Saturday, January 31, 2009

Happy and Healthy?

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

A happy mind automatically thinks happy thoughts, and a healthy body automatically hungers for healthful foods.

Dr. John Gray

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Walk to Crush a Chocolate Craving!

Chocolate eliminates the body's ability to assimilate calcium, which is not good for us ladies.

Here’s how to quickly and easily crush a craving for chocolate: Use your feet.

Literally. A walk worked wonders for a small group of chocoholics. When compared with a couch-potato group, the chocoholics experienced a major drop in chocolate cravings after only 15 minutes of putting one foot in front of the other.

Also, a craving for chocolate is a lack of magnesium so if you will take some cal/mag supplements, you won't have the craving to begin with!

High Blood Pressure? Here's Help!

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

The American College of Sports Medicine found that regular aerobic exercise can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by as much as 10 points. Brisk walking just 30 minutes five times weekly really adds up.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Are You (or Your Children) Dehydrated and Don't Know It?

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

Dehydration may show up as a headache,
tiredness, lightheadedness, nausea or
anxiety. If you experience any of these symptoms, drink 1 to 2 glasses of pure water and notice if you feel better.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Fresh Aire Indoors?

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

To naturally freshen and humidify your air, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil and add some cinnamon sticks and cloves. Let it simmer until the water is nearly gone.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Are You Cleaning?

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

Dirty wet buckets can be a breeding
ground for bacteria. After you use
a bucket to clean your house, empty
it and wash it with a little bleach
or rubbing alcohol and dry well. This
will prevent spreading bacteria around
your home the next time you clean.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Unhealthy Cravings?

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

If you experience a craving for unhealthy food, distract yourself for 10 minutes.
Often you will find once you get busy doing another activity, the craving will pass.

Do this with your children too and they will be healthier!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Read the Labels!

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

For optimal health for you and your children, read food labels and avoid foods containing additives such as:
artificial colors, nitrates, sulfites, MSG, food preservatives, synthetic flavors, food waxes and genetically modified foods.

Also, avoid hydrogenated oils (trans-fats) and sugar in any form, including high fructose corn syrup.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Just a little overweight?

In a recent study, doctors who were only slightly overweight had a higher risk of heart attacks as shown in the article below.

".. some of our colleagues in the Physicians Health Study -- about 40 percent of the more than 21,000 participating docs -- are a little overweight. They're sporting BMIs of 25 to 29.9, or waists of 37 to 41 inches (measured at the belly button while sucking in). That's not enough weight to be obese, but it's too much to get them featured on the next Hot Doctors calendar.

And the newest findings from that study suggest that they -- and YOU, of course -- have more to worry about than losing the June slot to McDreamy. Carrying just a little excess weight gave these guys a 49 percent higher risk of heart failure than their lean counterparts. (Obese people had a 180 percent higher risk).

Heart failure is common but serious stuff: It means the heart can't keep up with your body's demands on it. Pressure rises in the heart, and blood and fluid backs up into your lungs, so you get tired and short of breath easily."

So get your weight down! If you need help, just give me a call and we can start on a Health Coaching program that fits your needs and pocketbook.


See the full article at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/395487_stayyou12.html

Friday, January 9, 2009

Childhood Fitness Tied to Adult Health

A person's fitness level in childhood seems to influence certain measures of their health as young adults, new study findings suggest.

See the full article at http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5084NL20090109

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Children Should Wear Helmets...And Adults too!

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

Wear a helmet while bike riding. This will reduce your risk of head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Why Stop Smoking in 2009?

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

Smoking cigarettes increases your risk of developing diabetes, dementia, stroke, heart disease and cancer.
For optimal health, quit smoking.

This might seem "easier said than done" but a health coach can help you! Check my website at www.ececonsultants.com and click on the "health issues" tab for more info about health coaching.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Trans Fats

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

Trans fatty acids found in margarine,
processed baked goods, fried foods and
saturated fats found in meat and full
fat dairy products have been shown to
make brain cells hard and rigid. These fats also interfere with your brain's ability to process information quickly.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Fast Food Near Your Child's School?

Adolescents who go to school within a half-mile of a fast-food restaurant are more likely to be overweight or obese than kids whose schools are further away, new research suggests.

The young people in the study also ate fewer servings of fruits and vegetables and drank more soda if there was at least one fast food restaurant within a half-mile radius of their school, Drs. Brennan Davis of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California and Christopher Carpenter of the University of California at Irvine found.

See the full article at: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5013LU20090102

Friday, January 2, 2009

How Much Water Should I (and my children) Drink?

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

Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day is a simple calculation to ensure you are well hydrated. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, it is recommended that you drink approximately 80 ounces of water per day.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Liquids During Meals?

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

Avoid drinking liquids with meals. Liquids will dilute your digestive enzymes and interfere with the digestion process.