When choosing healthy food, you ideally should chose those foods that contain plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These will keep your body working at prime condition, prevent sickness, and help prevent diseases.
Although you may have heard of some foods rich in antioxidants like blueberries, some common foods also contain the same amount of health power. In fact, beans have been shown in a recent study to have more disease-fighting antoixdants than blueberries.
Besides foods with antioxidants, spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and oregano are rich in antioxidants.
Some top antioxidant foods include beans (small red, red kidney, and pinto), artichokes, russet potatoes, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, dried prunes, raspberries, strawberries, red delicious apples, granny smith apples, pecans, sweet cherries, black plums, dried black beans, plums, and gala apples. Other foods rich in antioxidants include oranges, red grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, beets, red peppers, carrots, walnuts, and the highly recommended tomatoes.
Here is a rating scale tha measures the antioxidant content of various plant foods. It is recommended to eat a variety of foods, including those that are and are not rich in antioxidants.
For those of you weight loss fanatics (like myself) looking to shed those few final pounds (even though swimsuit season is unfortunately over), I found Akavar Facts, an informational website about the popular Akavar weight loss pill. I am not sure who manages or writes for the site, but the information provided is legitmate and I found it to be very helpful. If you have any questions about the supplement, you can send them the question and they will publish it with the answer. Hope you find it as useful as I did!
Have you noticed that sometimes you feel sluggish around mid-afternoon or right after work? Daily tasks can sap your energy, and a large part of how we feel is what we are putting in our bodies. Here are some simple ideas to boost your energy levels throughout the day.
1. Eat well-balanced meals . Large meals will make you sleepy (does Thanksgiving ring a bell). Try to balance your meals with carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables or fruits. Get plenty of greens, fruits, and grains so that your body has the nutrients it needs.
2. Eat whole foods . Eliminating sugary or salty snacks can cut the roller coaster effect. Avoid caffeine unless you need it.
3. Drink lots of water . Being dehydrated can cloud your concentration and tire you. Drink water or herbal tea, particularly in the afternoon so that the caffeine doesn’t disturb your sleep later that night.
4. Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night . Stick to a routine so that your body feels rested every day.
5. Exercise regularly . Try a morning walk or jog to get your energy levels up all day.
6. Take a B vitamin . If you’re deficient in B vitamins, you may feel sluggish. Take a B-50 complex with breakfast and see your energy and concentration levels rise. Also try a Zantrex energy pill to boost your concentration levels throughout the day.
7. Take a quick break . Walk around outside, get some sunshine, or stretch in the office for 5-10 minutes. Or just close your eyes and relax with deep breaths for a few moments.
8. Take a slow whiff . Inhale peppermint oil whenever you feel tired or can’t think clearly. Or try keeping a bottle of lemon, orange, or spearmint oil near your desk to boost productivity and energy during or after work. You can even put a few drops on your defrost vents and turn on the fan to sustain your energy after work.
9. Get a plant . According to feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement, living plants have energy that can invigorate us. Try indoor plants like Boston ferns, Chinese everygreens, peace lilies, or flowers like tulips and gerber daisies.
10. Plan for fun . Plan for something fun or relaxing to do after work. This will give you something to look forward to and boost your happiness if you are feeling down. Try reading a book, writing a letter, going for a walk, going to dinner with a friend, or taking a fun class at the gym or local college. Don’t underestimate anticipation, which can be as good as reality.
11. Put on some music . Listening to music is pleasurable and can boost energy instantly. Choose whatever music you enjoy.
One way that I stay fit is by hiking. Since I live in a state surrounded by beautiful mountains, caves, and rock formations, there are plenty of places to hike for a day or for a week long trip. I even go trail running during the warmer months.
Although I frequently travel to beautiful hiking destinations throughout the state, for my next vacation I decided to fulfill my life long dream of visiting Europe. I decided to combine my two passions of hiking and travel by hiking the Swiss Alps in Switzerland.
Although I am used to mountain air, I was amazed at the fresh, crisp air in the Alps. I hired a guide and hiked the traditional Haute route, which combined easy day hikes with more difficult ones that took us right next to steep passes and sometimes snowy conditions. I saw beautiful meadows next to glistening lakes, and even glaciers close by. Luckily, I had a superb guide so we safely made it to our cozy inn each night.
If you are an avid hiker and looking for a new physical challenge, try the rigorous hiking in the Swiss Alps!
So I know this post may be a bit random, but I have a good friend who recently discovered she was pregnant. Whoops! Or more like…holy #$%^ what was she thinking? Well, apparently she wasn’t.
Regardless, it got me thinking that whether you were trying or experience an unplanned pregnancy, this is one of the most important times in your life to remain “fit and nutritious;” you are now responsible not only for yourself, but a second very tiny person.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>As soon as you discover you are pregnant, you may need to start modifying your eating habits. Consider seeing a nutritionist to ensure you are getting a variety of healthy foods.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>Just because you are pregnant, does not mean you should stop exercising. Your workouts may change but working to stay in shape while pregnant can reduce your risk of miscarriage and can even help lessen labor length and complications.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>If you smoke, quit!!! Smoking while pregnant is extremely dangerous for your baby. The same goes for alcohol consumption…there are a number of free government and non-profit programs that can help you do both.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>For typical pregnancy issues such as nausea, heartburn, and constipation, try non-medicinal cures.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>You should already be drinking at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day – keep doing so while pregnant.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>- <!–[endif]–>Remember to add at least 300 extra calories each day during your pregnancy – you are now eating for two!
One way to determine if you are at a healthy weight is to test your BMI score. This calculation uses your height and weight to determine if you are at a normal healthy weight. Although this system is not exact, it can give you an estimate if you fall under the category of normal, overweight, obese, or extremely obese.
If you are overweight or obese, there is scientific evidence that losing five to ten percent of your weight can have substantial health benefits. In fact, weight management can improve your health and lengthen your life, and can even be a life saver for some people.
Of course, if you want to lose weight you should follow a reduced calorie and balanced diet and get in some physical exercise. It may also be helpful to take a weight loss pill and a multivitamin to get you started on your weight loss. Also, check out healthy eating tips and exercise plans so you can successfully meet your weight loss goals.