Archive for the ‘Weight Loss’ Category

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Having Low Cholesterol Can Ward Off Prostate Cancer

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

According to a recent report put out by MSNBC.com new studies show that many men may be able to lower their risk of acquiring the most aggressive form of prostate cancer if they keep their cholesterol levels in a healthy range.

The report states that men whose cholesterol was under 200 had less than half the risk of developing high-grade prostate tumors compared to men with high cholesterol. This information comes from about 6,000 men who participated in a federal cancer prevention study.

While having high cholesterol is typically a consequence of aging, young people are not in the clear either. Luckily there are preventive measures that anyone can do to help lower their cholesterol levels.

In fact, with simple lifestyle modifications — and, if necessary, drug therapy — people often see significant reductions in cholesterol within six weeks.

There are four basic ways to help maintain a healthy cholesterol level:

1. Eat a Healthy Diet- One of the first things to do when trying to lower cholesterol is to take in less saturated fat and eat more smart fats. Try substituting canola oil or olive oil for vegetable oil, butter, margarine and substitute meat for fish. Fruits and vegetables, including whole grains, are good sources of heart-healthy antioxidants but also cholesterol-lowering dietary fiber.

2. Exercise- In addition to lowering LDL or bad cholesterol, regular physical activity can raise HDL or good cholesterol by up to 10%. Even more benefits can be acquired with moderate exercise. Try getting a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. And try to at least fit in a regimen of brisk walking at least five days a week.

3. Quit Smoking- Smoking lowers levels of HDL or good cholesterol and is a major risk factor for heart disease. So if you haven’t already, try to stop this unhealthy habit.

4. Consider Medication- According to WebMD lifestyle modifications are important, but the benefits of medication, when appropriate, should also be considered. Several types of cholesterol-lowering medication are available, including niacin, bile acid resins, and fibrates. But statins are the treatment of choice for most individuals and can lower LDL cholesterol by 20% to 50%.

Some people will need to implement only one of these, while others may require a combination of these tips to help regulate their cholesterol.

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Back to School: Planning Healthy Lunches for Your Child

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Your child’s healthy lunch doesn’t begin at noon when they join their friends at the cafeteria and sit down to enjoy their meal. Instead, a healthy lunch begins with the trip to the grocery store to purchase the best foods to create a nutritious and well-balanced lunch.

Supermarkets are filled with nutritious choices nowadays and by enlisting the help of your child when shopping for their lunch foods, he or she can learn how to make the best choices as they grow up and create meals of their own. Be sure to check out the following areas of your supermarket and your child’s lunch will not only be filled with great tasting foods, but it will also create a healthy lunch.

• The Produce Section: The produce section is always a good place to start when it comes to a healthy lunch. Choosing fruits and vegetables that your child enjoys and even some they may have never tried is a great idea and is always a good place to find those important vitamins and minerals that every child needs.

• The Drink Aisle: While many children would love to enjoy a sugary soft drink with their lunch, a better option is a 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, low-fat milk, water or lightly sweetened tea instead. Be a label reader and avoid juices with high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and artificial flavors.

• The Bakery Section: According to Nutrition.about.com, sandwiches are a popular choice for school lunches but instead of white bread try whole grain bread, wraps or pitas. If your child resists whole grain breads, use bread that is made with whole grain but still has the flavor and texture of white bread.

• The Dairy Section: The dairy section is also an area where you can find some great foods. Try low-fat dairy options, like cottage cheese, string cheese and yogurt.

• The Snack Food Aisle: Many parents would avoid this aisle completely, but there are still some great lunch items that can be found in the snack food aisle. Be on the lookout for baked and not fried snacks, avoid Tran’s fats, choose whole-wheat over non-whole grain snacks, and grab some all natural granola bars that offer whole grains, nuts and pieces of fruit all in one snack.

Here are some other ideas for healthy snacks that you can easily send your child to school with:

• Send a salad in a small plastic container. Keep the dressing on the side in a separate smaller container.
• Cheese sticks go well with sandwiches and are a good source of calcium.
• Whole grain snack crackers add a nice crunch and lots of healthy fiber.
• Make a fruit salad with grapes, melons chunks, and blueberries.
• Dried fruit, like raisins, dried cranberries or banana chips
• Nuts like almonds, cashews, or walnuts
• Pack a cold pasta salad, cole slaw, or potato salad.
• Baby carrots with a small container of vegetable dip
• Crunchy raw green beans with a small container of ranch or French onion dip
• Prepackaged, flavored low-fat yogurt

Just by paying some attention to the labels and what is going into your child’s lunch each day; your child will have the nutrition and energy necessary to get through his or her day, the healthy way.

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Spruce Up Your Exercise Routine: What to Get and What to Ditch for a Switch in Your Regimen

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Now is the perfect time to change up some of those old worn-out items and routines that you have been stuck with for so long in exchange for a spruced up exercise routine. Changing things up not only keeps them fresh for you (which in turn helps you stick to them) but also benefits your body.

This is a handy list of “what to ditch” to make the exercise switch:

Get rid of that cheap pedometer- Instead buy a good $20 one that counts accurate steps; cheaper pedometers are highly inaccurate.

Ditch the old running shoes- Instead opt for a new pair and keep track of how much “mileage” you get out of them. Typically if you run/walk 10 miles per week then shoes can last for 12 months (15 miles – 8 months, 20 miles – 6 months, 30 miles – 4 months).

Throw out the old cotton workout t-shirt- Instead invest in some shirts that are made of wicking fabrics. Wicking fabrics (like synthetics) do a better job of keeping you drier and cooler when you are exercising.

Get an exercise ball- According to fitnessmagazine.com, exercise balls are good for developing balance and stability while making it easier to target specific trouble spots. It may be hard to not roll off at first, but once you get the hang of it there are a number of exercises that you can do on a fitness ball including pushups, squats and sit-ups.

Toss the lightweight dumbbells- Instead try heavier dumbbells that are more challenging in your workout. Making small changes and gradual increases in weight may not seem like a big deal but will make a difference in the effectiveness of your workouts.

Try a resistance band- Work out your chest, biceps, triceps, abs, and shoulders better by using resistance bands. With their varying levels of resistance and their extreme versatility, resistance bands are suited to most fitness programs and people of most ages. They add resistance and challenge to a normal fitness routine.

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Quick Fitness Fixes: Easy Ways to Fit Fitness In

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Tired of feeling like the path to health and wellness is a long, drawn out path? Then start small! Use these quick five minute fixes to boost your health and to reach your goals one step at a time!

• Wear a pedometer to determine the distance you walk each day. Shoot for 10,000 steps per day. If you aren’t reaching that goal, add an extra mile to your routine or take the steps instead of the escalator whenever possible.

• Add jumping to your exercise routine – also known as plyometric moves – to build muscle and improve your bone density. Try jump squats or scissor lunges in your next routine.

• Spend the extra money to purchase good work out necessities – clothing, shoes, bras, supports, etc. Purchasing the better brands versus going the cheaper route will ensure that you use them and that they are the best for your workout.

• Edgeboston.com says to break up your workouts into 10 minute spurts. Daily recommendation is at least 30 minutes a day of moderately intense exercise, but it doesn’t have to all be done at once. Any sort of physical activity counts as exercise, and little bits of it throughout the day really add up.

• Don’t be a creature of habit. Switch up your routines, walking routes, gym machines and even what days you do specific workouts. Change is good when it comes to exercise and fitness.

• Consider the other ways that you can lose weight without really trying – clean the house and burn 200 calories or work in the garden and burn 272 calories.

• Even if you have to travel or spend all day in a car or on a plane, still try to fit in physical activity. Take advantage of bathroom breaks by stretching and doing some light exercise. Walk briskly through the airport in between flights if traveling by plane.

• Use downtime- Readersdigest.com suggests that anytime you’re cooling your heels during the day-waiting to meet a companion at the mall or staring at the download bar- look for opportunities to take a short walk, do toe raises or perform some other physical movement.

• Yoga has many healthy benefits for your body and your mind. Even if you are a novice, take a class and try something different.

• Work out with your significant other or a friend or family member. This allows you to be a spotting partner for one another or just spend some quality time together working out.

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Managing Stress by Choosing Stress-Fighting Foods

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

STRESS. We all deal with it at some point in our lives. But having too much stress in your life can be very harmful to your health and can make you more vulnerable to everything from colds to high blood pressure and even heart disease.

Stress management is a valuable tool to learn when it comes to your overall wellness. While there are many ways to cope with stress, eating stress-fighting foods is one good way to start. From boosting serotonin levels to lowering stress hormones, there are a number of foods that actually counteract the impact of stress on our lives.
According to MSNBC, there are three nutrients that have the ability to soothe your nerves including Folic acid, a B vitamin that enhances mood; Vitamin B-12, which boosts your energy; antioxidants such as Vitamins C, E, and the mineral selenium, which help to repair damage to cells caused by stress.

The following foods should be part of your diet for stress management:

Complex Carbohydrates: All carbohydrates give a signal to the brain to produce that “feel good” chemical, serotonin. To keep a steady flow of serotonin, dieticians suggest complex carbs like whole grain cereals, breads and pastas and oatmeal.

Oranges: Because they are a wealth of vitamin C, studies show that oranges are great stress-busting foods, as well as a great immune system strengthener. Experts suggest taking 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C before a stressful event.

Spinach: It’s the magnesium in spinach that helps to regulate cortisol levels that particularly get depleted when we are in stressful situations. Not enough magnesium can trigger headaches, adding to stressful situations. One cup of spinach is the recommended amount, as the magnesium goes a long way. Can’t do spinach? Try cooked soy beans or salmon instead, for the same effects.

Fatty Fish: Omega-3 fatty acids are important to prevent surges in stress hormones, as well as protect against heart disease. Try fatty fish like salmon or tuna for your Omega-3’s.

Black Tea: Good for lowering levels of cortisol following stressful events, many experts swear by the healing powers of black tea. Black tea helps you to recover quickly following stresses and helps you to remain calm.

Pistachios: Chosen for their ability to soften the pre- and post-effects of stress, experts suggest eating a handful of pistachios every day to help lower blood pressure so it won’t spike when faced with stressful situations.

Avocados: Another great high blood pressure reducing food is avocados, due to their potassium content. Half of an avocado has more potassium than a medium-sized banana. Additionally, avocados, in guacamole form, are a great and nutritious treat when stress has you craving snack foods.

Almonds: Chock full of vitamins, like vitamin E and a range of B vitamins, almonds are a great treat to eat that help with resiliency when dealing with stress.

Raw Vegetables: In a purely mechanical way, crunching on raw vegetables can help to alleviate stress. By releasing your clenched jaw and possibly warding off headaches, chomping your carrots, celery and other veggies is beneficial on many levels.

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Eat your Leafy Greens! The Health Benefits of Spinach

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Ever since we saw Popeye take out that can of spinach to make himself super strong, we have known about the nutritional benefits of spinach. But there are plenty of other benefits of spinach that maybe even Popeye was not aware of.

Leafy, green vegetables, like spinach, provide more nutrients than any other food. Researchers have found at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that have been known to act as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents.

According to MSNBC, spinach protects against eye disease and vision loss and is also good for brain function. It guards against colon, prostate, and breast cancers as well as heart disease, stroke, and dementia. It lowers blood pressure; is an anti-inflammatory; and is great for bone health.

Spinach has an amazing array of nutrients, including high amounts of vitamin K, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and iron. In addition, a carotenoid found in spinach not only kills prostate cancer cells, it also prevents them from multiplying. Folate promotes vascular health and has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing colorectal, ovarian, and breast cancers and to help stop uncontrolled cell growth, one of the primary characteristics of all cancers.

The vitamin C and beta-carotene in spinach protect against colon cancer in addition to fighting inflammation, making them key components of brain health, particularly in older adults. Spinach is loaded with vitamin K and is also rich in lutein, which protects against age-related macular degeneration, and it may help prevent heart attacks by keeping artery walls clear of cholesterol buildup.

With this laundry list of health benefits, it’s no wonder why fresh spinach should be a daily staple in your diet. It’s easy to find year-round so do yourself a healthy favor and aim for a few ounces, raw or steamed, every day. Cooked spinach is a great source of iron, and is totally fat free.

So maybe Popeye was really onto something…

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Making the Most of your Summer: Why Not Give These Outdoor Activities a Whirl?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Walking, swimming, and playing outdoor sports are all great ways to get your daily amount of exercise, but why not try some new outdoor activities this summer? According to MSNBC, recreational pursuits such as biking, hiking and inline skating allow you to reap up to six times more fat-blasting and body-shaping benefits that cruising around the neighborhood on foot.

Mix up your routine by trying one or more of the following exhilarating activities and enjoy the weather while it lasts while achieving a firmer and fitter body by September.

• Rock climbing: Although this sport requires the assistance of a professional, most people do not realize the amount of physical strength it takes to participate in rock climbing. Find an experienced rock climber in your area, and give it a shot. Before you know it, you’ll get the “hang” of it and will wonder why it took you this long to try it out.

• Inline skating: Not only does inline skating getting you around more quickly it is also a fun and different way to sculpt your buns and thighs without pounding your knees. Skating is much less jarring than other high-intensity sports like jogging. It’s also a way to relax and empty your mind while burning nearly 800 calories an hour. Try practicing in your driveway or an empty parking lot to start out with. You may also want to check out your local inline skating resource center for route ideas and trails.

• Water skiing: While water skiing is a sport that you may need to work up to, there is no time like the present to give it a try. Water skiing is a fun water sport, where you use a wide variety of muscles to participate in it and therefore it is a great summertime sport for someone looking for something new to try out.

• Snorkeling: If you are heading to the beach or if you live at the beach, pick up a mask and snorkel and get ready for a good time and a great exercise. Not only will you see some pretty amazing things below the water’s surface, but you will also be getting a great aerobic workout without even realizing it.

• Kayaking: For those of you who live by bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, or oceans, kayaking is a challenging yet peaceful way to experience the earth and get a good workout as well. Kayaking can burn up to 340 calories per hour and helps to sculpt your upper body by the resistance created by pulling the paddle against the water. It also works your shoulders, triceps, biceps, back and core. Beginners should use an open kayak and take a lesson or two to learn how to escape from the kayak before taking it to open waters. While kayaking make sure to take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

• Yoga and Pilates: Not all summertime sports have to be extreme summertime sports. Instead, buy a book or take a class on yoga and/or pilates and get started on your own path to holistic healing and exercise. Yoga and pilates can be done in the comforts of your home or your gym, but it can also be done outdoors where nature itself will serve as your calming background.

• Yard sports: Not all outdoor exercises or sports have to be organized. Shooting hoops with your family, friends or neighbors is a great way to get your exercise outdoors. Play a game of wiffleball or baseball with the neighborhood. Pick up a tennis racket and hit the local courts. Any outdoor sport that keeps your heart rate up and keeps you moving, is a great way to get your work out in.

So, whether you decide to take up a new hobby like water skiing or rock climbing, or if you and the local neighborhood kids have a pick-up game of wiffleball or kick ball, there are plenty of ways to get your exercise in and still enjoy your summer.

Remember to drink lots of water and keep hydrated in whatever outdoor exercise you take part in and have a good time outdoors!

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You Say Tomato…Unique Facts Regarding this Remarkable Food

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Until the 1800s, tomatoes were considered toxic, but since then tomatoes have been a staple of many people’s diet, and rightfully so … whether you consider it a vegetable or a fruit, it is very beneficial.

Besides containing 40 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, it also contains 15 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, 8 percent of your daily value of potassium, and 7 percent of your recommended dietary allowance of iron for women and 10 percent for men. In addition as a source of fiber, one medium tomato equals one slice of whole wheat bread with only 35 calories.

According to Homecooking.about.com, Lycopene, a dietary carotenoid found in high concentrations in tomatoes as well as processed tomato products, including ketchup and canned tomato products, is what gives tomatoes their red pigment. It is an antioxidant which purportedly fights the free radicals that can interfere with normal cell growth and activity. These free radicals can potentially lead to cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

A recent study has also shown that men who eat at least 10 servings of tomatoes a week can reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by a whopping 45 percent.

The tomato is native to western South America and Central America. In 1519, Cortez discovered tomatoes growing in Montezuma’s gardens and brought seeds back to Europe where they were planted as ornamental curiosities, but not eaten. A member of the deadly nightshade family, tomatoes were erroneously thought to be poisonous (although the leaves are poisonous) by Europeans who were suspicious of their bright, shiny fruit.

The French referred to the tomato as pommes d’amour, or love apples, as they thought them to have stimulating aphrodisiacal properties. Centuries later in 1897, soup mogul Joseph Campbell came out with condensed tomato soup, a move that set the company on the road to wealth as well as further endearing the tomato to the general public.

There are thousands of varieties of tomatoes in an array of shapes, colors and sizes. The most common shapes are round (Beefsteak and globe), pear-shaped (Roma) and the tiny cherry-sized (Cherry and Grape). Yellow varieties tend to be less acidic and thus less flavorful than their red counterparts. In the United States today, tomatoes are second in consumption only to potatoes.

When choosing the perfect tomato, use your nose. Smell the blossom (not the stem) end. The most flavorful ones will have a rich tomato aroma. Also be sure to choose one with a brilliant shade of red, as those tomatoes contain more betacarotene and lycopene giving you the most vitamins and minerals. Store fresh ripe tomatoes in a cool dark place, making sure it’s stem-side down and use within a few days.

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Foods that Boost Metabolism and Help Lose Weight

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

It may be true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but there are plenty of foods out there that are beneficial to you in more ways than one – including speeding up your metabolism.

According to MSNBC, metabolism is the process by which your body converts calories from food into energy. It is the body’s engine that burns calories and regulates your caloric needs. The foods you eat play a major role in the way your body metabolizes fat. Some foods contain certain ingredients that help to burn calories more quickly, while also giving you other vital fuels that you need to increase energy levels, and prevent diseases later in life. There are also certain foods that require more calories to digest than the food actually contains, which can essentially speed up your metabolism.

Below are a few food suggestions provided by Ehow.com that can boost metabolism and encourage weight loss.

• Spicy Foods- An interesting and effective way to boost your metabolism is to eat spicy foods. Spicy foods and spices, such as chili peppers and jalapeno peppers, contain the chemical capsaicin, which is what gives these foods their heat. Capsaicin increases and quickens adrenaline production in the body, which speeds up your basal metabolic rate, or BMR. Try eating spicy salsa, which gives you a lot of flavor without a lot of calories.

• Carbs & Protein- Eating snacks that contain healthy carbohydrates and proteins will help boost energy and fill you up, so you can avoid overeating during meals. Eating these types of snacks in small portions will keep your metabolism going throughout the day, burning fat and increasing energy. Try snacking on peanut butter with a sliced banana, and apples dipped in peanut butter or paired with a few slices of cheddar cheese.

• Green Tea- Green tea contains large amounts of the powerful antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. The oxidation process that occurs in green tea helps break down fat more quickly, while also helping to prevent cancer and heart disease. EGCG also promotes faster workings in the brain and nervous system, so the body burns more calories. If you don’t like to drink green tea, they also sell caplets in health food stores.

• B Vitamins- B vitamins have major benefits for many parts of the body: the central nervous system, metabolism and the production of energy. A vitamin B deficiency will cause your metabolism to slow down, your mood to become depressed and your body to feel tired and sluggish. B6, B12, thiamine, folate and niacin play major roles in the healthy function of your body. Snack on foods such as spinach, broccoli and asparagus; navy, soy and black beans; and melon, fish, poultry and eggs. In order to work these into your day, snack on cut-up honeydew or cantaloupe, a hard-boiled egg, a few pieces of sushi, or tortilla chips and a mixed bean dip.

• Magnesium- Magnesium is a mineral that plays a key role in more than 300 chemical reactions in your body and contributes greatly to the synthesis of protein and metabolism. It also assists in proper nerve, heart and muscle function. To increase your levels of metabolism, eat green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli; soybeans such as edamame; nuts, such as almonds, cashews and peanuts; and whole grain cereals, including oatmeal.

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Choosing the Perfect Gym for Your Fitness Needs

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

We all know that exercise is good for us and that one of the best places that we can utilize in order to get in shape is the gym. So how do you know what gym is right for you? How do you choose between one gym and another?

According to MSNBC, with the wide variety of equipment and services offered at health clubs these days, choosing the right gym can take a lot of time and research. Some of the best tips can be gleaned from friends and associates; however, you need to personally inspect gyms in your area to find the one that will work best for you.

Fitness experts suggest the following pieces of advice that may help you when it comes time to choose the right gym for your needs:

• Location, location, location- Location is one key aspect in deciding what gym may work best for you. Chances are that if your gym isn’t close to your home or workplace, then it will became a hardship to you to try and get to the gym on a regular basis. Plus, there is always the benefit of saving gas money if you choose a gym that is relatively close to your home or office.

• Research the gym- Find out important details about each gym that you are considering starting your membership with. How much does it cost? What services do they offer that are included in your membership fees? Are lockers an additional cost? Is there a discount for seniors or students? Is there a cancellation or dropped membership fee? By asking the right questions you will find out everything you need to know about the gym before you hand over any money.

• Hours- Knowing the hours that the gym is open is a very important aspect of choosing a gym. If you would prefer to do your workout before work, then the gym you choose needs to be open prior to your work hours. If you would like to work out after work, the gym needs to be open later at night. Choosing the right time to go to the gym is important, as is whether or not the gym is extremely busy at this time. If you are constantly waiting around to use equipment because the gym is overcrowded at certain times, you may want to choose a different gym that is more accommodating or has more equipment.

• Comfort in the gym- When you enter the gym, do you feel comfortable with the way it is set up, the cleanliness of the gym and the way the other members act towards one another? If you are going to be spending your hard-earned money, then you need to feel comfortable in the gym. Cleanliness is also important and will let you know how the owners take care of the gym. How the other members of the gym interact is also important because you will be working out amongst these people and if you feel uncomfortable just being around the gym’s members, then you certainly won’t feel comfortable working out with these people.

• Trainers, machines, and classes- When choosing a gym finding out the experience of the trainers, testing out the equipment ahead of time and learning about the classes that the gym has to offer is also very important. The trainers will be there for you to help you with problems or with your workout, the equipment needs to be in the best condition possible and having a wide variety of classes in addition to great equipment will only motivate you to keep your exercises fresh and try different things.

• Look for a variety of equipment- If there’s a variety of cardio equipment available, you’re less likely to get bored and you’ll have the benefits of cross training. It’s also important to make sure that there are enough machines to guarantee you’ll have one when you want to work out, even during peak hours.

• Decide what is important to you- Think about what kind of facility that you want and what, if any, extras are important to you. For example on MSNBC they suggest that you consider if you would like a club that has a pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room. Will a simple set of weight machines and cardiovascular equipment do? Will you need child care? Do you want a juice bar? Etc.

• Take a trial run- The best way to find out whether a club is right for you is to try it out for a few days. Most clubs offer special passes for prospective members. It’s also a good idea to try the club out during the hours that you will be using it. If it’s too crowded when you would normally prefer to work out and you don’t like crowds then you may want to keep looking.

While this is only a starting point when you are choosing the gym that will best fit your needs, you need to consider a number of issues before you sign any contracts or pay any fees.

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