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My Daily Detox

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I never give this tub of berry goodness enough credit. It’s basically my daily detox.
It’s fiber, you know, the body’s natural trash collector. Did you know that 85% of your immune system lives in your gut? Yep. That means both good bacteria and bad bacteria live within your digestive system. If that bacteria balance gets out of whack—like Goldilocks finding the “just right” porridge — an out of balance system can cause a whole slew of health issues. So much so, that researchers call the gut “our second brain.” 

Irregularity, constipation, bloating, autoimmune disorders, food allergies/intolerance, leaky gut syndrome, acid reflux, joint pain, skin sensitivities, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, etc.—all of these— can be linked back to your gut health. 

For me, Fiberwise helps with my weight loss journey and to keep my mental health in check too! When you physically feel better, your mental health follows!

WHAT’S YOUR FIBERWISE FLAVOR?!

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Does Medicine Really Expire?

Since 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required that pharmaceutical companies put expiration dates on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

The date printed on a pill bottle is the date until which the medicine’s manufacturer will guarantee the drug’s safety and full potency. How long a drug actually remains safe and effective can vary.

Some medicines like insulin, nitroglycerin and liquid antibiotics, contain active ingredients that are known to become unstable after a prolonged time period. Yet other drugs and medications may have a longer shelf life than their packaging states. The effectiveness of these medicines may degrade over time, but may still offer some benefits.

That said, several years ago, Lee Cantrell, director of the San Diego Division of the California Poison Control System, had a rare opportunity to examine an old stash of drugs — including antihistamines, pain relievers and diet pills — found in the back of a pharmacy.

He found that those found medications, some of them at least 40 years past their manufacture date, still retained full potency.  That study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in 2012. Cantrell published another study in 2017 showing that EpiPens — the expensive auto-injectors used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions — retained 84 percent of their potency more than four years past their expiration dates, suggesting that in an emergency, an expired EpiPen would be better than nothing.

Although the federal government, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Defense started the Shelf-Life Extension Program (SLEP) in 1986, a SLEP study in 2006 tested 122 different drugs stored under ideal conditions, and the results showed, the expiration date of a majority of the drugs in the SLEP storage were extended by an average of four years. 

 Even so, the FDA still strongly warns consumers against taking expired medicine.

Because certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the FDA strongly warns consumers against taking expired medicine.

The FDA also encourages people to bring their unused and expired meds to the National Prescription Drug Take-Back days, hosted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Soothing sore muscles

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I love Pain-a-Trate for my sore muscles after my hard work out this morning! I got in an hour of rowing and swimming, a three-mile run/walk with my feisty dog and a half hour of weights. I know I will feel it a bit later. but I am so glad I found this great alternative to Icy Hot and BenGay!
Not only does it soothe the pain it works quickly to relieve it!

NATIONAL BIKINI DAY

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National Bikini Day marks the anniversary of the invention of the revealing two-piece bathing suit.

Named after the Bikini Atoll where the United States conducted atomic tests, the two piece bathing suit made its debut in Paris. French designer Louis Reard wanted to name revealing bits of fabric “atom”.

Sunbathers were wearing modest two-piece suits by World War II in the United States, but they hardly revealed the amount of skin the bikini revealed on July 5, 1946. While Europe enthusiastically donned the bikini after a long and arduous world war, American’s sense of decency kept them from accepting the bikini until the 1960s.

June is National Safety Month

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Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. The good news is there are many things people can do to stay safe and prevent injuries. During National Safety Month, everyone is encouraged to learn more about important safety issues like preventing poisonings, transportation safety, and slips, trips, and falls.

Did you know that nine out of 10 poisonings happen right at home? You can be poisoned by many things, like cleaning products or another person’s medicine.

Other causes of injury in the home are slips, trips, and falls. More than one in four older adults fall each year often resulting in broken bones or head injuries.

Doing other activities while driving – like texting or eating – distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost one in six crashes where someone is injured involves distracted driving.

It’s National Blueberry Month

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Since they are now in season, July is a great month to discuss the health benefits of blueberries. Did you know that blueberries are native to North America and are grown in 35 states? What’s more, they’re an ingredient in more than 4,000 products, from muffins to pet food to cosmetics—and to think it all started in New Jersey.

The popularity of blueberries can be credited directly to Elizabeth Coleman White and Frederick V. Coville, who, succeeded in hybridizing wild blueberry plants to create a new domestic blueberry industry. They began their work at the White family farm, Whitesbog, in Browns Mills, Burlington County an area known for cranberry bogs and the infamous Pine Barrens. 

Although Washington and Georgia lead the country in terms of blueberry production, New Jersey is currently the fifth highest blueberry producing state in the U.S. Despite our state’s small size, New Jersey growers often register yields topping 56.7 million pounds of blueberries each year. Amazingly, over 80% of New Jersey’s blueberries are grown in Atlantic County and most of the blueberry harvest comes from a mere 8,800 acres. 

Many of New Jersey’s  blueberries are packaged at the Atlantic Blueberry Company at Hammonton. 

Living in New Jersey, we are lucky enough to have picking areas nearby—fun for the whole family! They make a great snack all on their own or enhance a meal, make stellar desserts or sauces. Plus, these vibrant berries pack a punch in vitamins and health benefits.  

Here are a few things blueberries can do for you:

#1: Blueberries are the #1 fruit with the highest antioxidant capacity. It beats out any other berry! These powerful antioxidants have been known to improve the immune system and prevent infections in the body (especially urinary tract infections.) 

#2: Blueberries can help with weight loss. Blueberries have fewer than 100 calories in a cup, making it a healthy pick for snacking. There have also been numerous studies, linking blueberries to the loss of stomach fat.

#3: The deeper the color of a blueberry, the richer they are in antioxidants, vitamins and medicinal perks. Go for the darkest berries!

#4: Blueberries can reduce the risk of cancer. Anthocyanins (which give the fruit its hue) have been studied and known to attack cancer-causing free radicals in the body.

#5: Blueberries for the brain! Numerous studies have shown that blueberries can help reduce the risk of memory loss. Brain food at its finest

It’s grilling season

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JULY IS NATIONAL GRILLING MONTH

Summer is the time for the best outdoor cooking, so it is no surprise July is National Grilling Month.

Don’t let improperly prepared food ruin your summer. Use these grilling tips keep you grilling and enjoying the beautiful weather all season long.

  • Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer when clean water isn’t readily available where you are grilling.
  • Keep food cold until you are ready to put them on the grill. Letting them sit allows bacteria to grow.
  • Don’t mix raw and cooked foods. Keep raw foods separate from each other. Once cooked, use a clean dish to place your final masterpiece. The bacteria from the raw food will contaminate the freshly cooked meal.
  • Keep hot food warm to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit until ready to be placed in a cooler with ice or refrigerator to prevent bacteria growth. For salads and cold foods, keep them chilled on ice.

We need to refresh and replenish

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I drink a lot of water—it’s my favorite drink. But every now and then, I need a boost—something that will enhance my water habit as well as keep me refreshed and replenished.

A few years ago, I found this great product. It’s packaged so conveniently that I can always take with me. I use it for workouts and I will even add it to my water in restaurants.

The reason why I like Sustain® Sport is because it packs four electrolytes into each serving to give me what I need the most: proprietary complex of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. That’s twice as many as Gatorade® Thirst Quencher Original Orange!  

I’ve found using this regularly on workouts, walks, or on hot summer days when I want a flavored drink. It helps to rehydrate and convert carbs into energy for school, work, activities, or sports. I’ve also noticed my walks and workouts last longer without fatigue and muscle cramps.

Even though it comes in five flavors, my favorite is the Ruby Red Grapefruit!

It’s National Hydration Day!

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Games get intense under the hot summer sun and we need to replace fluids lost in the heat of battle.

Did you know the human body contains more than 60 percent water? Maintaining that balance while training is a challenge, doing it during the summer months is a practice that must be consistent. Becoming overheated or dehydrated can lead to heat stroke and possibly death.

There are ways to help prevent dehydration. Being hydrated before a workout even begins is important. If you are under hydrated before you start it’s hard to catch up once the sweating starts.  Drink plenty of fluids throughout the training. These can include sports drinks which contain electrolytes (Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium and Potassium) to replenish the essential minerals the body loses through perspiration.

My favorite product is Sustain which has the dual duty of protecting the athlete as well as providing essential electrolytes for maintaining hydration balance while the athlete trains, without adding excess sugar. Sustain can be used before, during, and after the workout, to continue fluid replenishment. It tastes great and is easy to bring on my workouts.

My new favorite snack!

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Meet MY new favorite snack! New Simply Fit Nut & Fruit Clusters pack spectacular flavor into deliciously munchable bite-sized squares.

They’re crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty.

Just what you need right about now.