You are here: Home / Archives for Wellness

The Benefits of Water!

May 28, 2013 by

Water is essential to a healthy life, and impacts countless areas of overall wellness. Below is a list of some of the amazing benefits of drinking enough H2O.

  1. Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes out the by-products of digestion. Also, drinking enough water reduces hunger, and it can act as an appetite suppressant, so you’ll eat less.
  2. Enjoying a glass of water can relieve headaches and back pain due to dehydration. Although many different factors can cause headaches, dehydration is a very common cause.
  3. When your skin is hydrated, it looks younger. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin, and also increases skin elasticity.
  4. Drinking H2O raises your metabolic level, and aids digestion. Also, keeping hydrated helps to prevent constipation.
  5. Drinking plenty of water helps ward off the flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack. Water with lemon can soothe ailments like respiratory disease, intestinal problems, rheumatism, and arthritis.
  6. Water is refreshing and is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body. Because of this, hydration is a great way to fight fatigue.
  7. Some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of both bladder cancer and colon cancer. H2O dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and decreases the amount of time in which they are in contact with bladder lining, which can help to decrease your risk.

Drink up!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

Improve Your Posture

March 26, 2013 by

When you slouch, it restricts your breathing, compresses your organs, and strains your back. If you make a habit of standing and sitting up straight, you will not only be doing your body a favor, but you will instantly look 10 lbs thinner! Here are some easy ways to keep your posture in check.

1: Take a look in the mirror.

Stand with your side facing a mirror, and check out your natural stance, without forcing correct posture. Sometimes a visual reality check is the best incentive to make your posture a priority. If you see that you’re slouching, draw your chin back to align ears over shoulders, and engage your stomach muscles. Correct posture aligns ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips, and hips over knees and ankles.

2: Sit up straight!

When you sit, press your back against the chair, and set up with both feet flat on the floor. Your neck and head should be vertical, and if you’re working on a computer, make sure your computer screen is raised high enough so that your eyes focus just slightly downward.

3: Get rid of bad shoes.

Shoes with higher heels misalign the body, so wear them sparingly, and the same goes for unsupportive flats and sandals. The best shoes provide arch support, have wide toe boxes, and less than one-inch heels.

4: Work it out.

Classes like yoga, tai chi, qigong, all work proper body alignment, and are great for improving your body awareness and posture over time. If you feel you need more individualized assistance, considering arranging an appointment with a physical therapist.

5: Remind yourself…again…and again

Post sticky notes around your home with reminders to sit and stand tall. The more often you’re reminded, the more often you can practice proper posture!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

Simple Stress Relievers

September 5, 2012 by

Stress is something that can affect us at any age. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, and are looking to relieve your stress, we’ve got some simple solutions for you. Below are helpful suggestions to help reduce stress and bring more calm back to your life.

  • Journaling has been proven to bring several health benefits, including stress relief. Take a moment in a quiet place to write down your worries and clear your head – just getting your thoughts on paper will make you feel instantly better. Then, begin a list of what you’re grateful for to switch your attitude into a more positive place.
  • Breathing exercises can be performed anywhere and provide convenient and simple stress relief. Focus on the breath for a few minutes as you smooth out and elongate your inhales and exhales, and feel your stress melt away.
  • Laughter is a fabulous tension reliever, and it also brings about positive physiological changes. Put on your favorite funny movie or TV show, or call up a friend who always makes you laugh and giggle your worries away.
  • Meditation brings both short-term stress relief as well as long-lasting stress management. If you’re new to meditation, find a quiet place to sit and begin by focusing on the breath, drawing it in and out through your nose. See if you can count 10 breaths without the mind wandering off.
  • Yoga combines breathing and meditation with light exercise. One yoga class can leave you feeling instantly better, and a consistent practice will bring about greater resiliency to stress. If you’re new to yoga, look for a “gentle yoga” class or one that says it’s “restorative”.
  • Music can change your physiology in amazing ways – if you’re feeling run-down, put on a soothing CD and allow the calming tones to seep in. If you’re interested, you can also make an appointment for a music therapy session, which can help with a variety of stress-related issues.
  • Mild Exercise, such as walking, is a great stress reliever that can work in no-time. Stepping out and taking a walk provides you with a change of scenery, which can get you into a different frame of mind altogether. Plus, you reap the benefits of exercise as well.
Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , ,

Knock Knock. Who’s There? The Amazing Benefits of Laughter

July 17, 2012 by

Laughing feels good. We all love a hearty belly-laugh, a cute giggle, or a jovial chuckle. But did you know that laughter not only feels great in the moment, but it also offers long-term benefits to your health?! The reason that laughter offers such profound health benefits is that it allows the pituitary gland to release pain-suppressing opiates.

So, what exactly can laughter do for you? It can…

  • Decrease blood pressure
  • Improve vascular blood flow
  • Oxygenate the blood
  • Give the diaphragm, abdominals, facial, leg, and back muscles a workout
  • Improve respiratory function
  • Reduce stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline
  • Improve the response of tumor- and disease-suppressing cells
  • Prevent respiratory infections
  • Reduce the occurrence of colds
  • Improve memory and increase learning
  • Help with alertness and creativity

If you’re looking for a super simple (and enjoyable) way to boost your overall wellness – start laughing! Turn to your friends, family, favorite joke book, comedian, or funny movie to help you crack a smile, if need be.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

The Best Snacks for Any Age

June 26, 2012 by

One of the most difficult things about eating right is not going overboard with snacking. It’s relatively easy to watch your calories at planned mealtimes, but when it comes to snacking, it’s easy to overdo it. Below are five ideas for healthy, delicious snacks.

1.     Olives – A great way to get your fix of salty snacks is by noshing on a few olives. These delicious bite-sized morsels are low in calories and sodium compared to chips and other snacks, and also boast a fair amount of antioxidants and other helpful nutrients.

2.     String Cheese – Another good way to satisfy a craving for something savory is to enjoy a string cheese. Although cheese does have a little more fat, it also packs excellent protein and calcium. Plus, it's good for helping you feel full between meals.

3.     Fruit – Fruit is one of the all-best healthy snacks you can eat to satisfy a sweet tooth. Pick fruits with lots of fiber (like apples or pears) to keep you feeling satisfied until your next meal.

4.     Nuts – Nuts make an awesome snack for a number of reasons — they pack sweet, salty, and fatty flavors, and when eaten in moderation, they’re good for your health, too. Most nuts hold a bounty of protein and healthy, essential fats. The trick is to avoid fatty nuts like cashews and Brazil nuts – walnuts and almonds are the best.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Benefits of Omega-3s

May 8, 2012 by

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids found in foods such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, salmon, sardines, and walnuts, and we all need them in order for our bodies to function properly. One of their most crucial benefits is that these fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, and a lot of diseases, such as heart disease and arthritis are linked to the inflammatory issues.

The Mayo Clinic touts some of the health benefits of Omega-3s, benefits such as:

  • reducing the risk of heart attack
  • reducing heart arhythmia
  • reducing risk of stroke
  • lowering blood pressure
  • lowering triglycerides

Visit the Mayo Clinic's website to learn more about Omega-3s.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Many Benefits of Green Tea

March 20, 2012 by

If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your overall health and immunity, it could be as easy as enjoying some green tea. Incorporate a cup or two of this ancient drink into your daily regimen, and rest assured that you’re fortifying your health as well! The University of Maryland Medical Center website has a page listing some of the benefits of green tea. Here are a few:

  • Green tea contains antioxidants, and it can help reduce coronary artery disease.
  • Green tea can lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
  • Some studies show that green tea might protect people from developing cancer.
  • Green tea can help control blood sugar levels, making it useful for those with diabetes.
  • Green tea may also help boost metabolism and help the body burn fat.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

Stay Young with Yoga

February 28, 2012 by

Yoga has become an increasingly popular practice over the past few years. With its claims of increasing strength and flexibility while calming the mind, yoga has gained a loyal following of all ages. But, did you know that yoga can actually help you reduce or even reverse the effects of aging? If you haven’t tried yoga before, you may want to start after reading about its profound benefits. (Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen!)

  • Yoga can counter the effects of aging by moving joints through their full range of motion, which stretches, strengthens, and balances each part. This is important because muscles shorten and joints tighten with age, and yoga stretches the body to relieve stiff joints and lengthen muscles.
  • Yoga can help ease the pain associated with osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Recent studies indicate that yoga may be as effective as drug therapy in controlling hypertension.
  • Even after just a few months of a consistent yoga practice, you’ll begin to experience increased feelings of good health and well-being.
  • Yoga has been proven to be an effective complementary treatment for musculoskeletal disease and related disorders.
  • Calming yoga stretches reduce physical stress and tension while increasing overall relaxation.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page

Pin It on Pinterest