Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. . . . People should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits.
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Month: July 2019
Health Hack: Simplify Eating for Good Health
Did You Know You Can Give Your Health a Boost by Choosing The Right Foods?
Eat your antioxidants
While a healthy diet does wonders for your entire body, fruits and veggies that contain antioxidants like vitamins B and E are particularly great for skin. “Antioxidants help protect skin against free radicals in the environment, which are damaging to skin cells,” . . . “They work to prevent free radicals from breaking down the skin’s elastin and collagen, resulting in more youthful, healthier skin.” For vitamins B6 and B12 fill your plate with fish and poultry. Vegetarians can get vitamin B6 through chickpeas which contain 55% of your DV in just one cup. And wheat germ oil (100% DV), sunflower seeds (37% DV), and almonds (34% DV) are all terrific sources of vitamin E.
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Writers Wisdom: Why Write?
“A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it” ~ Roald Dahl
Joy ~ Buddha
Joy
Buddha
Let us live in joy, not hating those who hate us.
Among those who hate us, we live free of hate.
Let us live in joy,
free from disease among those who are diseased.
Among those who are diseased, let us live free of disease.
Let us live in joy, free from greed among the greedy.
Among those who are greedy, we live free of greed.
Let us live in joy, though we possess nothing.
Let us live feeding on joy, like the bright gods.
Today’s Reflection: Growing Old?
It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams. ~ Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Sleep Hack: Nap Time
How to take a “power nap”
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✓ Napping can be refreshing but can also disrupt your circadian rhythm (the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle). To get the maximum benefit with the least disruption:
• Try to time your nap about 8 hours after you wake up.
• Try to sleep for around 20-30 minutes. This keeps you within the early, lighter
stages of sleep.
• Really sleep-deprived? Nap for a full sleep cycle of 90 minutes.
• If sleep problems persist for more than 2 weeks, contact a medical professional.
Stress Hack: Decide What’s Really Happening
Fear about one thing in your life can spill over into other parts of your life. Try to decide whether your fears have anything to do with the experience at hand.
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Longevity Tip: What Foods to Eat & What Foods to Avoid
Four Best and Worst Longevity Foods
These four best and four worst foods simplify the Blue Zones food guidelines: Favor beans, greens, root vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. People in four of the five “Blue Zones” consume meat, but they do so sparingly, using it as a celebratory food, a small side, or a way to flavor dishes.
FOUR ALWAYS:
- 100% Whole Grains: Farro, quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, bulgur, cornmeal
- Nuts & Seeds: A handful a day
- Beans, Legumes, Pulses: A cup of cooked beans / pulses per day
- Fruits and Vegetables: 5-10 servings per day
FOUR TO AVOID:
- Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: Empty calories
- Salty Snacks (Potato chips, Cheese doodles, etc): Too much salt and preservatives
- Packaged Sweets (Candy, Packaged cookies and sweets): Empty calories, preservatives, additives
- Processed Meats (Bacon, Sausage, Cold cuts): Linked to cancer, heart disease
Health Hack: Drink water like you mean it.
Did You Know Drinking Water Every Time You Feel Thirst Is a Good Rule of Thumb?
H20 is pretty much your BFF. “Every morning, I pour myself a big glass of water, which I drink before putting anything else in my body,” explains Nora Minno, R.D., C.D.N. “Staying hydrated keeps our bodies healthy down to the cellular level and it also helps keep us from overeating. Oftentimes we can mistake thirst for hunger.” . . . Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, also swears by staying hydrated. “I never leave home without my water bottle,” she says. “My goal is to drink at least three bottles full each day. Dehydration can lead to feelings of hunger, headaches, and low energy, having it with me at all times makes it easy to stay hydrated.
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Writer’s Wisdom: Clive Cussler on Plot
I write as I go. Many novelists write an outline that has almost as many pages as their ultimate book. Others knock out a brief synopsis. Do what is comfortable. ~ Clive Cussler
