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Tag: healthy lifestyle

Eye-opening statistic about functional movement

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Here’s an eye-opening statistic for you! 

“The average person loses 30% of their muscle by the time they reach 60!
This can lead to many health issues including loss of balance, less mobility, as well as decreased bone density — all of which can lead to falls and fractures.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, studies suggest that among those 50 and older, up to one in two women and up to one in four men will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Even a minor fall or bump can result in broken bones for those suffering from bone density loss. 

Strength training for the aging population — and by that, I mean anyone 50 and over — is tremendously important as it can help to reduce the risk of falls and bone breakage. The great news is that it’s never too late to start…and it doesn’t have to be complicated! 

We all are getting older. Exercises that combine functional strength skills with mobility exercises with help us move better and reduce the risk of injury! 

Here are just a few benefits of functional movement and strength training:

  • Reduced Fall Risk 
  • Better Balance and Stability
  • Improved Mobility
  • Decreased Pain and Stiffness
  • Increased Strength and Stamina
  • Greater Ease When Performing Daily Activities

By incorporating functional strength training two to three days a week and aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking) three to four days a week, you can experience greater control and improve the quality of your life!

Second-Hand Smoke

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It’s not something that we hear a lot about anymore, but it’s still out there. And it’s as dangerous as ever! Look at the stats:

  • Second Hand smoke causes as least 7,000 deaths each year from lung cancer.
  • Heart disease CAUSED by second-hand smoke kills 34,000 Americans each year.
  • Short term smoke exposure can increase heart attack risk.
  • A large European study found that exposure to second-hand smoke at home or work can increase pancreatic cancer risk by 50%!

Each year, 3000 sober Americans are tragically killed by drunk drivers, but 41,000 non-smokers are killed by second-hand smoke! 

Besides avoiding it as much as possible, what can we do?

Eat cruciferous vegetables! Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and collard greens lower our cancer risk because they help to detoxify our bodies of carcinogens like benzene, found in cigarettes.

Gout

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I don’t know if it’s on the rise, but I keep hearing of people suffering with Gout, so I thought it might be good to post on it.

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain and swelling, often in the big toe. 

Uric Acid is a waste product, produced by the body in small amounts. When uric acid blood levels get too high, it can cause problems such as gout, kidney stones or other kidney disorders.

What causes these high levels?

  • High Blood Pressure 
  • Obesity 
  • Excessive Intake of Alcohol
  • Diets High in Meats, Bacon, Turkey and Sardines 

Interesting Fact: Only about 4% of the population suffers from gout, but at least 21% of adults have high uric acid levels. This can lead to hypertension, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and insulin resistance syndrome.

Uric Acid can be reduce with the help of medications but these meds can have various side effects, so proceed with caution.

Finding Your Path

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Finding a path that affords you personal growth while serving others and allowing you to have time freedom is priceless.

Connecting the Dots

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Sometimes, connecting the dots doesn’t make sense to some of you. It will, it just means you haven’t connected the dots , yet. What dots? The myriad of weird illnesses caused by various products you’re using or have used in your home.

I’ve been connecting the dots for twenty years now and I can’t say enough about how these products have changed my life! Looking back, I think I spent more money than I care to admit on supplements that didn’t work. It was frustrating, looking for healthier options. I am so thankful for my friend who introduced me to a new brand she found. She swore these “new” products were life changing..

First of all, I never have to step foot in a big box store to get discounts, these products are priced competitively and are delivered straight to my door!
Think about it, how many ow many companies are truly American these days? This one is. everything is made here in the USA. How many companies do you know of have a 96% reorder rate each and every month? None that I know of!”

I will forever be grateful for this online shopping club and what it’s doing and had done for my family.
We don’t have many things we can control but we can control what we put in our homes and in our bodies!

Skinny Fat

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Skinny fat is a term to describe those who might be thin but have a high percentage of body fat. The medical term is sarcopenic obesity. This condition refers to an individual who may have what would be considered a normal/healthy weight, but metabolically, this person shares many health characteristics as someone who is overweight or obese. And that means they are at risk for a variety of health problems.

The Cause?

  • Losing muscle mass and gaining fat mass due to maintaining the same caloric intake and a sedentary lifestyle creates a skinny fat condition

The Description?

  • A person who is sarcopenic obese will have high fat mass and low muscle mass

The Analysis?

  • Getting a body composition test can help assess your body fat and muscle mass distribution

Possible Risks?

  • Increased risk of heart disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Insulin resistance, leading to Type 2 Diabetes 
  • Lower bone mineral density
  • Loss of cognitive function

The Solution?

  • Eating a protein-rich diet
  • Increase Skeletal Muscle Mass with weight training

Just because someone looks skinny, don’t just assume they are healthy.

What do you know about Pumpkin seeds?

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Pumpkin seeds contain more magnesium than spinach with 48 percent of your daily needs in just half a cup!
They beat all other seeds aside from hemp and chia in their magnesium content. 
Pumpkin seeds are also extremely high in chlorophyll, zinc, iron, and potassium, making them one of the most alkalizing seeds around. You want your body to be more alkaline because it reduces inflammation.
Enjoy pumpkin seeds raw and look for those that are bright green in color, not muddy brown. The greener the seed, the fresher and richer in nutrients it will be.

Are Your Children Snuggling with Toxins?

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Did you know toxins can be found in many brand name Fabric Softeners:?
It’s true. I was surprised when I found out that one potentially carcinogenic chemicals could be in my laundry.
Clothing and blankets that touch our skin and who doesn’t inhale that fresh clean fabric scent?
Her’s a list of chemicals that can be found in Snuggles brand fabric softener:

• Alpha-Terpineol – Linked to disorders of the brain and nervous system, loss of muscle control, depression, and headaches
• Benzyl acetate – Linked to cancer of the pancreas
• Benzyl alcohol – Linked to headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, depression, and disorders of the brain and nervous system.
• Chloroform- Listed on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list as a carcinogen and neurotoxin (toxic to the brain and nervous system)
•Ethanol –Listed on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list for its ability to cause brain and nervous system disorder
• Ethyl Acetate – Causes headaches and is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
• Linalool – Causes loss of muscle coordination, nervous system and brain disorders, and depression
• Pentane – Causes headaches nausea, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, and depression

I just want you to know Safer options are a switch away.

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Setting Boundaries

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The past year almost brought me to a dead stop. After decades of “doing it all” (and loving it), I had to learn to do almost none of it. But I still want to be useful and able to do so much more. So healthy living and healthy choices has to become my focus. It’s my response to “take care of yourself.”

Learning to make healthy choices in eating, exercising, sitting still and feeding my soul, sleeping enough, has become a necessity. That makes making those decisions so much easier! With the virus season upon us…those things are really important if we want to remain useful in the present.

My work with a wellness shopping club and hanging around on social media with healthy minded people motivates me and makes saying “no” to unhealthy choices a whole lot easier. But boundaries are not popular—saying “no” to friends never gets easier.

I owe a lot to the simple changes I made as well as eating healthier. Why not join me in this adventure?

Why 10,000 Steps?

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I used to think 10000 steps a day was more than I could handle—some days I barely logged a thousand steps. Really! I wasn’t walking a lot. I was going from my home to my car, then parking close to the door at work and to my sedentary desk job. At the end of the day the process would be done in reverse. I thought I was getting enough steps in —I swam at the pool and I rode my bike but that was about it. The health club I belonged to held a month-long 10,000 steps challenge for the members. I admired my friends who monitored their steps on their smart watches, and logged in impressive numbers of steps throughout the challenge. The concept was interesting, but with my schedule, I just couldn’t seem to bypass 5,000 steps in one day.

Then I got a new job. It required me to be on my feet most of the time working with customers. Suddenly, my feet hurt. I needed better shoes. I quickly found out shoe choices were a hot topic among my coworkers. The better the shoe for walking, the less you ached at the end of the day! I quickly found good sneakers. Soon I was logging more than 10,000 steps a day. A lot more. Most days I would log 22,000 steps.

I had always wondered why experts chose 10,000 steps. I discovered for me, 10,000 was equal to walking about five miles—so I became more active. Yay! But my research also shows there’s science behind the actual number.

  • A study in JAMA Neurology found a possible link between walking 10,000 steps per day and a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, 13 types of cancer, stroke, and heart failure. 
  • Research indicates a link between walking and improved mental clarity and the creative flow of ideas.
  • A study of over 72,000 people found that walking 9,000–10,000 steps per day may reduce the risk of death by more than a third.
  • Walking an extra 10,000 steps per day can burn 2,000–3,500 calories per week, which could lead to weight loss depending on your weight and exercise intensity.

I still try to get in 10,000 steps per day, no longer for health reasons but because I enjoy it and my canine companion does too!