Getting Started With Holistic Nutrition September 9, 2007
Posted by Mary Ellen Iafrate in : Exercise, Uncategorized , comments closedDiet and nutrition have a profound impact on mental and physical health. The wrong food and lack of nutrients can lead to many debilitating psychological and physical symptoms and degenerative health conditions.
Whatever your situation or condition may be, you can’t go wrong with holistic nutrition. It leads to a better quality of life and a higher level of functioning.
Although holistic nutrition is largley individualized, there are some basics that apply to all individuals who wish to follow a holistic nutritional plan.
They include the following:
- Avoid chemicalized artificial junk food and processed food
- Avoid food with additives and preservatives
- Avoid sugar and caffeine
- Avoid microwaves
- Eat organic as much as possible
- Drink pure water, filtered and free of chlorine and other contaminants
- Eat whole foods in their natural state as much as possible
Excerpts from http://www.holistichelp.net; Website and all contents Copyright Cynthia Perkins 2007. All rights reserved.
Facts About Women’s Wellness and Exercise September 3, 2007
Posted by Mary Ellen Iafrate in : Exercise, Uncategorized , comments closedWhat are the benefits of physical activity?
Regular physical activity that is performed on most days of the week reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Regular physical activity improves health in the following ways:
- Reduces the risk of dying prematurely
- Reduces the risk of dying from heart disease
- Reduces the risk of developing diabetes
- Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer
- Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
- Helps to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling
- Promotes psychological well-being
- Helps to control weight, build lean muscle mass and reduce body fat
- Prevents or delays the development of high blood pressure and helps reduce blood pressure in adolescents and adults with hypertension
- Helps release stress
Sneak exercise into your day by:
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Going for a walk during your coffee break or lunch.
- Walking all or part of the way to work.
- Doing housework at a fast pace.
- Raking leaves or doing other yard work.
Here are some tips that will help you start and continue an exercise program:
- Choose something you like to do. Make sure the activity is easy to engage in without straining. For instance, swimming is easier on arthritic joints.
- Get a partner. Exercising with someone else can make it more fun.
- Vary your routine. You may be less likely to get bored or injured if you change your routine. Walk one day. Bicycle the next. Consider activities like dancing and racquet sports, and even household chores like vacuuming or mowing the lawn.
- Choose a comfortable time of day. Don’t work out too soon after eating or when it’s too hot or cold outside. Find a time that works best for you and when you feel good.
- Don’t get discouraged. It can take some time before you notice some of the changes or benefits from exercise.
- Forget “no pain, no gain.” While a little soreness is normal after you first start exercising, pain isn’t. Stop if you hurt.
- Make exercise fun. For example, read, listen to music or watch television while riding a stationary bicycle, or take a walk through the zoo. You can learn a new dance or a new enjoyable physical activity.
The above are excerpts from the Illinois Department of Public Health/Womens Health