Sunday, November 30, 2008

Are Your Salads Healthy?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Most people consider salads a healthy meal.
Use caution when ordering your salad. Adding croutons, cheese, eggs, nuts, fried meat and high calorie dressing will transform a salad from a healthy meal to a high fat, high calorie unhealthy meal.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Aerobic Exercise Helps Depression!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Aerobic exercise has been shown to relieve depression. As you exercise your body releases endorphins which increase your sense of well-being.

Walking, The Least Expensive Aerobic Exercise!

Walking is one of the least expensive aerobic exercises. No special clothing needed. Just get a pair of shoes that fit and start off! Bend your elbows and swing your arms as you walk to increase the aerobic benefit to your heart.

Walk with increasing speed to add more aerobic benefits. Race walking is excellent for this.

Any cross lateral activity (opposite arm, opposite leg)also benefits the brain by building dendrites. This is especially important for your children.

Aerobic Excercise for Your Heart!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Aerobic exercise is a great way to condition your heart. As you exercise, your lungs take in more air and your heart grows stronger. Through this process your heart is able to pump more blood with fewer heart beats.

Helping your children become regular aerobic exercisers is one of your biggest challenges but can become one of their biggest health benefits!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Clean Without Unhealthy Chemicals!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

To clean your countertops, toilets and
floor naturally: combine equal portions of distilled water with distilled white vinegar and add a little lemon juice, mix well and pour into spray bottle.

Five Foods That Take Years Off Your Skin!

Here's a list of 5 Foods that take years off your skin. To find out why, visit the full article in today's Seattle PI at

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/389092_stayyou25.html

1. Legumes
2. Salmon
3. Green Tea
4. Pomegranates
5. Tomatoes

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Your Child Can't Sit Still?

This information is taken from a Good Housekeeping article, Sept 20008

"If your child just can't sit still, the cuplprit may be in your pantry. Although many factors play into hyperactivity, a British study recently showed a link between artifical food coloring and children's behaivor.

Kids under 10 displayed a significant increas in hyperactivity after sonsuming common food additives like FDA approved Red Dye
#40."

So, check the labels on the foods you buy to be sure there are no food additives!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Boost Your Zinc Levels!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Many people have low zinc levels. Zinc can be depleted by consuming wheat, soy and sugar products.
Eating 10-12 raw pumpkin seeds daily is a great source of zinc. Having adequate zinc will boost your energy level.

Some studies have also shown that zinc helps in reducing or eliminating colds.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Eat Your Breakfast!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Researchers have found that people who eat breakfast think better and faster, remember more and react quicker, and are mentally more alert than people who skip breakfast.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Why Drink Water?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Water is essential for optimum health. Water helps flush toxins from your body and aids in proper digestion and elimination.

Drink at least 8 glasses of it a day.....more is even better.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Getting Your Trace Minerals & Nutrients?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Sprouts are a great source of trace minerals and nutrients. Sprouts are easy and inexpensive to grow. Add them to salad and sandwiches for great taste and potent nutrition.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Easy Way to Get Enough Fruits and Veggies!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

If you have one or two servings of fruit or vegetables with every meal and snack on vegetables in between meals, you will easily get in the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables per day.

This is especially important for your children!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Potassium Reduces Muscle Mass Loss!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Researchers have found that eating potassium rich fruits and vegetables may reduce muscle mass loss that occurs with aging.

So, what are potassium rich fruits, you may ask? Well, a simple snack of bananas fits the bill!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Obese Kids = Arteries Like 45 Year Olds?

Obese children as young as 10 had the arteries of 45-year-olds and other heart abnormalities that greatly raise their risk of heart disease, say doctors who used ultrasound tests to take a peek inside.

"As the old saying goes, you're as old as your arteries are," said Dr. Geetha Raghuveer of Children's Hospital in Kansas City, who led one of the studies. "This is a wake-up call."

The studies were reported Tuesday at an American Heart Association conference.

For the whole story, see below:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer2/index.asp?ploc=t&refer=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/387439_obesity12.html

Worried About Your Memory?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that spikes in blood sugar can interfere with your short term memory.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Some Like It Hot---And That's Good for Them!

An article from Bastyr touts the benefits of chile peppers. Here's the URL for the entire article, a portion of the article is below the URL.

Think they are too hot for your children? Not so, the children in my childcare LOVED hot foods. Children can learn to love whatever foods your family introduce them to, just start slowly.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/386930_bastyr10.html

Natural Medicine: Feel the burn: Chiles and your health

Chile peppers have more to offer than just spice -- they're also full of a variety of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial compounds.

Chiles are the fruit of the Capsicum annuum plant, and they are the most widely grown spice in the world.

Before the discovery of chiles, the only known "hot" spices in Europe and Asia were black pepper and horseradish.

Chile peppers are rich in ascorbic acid and vitamin E, which are strong antioxidants; potassium, which keeps the heart healthy; and carotenoids, which are good for the eyes.

They also contain flavonoids, which give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors, aromas and flavors.

Flavonoids are believed to explain many of the health benefits from eating fruits and vegetables, and chiles are full of them.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Kids Need Sleep 2 Stay Slim!

A study published at the URL at the bottom of this page showed that:

Consistently getting a good night's sleep may help protect children from becoming obese as adults, a study published Monday suggests.

Researchers found that among more than 1,000 people followed from birth to age 32, those who got too little sleep as children were more likely than their well-rested counterparts to become obese adults.


URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27519861/

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

FIght Free Radicals!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Fresh fruit and vegetables contain antioxidants which are an essential component to your body's defense against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules in the body that can damage healthy cells.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Colorful Fruits & Veggies = More Nutrition!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

For optimum health, eat 5-9 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables per day. The more colorful the produce, the higher the nutritional value.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Flavor Without the Fat or Sugar?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

If you would like to add flavor to food, but not fat and sugar, experiment with spices such as cinnamon, ginger and salsa topping.