Monday, February 28, 2011
Got A Hunch?
After 20 minutes on the elliptical machine, it’s certainly tempting to slump forward and take a little rest on the console. Or lean a little more on the handles of the Stairmaster®. Whew. Better, right? No, not exactly. Here’s why standing tall is so important.
When you hunch forward or support your body with your arms, your legs aren’t working as hard—which means you aren’t burning the calories you think you are. You also relax your core, which keeps you stable, and put strain on joints like your wrists and elbows. Bottom line: by leaning on the machine and taking your body out of alignment, you risk injury and reduce the impact of your workout.
Home Alone: Avoiding The Binge
Many more Americans are working from home than in years past, whether they’re self-employed or searching for a job after a layoff. And being at home all day means 24-7 access to that gallon of ice cream in the freezer. Who’s going to know if you down the whole thing? The dog? We’ve got some tips for staying healthy, even if you’re sitting on the couch.
Sure, you can eat junk food at the office, too. But at home, it’s more about quantity, not quality. It’s incredibly easy to graze all day long (a handful of chips here, a couple of cookies there) rather than eat balanced meals. Plus, there is a lack of accountability. No coworker is there to see you polish off three pounds of lasagna—straight from the pan.
So, let’s talk strategy. Here are some guidelines to get you through the day, lasagna-less.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)
Burdock root is one of those “weed” herbs that Americans are usually trying to eradicate. A member of the Composite or Asteraceae family, it is related to artichokes and thistles. It’s known for its distinctive prickly burs that like to hitchhike on animals and people alike. However, something good came out of them, in the 1940’s, when the burrs, or seeds, were looked at under a microscope. The hook-and-loop system of the seeds led to the invention of Velcro.
We may think of burdock as a weed, but in Japan, it’s a food, called gobo. In fact, throughout Asia, the taproot of young burdock plants are eaten as a root vegetable. It was also used as a food by Native Americans. I’ve actually considered growing some in my garden, but I’m not sure my neighbors would be happy about that.
Ayurvedic Skin Detox
As the largest organ of the body, the skin keeps outside invaders from entering the body, while it aids the blood in clearing toxins from the inside. The skin often reflects the condition of internal organs, especially when the blood is carrying a toxic overload. Sometimes, the skin helps the blood by storing toxins until the blood can handle them once again or tries to push the toxins out of the body via acne, boils and eczema.
The herbal combination Skin Detox is an Ayurvedic formula composed of sixteen herbs that benefit the skin. Skin Detox reduces skin inflammation and irritation, nourishes the skin and helps get rid of toxins which may be irritating the skin. It is useful for skin conditions like acnae, boils, eczema, psoriasis, skin infections and topical ulcerations.
Immune Stimulator
In our modern world, the immune system is often depleted because of poor nutrition, stress and exposure to toxins. A weakened immune system makes one more susceptible to infections, which are often treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics kill friendly bacteria in the intestines and further deplete the immune system, making the person even more susceptible to contagious disease.
Cancer is another disease that results from a weakened immune system. The body forms cancer cells all the time, but normally they are destroyed by the immune system. Only when the immune system is depleted can the disease we call cancer take hold.
As its name implies, Immune Stimulator is a blend of natural substances that boost immune responses. By increasing white blood cell count, and enhancing antibody and white blood cell activity, Immune Stimulator can enhance the body’s natural ability to destroy viruses, bacteria, fungus and even cancer cells. Immune Stimulator can be helpful for problems as simple as warding off a cold in the early stages or as difficult as dealing with serious infections such as pneumonia. It can even be helpful when dealing with serious immune disorders such as AIDS and cancer.
Sweat it Out: It’s a Good Practice for Health
By Steven Horne, RH(AHG)
We often hear people say, “Don’t sweat it.” Sweating isn’t considered a wonderful thing in modern society as it is associated with stress and fear. However, when it comes to our health, and especially in fighting off colds and flu, sweat is good. In that case, we should “sweat it” if we want to be healthy.
I’m sure that many people have been to the doctor (or taken a family member to the doctor) for a round of antibiotics this winter. I’m no stranger to this practice, because for the first twenty years of my life I was constantly taken to the doctor for antibiotics.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free… What’s The Deal?
You probably know that vegetarian means meat-free. But what about vegan? Or macrobiotic? Which ones ban beer, again? There are a lot of buzzwords out there, and keeping different diets straight can be confusing. We’ve got a cheat sheet.
Most people follow one of these diets for health or environmental reasons. Some people give up meat to help lower their cholesterol; others just want to reduce their carbon footprints (since meat production can be highly polluting). As for giving up flour—or all types of dairy!—here’s the scoop:
These Wings Don’t Fly
Ever knocked on a door, waved to a friend—or, heck, just pushed the button on the remote control too vigorously—and noticed a jiggle out of the corner of your eye? Even a tiny bit of arm flab can flap in unflattering ways. It’s time to tone those triceps and send the wings south for the winter.
Sometimes it’s easy to ignore your triceps; they’re on the backs of your arms, after all. When you look in the mirror, you probably notice your deltoids and biceps first—which is why those wings can be sneaky.
If you’re engaging in a full-body workout, your triceps should stay toned (simple exercises like push-ups work many different arm muscles, including the triceps). But if yours need a little extra attention, try these two moves. You’ve probably done them before—they are the gold standard for triceps—but we’ve got some variations that make it even easier to do them at home as well as at the gym.
Feel The Beet
Beets can be intimidating. They look like dusty old rocks, but when you cut into them, suddenly your kitchen resembles a crime scene—deep magenta juice everywhere. Cook them right, though, and they’re one of the sweetest healthy foods around. We’ve got a foolproof way to do it.
Why should you bother with beets, anyway? Well, they are one of the few foods that contain cancer-fighting antioxidants called betalians. They’re also high in Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
We think roasting beets brings out their flavor best; plus, you can cook them in their skins, which slip off easily after they come out of the oven. Here’s the simplest way to roast beets, plus two fresh salads to showcase them.
Friday, February 18, 2011
How Parents Can Ruin their Children’s Health
Research is showing that most preschool children develop a taste for salt, sugar and fat at their homes. In an experiment, researchers looked at the association between the taste preferences of more than 100 preschool children and their emerging awareness of brands of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages. All of the children were able to pair at least some products with the companies that made them.
The results suggest that fast food and soda brand knowledge is linked to the development of a preference for sugar, fat and salt in food.
