|
Adding Veggies and Fruits……..
|
I really don’t care for most fruits nor do I like veggies beyond the basic green beans and carrots with a potato thrown in. Many children and more adult women don’t care for them either. How can you add fruits and veggies to your diet when you don’t like them? Try disguising them. Yep, that’s right.
Disguising fruits and veggies has become big business. They put vegetables in spaggeti o’s, add veggies to fruit juices in the little boxes, and add 100 percent fruit juice to fruit snacks that look and taste like candy. The key is to consider the amount of sugar added to these products before making them you daily dose of vegetables.
Juicing fruits and vegetables is a legitimate way to get your fruits and veggies. The sweetness from the fruit can balance the bitterness of some of the veggies and it can make a wonderful addition to your diet. Disguising the veggie that you don’t like often can go unnoticed when you add the fruits you do like. V-8 has been doing it for years with much success and their newer fruit/veggie combinations are down right tasty when chilled.
So when juicing at home or buying premade juices at the market look at your labels and watch for this:
1. Sugar content
2. Actual vegetable and fruit content
3. Chemical additives or preservatives ( there shouldn’t be any artificial sweeteners or dyes)
4. Vitamin content
5. Calorie count. ( A juice box that has 300 calories might not be a good choice, water and an apple would make more health sense.
With planning and a bit of disguise, fruits and veggies can be added to every diet. And don’t forget the veggie pastas that are available. More on that at a later date. Happy Juicing.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble: 
delicious: 
reddit: 
Digg: 
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Cancer.. A Topic Near and Dear to My Heart
- Seedless Oranges are Sweet Treats.
- Bathing Suit Weather is just Around the Corner…Oh My!
May 15, 2012
|
|
National Women’s Health Week
|
This is National Women’s Health Week. Many of you are already eating healthy, following an exercise program, and feeling fit. But the majority of women are busy caring for others and find it difficult to squeeze in an exercise routine. Healthy meals might be a goal but let’s face it, driving through a fast food establishment is awfully convenient. So what goes through your mind when you think of National Women’s Health?
One of the things to consider are the diseases and the prevention and detection for these diseases for women. Breast cancer is at the forefront of advertisements and the media but there are several other diseases particular to women that deserve our attention and consideration.
1. Ovarian cancer-difficult to diagnose unless you are aware of the warning signs
2. Thyroid disease- often over looked as a source of fatigue and weight, irritability and insomnia in women
3. Heart disease- another overlooked disease because the symtoms of heart problems including myocardial infarction or heart attack are so different in women then in men. Women don’t always have chest pain!
4. Breast cancer- early detection is the key to treatment and surviving.
5 Other cancers including colon, cervical, and skin cancer.
6. Autoimmune conditions- vague symptoms initially and often not diagnosed until the disease is flaring and the woman feels extremely ill.
7. Diabetes- a health issue for women especially those with obesity.
8. Obesity, hypertension, and depression. All common conditions that are misdiagnosed or ignored because women tend to not complain or seek treatment unless it interferes with their lifestyle.
During the week celebrate National Women’s Health and take time to seek information on these conditions common to women. Also, make your appointment for a general physical and conversation with your physician or healthcare provider to get on track to wellness and health.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Cancer.. A Topic Near and Dear to My Heart
- May is Autoimmune Disease Month
- If you’re pregnant – exercise!
May 14, 2012
|
|
Bathing Suit Weather is just Around the Corner…Oh My!
|
It is hard to believe that bathing suit weather is just around the corner. Unless you are a model, this probably strikes you with a bit of fear. Does it fit? Will I look like a whale? What about those fat roles around my middle, do they make a suit to hide those? You get what I mean. We are all NOT a size 4 but we are all concerned about our health and how we look.
Instead of failing before you get out of the dieting gate, consider looking at your weight and your health a different way. No crash diets, no expensive gym memberships, no expensive prepackaged foods…. instead work on balance. Balance your activities and increase your movement. Note I didn’t say exercise, at least not yet.
Balance in all things about your life will increase your chances of making healthy changes especially if you make them consistently. Begin by eating more fruits and vegetables. Summer is the best time to get started on snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables. Cut them up ahead of time and keep them handy in your fridge. Grab a water and a plate of grapes or apple slices instead of a soda and chips. Gradually start removing the unhealthy snacks from your kitchen and replace them with the healthy fruits and vegetables.
Balance your activity with more walking and less sitting. If you start an exercise program, do it with wisdom. Go slow so you don’t burn yourself out before you get started. Slow and gradual builds up to more strenuous exercises and the need to keep moving.
Swim suit weather is just around the corner but you can start now feeling and looking your best. Balance, replacing fruits and veggies with unhealthy snacks, and increase your movement. Take a walk in the spring sunshine. Think less about the pounds you want to lose and more about the good feeling you want to have at being active and healthy. Together we can work towards a healthier and better looking you, ( and me.)
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
May 11, 2012
|
|
Last Minute Healthy Gifts for Mom>
|
Last minute shoppers might want a tip or two for healthy gifts for mom for Mother’s Day.
Here are some quick ideas to fit every budget.
1. Gift certificate for a spa day. Every mom could use a massage, herbal facial, or mud mask treatment to feel fresh. Prices can range from 25 dollars to 250.00 dollars for a few hours of magic.
2. Fruit bouquet instead of flowers. A healthy alternative to candies or sweets.
3. Treadmill, excercise bike, exercise ball, exercise CD or DVD, exercise matt, or new exercise duds. Any mom would appreciate support in her efforts towards fitness and health.
4. Herb plants or window herb garden. Having fresh herbs at your fingertips can increase the enjoyment of planning healthy meals. And the scent of fresh herbs improves mood.
5. Recycled notecards, stationary, or journal. Any gift that is made of recycled material is not only a great idea it is healthy for the environment.
6. Plush robe and lotions for her enjoyment after a long day.
7. A new book, something she is interested in whether it is a romance, mystery, or craft book pick something special for her to read on her special day.
8. Kids can make pictures, write notes, or make an easy craft to give. Homemade gifts from kids are the best.
9. Take mom to her favorite place to eat for a healthy meal she didn’t have to make.
10. Take a walk, whether on a beach, in the woods, or around the block, walking is one of the best exercises for health and can be done easily and without a cost.
Whatever you choose for your mom this day, remember to thank her for all she has done for you. And for those who may not have a good relationship with mom, take time to take care of yourself so you can be the woman you were meant to be. Be grateful and be healthy. Happy Mother’s Day to all our readers no matter who you mother or nurture in your life.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Bathing Suit Weather is just Around the Corner…Oh My!
- Exercise Ideas: Can’t get motivated?
- Cancer.. A Topic Near and Dear to My Heart
May 10, 2012
|
|
Making Health Goals Realistic and Timely
|
It can be difficult when setting health related goals and keeping them realistic and attainable. What we see in others and want for ourselves may be very unrealistic. Timely goals may also be unrealistic depending on where individual health states rest.
Topics in the news may seem timely but can be impossible for an individual because of present illnesses or conditions making it unrealistic to accomplish. On the other hand, don’t use a current condition that may be improved by new health related goals from stopping your progress.
Realistic goals must be something you can do but they must also be something that you WILL do. Just to say it doesn’t mean you will follow the plan unless you make it realistic to your life. Saying you will run 5 miles a day is not realistic if you become short of breath walking to the mailbox. But saying you will walk to the mail box twice a day rather than once until you become less winded is a realistic goal.
Timely refers to making the goal current and timely to your lifestyle and health. For example,weight loss is a current health related topic in every magazine and television commercial across the country. If however, you are dealing with a sick child, caring for an aged parent, currently unemployed, are addicted to alcohol, or have a serious crisis going on weight loss will be the last thing on your mind.
Your health related goals must suit where you are in life and must be geared to helping you improve your health to the maximum today, right now, in your current state. That is why each health goal must be specific, measurable, attainable, along with realistic and timely.
What are the three main goals that would meet these 5 descriptions and pertain to your current state of health? Write these three goals down as clearly as possible and then take the action steps needed to attain them.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- How to Measure Health Related goals?
- Setting Health and Wellness Goals
- Exercise Ideas: Can’t get motivated?
May 9, 2012
|
|
How to Measure Health Related goals?
|
SMART health goals are necessary for optimum health. If you read the blog yesterday you learned that the smart way to set goals is to make them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Does that pertain to all health related goals? It can.
M is for measurable. If your health concern is for pain, then a measurable goal for your health is to experience less pain. If you health goal is to lose weight, then a measurable goal for weight loss is getting on the scale once a week to see the actual weight you have lost. You get the idea. The goal has to have some way to measure your success.
Notice that I say success. Health is so important and I believe success is the only end product. Even in terminal conditions, success is to be pain free, restore relationships, find closure etc. So you see, health goals are important no matter what state of health you are currently in.
Health goals must be attainable. If you already weigh less than 100 pounds, an attainable goal would not be to lose 2 pounds of weight a week for 4 weeks. Rather your goal might be to gain 2 pounds a week for 4 weeks or to maintain your weight for 4 weeks. Making a health goal specific and measurable must also include making the goal attainable, something that is within the possibilities for your life.
How specific, measurable, and attainable are your health goals? Tomorrow we will take a look at making them realistic and timely.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Setting Health and Wellness Goals
- Making Health Goals Realistic and Timely
- Health and Fitness… What is all the hype?
May 8, 2012
|
|
Setting Health and Wellness Goals
|
It is important to set goals for your career, your money, and your health. It doesn’t matter what you are trying to accomplish, you need goals to follow especially when you are trying to improve your health or change your weight.
When making goals that can be attained, you need to have a plan to follow. As you set your health goals consider this:
Health Goals need to be specific.
Health Goals need to be measurable.
Health Goals need to be attainable.
Health Goals need to be realistic.
Health Goals need to be timely.
Let’s start with the word specific. A goal needs to be spelled out as clearly as you can make it so you know where you are headed. Example: I want to lose weight. A general statement and not a realistic goal.
I will lose 2 pounds a week for the next 4 weeks. This is specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic. It is timely to want to take control of your health and your weight. This goal would meet all of the 5 descriptive words about a goal and works to describe a health goal.
S specific, M measurable, A attainable, R realistic, and T timely. SMART. Smart for your health. Check back tomorrow for ways to measure your health related goals.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- How to Measure Health Related goals?
- Making Health Goals Realistic and Timely
- National Women’s Health Week
May 7, 2012
|
|
May is Autoimmune Disease Month
|
May is the month to recognize those with autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and Thyroid diseases. There are many of the known autoimmune diseases that may be difficult to diagnose, recognize, or treat because their symptoms resemble vague flu like symptoms that many of us experience from time to time.
The main symptoms that are common with many of the diseases that affect the immune system are pain and fatigue. And the fact that neither of these symptoms can actually be observed makes it more difficult for those that are experiencing it. Who can tell the level of pain a person is in or how tired that person is? Impossible to know unless you experience it for yourself.
The good news is that more research is being done, yet more still needs to be done. The bad news is there are few actual medications and treatments that are affective for the pain and fatigue. There are many medications for the thyroid or to treat the blood sugar levels of diabetes, but pain medications come with side effects and there is no magic pill for being exhausted.
Treatment centers around a balanced diet, regular gentle exercise, and rest. All of the treatments can be difficult to accomplish if you are a parent of young children and need to work to pay the bills. Life situations and stress can then add to the feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. Those that suffer with an autoimmune condition often feel overwhelmed.
There are many sources of information online and in books. Look for support groups in your community if you suffer with an autoimmune condition. Talk freely with your physician so a complete treatment plan can be established. And support research for autoimmune conditions so more answers can be found. Look for more links here during the month of May.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- National Women’s Health Week
- Ideas for detecting and preventing ovarian cancer
- Beware of acetaminophen
May 5, 2012
|
|
Relaxation is part of a Healthy Life.
|
The weekend is for relaxing. Relaxing is part of a healthy life style. How do you fit relaxing into an already packed weekend schedule? Here are a few tips.
1. Don’t over schedule your weekend. Sometimes that is a difficult concept for most of us because that is our time off. However, you will feel better on Monday morning if you give yourself permission to stay home, put a movie in or read a good book for part of a weekend. Women tend to multitask to the point of exhaustion and even over schedule their children. Stop it. More activities doesn’t equal a better life. Give yourself permission to relax at home.
2. Stay up a half hour later during the week or get up a half hour earlier to tackle household chores so the weekend is not filled with cleaning and shopping activities. Leave some time on the weekend that is not related to doing mundane chores and stressful things like bill paying. Give yourself one day during the weekend to do an activity that you enjoy. Spending time with family and friends for a few hours can boost your immunity and increase your feeling of well being.
3. Everything in moderation. That means food, drink, and exercise. Don’t over exercise on a weekend day because you missed it during the week because that can lead to muscle injury, pain, and exhaustion. Likewise, don’t overindulge in unhealthy food or alcohol because that leaves you feeling draggy and fatigued on Monday morning. Foods and drink can be enjoyed in moderation on a day off without the guilt, just don’t overdo.
4. Get a good nights sleep. Staying up late on both weekend nights leaves you exhausted on Monday morning and can get your week off to a sluggish start. Try to turn in at your regular time at least on Sunday night for a refreshed Monday morning.
5. Do things that you and your family enjoy. Avoid obligating your activities to several that you don’t like. Feelings of resentment will over-ride any relaxation you might feel if you consistently do things that you don’t like and don’t have fun at.
At times it can be impossible to avoid attending an activity you won’t enjoy or over-scheduling a weekend but try to avoid doing it every weekend. You and your family will feel more rested and enjoy a healthier lifestyle if you can mix relaxation into your weekend. Home should be your haven, so enjoy it.
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Exercise: What is Enough?
- Exercise at least 15 minutes a day
- Exercise Ideas: Treadmills that incline
May 4, 2012
|
|
Exercise: What is Enough?
|
Every article on health most often suggests exercise. How much exercise is enough? From a personal standpoint let me say that any extra exercise and movement is a plus. Every person is different and not everyone can jump on a treadmill for an hour three times a week and keep breathing. It is something you have to work up to.
So here is how you know what is enough for you today. Start small. If you have not exercised in any routine way for years than you can not expect to do an intensive routine and not feel like you are dying. Exercise needs to be started small and worked into an advanced routine. And it is important to do some warm up stretching before beginning a new program.
If you have a family doctor, discuss how much would be enough for your health status. If you have any medical issues your doctor or practitioner is the best one to guide you through increasing your exercise routine. A personal trainer is also a choice but many women cannot afford a personal trainer.
Here is the deal about exercise. It doesn’t have to cost you a penny. It doesn’t have to take place at an expensive gym with a membership that you can’t afford. Exercise is free. Walking is free. Climbing stairs is free. Lifting one pound cans of green beans from your cupboard is free. The cost of exercise equipment or gym memberships is not an excuse for not exercising.
Exercising is movement, movement beyond walking to the bathroom or the kitchen. Exercise is walking around the block, stretching for a half hour, going up and down your stairs 10 times in 15 minutes. Exercise is any movement that increases your heart rate consistently for several minutes without chest pain. Exercise is dancing, running, jumping jacks, sit ups, walking briskly, and climbing the stairs.
Exercise increases bone strength and increases hormone secretion. Exercise helps to regulate blood sugar and burn fat. Exercise is healthy and what is enough for an 85 year old woman will be different than what is enough for a 35 year old woman.
The most important thing about exercise is to keep moving, keep moving more, and increase your exercise intensity as you tolerate it without injury. Remember, exercise is FREE. Now what is your excuse?
________________________________________
If you like this post please share or vote for it below:
Twitter: Tweet
Stumble:
delicious:
reddit:
Digg:
________________________________________
If you like this blog please subscribe to read updates in a
feed reader (it's free!)
(what is a feed reader? )
or by email!
Thanks! We really appreciate all your support!
________________________________________
Related Posts:
- Exercise at least 15 minutes a day
- Health and Fitness… What is all the hype?
- Exercise Ideas: Can’t get motivated?
Next Page »
