The Benefits of Walking

Here are some reasons to walk to make walking a part of your lifestyle:

1. It can reduce type 2 diabetes.
2. It can enhance your sex life.
3. Saves you money on the cost of gyms!
4. More likely to use less medication.
5. Can help decrease the pain of fibromyalgia.
6. Reduces stroke risk.
7. It can lower the risk of developing dementia!

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 3rd, 2012 |No Comments »

Top Hydrating Foods

It is so important to stay hydrated, especially now since the weather is warming up because summer is almost here! If you cannot drink your normal 8 glasses of water, there are other ways to intake your fluids! It is highly recommended that women over the age of 19 get 2.7 liters of fluids per day at least! This includes all fluids, not just water and the foods you ingest can be a part of it as well. Here are the top hydrating foods so if you’re trying to increase your intake on fluids then try these out!

Cucumbers
- Contains vitamin C and caffeic acid
- Soothes skin irritations and reduce swelling

Tomato Sauce
- Most are 90 percent water

Eggplant
- Excellent weight-loss food
- High in fiber and water
- Low in calories

Watermelon
- 92 percent water content
- Combinations of salts, minerals, and natural sugars in some fruits and veggies can hydrate more effectively than water or even some sport drinks.
- Watermelon is one of the fruits!

Pineapple
- Packed with bromelain, a mixture of compounds with potent anti-inflammatory powers

Some top hydrating foods with the benefits of the food (:

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 3rd, 2012 |No Comments »

5 Ways to Burn Fat

Here are five simple ways to burn fat and tone out your body! It won’t take much of your time either!

1. Windmill
Works your Abs

• Stand tall with arms extended out to sides.
• Bending from waist, reach right arm toward left toes; repeat on left.
• Do 25 reps, alternating sides.

2. Pulsing Lunge
Works your Butt and legs

• Lunge forward with right leg; hold for 4 seconds, then pulse up and down 5 times.
• Repeat on left.
• Do 2 reps.

3. Triceps Kickback
Works your Triceps

• Hold dumbbell in right hand.
• Bend at hips until almost parallel to floor.
• Bring elbow to ribs, straighten forearm back, and return.
• Do 15 reps on each arm.

4. Squat/Biceps Curl
Targets: Arms, butt, and legs

• Squat, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Do 8 reps.
• On last rep, stay down and do 10 biceps curls.

5. Plank/Push-Up
Targets: Chest and core

• Start in a plank position (palms on floor, hands below shoulders, abs engaged, back straight).
• Hold for 30 seconds. Drop to knees.
• Do 15 push-ups.

HAVE FUN!

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 3rd, 2012 |No Comments »

10 Best Foods for Your Heart

I’ve just recently read that heart disease is the number one killer for women in the United States. That is so scary. Here are some tasty  ways that we can keep our heart pumping longer!

Oatmeal
Contains a fiber called beta-glucan, which has been shown to reduce LDL. LDL is a bad cholesterol! Oatmeal also has a certain type of antioxidant which reduces free radicals from attacking the good cholesterol. Oatmeal also helps keep your arteries clear and contains calcium, omega-3’s and fiber, which have been proven to stabilize blood sugar. Just skip the instant oats, since they’re loaded with hidden sugars and sodium!

Salmon
Salmon is the premiere source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that the human body cannot produce on its own. Omega-3’s are known to minimize symptoms of inflammatory diseases and reduce blood pressure.

Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help lower bad cholesterol. They’re high in potassium, which can help ward off high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. They also contain a heart healthy fat that contains lycopene, a potential cancer-fighting agent.

Nuts
Like almonds and walnuts, they are full of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, a fat that’s mostly found in plant based foods and oils. They are also full of protein and omega-3’s, which are great for the heart. About a handful a day is enough to do the trick.

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 3rd, 2012 |No Comments »

Smoothies, a Great Quick and Easy Breakfast!

Why not drink a smoothie to just grab and go as you leave the house? Try not to go out and buy a smoothie because that contains a lot of sugar and calories! Here are some energizing homemade smoothie recipes! They are filled with protein, fiber and antioxidants!

Basic Smoothie

You can vary your flavors by mixing fruits and berries, adding a ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon or a ½ teaspoon of fresh finely grated ginger root. Try a combination of fresh and frozen fruit. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt for a rich, tanginess. You can even add a ½ cup of anti-oxidant packed chopped kale or Swiss chard leaves (stems removed).

  • 1 cup frozen or fresh fruit and/or berries (if you use all fresh fruit, add 2 ice cubes)
  • ½ cup nonfat, soy, or almond milk
  • ½ ripe banana (optional)

Blend until creamy.

Melon-Mint Smoothie

This non-dairy smoothie is especially refreshing in hot weather.

  • 2 cups melon (cantaloupe, honey dew, or watermelon, or any combination)
  • 3 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 teaspoons of honey
  • 2-4 ice cubes
  • squeeze of fresh lime juice

Place all ingredients except for lime in blender and blend until creamy. Add lime to taste.

Pina Colada Smoothie

  • ½ cup fresh pineapple, cubed
  • ½ cup non-fat milk
  • ¼ cup light unsweetened milk
  • ½ ripe banana
  • 2-4 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until creamy.

Enjoy!

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 3rd, 2012 |No Comments »

Yoga’s Health Benefits

For centuries, yoga experts have said that this ancient mind-body practice can do much more than keeping you fit and flexible. They were correct about that! Here is a list of the health benefits you could get if you do yoga!

  • Reduce lower back pain
  • Can make your heart healthier
  • Help weight loss and maintenance
  • Can calm the mind which can help insomnia
  • Alleviate serious anxiety and depression
  • Neutralizes the negative effects of stress
Published in:Uncategorized |on May 2nd, 2012 |No Comments »

5 Steps to a Summer Body

1. Cardio
Strengthen and show off your curves! Cardio can help boost your metabolism and your confidence!

2. Choose Your Moves
Try to include a 3-4 days of strength regimen in your work out regimen as well! Try your best to get a full body work out!

3. Stregthen Your Heart
The days that you are not doing cardio, try doing some stretches that can also give you the benefits as a high-intensity exercise.

4. Drink Water and Fuel Your Body
You do not need to drink water after every workout that you do but drink when you are feeling parch. After a good work out, trying eating a healthy snack that contains proteins and carbs too. It can help your muscles recover by nourishing the damaged tissues.

5. Make a Plan
You do not need to do the same workout every week. You can have fun and change it up if you like. But setting up a general workout schedule can help you stick with your goals!

Have a fun summer :)

Published in:Uncategorized |on May 2nd, 2012 |No Comments »

“You are what you eat”

You’ve heard of this phrase before, but it might just be true. Here are 5 foods that can help get you that glowing, healthy skin.

Lowfat Dairy
For Acne and Wrinkles.

  • Vitamin A helps your cells mature properly. Retinol, is used to treat acne and wrinkles. It is actually
    a compound of vitamin A. Lowfat dairy products are a good source of vitamin A!

Flaxseeds
For Wrinkles.

  • Flaxseeds contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids! (Which are also known as “good fats”) It helps
    your cell membranes stronger and also keep moisture from getting out! Therefore, it helps make your skin
    look plumper and younger!

Green Tea
For Sun Damage.

  • Green tea actually has many health benefits. The main benefit people can get from drinking green tea is that
    it helps prevent skin damage! Polyphenols, an antioxidant found in green tea, is anti-inflammatory which helps
    protect the skin against damaging UV rays!

Sweet Potatoes
For Smooth Skin.

  • Vitamin C has been shown to support the growth of collagen! So eat sweet potatoes, because it helps smoothes out
    wrinkles and also gives the appearance of a younger, fuller face! Other great sources of vitamin C includes papayas,
    carrots and citrus fruits!

Berries
For Sun Damage.

  • Berries are rich in flavones, which have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties! Any berries such as blueberries,
    strawberries, or blackberries can help the skin from sun damage! Try em out!

Eating the following food listed above can be very healthy! Not only is it just healthy to keep your skin beautiful, but they also are very delicous!

Published in:Uncategorized |on April 5th, 2012 |No Comments »

Six ways to Relieve the Stress in Your Life

Focus on what you can do, and not on what you cannot.

In life, there are times where we all deal with problems that we wish we could change. Try to focus
on the things that you could change, because you will feel feel the satisfaction when something worked
out instead of the stress of feeling stuck.

Just Do It.
Many people don’t take time for themselves. Sometimes, that is what people need in life.
People can be so busy with their lives, that they don’t realize that they just need to relax and
enjoy some alone time.

Discuss it when you need to.
Keeping things all bottled up inside can increase your level of stress. It is better to talk
about your concerns. It is okay to talk about your problems, because there
are people out there who care for you and will try to help you in any possible way.
And the key is how you say it, not what you say.

Avoid eating food that are junk!
Try to eat healthy snacks like apples, berries and carrots! The fruits and veggies will
make you feel better and also look better. Eating junk food will only make you
feel like you’re going to crash and burn.

Exercise
Get your body moving! Exercising makes you feel good and it allows you to get lost in your
own thoughts while working out. Trust me, its a great way to relieve stress.

Let it go.
It’s always best to just let things go. Don’t worry about the small things. There’s no point
in stressing over some things when you can’t do anything about it.

Published in:Uncategorized |on March 26th, 2012 |No Comments »

Want a Healthy Smile?

Although brushing your teeth helps to improve your smile, there are foods that are healthy for your gums and teeth. These foods help prevent the cavities that can occur, bad breath and plaque!

1. Fruits and Vegggies

They contain antimicrobials that fight bacteria. If you did not know, chewing on crunchy foods helps massage and improve the circulation in your gums! Fruits that contain vitamin C like orange or grapefruit, keeps gums healthy!

2. Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids in fish is linked with lower rates of gum disease! When bacteria irritates the gum, Omega-3 fats can reduce the inflammation that occurs.

3. Yogurt

As you all know, a major cause of bad breath, plaque and gum disease is because of the buildup of bacteria. Research has shown that 6 ounces of plain, sugar-free yogurt a day will help reduce the germs. There is good bacteria in yogurt and it may help fight the bad ones in your mouth.

4. Cheese

Cheese is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, which are good for building strong teeth. There’s research that shows that eating cheese could help neutralize the acids that causes the decay of tooth enamel.

Published in:Uncategorized |on March 26th, 2012 |No Comments »