A traditional Japanese diet today consists of some 11-15 servings of vegetables? Meanwhile, our USDA food pyramid recommends a paltry 3-5. Knowing that there’s a multitude of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients available in these rainbow colored foods should be all we need to hear to get us on the veggie bandwagon. These colorful plant foods also contain antioxidants, which scavenge free radicals (causing cell damage and aging), aid longevity and youthfulness, and fight cancer. They cleanse the blood, offer hydration and healthy sugars, support the liver, regulate cholesterol levels, and promote healthy elimination. It doesn’t hurt that they taste delicious either! Make it a goal to put a rainbow on your plate.
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Lack of time in the sun means you’re not getting your Vitamin D, which is necessary for many, many important functions in the body, including constructing all of our hormones. Being cloistered indoors leads to feelings of depression and stress. Meanwhile, a walk on the beach, or in the mountains, or in the woods, provides a plethora of negative ions that balance our circadian rhythms, slows our heart rate appropriately, and creates a sense of peace and well being in the body. Take a picnic lunch. Go for a hike on the weekend. Make it a priority to reconnect with the greater world beyond the one humans have made. It will increase your awareness of our interconnectedness and belonging to the Earth.
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While estimates vary, traveler’s constipation is thought to affect as many as 40% of travelers. “Do this digestion exercise to help prevent falling prey to traveler’s constipation,” the Nutrition Twins said. “It will make your stomach flatter by helping to flush waste and toxins from the body by encouraging elimination of stool through the intestines,” they said. “Suck in your stomach as far as you can, then stick it out as far as you can. Meanwhile, breathe in when sucking in, and breathe out when pushing your stomach out. This small exercise helps blood flow to the stomach, aids in digestion, and exercises your abdominal muscles.”
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Asking ‘Is red meat good or bad?’ is useless,” said Meir Stampfer, professor of epidemiology and nutrition and senior author of the study. “It has to be ‘Compared to what?’ If you replace burgers with cookies or fries, you don’t get healthier. But if you replace red meat with healthy plant protein sources, like nuts and beans, you get a health benefit.”
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Staying hydrated is so important, regardless of age. Our bodies are made of approximately 60 percent water, we need to provide our body and brain with adequate amounts. When you feel thirsty, this is your body’s way of telling you that you’re already dehydrated. At this point, energy levels and cognition can be affected. From digestive health to cell function, water is a critical component of positive health. When you drink enough water, you’ll also support a healthy weight throughout adulthood. Try to consume half of your body weight in ounces daily – meaning, if you weigh 140 pounds, consume 70 ounces of water.
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The key to staying motivated is to know where your problem areas are and have a plan for dealing with them. Do you use food to cope with disappointment, rejection, boredom, or even personal success? Brainstorm some healthier ways to cope with mood swings that do not involve food. In addition, control your environment to avoid bingeing on high-calorie foods when you do feel disappointed, rejected, or bored. Keep your kitchen stocked with lots of healthy options such as chunks of fruits and veggies, low-fat yogurts, flavored waters, and sugar-free gum.
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Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer and other related ailments. It can also attack the look and feel of your skin. Wrinkles are nothing to be ashamed of, they’re a normal part of the aging process. Smoking speeds up the development of wrinkles. Based on the high nicotine content in cigarettes, blood vessels narrow, reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the skin. There are also thousands of chemicals in cigarettes, damaging the elasticity in your face, reducing organ function, and potentially increasing one’s risk of dementia.
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When you sit too much and don’t move around, the muscles in your hips, legs, and calves get tighter. This lack of flexibility can increase your risk of strains and other injuries, and add difficulty to everyday movements like reaching a high shelf, twisting to look behind you in the car, raising your arms overhead, walking up stairs, or squatting or bending to pick up something. The main trouble spots for people are the hips, legs, low back, and shoulders and chest. Stretching is the best way to improve flexibility. “You should stretch every day,” says Dr. Elson. “It should be like brushing your teeth. Stretch after a workout or walk, after a hot shower, or as a break from a long period of sitting.”
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A diet with more fiber and whole grains may mean a lower risk of death and disease, a new analysis commissioned by the World Health Organization has found. Researchers noted that people who had higher intakes of dietary fiber and whole grains had lower rates of chronic diseases, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, compared to those with diets low in fiber and whole grains. The study, published in the peer-reviewed health journal The Lancet31809-9/fulltext), suggests eating at least 25 to 29 grams of dietary fiber per day in order to achieve these health benefits. Higher intakes could produce more benefits.
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