Archive for the 'Health & Wellness' Category

Spinach

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

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All You Fans of Popeye Rejoice!!
This leafy vegetable provides you most of the nutrients your body requires.
Here are some of the properties of spinach:
-Spinach has the ability to lower the cholesterol level of the body
-It also increases your metabolism and thus helps you lose weight
-It helps in the process of creating blood as well as it helps stop bleeding thus making it an excellent remedy for nosebleeds.
-Spinach purifies the blood of the various toxins that cause skin disease
-It is rich in iron and chlorophyll
-It also contains vitamin A in large quantities, which makes it valuable in the treatment of night blindness.

Keep this in mind:
The body does not easily absorb the minerals iron and calcium in spinach.
Spinach contains oxalic acid, a chemical that binds with iron and calcium, thus reducing their absorption by the body. In order to improve iron absorption, one should eat Vitamin C rich foods such as orange juice, tomatoes and other citrus fruits along with spinach.

Ways to make spinach part of your diet:
-Fresh spinach can be used to make a tasty, healthy salad. Add some ripe tomato for the Vitamin C.
-You can add spinach to soups or dishes like lasagna
-Stir-fried spinach along with garlic, onions and red bell peppers make a fantastic side-dish.

Mahalo to Rod Newbound for permission to print this tip. You can visit Rod’s Blog by simply clicking HERE. We are all interested in “anti-aging” eh!

The Right Question is the Answer

Friday, August 6th, 2010

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WHY?
When you know HOW to do a job you can keep it. When you know WHY the job should be done you can be the boss. This is why employees need a boss that knows WHY.

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WHY?
There’s a good chance that you learned HOW to brush your teeth before you really knew WHY you should. That’s WHY children need mom and dad.
Get in the habit of searching for the WHY behind anything you are asked to do or hear that you should do. Ask yourself;

-Why should I eat right?
-Why should I drink plenty of water?
-Why should I exercise?
-Why should I be on time?
-Why should I get organized?
-Why should I plan my day?
-Why should I tell the truth?
-Why should I think positive?
-Why should I stay focused?
-Why should I be nice to people?

There’s nothing on this list of questions that most people do not know HOW to do, but how many of them don’t get done and WHY not?

Maybe it’s just because they don’t WHY yet.
WHAT can YOU add to the list?

Going Public

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

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It’s The Pressure
When writing Success Made Easy, and introducing The Boss as a tool to impact anything, I used it as an example of weight loss, and used myself as the example. Knowing that the book would be in the public eye, I took it very seriously, changed my eating and exercise habits, and as a result my weight plummeted. I felt great.
In the 10 years (or more) that have gone by since, I have allowed my habits to change, and my weight gradually found its way back up. I was still weighing myself everyday, and still exercising regularly. But, rather than using The Boss, I have been using an iPhone application to track the results. What was missing?

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Whose Watching?
On June 1st of this month I figured it out, and announced on Twitter that I would be posting my iPhone app results daily. Almost instantly and a bit miraculously my weight began to fall off.
CLICK HERE:
The Boss works best when posted for others to see; apparently the same is true here. When faced with the glory of public success or public humiliation, most will opt for the latter and do what they know is needed.
CLICK HERE:
If there’s something you want to change, GO PUBLIC with it.
Strange beings we humans!

Power Food Tip

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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Almonds
Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all nuts. Not only are they a tasty and crunchy snack but they also have numerous benefits for the body.
If you feel like snacking on nuts, you can’t go wrong with almonds.
Two ounces, or about 24 almonds, give you more than 50 percent of your daily requirement of magnesium, a mineral that’s important for the health of your heart.

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Here are a few of the benefits of almonds:
• Almonds are good for building muscle & fighting food cravings
• Fight obesity, heart disease, muscle loss, cancer
• A good source of vitamin E, fiber, and monounsaturated fat, all hearthealthy nutrients.
• According to a recent study, eating almonds may also reduce the risk of colon cancer.
• Almonds are the most nutritionally dense nuts – which means you get the maximum amount of nutrients out of the calories you consume.

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To enjoy the health benefits of almonds, it is best to eat them with their skins intact.
Quick recipe:
For a quick popcorn alternative, spray a handful of almonds with nonstick cooking spray and bake them at 400 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes or toast them on low-medium in a skillet on the stovetop with a little butter for the same amount of time (stir frequently to keep from burning). Take them out of the oven and sprinkle them with either a brown sugar (or honey) and cinnamon mix or cayenne pepper and thyme.
Did you know?
Eating 2 ounces of almonds (about 24 of them) can suppress your appetite, especially if you wash them down with 8 ounces of water. Try doing this 30 minutes before your evening meal.
Ways to increase consumption of almonds
• Almonds and apple slices make a simple, yummy power snack.
• Enhance a healthy sauté of curried vegetables with sliced almonds.
• Add a few to your favorite salad

Mahalo to Rod Newbound for permission to print this tip.

Taste Testing at McDonald’s

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

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Taste vs. Health
I recently broke a promise to myself and had some frys at McDonalds. The feeling I had afterwards moved to to reprint this blog post from a few years ago.
In 2002 McDonald’s pledged to introduce new zero-trans-fat cooking oil, but with $23 billion dollars at stake, they were very slow to make the switch, citing the taste concerns. After increasing pressure from consumer advocates to make the change, they eventually did, but did so quietly.

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Fool Em!
Much like the devilish Chef Ramsay on Hell’s Kitchen they let people taste the healthier product before telling them that it lacked the animal fat. And, like the chefs at Hell’s Kitchen there were no complaints.
I was one of those that belived the 2002 pledge and on occassion (too many occasions) “treated myself” to some fries. However I noticed that without fail I suffered heartbun that evening along with an unpleasant feeling in my stomach. When I learned that the “pledge” was not honored, I stopped eating the fries, but did not forgive McDonald’s for the deception. I’m sure I am better off without them.

An Apple A Day

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

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Keeps the Doctor Away

The old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is more than folklore. One medium size, unpeeled apple provides over 3 grams of fiber, more than 10% of the daily fiber intake recommended by experts.

The apple’s two types of fiber lower cholesterol levels, and thus reduce your risk of heart attack, and stroke.

Adding just one large apple to your daily diet has been shown to decrease cholesterol 8-11%, and eating 2 large apples a day has lowered cholesterol levels by up to 16%!

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that eating high fiber foods, such as apples, helps prevent heart disease. Almost 10,000 American adults participated in this study and were followed for 19 years.

Lowering cholesterol levels isn’t the only benefit of eating apples. The pectin they contain removes toxins like the heavy metals lead and mercury, from your body.

Another antioxidant, vitamin C, also found in apples, will boost your body’s immune defenses, providing yet another way that apples protect against cancer.

For me, eating apples sounds better than going to the doctor.

Get Hooked!

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

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Become Addicted to Exercise
Make endorphins your drug of choice. They are a strong analgesic, and provide a sense of happiness. Endorphins are best known to those who exercise a lot, and can trigger what is known as the “runner’s high.” Some people find the rush from endorphins addictive, making exercise easy. These chemicals are natural; they work on your brain in a way that helps relieve stress, promote good moods, while helping you stay happier.

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Stay Fit
The “battle of the bulge” becomes tougher as one gets older. Success, jobs, family and other responsibilities can hamper your appearance and physical condition if you allow them to take a higher priority. I find it interesting and motivational that some of the busiest (and successful) people still find the time to exercise regularly, while some of the most complacent are in bad shape.

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Do Something - Move More
Dedicate some time to exercise. If you can’t go to go to the gym, don’t like the gym, or just don’t want to go to the gym, do something else. Find some sort of activity that requires the use of your muscles and gets your heart beating faster. It doesn’t have to be intense, but it does have to be regular. Bill Clinton, David Letterman and numerous other busy (and successful) people found the time to exercise regularly after having their heart by-pass surgery. Don’t wait for that motivation; do it now.

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Take a Walk
One of the easiest and most effective forms of exercise is walking; and it’s free. There are no gym dues, you can wear pretty much what you want to, and you can do it all alone or with a companion. Get going now! I will too!!!

Good Health

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

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Don’t Take it for Granted
As a person who NEVER gets sick I tend to take my good health for granted. When sick people say, “Stay away” I say, “Give me a kiss, I’m immune.” While watching TV the other night someone (I don’t remember who) was talking about the pain associated with throwing up. I commented, “I honestly cannot remember the last time I threw up.” Well, I do now! Watch out for the power of words. I spent the next 24 hours going between the bed and the bathroom. I know it was some sort of food poisoning, but I still haven’t figured out what it was. After all, I’m a vegan and don’t eat the stuff that normally poisons people.
What I took from this experience was a newfound appreciation for feeling good and added empathy for those that are ill. I intend to eat less, drink more water and excercise more. It would be a real shame to take a journey throgh hell without learning something.

When Feeling Down…

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

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Ask Yourself, “What if…?”
What if you were blind and could suddenly see?
What if you were deaf and could suddenly hear?
What if you were numb and could suddenly feel?
What if your nose was blocked and could suddenly smell?
What if your taste buds were dead and could suddenly taste?

Unless you are unusually gifted or severely handicapped you have these five senses. Each one is a reason to be joyful.

How would you feel if you lost everything you have and then suddenly got it all back? Rejoyce over the things you have while striving for more. It will make the journey easier to endure.

Avocados

Friday, March 13th, 2009

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Something Worth Repeating
Here are some of the benefits of the avocado:
• They contains around 25% of the calories and total fat of dairy butter, by weight
• When compared ounce for ounce they provide more heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, and potassium than other fruits.
• Avocados are the number-one fruit source of beta-sitosterol, a substance that lowers total cholesterol better than a low fat diet, and even improves HDL cholesterol.
• It also provides vitamin C and vitamin B6, and about one-third of your daily requirement of folate, a nutrient that helps neutralize excess levels of heart attack-causing homocysteine.

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Serving Suggestion:
You can use it in place of spreads like butter or mayonnaise.
Avocado Fact:
The green, smooth-skinned Florida avocados have less fat and fewer calories than the smaller, rough-skinned California kind.
Ways to increase consumption of avocados:
You can use fresh avocado on sandwiches and toast for a healthy breakfast snack.

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Dip It!
Avocados can also be used as a delicious dip, especially if you use yogurt instead of mayonnaise and add some roasted garlic.

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Tip from Me:
If you have yet to discover Veganaise; get some. You will never use mayanaise again.