV, the Amish school killer, were all on SSRI Psychotropic Drugs
Our media does not report that killer,Steven Kazmierczak, Northern Illinois University shootings, had been taking Psychotropic Drugs. Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, as well as 15-year-old Kip Kinkel, the Oregon killer who gunned down his parents and classmates, and Cho Seung Hui, the Virginia Tech killer, were all on Psychotropic Drugs.
This is an ever-repeating story in America. Everyone seems befuddled each time like it will never happen again and it must have been a failed school system, a bad parent video games or perhaps an odd song. While these may be contributing factors, we should be open to investigating all possible causes. Our US "News" media never whispers any hint of possibility of side effects of these legal drugs being a possible part of the cause.
Imagine a cocktail of these drugs in American "troubled teens" and prisoners. This is common in our vastly over-medicated American society. The problem is often combined with other seemingly harmless drugs that often have serious confusion and violence producing side effects. Many people take 5 or more medications at the same time. This is considered a good thing in the US.
Add this to a population who are missing critical components of their diets. UK Prisons are cutting violent behaviour by a third by simply correcting that deficiency. These are in placebo controlled double blind studies conducted right now with Oxford College. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/prison-...
Scientific studies proving that Prozac encourages psychopathic behavior and suicidal tendencies in young people are voluminous. Red Lake High School killer was on Prozac. "The Uni bomber", Michael McDermott, John Hinckley, Jr., Byran Uyesugi, Mark David Chapman and Charles Carl Roberts IV, the Amish school killer, were all on SSRI Psychotropic Drugs
Our media does not report that killer,Steven Kazmierczak, Northern Illinois University shootings, had been taking Psychotropic Drugs. Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, as well as 15-year-old Kip Kinkel, the Oregon killer who gunned down his parents and classmates, and Cho Seung Hui, the Virginia Tech killer, were all on Psychotropic Drugs.
This is an ever-repeating story in America. Everyone seems befuddled each time like it will never happen again and it must have been a failed school system, a bad parent video games or perhaps an odd song. While these may be contributing factors, we should be open to investigating all possible causes. Our US "News" media never whispers any hint of possibility of side effects of these legal drugs being a possible part of the cause.
Imagine a cocktail of these drugs in American "troubled teens" and prisoners. This is common in our vastly over-medicated American society. The problem is often combined with other seemingly harmless drugs that often have serious confusion and violence producing side effects. Many people take 5 or more medications at the same time. This is considered a good thing in the US.
Add this to a population who are missing critical components of their diets. UK Prisons are cutting violent behaviour by a third by simply correcting that deficiency. These are in placebo controlled double blind studies conducted right now with Oxford College. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/prison-...
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year!
I am 46 years old remembering when I was about 12 or 13 and thinking about when it would be the year 2000. It seemed like it would be forever until we hit that year back then. Now it is 2010, and It seems like time is racing by faster and faster each year. I am going to spend some time reflecting on 2009, looking back and examining it well. It was a good year but what exactly made it good? I have never really done that before, reflecting that is, on a prior year. My intuition is telling me that I should so I shall. I wonder if it is something that we all should do and if so how will it affect how 2010 will be? The hardest part will be remembering it all. I highly doubt I can but I can concentrate on the events that stand out in my mind. Why don't you give it a try and let me know how it goes? May 2010 be a year filled with love, laughter and enlightenment. Happy New Year!
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