Hey girls, be the envy of your friends at the beach this summer looking slim and chic in your bikini wear by following our 5 easy steps: 1. Body Detox: twice daily for half hour, take a brisk walk. 2. Follow our recommended simple yoga exercises daily 3. Eat a high protein, low starch diet, with increased fresh vegetables and fruits 4. Drink 10-12 glasses of water daily 5. Get at least 6- 8 hours of sleep
Like the saying goes “you are what you eat”. Individuals’ food intake affects their mood, behaviour and brain function. Recent evidence indicates that good nutrition is vital for our mental health and stability. The evidence shows that food plays a critical role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing can be protected by ensuring that your diet provides sufficient quantities of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and water. Some foods harm the brain by releasing toxins or oxidants that damage healthy brain cells. There are many nutrients that serve the brain without deception or damage, which can improve mood and mental well-being.
In today society, stress is inevitable. Many studies prove that stress increases cholesterol not only in the short-term but also affect cholesterol levels in the long term. The more aggression stress produces in an individual, the higher their triglyceride levels tend to be. Stress encourages the body to produce more energy in the form of metabolic fuels, which cause the liver to produce and secrete more of the “bad cholesterol”. It interferes with the body's ability to clear lipids. In stressful moments, primitive instincts prepare the body for flight or fight. The body triggers the generation of two hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, from the hypothalamus, a gland near the brain as a protection mechanism. These hormones increase blood flow to the brain and act as stimuli to release more energy. It also triggers the production of cholesterol. The hormones produce more sugar in order to provide the body with instant energy to tackle the stress. The high sugar levels however, are not often used up by the body and eventually are converted to fatty acids and cholesterol. Stress also cause people to smoke, drink and eat a diet that contributes to high cholesterol i.e. unhealthy habits.
So forks if you are stressed, it is recommended that you listen to music, practice yoga and meditation or do physical workout.
Ayurveda is the doctrines of the ancient science, which originated in India dating thousands of years back. Ayurveda is a holistic lifestyle system that teaches the practical details of the arrangement of food, body work, rest periods, and work, which aims to achieve balance of body, mind, and soul. It uses the principles of nature to bring individuals back into equilibrium and maintain well-being. Benefits of Ayurveda are now known people in the western world who, are adopting this mode of treatment. This system of treatment helps not only in the prevention of diseases but it prevents further recurrence of any such disease. It uses plants to fix the imbalance that occurs in the human body before they become disease. Several types of plants or herbs are combined to get the benefits of the drug or therapeutic value that is commonly known as herbal medicine, Ayurveda has been proven capable of overcoming various health problems that occurred in the human body.
Junk food are foods with little nutritional value that are high in calories, fat, sugar, salt and caffeine. Junk food includes breakfast cereals, candies, chips, cookies, French fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, sodas, and sweet desserts. The increasing demand for junk food is directly associated with the rise in obesity and chronic diseases. The fats from junk food cause the brain to want more food. This effect last for several days. Junk foods are low in satiation value that is, people don't tend to feel as full when they eat them which leads to overeating. It can make you feel fatigued frequently, lowering your energy levels to the extent that it becomes difficult to perform your routine tasks. Mothers who eat junk food while pregnant or breast-feeding have children who are prone to obesity throughout life. The children are also more prone to diabetes, raised cholesterol, and high blood fat. Additives and preservatives such as common food dyes and sodium benzoate cause children to become hyperactive and easily distracted. Packaged junk food contains preservatives and colouring, which are harmful for your body system especially cardiovascular system.
Humour is infectious. Laughter is a potent antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. It eases the afflictions, inspires hopes and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for overcoming problems and supporting both physical and emotional health. A hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed. It reduces the stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughter mends the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, protecting you from cardiovascular problems. In the words of Dr. Paul McGhee, “Your sense of humour is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”
Give your Abs a workout with this hilarious video…LOL!!!!!!!!
To all you fitness fanatics out there, be sure to check out our fitness gears and accessories store for the latest in technological accessories that keep track of your physical workout progress and gears to make working out easier. Get moving in the right direction with our unbeatable selection of gears for your everyday workout.
Good nutrition starts with smart selections at the supermarket. Cooking healthy meals is a challenge if you don't have the right ingredients in your kitchen. The process starts even before you head to the grocery store. Before you set out for shopping, plan your meals for the week, and craft a list to shop from. Base your list on a balanced diet plate that is, consider the proportion of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk (calcium-rich foods), meat and beans (protein-rich foods). It takes just a few minutes, and saves time in running back to the store for missing ingredients. Utilize the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to guide you to make healthy choices. It helps you compare foods before you purchase them. Do not believe everything you read. Many brands try to look nutritious by printing “low fat” or “less sugar” and even natural“” on their labels. Don't forget that your local farmers market is a great place for finding healthy foods.
Remember: You have the power of choice at the supermarket…MAKE THE CHOICES!!!
Physical inactivity and poor nutrition are the major underlying cause of chronic diseases. Engaging in healthy behaviours greatly reduces the risk for illness and death due to chronic diseases. Cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of preventable death and disability. You can dramatically reduce your risk of these chronic diseases (long-term or ongoing illnesses) by changing the way you live. Each of these chronic diseases share mutual risk factors that relate to your everyday choices and personal health habits. For instance, an unhealthy diet can lead to obesity, which is a risk factor for certain cancers, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
The following links provide information and resources about chronic diseases and health risk factors addressed by CDC’s Healthy Communities Program:
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Eating moderate amount of dark chocolate lower risk of heart failure. It contains flavonoids which, helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve blood flow to the brain and heart and lower the risk for a blood clot. Dark chocolate contains a valuable ingredient, polyphenols which has the ability to stop free radical mediated oxidation thereby, decreasing your risk of diseases by directly interfering with one of the major preventable causes of chronic degenerative diseases. Chocolate also contains other potent plant “chemicals,” including anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter in the brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and anxiety. The caffeine and theobromine in chocolate have been shown to produce higher levels of physical energy and mental alertness.
In many attempts to lose weight people try to control the food they eat. However, it is not only the food that cause weight gain but, what you drink also matters. The mistakes people continue to make is thinking that the fruit juices and energy drinks are healthy for our body however, many of them have added sugars and other additives which can affect your weight loss plan. It is therefore necessary to consume drinks which are less in calories and which will boost your metabolism.
Be sure to include the following five drinks to improve your healthy lifestyle:
1. Vegetables Juices- Consuming vegetable juices, will aid you to feel fuller easily. You will also get all the necessary fibres, nutrients from the vegetable juices. Regular consumption of fresh fibre rich vegetable juices will reduce food cravings and you will never feel like eating heavily as it will easily fill your stomach.
2. Green Tea- this drink is loaded with antioxidants and is an effective metabolism booster. It is an effective natural ingredient that help you to lose weight. It also reduces fat, cholesterol, bloatedness, is a natural body detox and supress appetite. Green tea contains properties that blocks fat absorption into the body. Daily consumption is recommended. From a small cup, the benefits are certainly tremendous. Be sure to check out our variety of natural green teas offered at our Health Shop.
3. Cranberry Juices- are rich in antioxidants which helps remove free radicals in our body that causes cell damage. Cranberry juices contain organic acids which dissolve the fats and flush it out of the body and also remove toxins from the body.
4. Skimmed milk- calcium enriched skimmed milk increases the speed of fat break down in the body and keeps the muscles stronger which helps to increase the metabolic rate. The proteins, vitamins and calcium present in skimmed milk helps in weight loss.
5. Water- the most obvious and vital drink for all living creatures. It is important to drink 8 to 12 glasses of water daily. It flushes out all toxins in your body and helps you to stay hydrated at all times.
Yoga increases flexibility and reduces stress. The practices does not only help you twist your body into pretzel shapes but, you find inner/ mental peace. Yoga practices result in changes in gene expression. It boost immunity at a cellular level. Yoga also helps to boost immunity by simply increasing overall health. It helps you to breathe better, move better and circulate better all the other organs function better. Regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, an awareness of physical and emotional sensations associated with eating. By causing breath awareness, regular yoga practice strengthens the mind-body connection. The awareness can help you tune in to emotions involved with certain cravings, and yoga breathing exercises can help you slow down and make better choices when cravings strike.
Be sure to regularly practice the yoga exercises illustrated below:
It is necessary that people exercise a certain amount per week in order to maintain health and prevent diseases. Certain habits have to be integrated to our day-to-day lives. Moderate daily physical activity can reduce substantially the risk of developing or dying from chronic disease. Daily physical activity helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and helps reduce obesity, symptoms of anxiety and depression. Consider the following to get on track:
Reflect on your lifestyle- take into consideration the types of food and the amount you consume. Focus on the basics like how much fruits you eat, your intake of water per day and the amount of time you a lot for physical exercise per week, if any.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast- this is the most important meal of the day. Try dishes such as low fat butter spread on whole/ multigrain bread, a bowl of cereal with a fruit and always include water.
Choose the right snacks- instead of eating sweets such as cookies and chocolates, choose a fruit or a wholegrain nutrition bar.
Eat a balance meal- be sure to include vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and cabbage in yours meals along with your protein such as chicken or soya and try brown rice instead of white.
Get at least 20-30 minutes of exercise per day- walking, jogging, dancing or a sport such as football can be done. You can also plan your own routine and stick to them. You should practice them ideally, for at least half an hour per day.
There is definitely an ongoing battle against obesity and being overweight in today’s society. This have been attributed to the rise of reports about obese individuals becoming ill and dying at a young age from chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. It is a scary reminder for all of us about the lifestyles we are maintaining. The foods we consume directly impact our well-being. Therefore, to take charge of our health, it starts with what we feed our bodies. Eating the wrong things and lack of exercise is a clear sign of an unhealthy way of life. Unhealthy lifestyles also means more time lost at work, less quality recreational time, and even shorter lifespan. People in this modern day have a mind-set that takes good health for granted.