Healthy life

Let’s face it, trying to lead a healthy lifestyle or trying to lose weight is not an easy task. Obstacles arise as we all travel on this journey. However, we need to change our mindset to pick ourselves up and continue on if we fall of the the track. We decide to start a “diet” or new habit on Monday morning and we are going to be successful this week. We make great choices Monday through Friday when our schedules are strict with work and after school or work activities. Then Friday night comes along. We go out with our friends and we order a dessert with dinner. Seemed like…

Making good, healthy food choices can be difficult with all of the confusing ingredients in the market today. It is important to understand the information that the nutrition labels contain to ensure that we are putting clean ingredients into the meals that we feed ourselves and our families. The first important piece of information on the food label is the serving size. Don’t be fooled into believing that the food is packaged in the serving size. For instance, a bottle of will be more than 1 serving. (Although it is not a healthy choice no matter how many servings it is!) Once you know the serving size you are ready…

Pets play an important role in improving our health, both mentally and physically. They provide for our innate needs of companionship and love. If you have been or are currently a pet owner, you understand the affection that we have for our beloved animals. But did you know they can also be responsible for helping to improve our health? Pets provide us with an undeniable love that has no comparison. Dogs wait for us to return home after a long day of work with a toy in their mouth and a wagging tail, or in some cases a toothy smile to welcome you home with a very excited crawl to…

GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide, is a naturally occurring hormone that is secreted by the small intestine after eating that decreases appetite, slows stomach emptying, and plays a role in blood sugar regulation. There are foods and habits that can help to increase the effectiveness of this process without the use of medications. Foods that can help to stimulate the production of GLP-1 include: Lean proteins are slower to digest allowing you to feel full for longer. Healthy fats, especially monounsaturated fats and omega 3s, help with the stimulation of GLP-1 release. Fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates and fat which slows the release of glucose into the blood thus triggering the…

As with any new exercise, consult your doctor for approval before implementing the Asian Squat into your daily routine based on your personal health conditions. What is the Asian Squat? The Asian Squat is a variation of a squat exercise. It is a deep squat with toes pointed out, feet flat on the floor with heels down and hips lowered toward the heels. It is held for a period of time, such as in a resting position. It is so named due to its prevalence in Asian countries as a means of resting especially when no chairs are present. It can be utilized anywhere and has many great health benefits.…

Self care is important because it honors us for who we are and is protective of our mental, emotional and physical health. Many think that self care is an indulgent lifestyle that involves lavish trips to the spa and expensive treatments. This is not the case. Self care can be very inexpensive. It is the act of taking care of ourselves. As we go about our health journey, whether it be weight loss or disease prevention, it can become overwhelming and cause us to become burnt out because we are so focused on the goal. This is not going to help us to be productive and progress toward our goals,…

A consistent morning routine can be just what you need to get your day started in the right direction. There are a few steps that can jumpstart your day and leave you feeling ready to take on whatever comes your way. Drink a glass of water upon awakening Drinking a glass of water right away in the morning causes your body to wake and start working. Sleeping all night without any water causes you wake up in a state of dehydration. Water wakes up your digestive system and metabolism. Water can help elevate your mood, as dehydration can cause crankiness. This allows your body to flush out toxins that have…

It’s that time of year when the trees are budding and the birds are chirping…yes, it’s spring! Along with spring comes the best time to start planting a garden. Planting and tending to fruits and vegetables can be done in a wide variety of settings and climates. You can scale the garden to any size that fits your ability and needs. It can be a container garden in pots or buckets on a porch or apartment balcony. It can be a raised garden bed next to your house or it can be an expansive garden that will grow food for your family for months to come. Not only does a…