The man who has been called the most influential nutritionist in the world by The Boston Globe is on a mission to get you, me and everyone to eat a mostly plant-based diet, forour personalhealth and the health of the planet.

He is Dr. Walter Willett, and he is one of the world'sleading plant-based advocates, and he answered The Beet's questions of how we can all have an impact on this Earth Day. Among hismany titles, Dr. Willett isProfessor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, former Nutrition Chairman at the Harvard School of Public Health, author of Eat, Drink and Be Healthy,and author or co-author of over 1,700 scholarly articles. But don't let any of thatget in the way of his clear and plain-spoken message. He is the warm and caring granddaddy type,who wants to read you a story about the importance of your ability to change the fate of the planet and your own personal health through the food choices you make.

For Earth Day, Dr. Willett answered The Beet's questions ranging from, "What difference does one person make?" to the outcome of our planet's climate crisis, to "How can we get people to change their diets now" for the sake of the environmentand their health. My favorite line: "Almost everything important does start with one person,and everyones efforts will be needed to shift to the healthy and sustainable diets that we need."

Willett is the grandson of a dairy farmer, a soft-spoken scientist and a little bit of an outlier when it comes to his fellow researchers. Never one to "toe the line," he has challenged perceptions of trans fats and won over the establishment to his view (they are poison, metabolically speaking) and now he is challenging those who think that it's fringe to eat only plants and to avoid animal products.

He has made it a life's work to ever so politely speak out about inconvenient truths, as he did last fall when invited totake the podium at a health conference at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. I sat on the floor in the back of a packed room, taking notes onmy laptopand expected to hear another version of the same message that had been delivered by leading light after leading light of the plant-based medical world:That eating a plant-based diet helps save cardiac patients, reverse severe cardio-vascular symptoms and enlist good bacteria in the gut to fight inflammation and lower the risk of death.

Instead, Dr. Willett went rogue, talked about sustainability and specifically- how our food choices now will impact whether we can feed the planet later. The world's population is growing at a rate faster than the number of burgers we can feed it and that if--my words here--we don't all FHB on themeats and change them over to veggie burgers on thegrill, the entire planetis going toheat up to the point where we won't be able tosustain any healthy lifestyle, and not in the distant future, but soon. If we continue to eat the way we are, not only will we all meet an early grave from the diets that are slowly killing us, butour grandchildren's world will be unrecognizable. Okay, those weren't his exact words but that was the message I heard loud and clear; We have to change the way we eat today if we want to survive as a species for the nextseveral hundreds of years.

I wanted to hear it again and bring it to The Beet. He kindly made time for a last-minute Q and A the day before the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. So consider this your personal version of the full Dr. Willett. Uncensored and too busy to mince words. Here is his Earth Day message, delivered patiently, as if he would tell the same bedtime story to us kids as many times as we ask him to. We just have to listen. That and change the way we eat. Now, today, and in the future. For our own sake and the sake of the planet.

Dr. Willett:"We have documented that eating for planetary health can also be eating for our personal health, so this can be a double win.Broadly, this means shifting toward a healthy plant-based diet; I emphasize healthy because donuts and coke are also plant-based, but obviously not healthy. A healthy and sustainable diet will be primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy, and other legumes. While being a vegan is an option, our diet can also be good for planetary and human health if we chose to include small to modest amounts of dairy, fish, and poultry and occasionally red meat.

Dr. Willett. "Our biggest challenge is probably simply habit and inertia. Some have suggested that a healthy, sustainable diet is more expensive, but we have seen that it can actually cost less because animal-sourced food are relatively expensive.

Dr. Willett. Our planet is currently on a path to disaster because of climate change and other environmental impacts of our current activities. We must make many changes quickly to avoid this, including a rapid shift to all green energy, but we cant succeed unless we also change our diets and how we produce food.

Dr. Willett. In general, earth-friendly foods are also healthy foods, but there are exceptions because grains and sugar have relatively low greenhouse gas impacts. Thus, foods made with refined starch and sugar are cheap with modest environmental impacts but very unhealthy. Also, much of the worlds population eats diets that are mostly starch because of poverty; these may have a relatively low environmental impact but they are nutritionally deficient in many ways. This is clearly not acceptable.

Dr. Willett. The direct connects are not so clear. However, COVID-19 has exposed the terrible state of nutrition in America; most of the factors that increase risk of dying, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, are largely due to poor quality diets that are also having a devastating effect on the environment. We desperately need to shift to diets that are healthy and sustainable rather than the largely animal-based, overly processed foods that we are eating.

Dr. Willett. Almost everything important does start with one person, and everyones efforts will be needed to shift to the healthy and sustainable diets that we need. We must start with our personal diets as we wont be taken seriously unless we do so, and then we can influence our wider circles, whether that is our family, our circle of friends, where we go to school, our worksite, the organizations we belong to, or the political world in which we live. We are obviously coming up to a critical election, and we must do everything possible to elect leaders who commit to putting the brakes on climate change and environmental degradation more broadly.

Dr. Willett:I want to be able to pass on to our children and grandchildren a world that is healthy and just. We know there is path to achieving this, but it will require all the efforts that we can muster.

That's it for today. But here is another quote that Dr. Willett offered on a different day. Take this with you as you think about your own personal choices and your responsibility to yourself, your loved ones and your planet:

"No single food will make or break good health. But the kinds of food you choose day in and day out have a major impact." -- Dr. Walter Willett

That impact is hopefully enough to keep us all eating healthy, for our own personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of the planet. Happy Earth Day.

Continued here:
Dr. Walter Willett Wants You to Eat Plant-Based for the Planet - The Beet

The current pandemic is of particular concern for patients who have heart disease. Heart disease patients are at higher risk for being sicker with COVID-19. By protecting yourself, not ignoring symptoms, and taking care of your heart at home, you can safely navigate this current pandemic.

The first step for heart disease patients is to protect themselves from the current pandemic by following stay-at-home guidelines, practicing social distancing and washing hands. If you have heart disease staying home may save your life.

Dont Ignore Your Symptoms

Secondly, make sure you report to the emergency room or your cardiologist if you are experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, or have questions regarding your heart health. Most offices are using telehealth, and hospitals have systems in place to protect patients coming in with non-COVID-19 issues. Dont put off symptoms that may be a sign of impending danger.

Take Care of Your Heart at Home

Third, being stuck at home may be an ideal time for you to make lifestyle changes to help your heart. Exercise, eating healthy and not smoking are critical in keeping your heart healthy. It has been shown that a brisk walk 30 minutes a day can help heart disease patients live longer.

With so few distractions, it is an ideal time to begin exercising regularly. The walk should be brisk enough that it would be difficult to hold a conversation on the phone. Remember to keep your distance from others while outside.

Do you LOVE local news? Get Local News Headlines in your inbox daily.

Thanks! You'll start receiving the headlines tomorrow!

With limited access to restaurants and shopping, now is an ideal time to practice eating better. Healthy eating can reduce your chances for worsening heart disease. Reducing sweets, reducing processed foods and learning to cook healthy meals should become part of your stay-at-home daily schedule.

We recommend visiting the American Heart Associate website for recommendations for heart-healthy eating: heart.org.

If you smoke, make the stay-at-home order your excuse to never buy another cigarette.

Smoking is dangerous in so many ways and is particularly dangerous for your heart. Call your doctor for help, replace smoking with a healthy habit, and make this pandemic your time to quit.

Though this is a difficult time, we can find ways to make positive changes in the way we live and turn this pandemic into our time to be heart healthy. By protecting yourself, reporting worrisome symptoms, and making healthy lifestyle changes, you may save your life now and live longer.

Read more from the original source:
Don't forget your heart's health during the COVID-19 pandemic - Idaho Press-Tribune

Dont you just love the current pandemic gobbledygook? Reading too much of it can be harmful to you. Phrases like social distancing, flattening the curve, frontline warriors, and quarantine, just spin up frightful emotions.

One thats caught my attention is essential business. Today, its all about opening these essential businesses as quickly as possible. In this, my 31stdaily emotional education piece, I will focus on an unusual essential business, yet one thats always been quintessential and indispensable for living well. I believe our lives hang on this essential business.

This cardinal essential business is self-efficacy,believing in your confidence to deal with various circumstances and situations in life. This essential business was first described by psychologistAlbert Bandura, Ph.D. in 1977.

Your belief in your ability to perform in difficult situations and to produce specific goals influences the energy you expend towards reaching for those goals.Self-efficacy influences how you feel about yourself and helps shape how successful you will be in achieving your lifes goals. Your belief in your ability to succeed in a particular situation, how you think, act, and how you feel about yourself in the world are pretty essential, wouldnt you agree? Wouldnt you prefer to be motivated and committed to a lifelong healthy lifestyle, feel non-anxious, non-depressed, be socially connected, happy, filled with self-acceptance and have an optimistic outlook on life?Youll find these by keeping your self-efficacy essential business open 24/7.

From exercise to eating, smoking cessation to self-management of chronic disease, and alcohol use to pain management, self-efficacy is certainly an essential business, one that need remain open and at the forefront of our lives now during COVID-19, and always. It is at the forefront of ourhealthy behaviors. And like most of life, it rests on the notion, the link is what your think.

You can easily spot those with strong self-efficacy, especially during the challenges COVID-19 bring. They recover from any setback and disappointment quickly, they see opportunity during adversity, and they continue committed to achieving their goals regardless of the obstacles the pandemic has presented.

People with a weaker sense of self-efficacy are those who are avoiding any challenging undertakings now, are focused on the negative, and are losing or have lost confidence in their ability to get through the strains of this time.

Self-efficacy isnt something you are born with. The good news is its a psychological skill you can build. Here are the four ingredients youll need;

1.Personal mastery experiences your past successes improve your belief that you can do it again. Hey, Ive done this before with success.

2.Vicarious social modeling seeing others who are similar to you succeed will help. If s/he can do it, I can do it.

3.Social persuasion who doesnt like compliments, high-fives, encouragement, and other positive reinforcements?You rock!

4.Physiological responses the way you perceive and interpretyour moods, physical reactions, and stress levels will impact how you feel about your abilities in a particular situation. Yes, the link is what you think.

Heres a quick 10 item scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, that you can take right now to measure your self-efficacy tank.

Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 4:

1=Not at all true, 2=Hardly true, 3=Moderately true, 4=Exactly true

The higher your score, from 10 to 40, the greater the probablity that youll stick with your goals, have favorable emotions, be more optimistic in your outlook and create more satisfaction in your daily lifeand see this COVID-19 time filled with opportunities to continue growing.

Here are someguidelinesto grow your essential self-efficacy:

1.Challenge your negative self-assumptions Is my thought true? Would a kind and helpful person say this to another person? If not, what makes me say this to myself? What do I get out of thinking this about myself? If I make myself feel badly, or abandon a healthy lifestyle by thinking this way about myself, hows that helping me now? Make a list of at least five of your strengths and createother ways to manage your thoughts about living better now.

2.Ensure early success and celebrate every step forward choose activities that you know for certain youll be successful in, then slowly move up the ladder, each time, achieving more and more to build your self-confidence and the I can do it attitude. Too many easy successes though may lead you to give up when you do bump into failure. So enthusiastically set challenging, achievable, realistic goals, and enjoy the process of moving forward.

3.Watch others succeed in the activity you want to take on better if they are similar to you, so neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members, all can give you the boost in your self-efficacy level. Be careful, though, not to compare yourself to those who are way ahead the compare and despair syndrome can be a killer. And remember, everyone began as a beginner.

4.Find a supportive, affirmative voice experienced fitness and health coaches, emotional educators, physicians and others in health care are skilled in helping people find appropriate self-encouragement. Be on the lookout for positive feedback to strengthen your self-efficacy.

While government and the public fight about whats an essential business and whats not, protest about how soon an essential business should reopen, your life hangs on this essential business. Keep it open 24/7.

Go here to read the rest:
Why Your Life Hangs on This Essential Business - Thrive Global

If the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic has you feeling powerless, maybe a reminder that lifestyle can profoundly shape your health is just the antidote you need.

From the food and drink we choose to how active we are, we can claw back some control by going back to healthy basics, says public health advocate Sandro Demaio.

"It's critical that people take care of their physical and mental health at the moment," says Dr Demaio who is also CEO of VicHealth.

"A lot of things we do to maintain our connection and routine have gone out the window."

A healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking, limiting the alcohol we drink and getting nourishing sleep might not sound exciting but they are proven cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle, Dr Demaio points out.

And there's not a superfood or yoga pose that can compete with this approach.

It's true that to prevent infection with coronavirus, hand washing and social distancing are our best defences until a vaccine arrives.

But it pays to remember the basic pillars of good health help fend off a range of chronic diseases every bit as unwelcome as COVID-19. These include heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Refocusing on a healthy lifestyle can also leave us in better shape to face the corona crisis in the shorter term by boosting our immunity and supporting good mental health, Dr Demaio says.

Moderate to vigorous exercise such as brisk walking and cycling, for instance, can bring about several positive changes in your immune system, including enhanced movement of important immune cells through the body.

Although these changes are temporary, each exercise session represents a boost that reduces the risk of infection over the long term.

There are many ways to continue an exercise program even when you are physically distancing.

A healthy diet too can enhance immunity by providing essential vitamins and minerals and by encouraging a wide range of good bacteria in your gut.

Recent research has shown these bugs play an important role in supporting the body's immune response to infection and can even boost your mood.

Eating a wide range of plant-based foods seems to be helpful in nurturing the right bacteria, along with natural yoghurt and fermented foods like Korean kimchi and German sauerkraut.

The Dietitians Association of Australia has tips for planning our pantry during the pandemic while LiveLighter suggests some recipes you can make with your staples once you're stocked up.

Good sleep is also vital for immunity and it helps our mood and our ability to cope with stress as well. The Sleep Health Foundation has a fact sheet with useful tips.

While you might be tempted to reach for alcohol to help you cope, it can increase our susceptibility to infection. It can also interfere with sleep and make you more prone to anxiety and depression.

There are healthier ways to manage stress than alcohol (such as relaxation and meditation). And Dr Demaio suggests if you must keep beer and wine in the house, storing it in a cupboard rather the fridge can help minimise impulsive drinking.

"Now more than ever we need to remind Australians how important it is to stay healthy, despite many of us understandably feeling stressed and anxious," says Ms Melissa Ledger, who oversees the LiveLighter healthy lifestyle program, funded by the Western Australian Government.

"We know that the healthier we are, the better off we are to manage infections like the common cold. It's possible it will also help us with this current virus, although it's too early to say," she says.

"That's one of the great things about making changes or maintaining healthy routines at the moment. It will keep you healthy now and for the long-term too."

The current pandemic won't last forever and "if we let unhealthy habits become normal, it's really hard to kick those habits later on," Ms Ledger says.

If you're a smoker, health experts are also keen to point out it's not too late to reduce your chance of a severe COVID illness if you quit now.

As well as the huge long-term payoffs, some important benefits can kick in within four to six weeks.

"Your airway inflammation will be improving, you will be less likely to have an acute heart problem or a common or garden-variety pneumonia. So your need for acute hospital care will diminish," says Professor Matthew Peters, head of respiratory medicine at Sydney's Concord Hospital.

The fact many of us are grappling with daily routines that have been turned on their heads actually provides an opportunity for change, Dr Demaio says.

Many of us are working from home, often for the first time ever. And with the commute wiped out, we may find ourselves with more of something that's often one of the biggest barriers to adopting healthier lifestyle: time.

"Everyday life is so busy for most people. And very often your own health is the first thing to fall by the wayside.

"The good news is at the moment, with so many events and activities cancelled, many of us have more time than ever."

Using this time to work on your cooking skills could help you eat better once life goes back to normal.

(Unsplash: Kevin McCutcheon)

Using this time to work on your cooking skills could help you eat better once life goes back to normal.

Unsplash: Kevin McCutcheon

He urges us all to use any bonus time we have at the moment to stop and take stock.

"Ask yourself, 'what can I afford to do, what do I have time to do [now] to improve my own health?'"

If you can develop some basic cooking skills, for instance, you'll find it easier to whip up a quick and healthy dinner when life gets busier, he suggests.

And as plenty of us are discovering, starting the day with a walk or run we once didn't have time for, can reap profound rewards in other ways too.

"A lot of people are now doing exercise before work instead of sitting in a bus or car. What they're finding is their back pain has disappeared, or their diabetes has improved. Small changes like that can be a game changer."

Both Dr Demaio and Ms Ledger stress that while you don't want to let healthy lifestyle slip off your radar, it's important to be kind to yourself.

"Now's not the time to be rapping yourself over the knuckles for something you're not doing for your health," Dr Demaio says.

"Cut yourself some slack and focus on small sustainable steps."

Even simply sitting on a couch reading a book, enjoying the chance to learn a new skill or catching up with a friend or relative for a video call, can be important in boosting mental health and wellbeing.

"Jump on a video call over dinner or coffee so you can see the faces and the laughter. Those non-verbal cues are really important not to miss out on," he says.

"There is a big opportunity in this crisis to rethink some of the basic things that are driving [our] disease risk in the longer term. To actually end up with a society that's healthier because of the disruption."

The outbreak of coronavirus in Australia has created a public health emergency like no other and unleashed a financial wrecking ball right through the Australian economy.

View post:
The coronavirus pandemic offers an opportunity to go back to the basics with health - ABC News

One of the reasons Arlington County, where Amazon is opening HQ2, is rated highest for health and fitness is because of its young demographic.

One of the reasons Virginias Arlington County is consistently rated highest for health and fitness is because of its young demographic.

Take Ballston, for example, where 47.7% of the adult population is between 25 and 44 years old.

Businesses that cater to a young demographic and a healthy lifestyle follow the population base.

We now have 15 boutique gyms within a four-block radius of our Metro station, and thats in addition to the other lifestyle gyms that we have here, Tina Leone, CEO of the Ballston Business Improvement District, told WTOP.

It is really an incredible explosion of gyms that have come into our neighborhood.

Those boutique gyms go beyond weight benches and treadmills, with specialty CrossFit, boxing, Pilates and spin centers becoming increasingly common.

The Ballston B.I.D. estimates an average of three gyms or fitness clubs now open in the neighborhood every year.

Along with fitness clubs, restaurants are chasing the embrace young Arlington residents have for a healthier lifestyle. Ballston has seen it first hand in recent years.

We see new restaurants coming in that are totally geared toward health and wellness. All very natural and very fresh. Everything is going to sustainability whats fresh, whats here, whats local, Leone said.

In Crystal City, which will get an onslaught of young, well-paid professionals as Amazons HQ2 staffs up in coming years, there are plenty of gyms and fitness centers.

But Crystal Citys restaurant scene has some catching up to do to attract more health-conscious millennials and Gen Zs, at least according to one veteran local restaurateur and lifelong Arlington resident.

Nick Freshman owns Mothersauce Partners and was one of the first to sign a lease for a restaurant, bar and coffee shop on Crystal Drive near Amazons future headquarters. The Freshman is set to open later this year. But Freshman thinks Crystal City is behind the curve.

The restaurant landscape has been slow to evolve, much slower than Arlington as a whole. While other main commercial sectors of Arlington have seen their food scenes explode, even to the point of saturation, Crystal City lags behind.

Of course, some of us are working hard to change that, Freshman said.

Arlington County is among the most expensive areas in the Washington region and the nation, which makes the county, and in particular neighborhoods like Ballston, Virginia Square and Rosslyn, a window into the lifestyles of young, well-paid, professionals.

You can see that in the fact that they live in smaller spaces. They dont own vehicles. They are making their own life right in their neighborhood. As long as you have the amenities, Freshman said.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.

2020 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

See the original post:
Why is Arlington so fit? Young people who love gyms and restaurants - WTOP

Salt is bad for you. No, salt is fine. Floss after every meal. No, flossing is actually bad for your oral health. And so on. People are constantly bombarded with health news that is conflicting and confusing, leaving them unsure whether well-established health advice is actually trustworthy.

Consider the case of red meat. Heavy consumption has long been linked to heart disease and other illnesses. That is until just recently, when the Annals of Internal Medicine published researchconcluding that there is no compelling evidencethat people stand to benefit from eating less red meat. Theres alsothe curious case of the egg, which has been both celebrated as a staple of the American diet and maligned as a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease several times over.

Although these are only a few examples, the way they shape our lives is striking. The problem is that the rigor for most health studies is not the same as those for clinical trials for pharmaceuticals, yet they still find their way into mainstream health conversations. One of the key limitations to the way health news is presented is that its difficult to translate insights and observations into meaningful action across entire populations when the depth and length of research generally dont stand up to statistical scrutiny.

Understanding the Conflict

Theres a reason Mens Health magazine has tens of millions of monthly website visits and the Journal of Mens Health does not. The former packages health answers in quick, easy-to-digest articles, while the latter is a peer-reviewed academic journal focused on more in-depth research the kind of presentation that doesnt lend itself to capturing todays readers. The value people place on types of content plays a huge role in what does and doesnt gain traction on the internet and, therefore, what types of content health news publications continue to create.

Internet content is crafted with different goals. Theres no doubt that some of it is designed to inform, but the vast majority is made to drive engagement, solicit clicks for ads and sell subscriptions. When editorial teams find topics that achieve those goals, they create more and more content built from that template.

Unfortunately, it can misinform and cause some readers to make poor short-term decisions for themselves. Just think about the craze over cleanses. Fasting for 24, 48 or 72 hours has some benefits, but the fervor surrounding specific ingredient cleanses like the cayenne cleanse can yield unreasonable expectations and set people up for disappointment. Fad diets and yo-yo cleanses dont add up to become a healthy lifestyle. Instead, they lead readers to lose faith in the credible research and science that is so crucial to health news and information.

With so much misleading and incomplete information circulating around the internet, it can be difficult to know what to trust. To contextualize health news and make good decisions, there are a few tips we can follow:

The people who conducted the study, the writer, the editor who are they? It might not always be possible to understand the motivations of the publishers, but looking into their backgrounds and specialties can shed light on their qualifications. Think about the latest red meat study, which we now know was led by a man whoneglected to disclose his tiesto the meat and food industry.

Remember that most online articles exist to drive traffic, not inform readers.When you come across a story that doesnt link to a specific study, copy the claim or statistic and do a quick search onPubMed, an online database of research studies with non-biased funding, to see whether you can verify the claim being made.So much web content is built in the form of digestible bits there can be a lot of factual errorsor incorrect assumptionsthat slip through the cracks. Just as concerning, key pieces of information can be obscured or misrepresented in order to further an agenda.That being said, there is good content out there.To separate those articles from the bad ones,do a little digging.

If something feels oversimplified and the story has no contextual data, it probably isnt worth your time.

Just start with the headline, which might not always reflect the conclusion of the story its discussing. Considera recent headlinewarning that hospital lights could increase death risks in patients dealing with heart disease. What that headline didnt say was that the study was limited and only conducted on mice.

As another example, most diet studies rely on a limited survey of what people ate over the past six months. Usually these are weaker than studies based on food journals because people forget. I cant remember what I ate for lunch four days ago, let alone over the past six months.

Understanding the operational chain at news outlets (or websites masquerading as news outlets) can sound an alarm when something feels off. Many writers do not create the headlines for the stories they author. Often, that responsibility falls on an editor or a social media manager. In that handoff, that person might write something punchier than the substance of the story, misrepresenting the issue in the process.

In an ideal world, online content could be trusted to be an accurate reflection of the latest and most important updates in the world of health. Unfortunately, thats not always the case. Some publications are known to create new articles based on older studies, passing them off as if they touch on the latest information. But sometimes the information presented has since been debunked.

Its important to check to see whether the information is new and verified. If it has been disproven since the original studys publish date, be sure to closely analyze everything coming from that publication and/or partner publications going forward. Credible sources will link to the original study, so you should usually be able to find the full brief within two or three clicks. If the piece does not include a link, that should be a red flag to continue reading with a bit of caution.

By default, checking the following details can help you separate clickbait from credible research.

With so much misinformation circulating on the internet, its important to understand how we can differentiate the good articles from the bad ones. Examining motivations, breaking apart the claims and methods used, checking the timeliness of the information and discussing the findings with trusted friends and colleagues can equip us to contextualize the information and judge the usefulness for ourselves. When we take such steps, we help ensure the health news we digest is truly right for us.

Shutterstock

See the original post here:
4 Ways to Make Good Health Decisions - The Good Men Project

This Christmas, my grown sons getting something healthy and delicious from Kates Real Foods.

Before Santa could even get them off the counter and into the secret hiding place, my son discovered and ate one of the Bartons peppermint-bark candy bars Id just discovered at the dollar store for a lot less than you see them for on Amazon.

My son hasnt believed in Santa for about 20 years. But that doesnt stop me from putting out the milk and cookies with a note near the fireplace and hanging the stockings by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nick

This Christmas, 2019, my son happens to be living at home. It could be one of my last chances to be the Santa in his life. Soon enough, there will be a wife and his own kids at the center of his merry gift-wrapped universe.

But while I have him, Ill be getting up in the middle of the night and putting the wrapped presents under/near our tiny tree and hanging his big childhood stocking on the silver reindeer mantel hook.

Now that I think about it, Ill probably just stick to a stocking. For years hes been of an age and mindset that theres really nothing I can choose for him that hed like except maybe the latest iPhone (his is new enough, thank you!) or some other high-dollar item like a new laptop (which this strapped Santa is definitely not able to afford right now).

What it boils down to then is a bunch of well-chosen gift cards (selected for maximum mitigation of borrowing money from Mom) and a check. On the list: Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chipotle, Walmart, and High Stone Reflexology.

You cant just throw a bunch of gift cards and a check in a stocking and call Christmas done, which is why Ive been casting around for fun small stuff that will make it seem like Santa put some real thought into this happy charade.

The peppermint-bark bars (minus one), a pair of Bombas socks (a friend gave me my first for Christmas and theres no going back), and what else?

Every Christmas when I was growing up, Santa inexplicably would put a tangerine in our stockings. Less mystifying but equally traditional, thered also always be some foil-wrapped Mexican wedding cake cookies (which I baked all my teenage years for Santa to pilfer). Since thats what passes for Christmas-stocking tradition in my family, my son will get tangerines and Mexican wedding cakes, and, I hope, like me, hell always associate the singular smell and taste of a peeled tangerine and a festive dusting of powdered sugar with Christmas morning.

Of course there will also be Hersheys Kisses in red, green, and silver foil. And then for something new, Ive found Kates Real Food energy bars. A personal trainer and power-lifter, my grown kid will appreciate these hand-rolled bars made from organic ingredients that sustain energy.

Kates Real Food gets high marks from everyone from Forbes to Outside to GearJunkie. But what really sold me besides the ringing endorsements was the Western back story:

In the 90s, Kate was living the ski-bum life in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Between days on the slopes and nights waiting tables, Kate was always on the move and she needed a tasty organic energy bar that could keep up with her. When she couldnt find one, she decided to make it herself. Over ten years later, Kates continues to support people as they pursue a healthy lifestyle.

USDA Organic. Non-GMO. Gluten-free. All-natural honey. Sustainable. Voted Best Tasting Bar at REI on the Adventure Sports Network.

Heres what my lucky son is getting in his stocking: the Lemon Coconut Ginger Bivy Bar, Mango Coconut Tiki Bar, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Grizzly Bar, Peanut Butter Hemp and Flax Stash Bar, Dark Chocolate Cherry and Almond Handle Bar, and the Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Tram Bar.

Lemon Coconut Ginger Bivy Bar

Mango Coconut Tiki Bar

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Grizzly Bar

Peanut Butter Hemp & Flax Stash Bar

Dark Chocolate Cherry and Almond Handle Bar

Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Tram Bar

1/6

Best thing about them besides how delicious and healthy they are is the super-cool outdoors- and adventure-inspired packaging that means Santa doesnt have to wrap them. And if the peppermint bark was fair game for stealing before Christmas morning, Santa might just have to nick one of these and skip the milk and cookies.

Get some at katesrealfood.com, Amazon, REI, and specialty grocery stores and coffee shops.

View original post here:
Stuffing the Stocking - Cowboys and Indians

Copayment and Premium Assistance Now Available

GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The HealthWell Foundation, an independent non-profit that provides a financial lifeline for inadequately insured Americans, has opened a new fund to provide copayment and premium assistance to Medicare patients living with chronic heart failure. HealthWell will provide up to $2,500 in financial assistance for a 12-month grant to eligible patients who have annual household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

Chronic heart failure is a progressive condition that causes the muscle in the heart wall to slowly weaken and lose its ability to pump blood. The heart is unable to pump enough blood through the heart to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), chronic heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there is no cure. Many people with chronic heart failure lead full and enjoyable lives when managing their condition through medications and healthy lifestyle changes.

"WomenHeart recognizes that for too many women living with heart failure, the costs of ongoing treatment and care can seem insurmountable," said Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart. "Women living with heart failure can thrive with proper care and treatment, however they are more likely than men to have higher total out-of-pocket costs, which may impact readmissions and overall quality of care. WomenHeart commends the HealthWell Foundation for starting a fund for heart failure patients to help off-set the financial burden of their treatment costs."

"Patients living with chronic heart failure face day-to-day challenges in managing their condition. These challenges can be even more pronounced when patients are on Medicare and struggle to cover the cost of their medications," said Krista Zodet, HealthWell Foundation President. "Our donors understand the hardships many people living with chronic heart failure endure. As a result of their generosity, we are now able to ease some of the financial barriers these patients face in accessing critical, possibly lifesaving, medications."

To determine eligibility and apply for financial assistance, visit HealthWell's Chronic Heart Failure page. To learn how you can support this or other HealthWell programs, visit HealthWellFoundation.org.

Story continues

About the HealthWell FoundationA nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net across over 65 disease areas for more than 405,000 underinsured patients by providing approximately $1.25 billion in grant support to access life-changing medical treatments they otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly. HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. HealthWell ranked #33 on the 2019Forbeslist of the100 Largest U.S. Charitiesand was recognized for its 100% fundraising efficiency. For more information, visit http://www.HealthWellFoundation.org.

About WomenHeartWomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the first and only national organization solely dedicated to advancing women's heart health through advocacy, community education, and patient support. WomenHeart's mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease, and to advocate for their benefit. As the leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease, WomenHeart advocates for equal access to quality care and provides information and resources to help women take charge of their heart health. To learn more about WomenHeart, visit http://www.womenheart.org.

CONTACT:Ginny Dunn240-632-5309Ginny.Dunn@HealthWellFoundation.org

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthwell-foundation-now-offers-a-financial-lifeline-to-medicare-patients-living-with-chronic-heart-failure-300978531.html

SOURCE HealthWell Foundation

Original post:
HealthWell Foundation Now Offers a Financial Lifeline to Medicare Patients Living with Chronic Heart Failure - Yahoo Finance

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has joined FIFA and World Health Organisation (WHO) in support of their #BeActive campaign, launched to encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome as world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIFA's campaign features players from clubs that are fierce rivals but are coming together to follow and proliferate guidelines for staying active at home during the global lockdown.

Following the FIFA and WHO guidelines, the PFF has released the video featuring Pakistan womens national team defender Malika-e-Noor and goalkeeper Mahpara Shahid urging people across the country to stay active during the ongoing lockdown.

Malika and Mahpara, who are captains of rival Army and Wapda domestically, said that even rivals have to "come together in these tough times".

At this time, even rivals need to stand united. We have to keep our distance, but we do not lose our focus. We can show solidarity by being active, and active means following the guidelines from the WHO," the players stated in the video released by the PFF.

The WHO recommends all healthy adults do at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity and children at least 60 minutes per day.

The campaign gives the following suggestions along with any other forms of recreation to stay healthy at home:

Several major football clubs,including Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal FC, have already joined FIFA and WHO's campaigns.

Manizeh Zainli, the secretary-general of PFF's normalization committee, said that "the PFF is working to bring forth a better, brighter future, a place where we can all compete again in a healthy way."

"I believe these are arduous times for all of us and it surely is hard to stay at home and follow a healthy routine. With the #BeActive campaign in collaboration with WHO and FIFA, Pakistan Football Federation is working to bring forth a better, brighter future, a place where we can all compete again in a healthy way, without impeding our growth any further. We are all in this fight together. she said.

Read this article:
PFF joins FIFA, WHO's BeActive campaign to promote healthy lifestyle - Geo Super

Ashley Grahamannounced herpregnancyon Instagram in mid-August with a gorgeous, posed photo of herself showcasing her baby bump in a body-con dress hugging her every curve. She was met with messages of congratulations and comments referencing her sexy belly. And just three days later, she took social media by storm when she posted another photo displaying her new journey to motherhood, which was a close-up of that same belly,unedited with stretch marksand all.

The 32-year-old model went on to post photos from the earlier months of her pregnancy, where she was lounging in a teeny bikini, rocking alatex dressor even showing off thehigh-waisted underwearthat she was wearing to the gym to make up for the fact that her leggings no longer fit. With each post, she took control of the narrative surrounding her own changing body and empowered women to embrace its evolution in both the sexy and vulnerable moments.

Getting bigger and bigger and trying to embrace my new body every day, she captioned a video on Oct. 7. Its a journey and Im so thankful to have such a supportive community.

Despite the body-positive model making her own vulnerability look easy, shes admitted that being so authentic about the changes while simultaneously trying to accept them was difficult. This is a new body that Im walking into, she explained during anepisode of her web series, Fearless. I felt so isolated, I felt so alone.

Although social media became an outlet for her to connect with other women feeling the same way, its no wonder that she felt reluctant to share so much as these conversations surrounding pregnancy havent always existed. Instead, women in the spotlight, as well as in everyday life, have often hid their changing bodies as a result of a shame-based culture.

If we look at it from a historical perspective, even in the last 30-40 years, women hid their bodies. They wore tents when they were pregnant. You hid pregnancy. You hid the body changing,Dr. Carla Marie Manly, PhDtells Yahoo Lifestyle. It was something that was very private. It was, in innocence, something that a woman was ashamed of, and so its really a shame-based culture.

One of the earliest examples of prominent women breaking this perception wasDemi Moorewith her1991 Vanity Fair coverwhere she posed nude while seven months pregnant with her second daughter, Scout Willis. However, as Manly points out, the photo represented an idealized version of pregnancy.

They are the posed pictures and the celebrity has the right to have the retouching done and all of this, Manly explains, adding that any other celebrated depiction of a pregnant woman was far and few between.

Most other discussions around pregnancy didnt happen until the postpartum period, when a woman was being prompted to talk about bouncing back a concept highlighted by features likeKourtney Kardashians interview in Shape magazinewhen her first-born, Mason, was just 18 months old.

I'm really excited to be on the cover of Shape and offer some advice, particularly to new mothers. I'm proof that even after having a baby, you can look better and sexier than ever! Kardashian is quoted in the beginning of the piece, which featured bikini photos and tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, kicking cravings and being a hot mama.

Other expecting moms have been shamed for their appearance while pregnant, including Elsa Pataky whosebaby bump was compared to a beer bellyduring an episode of Fashion Police after the 2014 Oscars. The movement against that type of shaming, Manly says, is a result of recent messaging around body positivity, which counts on women to set an empowering precedent of owning their bodies and talking more openly about them.

What I think were seeing is a movement toward destigmatizing so many aspects of what it is to be a woman, and what it is to be human, Manly explains. And so as we strive to destigmatize that, we then reduce the shame that surrounds it. So we no longer feel the need to hide because its something normal.

Some of this years pregnant celebrities Amy Schumer,Shay Mitchell,Shawn Johnson,Jessica Simpsonand Graham did their part to normalize all parts of pregnancy, including both the sexy and unsexy, with unfiltered content of themselves growing out of clothes, getting stretch marks and swelling ankles, lounging in lingerie and even working out.

By calling attention to it on your own, you are in control of that. You are no longer embarrassed about it because youre in control of the narrative and you say, this is a part of being normal. Yeah, its inconvenient or yeah, I wish I didnt have the swollen ankles, yeah I wish I didnt have the spot on my dress or whatever it is, Manly says. But it is here, its normal, its natural, and sometimes, isnt it funny how we are all so human and human together? And thats the beautiful part.

Read More from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us onInstagram,Facebook,Twitter andPinterestfor nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox?Sign up herefor Yahoos newsletter.

See the rest here:
Ashley Graham is working to teach women how to embrace pregnancy stretch marks and all - Yahoo Lifestyle

Eggs are one of the most versatile foods out there you can cook them in endless ways, they keep you full for hours and theyre a nutritional powerhouse loaded with protein and other nutrients that protect eye, muscle and bone health.

Despite all these benefits, eggs have gotten a bad reputation at times because of the high cholesterol found in their yolks. The information is confusing: One week the news will tell us eggs are perfectly healthy and the next were told to stop eating eggs. To find out how many eggs are healthy to eat, we reached out to medical and nutrition experts to help clear up some of the confusion.

Can eggs be part of a healthy diet?

If youre generally in good health and dont have heart disease or high cholesterol, eggs can be part of a healthy diet when eaten in moderation. Eggs are good for us for a lot of different reasons theyre unprocessed, rich in protein, low in calories and contain healthy fats and other nutrients.

One egg provides 6 grams of protein about the amount found in an ounce of beef, turkey, chicken or fish along with other nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and small amounts of iron and vitamin D, all for only 77 calories, said Lisa Diewald, a registered dietitian and program manager at Villanova Universitys MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education.

Eggs are also relatively inexpensive compared with some other sources of protein, like meat, fish and nuts. In addition, they contribute to a feeling of satiety, which may keep you from reaching for snacks between meals.

But you can easily diminish the health benefits if youre not careful about what you pair eggs with. People often eat eggs alongside bacon, sausage and other processed foods.

There is substantial evidence that processed and highly processed foods are associated with overweight and obesity, as well as higher cardiovascular risk, said Artur Viana, a physician and clinical director of the Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program at Yale Medicine.

How many eggs are too many eggs?

Theres no magic number when it comes to how many eggs you can each day. This depends on a lot of factors, including your biology and the other foods you eat throughout the day.

Nutrition research and recommendations consistently go back and forth on whether the cholesterol in eggs is bad for human health, and this can be seriously confusing.

Both the 2010 and 2015 versions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans (these recommendations are updated every five years) say a 2,000-calorie diet should include 26 ounces of meat, poultry and eggs each week as part of protein requirements (for reference, a large egg weighs around 1.7 ounces). Beyond that recommendation, there is no information in the guidelines about limiting egg consumption. Diewald said this is because there wasnt sufficient evidence to show a relationship between cholesterol consumption and its impact on blood cholesterol when the guidelines were released in 2015.

Maren Caruso via Getty Images

But things have changed a bit since then.

In a recent study in JAMA of close to 30,000 individuals, the consumption of larger amounts of cholesterol and/or eggs was linked with a modest increase in cardiovascular disease risk and death, Diewald explained, referring to the Journal of the American Medical Association. On the other hand, a large international prospective study published just this year found no significant associations between eggs and blood cholesterol, risk of death, or other cardiovascular events.

Pointing to the JAMA study and the fact that egg yolks contain saturated fat, Sean Heffron, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, said its best to minimize egg consumption if you struggle with cholesterol. He also noted that eggs, like nearly any other food eaten in moderation, can be part of a heart-healthy diet.

Eating a dozen eggs a day is probably unhealthy, but a consumption within reason, such as two or three a day, is likely OK for people who dont struggle with cholesterol, Viana added.

But people with heart disease or high cholesterol need to be more cautious, Heffron said. If you dont like eggs, you can cut them out of your diet completely, he said. If you really like eggs, he suggested cutting down as much as you can, to possibly a maximum of one egg a day.

Some recent data suggest that even one egg daily can increase cardiovascular risk, Heffron pointed out. That being said, if the rest of the dietary saturated fat and cholesterol consumption from other sources is reduced, then less of a specific egg restriction might be reasonable.

The yolk of one large egg contains nearly 200 milligrams of cholesterol and we know that cholesterol in the foods we eat may raise levels of LDL cholesterol, which is often known as bad cholesterol because it can narrow arteries, reduce blood flow and cause other heart-health problems. The study Heffron and Viana alluded to found a significant association between higher consumption of eggs or dietary cholesterol and higher risk of cardiovascular disease. But other research shows that foods that are high in dietary cholesterol may not impact blood cholesterol significantly.

The Takeaway

Overall, Viana doesnt believe eggs are to blame for cardiovascular problems.

If somebody has a balanced diet that happens to include eggs daily and lives an overall healthy lifestyle with daily exercise, and no tobacco and only moderate alcohol use, it is unlikely that the cholesterol in eggs will have a major impact in their health, he said. Elevated blood cholesterol is associated with negative cardiovascular outcomes, but it is unclear whether cholesterol consumption, especially from eggs, is independently associated with that.

Another point to keep in mind is that not everyone responds in the same way to dietary cholesterol so what might work for one person may not for another.

Some individuals are genetically predisposed to making more cholesterol, so reductions in dietary cholesterol may not be enough to keep blood cholesterol levels in check, Diewald said. Others are hyper-responders, meaning increases in dietary cholesterol may quickly be reflected in blood cholesterol measures. Still others can pack away omelet after omelet and see no changes in cholesterol.

Rather than demonizing eggs or putting them on a pedestal based on the latest studies, Diewald suggests looking at the big picture. Eggs contain a ton of important nutrients, and yes, they also contain a large amount of cholesterol. For the most part, when consumed in moderation, eggs can be part of a nutritious diet alongside other heart-healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, other sources of lean protein and healthy fats. But keep an eye on your blood work, and always pay attention to what your doctor recommends.

Read more from the original source:
How Many Eggs Are Healthy To Eat? Experts Weigh In. - HuffPost

Having a baby is one of the most miraculous, magical, and life-changing experiences a woman can have. But for so many women around the world who are unable to get pregnant and who struggle to start a family, its also one of the most difficult, disappointing, and emotionally draining experiences. Because not all women get pregnant by just thinking about sex. Because not all women forget to take their birth control and get pregnant the first night. Because not all women who long so desperately for a baby can get pregnant even after a month, a year, or several years of trying. Because infertility is prevalent, persistent, and very painful.

The sad truth is that we as a culture dont talk about infertility nearly enough, and equally important, we dont talk about the small things we can do to support and enhance our fertility. By not talking about it, were unintentionally creating (or perpetuating) the stigma that surrounds infertility were making women feel isolated even though they are far from alone in their experiences, and were making it embarrassing to access important information that just might help women working so hard to have a baby.

Women (and men for that matter) everywhere could benefit from a healthy dose of honesty, openness, and a celebration of what their bodies can do, as opposed to only worrying about what they cant. So, lets take this opportunity, in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week and beyond, to change the conversation and focus on positivity, realness, and actually useful tips to help boost spirits and boost fertility, one healthy habit at a time.

The Facts About Infertility

Before we can talk about ways to boost fertility by practicing a conscious, healthy lifestyle, we need to talk about the fertility (or infertility) facts. Infertility is defined as an inability to become pregnant or difficulty maintaining a healthy pregnancy. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, infertility is when a woman is not able to become pregnant after having regular intercourse (sex) without birth control after one year (or after six months if a woman is 35 years or older). And while, statistically speaking, 9 out of 10 reproductively healthy couples will become pregnant within 12 months of trying, the truth is that getting pregnant is actually really hard and requires a whole lot of extremely important things to occur in sync in order to conceive a baby.

Lets talk about what it takes to get pregnant. Spoiler alert: Its a lot more than just one night of unprotected sex. Consider this your sex-ed refresher course.

First, a woman needs to have a healthy uterine lining and healthy eggs. She then needs to release an egg/eggs at the exact right time when she and her partner also have unprotected sexual intercourse. The mans sperm need to not only be plentiful but also mobile and strong. They also need to be in the right place at the right time. The womans cervical mucus needs to be conducive and hospitable to transport the sperm to the egg, and the egg and sperm need to meet at the exact right place at the exact right moment to have any chance of conception. But thats not all! Assuming conception does occur, the fertilized embryo then needs to travel to the womans uterus and implant in that uterine lining, where it develops into a healthy fetus over the next 40 weeks. And along the way a lot has to continue to go right, from the development of the placenta to the womans hormone levels to the genetic makeup of the baby and so SO much more. If it sounds exhausting and incredibly improbable, thats because it is. While this reality can certainly be hard to accept, in some ways it can also be a bit comforting for women struggling to get pregnant its not easy for everyone, infertility is emotionally and physically exhausting, and youre not alone.

Out of 100 couples in the United States, about 12 to 13 of them have trouble becoming pregnant, and approximately ten in 100 (6.1 million) women in the United States ages 1544 have difficulty becoming pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 6 million American women struggle with infertility. Think about that. And to be clear, that number is most likely an under-estimate, because many women suffer in silence and never admit their struggles, or never seek testing and medical assistance to address their fertility issues.

April19-25 is National Infertility Week, a week intended to change the conversation around what infertility is all about and to help remove the stigmas and barriers that stand in the way of building families. And while were all about any week or month dedicated to a healthy and supportive conversation and community around fertility, its important to remember that every day is an opportunity to get educated, get inspired, take action and increase hope in the journey to motherhood.

Consider Healthy Supplements to Boost Fertility

So, we know that infertility is incredibly common, and getting pregnant is really (really) hard for a lot of women and couples. And luckily, we live in a time when fertility treatments and reproductive technologies have changed the game and can provide hope and assistance to women longing to start a family but in need of some help. But what if you are looking to support your fertility and a healthy reproductive system long before any fertility issues may arise or be diagnosed? Its never too early to start thinking about your health in new and important ways, and experts are suggesting that various healthy habits, lifestyle changes, and dietary practices can actually help safeguard you from modern-day reproductive threats, boost your fertility, and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

The American Pregnancy Association explains that every day we (all of us, women, men, children, everyone) come into contact with excessive free radicals that can have negative impacts on fertility. While our body does make some of these substances and they are necessary for natural and healthy reproductive functions (like ovulation), exposure to too many free radicals can harm fertility and might be linked to recurrent pregnancy loss. Our free radicals can increase due to exposure to toxins, poor nutrition, too much caffeine, psychological stress, and more. To combat this, its a good idea that both men and women increase their intake of antioxidants.

What does it mean to increase antioxidant intake? For starters, many fertility doctors may recommend that their patients take an antioxidant-rich prenatal supplement in an effort to protect egg health, especially as a woman ages into her mid- to late-thirties. Some studies have shown that antioxidants can improve egg health and increase the number of ovarian follicles to improve ovulation. For men, antioxidants may help to improve sperm health and mobility.

That said, other studies are less clear on whether or not antioxidant intake is directly linked to improved fertility, but the potential benefits seem to outweigh the lack of evidence according to many experts.

The American Pregnancy Association also stresses the importance of taking an active folate supplement to improve the absorption of folic acid, which has long been known to reduce the risk of developmental neurologic problems in the developing fetus and reduce the risk of neural tube defects. In 2018 researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School found that for women trying to become pregnant naturally, the following vitamins and nutrients were linked to positive effects on fertility:

Folic acid

Vitamin B12

Omega-3 fatty acids

Healthy diets (such as the Mediterranean diet)

Most prenatal vitamins contain the recommended amount of folic acid, B12, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which might be helpful for women trying to boost fertility. And to be clear, prenatal vitamins are recommended for all women of reproductive age who are not on birth control and are hoping to become pregnant, not only
for women who are currently pregnant.

A Healthy Diet and Healthy Habits Are Also Crucial for Reproductive Health

Some healthy habits and lifestyle changes have everything to do with what you put in your body. And some habits have nothing to do with what you eat or what supplements you take, and everything to do with how you spend your time and take care of your mind and spirit, as much as your body.

First, the most obvious bit of advice from experts: Get enough sleep. According to the experts at IVF South Florida, sleep does a lot more than just affect our mood. Failing to get enough sleep also influences the hormones a woman secretes throughout her cycle, both during fertility treatments and when trying to conceive naturally. Studies have shown that getting enough quality sleep has a positive effect on the reproductive hormones a woman produces, including progesterone, estrogen, Leptin, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones (FSH). It is incredibly important to get enough sleep, and get quality sleep, when trying to become pregnant. In fact, a study from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine found that women with low quality sleep had lower rates of fertility than those getting adequate rest.

Next up: Stay active. Exercise helps both your physical health as well as your mental and emotional health, all of which are crucial aspects of overall wellness if you are hoping to become pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. Not only is physical activity a great outlet for stress or anxiety related to pregnancy (or an inability to become pregnant), but it also keeps your body healthy and keeps your weight in check, which can also improve fertility and encourage a healthy pregnancy later on.

Speaking of weight, its essential to maintain a healthy weight and a healthy diet prior to conception. Studies show that obese women have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy, and even prior to conception, obesity and excess weight can negatively impact egg quality, according to Dr. Amanda Kallen, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale Fertility Center. Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to have imbalances in insulin levels, in testosterone levels and in levels of FSH and LSH, and these hormones drive the growth of follicles and ovulation, Kallen explained to CNN.

In terms of diet and nutrition, there are several fertility diets that claim to boost fertility simply by adjusting what you eat. For example, in The Fertility Diet: Groundbreaking Research Reveals Natural Ways to Boost Ovulation and Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant, Dr. Jorge Chavarro and Dr. Walter Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health, suggest that certain dietary habits can help a womans chance of getting pregnant. After reviewing the diets of more than 18,000 women who were trying to get pregnant (with no history of fertility issues) from the Nurses Health Study, they found that the quality of your diet can help (or hurt) your chances of getting pregnant. They recommend the follow dietary practices:

Cutting back on red meat and trans fats

Getting protein and iron from veggies and nuts

Choosing whole-fat milk and even ice cream

Drinking coffee, tea, and alcohol in moderation

Losing weight (if needed) and exercising

Beyond that, a nutrient-rich diet comprised heavily of fresh fruits and vegetables is always a good idea, and try to cut back on processed foods. There is evidence that supports that various dietary patterns support fertility goals; however, most patterns have components in common, such as being rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and seafood, said Lauren Manaker, an infertility and prenatal dietitian who counsels women and men who want to conceive. Eating this way will likely not hinder chances of conception versus eating a diet that is common in the Western world, which is rich in refined carbs and processed foods and low in vegetables.

Another obvious tip really applies to anyone at any age, but is especially important for women trying to get pregnant or who become pregnant: Dont smoke. Cut back on or eliminate alcohol and other recreational drugs from your diet, and remember that what you are putting in your body matters not only for your personal health, but the health of your eggs and the health of your future pregnancy.

And when in doubt, always consult with your doctor to discuss dietary changes, healthy habits, or pre-pregnancy changes that you should make to your lifestyle. Its a good idea to schedule a preconception visit to review the ways that you and your partner can maximize your chances of a successful pregnancy, and to discuss any substances, foods, or activities to avoid to increase your reproductive health and boost fertility before you even begin trying to get pregnant. Knowledge is power and preparation is everything, so get educated, have open conversations about your health, and do whatever you can to protect and support your fertility today and for the future. And please remember, whatever you are going through with fertility struggles, you are never alone.

Link:
National Infertility Week: Honoring Your Body with a Lifestyle That Supports Fertility - BELatina

SINGAPORE: Since circuit breaker measures were implemented in Singapore on Apr 7, many more people have been working from home. Despite the time savings, some have found this arrangement a bane rather than a boon.

Telecommuting, or working from home, can lead to working longer hours remotely with little breaks and social isolation, especially when there is lack of support from bosses and organisations.

As a psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, Ive seen first-hand how some struggle to draw the line between work and home.

Some of my clients find themselves working more than 50 hours a week, which exceeds the 48 hour cap of the Ministry of Manpowers Employment Act. They also work with little to no interaction with other people.

Overworking and isolation cause increased stress, which could fuel physical problems such as musculoskeletal and metabolic issues, as well as mental health problems such as loneliness and depression.

One of my clients felt compelled to work longer hours as she had many meetings and calls to attend to until the evening. The fear of having things accumulate, letting her supervisor and herself down and failing to meet deadlines made it difficult for her to stop, causing her to be exhausted and depressed.

When she reached breaking point, she turned to me for help.

That episode made me realise that while we have focused on taking care of our physical health this coronavirus outbreak, we may have neglected our mental well-being.

1. STAY CONNECTED

Many of my clients have shared how distraught they are at the loss of face-to-face interactions in their lives, since all social activities have grounded to a halt.

I cannot emphasise how critical it is to stay connected during this period. Dont just use technology for work use it to keep in touch with friends and family, whether through voice calls, video conferencing, instant messaging or emails.

After all, we are social creatures who benefit from love, attention, support and comfort. A reduction in social connections can be disorienting, even destabilising.

Seeking your loved ones out and maintaining your relationships with them through virtual activities are some ways you can continue to bond. How about throwing an online karaoke video party?

In fact, my colleagues and I try to organise weekly lunch meetings via video calls while working from home.

If you live alone, you can join local online groups through Facebook or Instagram to interact with your neighbours. Who knows what new joys you might discover? Some people have learnt of new deals and tried new restaurants based on their neighbours recommendations.

This is a great way to make new friends and to support local businesses.

2. MANAGE CHANGES WITH KINDNESS

During this period of change, try to also be kind to one another.

One of my clients shared that she was required to report to her manager several times a day via video calls to give updates on her work progress. She found that immensely stressful and anxiety-inducing.

Together, we worked on communicating her needs to her manager. Thankfully, her manager understood the struggles of working remotely, had an open mind and was more flexible on deliverables, thus building mutual trust.

Understanding what your real challenges are and communicating clearly can help you and your co-workers get through work and foster a stronger relationship despite the physical distance.

For all you know, many in your team face the same challenges yet do not speak up. Do not be afraid to voice what works for you and establish boundaries that enable you to function well from home.

For supervisors, you will inevitably be concerned about staff performance but try to nurture a concern first for their well-being. Understanding where your subordinates are coming from, what constraints they face and how they can work more effectively, might inform new win-win arrangements.

Some of the happiest, most engaged teams are also the most productive.

3. FOCUS ON WHATS WITHIN YOUR CONTROL

The uncertainty of the situation has hit a number of my clients.

How long it will last? Should I join everyone else in panic buying? Will I have enough food? Will I get the virus? Will I even have my job? Will I have enough money to survive? What will happen to my family?

It is common to have these worries. But instead of dwelling on them, learn to accept things that arent within your control, and focus on the things that are: Reading news from official outlets, buying what you need, adapting to new work conditions, saving wisely and finding out what resources are available for support.

While the uncertainty may seem unsettling initially, if you learn to live with the anxiety while continuing with practices and habits that bring you meaning, these feelings will reduce with time.

4.PRACTISE SELF-CARE

Some of my clients unwilling to avoid work feel guilty for increasing the load on their colleagues or neglecting their tasks.

An unhelpful thought that we often have is that caring for yourself and unplugging from work means you will definitely work less and leave others to pick up the slack. But life is rarely that binary.

Just think about all those airline videos that instruct people to wear their own oxygen masks before attending to others. You must take care of yourself first before helping others.

If you are unwell and overextend yourself, you will also slow down the whole team.

Instead, take this chance to care for yourself and practise social responsibility by taking a break. Once you have recuperated, you can return to action.

Having a healthy lifestyle eating well, sleeping enough, exercising and engaging in leisure activities is also part of self-care. Use this opportunity to focus on looking within yourself through reading or meditating.

5. BE GRATEFUL

Finding reasons to be grateful can contribute to our mental health during this period.

I am grateful for the way Singapore has handled the outbreak with its dissemination of clear information on accessible channels, contact tracing, the efficient restocking of supermarket goods and economic measures to support households and businesses.

On a personal level, I am also thankful for the opportunity to work from home. Even though my husband and I have been together for more than a decade, I have never seen him at work.

Through this experience, I have seen a different side of him his ability to strategise, command and be assertive. This has made me appreciate and understand him more.

Finding new ways to appreciate the people you live with will deepen your relationship and reduce conflict.

A FINAL WORD OF ADVICE

If things get tough, you can reach out and seek help. You do not need to face these concerns alone.

The recently launchedNational Care Hotline offers emotional support to those worried about COVID-19. It is manned by over 300 trained workers from over 50 agencies and organisations.

As telecommuting becomes the new normal, remember to care of yourself and look out for your colleagues so that you can navigate these changes with compassion and empathy.

Prioritising our mental well-being will help us make the most out of working from home.

Downloadourappor subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak:https://cna.asia/telegram

Jeanette Lim is a Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychology, Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

You can reach the 24/7 National Care Hotline at 6202 6868.

Read more from the original source:
Commentary: Putting in 50 hours while WFH, it's a struggle to draw the line between work and home - CNA

Highlights

In today's world, though we are dependent on drug therapy, food still remains an integral part of our healthy living. With the evolution of time, there has been inclusion of several trends of food habits and new food categories, with one of the recent ones being functional foods. As per a 2002 report in The Journal of Nutrition, all foods are functional to some extent because all foods provide taste, aroma and nutritive value. Functional foods can be considered to be those whole, fortified, enriched or enhanced foods that provide health benefits beyond the provision of essential nutrients, when they are consumed at efficacious levels as part of a varied diet on a regular basis.

However, functional foods have no universally accepted definition. As per The Journal of Nutrition report, the concept was first developed in Japan in 1980s when the Ministry of Health and Welfare, after facing an escalation in health care costs, initiated a regulatory system to approve certain foods with documented health benefits in hopes of improving the health of the nation's aging population. These foods, which are eligible to bear a special seal, are now recognized as Foods for Specified Health Use (FOSHU). As of July 2002, nearly 300 food products had been granted FOSHU status in Japan.

Functional foods might be capable of providing health benefits, but they should not be seen as an alternative to a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Some functional foods are generated around a certain functional ingredient, for example, foods containing probiotics, prebiotics et al. Other functional foods or drinks can be foods fortified with a nutrient that would not usually be present to any great extent.

Fishes like sardines and salmons have high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help in keeping thyroid under control, lower risk of heart disease and improve infant health when consumed by women during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

Rich in organosulfur compounds, garlic helps in keeping a check on cholesterol, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, effects of hypolipidemic, antithrombotic, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperhomo cysteinemia and, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, antimutagenic, and prebiotic activities.

Green tea possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, thermogenic properties. According to a study in The Journal of Nutrition, the catechin content in green tea helps in reducing risk of certain types of cancer. It may also contribute in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease and promote oral health.

Fermented dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, buttermilk etc. are rich in probiotics. They help in boosting overall immunity. The health benefits also include prevention of gastrointestinal infections, reduction of serum cholesterol levels and antimutagenic activity.

Rich in protein content, soy helps in reducing cholesterol. The protein content of soybean has rich amino acids with a good balance. The quality of soybean protein is comparable to that of animal protein sources. A study published in Midle-East Journal of Scientific Research stated that regular consumption of soy products reduces one's risk for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.

One should always remember, choose the ingredients wisely if you want to try functional food; and remember, it might promote wellness, but cannot make up for poor eating habits.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

Read more here:
All You Need To Know About Functional Food - NDTV Food

Its been said that a thousand-mile journey begins with one step. Similarly, a journey to a healthier you begins with just one consultation.

There are an endless number of reasons why our health starts to slip away from us as we get older. A demanding career, family commitments, age and injury all these things can impact our ability to adhere to a program focussed on healthy living.

But the good news is that there are people here to help.

Live Well Exercise Clinic is a state-of-the-art exercise facility that provides professional fitness training and healthy lifestyle coaching to members of any age, shape or size. By using exercise as medicine, the expertly trained and educated staff at Live Well coach members on developing healthy habits that lead to sustained lifestyle change and improved quality of life.

Live Well Exercise Clinic in Lynn Valley has been open just over a year now and has already helped dozens of clients on their journey to find their way back to a healthier self.

Take Live Well member Tanja for example. Fed up with the constant guessing game of which diet and which gym would serve her best, Tanja decided to seek professional help to finally find a long-term solution to her health concerns.

Like many others, I have been yo-yo dieting for the majority of my adult life and stuck on the weight loss and weight gain cycle for years. I have tried every diet program and joined just about every gym, says Tanja.

Thats when she found Live Well.

Live Well fosters a friendly and welcoming community, and this motivates me to keep coming to exercise classes. Sessions are structured so that there is a different educational and inspirational component with each visit. Also, if something is not quite working for me, staff is always on hand to answer my questions and help me adjust my own personal program to suit my needs, says Tanja.

I have learned to incorporate (and even enjoy) regular exercise in my life again. Along with gaining more muscle strength and stamina, I also noticed that after a few months of doing the Live Well program I had less knee and joint pain! I feel physically stronger and more confident, and I am enjoying exercising my body and treating it well.

Unlike Tanja, Live Well member Tory had apprehensions about exercising for years due to her fear of injury, anxiety and lack of preparedness but after years of stagnant living she soon found that she couldnt delay her health journey any longer.

I spent years trying to get fit and lose weight, trying all sorts of things but nothing worked until Live Well. My balance was bad, my strength was minimal and I was scared. My whole life Ive taken horrible falls, many with serious injury, says Tory.

Since Ive been with Live Well, I have not fallen at all. The trainers are so amazing, if something doesnt work for you or you feel unwell they find an exercise you can do. Everyone has a different program with exercises just for them. There is no competition, the gym feels more like a sanctuary than a gym.

Some members have found inspiration to seek out and sustain healthier habits together like married Live Well couple Irene and Lloyd.

Lloyd and I both realized we needed to have some structured exercises as we age and we wanted it to be in a safe and supervised environment so that we could maintain and build strength, flexibility and stamina, said Irene.

Lloyd saw an ad for Live Well, looked into it and suggested we go. It has been a very positive and enjoyable experience. The groups are small, the exercises are designed for each individual and we work and advance at our own pace. It isnt a competitive environment and everyone in each session is at a different level.

Whatever the reason for seeking out Live Well, each member is able to find the safe and secure environment that they need to flourish. With just one consultation, the journey to a healthier you begins. Come visit us today and let us show you the path to a lifestyle youll be happy to have.

Go here to see the original:
Start your Health Journey with Live Well Exercise Clinic - North Shore News

January 9, 2020

Netball

City Pharmacy Limited netball club received new uniforms that include polo shirts to participate in the NCD Private Companies netball competition this season.

It is also the companys objective to support and encourage its staff, especially women to stay fit and healthy during their free time.

The competition serves well in empowering women in sport, promoting healthy lifestyles, community, social and individual networking among staff.

Sport has become an important medium of communication among the CPL staff and their colleagues from other clubs competing in the netball competition.

Coach Oti Lasagavibau (pictured), who is also an employee of the CPL Group of Companies, said the competition was an avenue for the company promotes healthy and beauty lifestyles because it was also involved in promoting, marketing and selling health beauty products to stay healthy and keep fit.

She is urging all women to take part in sporting and fitness activities and take exercise seriously and at the end of the day their bodies are healthy and fit.

Rose Rauka, the team captain who works with the companys finance department was thrilled with the new uniforms and polo shirts that the club had received.

She said playing netball during her free time outside of the office helped her to stay physically fit and taking part in the NCD Private Companies netball competition builds their network and it strengthens their relationship also with employees from other business houses.

The competition, only held in Port Moresby attracts companies from the private sector operating in and around the National Capital District.

The rest is here:
CPL promoting healthy lifestyle through sports - POST-COURIER

Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars in the world. Her stage shows are true feats of endurance, requiring the singer to run, sprint, dance, and shake it for hours on end all while staying perfectly in tune with her songs.

While many stars might rely on backup dancers to carry much of their onstage performance, Swift likes to work hard to stay in perfect shape for her pop star lifestyle.

Taylor Swift definitely puts in work at the gym in order to keep her lean, trim figure. Swift is fond of regular cardio sessions to help build endurance and regularly puts in work on the elliptical or treadmill. Swift is also a known fan of the Body by Simone workouts.

The workouts burn calories through a series of movements that target many different areas of the body. Participants in the classes (which Swift attends in New York City on a regular basis) are encouraged to dance and move to the beat, having fun as they tone up.

Swift isnt a gym rat, and it is clear that when it comes to getting her exercise in, she prefers to do fun workouts that incorporate elements of her performances.

While exercise is important, diet also plays a huge role in staying fit. Taylor Swift follows a basic, realistic eating plan that encourages her to eat like a normal person. She has revealed that during the week, she tries to generally eat as healthy as possible, opting for salads and light sandwiches over heavy entrees like pasta or burgers.

For breakfast, Swift likes to eat a hearty meal of buckwheat pancakes and a fried egg, in order to give herself the energy to fully attack the day no lemon water and puny fruit cup for the hardworking singer.

Still, on the weekends, Swift likes to indulge herself with comfort foods like pizza, wine, and cookies from her favorite bakery in New York. The singer loves to cook at home and is a talented home chef, preferring recipes from Ina Garten.

Swift is also a Starbucks aficionado and treats herself throughout the week with her signature drink the skinny vanilla latte, a sugar-free drink that still has a jolt of sweetness. She balances out her caffeine habit with lots of water and reportedly drinks around 10 bottles of water every day.

Although Taylor Swift seems to stay slim and trim at all times, there are certain occasions when Swift feels the need to really cut calories. When she is trying to lose weight, Swift turns to chia seeds. Chia seeds are tiny, gray seeds that dont look impressive at first glance. But when added to water, the seeds expand, making them feel more like a fulfilling snack.

The seeds have some other health benefits as well. Reportedly, they contain a substantial amount of protein, fiber, and B vitamins.

While they have been touted as a superfood, some experts have pointed out that studies dont really support chia seeds being used as a tool for weight loss. Plus, they are rather high in calories, so it can be easy to go well over the recommended serving size and inadvertently consume too many calories.

In Taylor Swifts case, since she is exercising regularly and lives a generally healthy lifestyle, she likely doesnt turn to chia seeds on a daily basis, but rather, as an occasional dietary aid.

Read the original:
This Superfood is One of Taylor Swift's Keys to Weight Loss - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Northamptonshire is to be the first area in England to introduce a social prescribing service, an integrated cross-sector service across the county.

Social prescribing helps people to access non-medical services to help manage their own physical, mental health and wellbeing and make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Cllr Ian Morris, Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: "Evidence shows that social prescribing can lead to a range of positive health and wellbeing outcomes for people, such as improved quality of life and emotional wellbeing."

Through social prescribing, people work with a specialist 'link worker' who can refer them to relevant non-medical services in their community, like leisure activities, social groups and healthy lifestyle advice.

The integrated programme was approved by Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and NCC's cabinet on Tuesday, December 17.

The programme was proposed by Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) and its approval paves the way for a 3.57m outcomes grant from the government's Life Chances Fund.

NHCP has also worked with the social enterprise Bridges Outcomes Partnerships on the programme and has helped the programme secure funding for the next five years, with a potential total investment of 14m.

Toby Sanders, joint chief executive of the Northamptonshire CCGs, said: "This is a momentous decision for Northamptonshire.

"We know that the healthcare we receive is just one of a number of factors that influence our overall health and wellbeing and poor health is actually much more likely to be the result of things like the lifestyles we lead, the environments we live in and the stresses of daily life.

"Many of the issues that lead to ill health cant be fixed by medicines, so its hugely important that we have the right support in place to give people more control over their own health and wellbeing and manage their needs in ways that work for them and are available in their own communities."

Social prescribing is one of the national priorities in the NHS' long term plan and Northamptonshire will be the first area to implement it county-wide.

Some social link prescribers are already working with GP practices and more will be recruited.

NHCP will work closely with Northamptonshires voluntary and community sector to local services can meet the needs of people who need to access them.

The new service will focus on those who can benefit the most from social prescribing, like those with mental health issues, those living with multiple long-term health conditions, carers and people in social isolation.

Cllr Ian Morris added: "Were delighted we now have the go-ahead to begin implementing Northamptonshires new social prescribing service in the New Year, and people can expect to start to see the first evidence of its county-wide availability by the summer of 2020."

Read more:
Northamptonshire to get first social prescribing service in England - Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Special Report

PUBLISHED: 14:28 02 January 2020 | UPDATED: 15:48 02 January 2020

Kevin Hurley

Kevin Hurley launched his own personal training firm, Hurley Fitness, in 2012, which started solely as a one-to-one service. Picture: KEVIN HURLEY

Archant

Email this article to a friend

To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

Having run my personal training business Hurley Fitness for seven years, helping people achieve their health and fitness targets has been a core aim of mine.

It's that time of the year again. We're recovering from over-indulging on mince pies and tubs of chocolate sweets, not to mention the dreaded booze.

But it's also a time of reflection. 2020 is a chance to start afresh, avoiding the mistakes we've made.

The traditional New Year resolution may typically involve something to do with improving health or losing weight. You've probably made the same promises the year before, and the year before that.

Let's be honest, it doesn't provide a sustainable plan. It's something vague to make us feel better at the year end, where failure is likely.

But having began small group training sessions to help making a healthy lifestyle affordable as well as achievable, here are four steps you can take to improve your health and fitness, not just for 2020, but forever.

Take Up Weight Training

This idea is becoming mainstream, but there's the myth that weight training makes you bigger.

It's fuelled by images of muscle-headed men or ladies looking 'ripped' on stage in body-building competitions.

Firstly, bodybuilding isn't weight training. Bodybuilders have eaten, trained several times a day, taken supplements and pills to achieve that enhanced look.

Weight training improves strength, posture, boosts metabolism, burns fat and improves confidence. It will also make everyday tasks like lifting shopping easier.

If fat loss is your goal, be aware that weight training over a prolonged period burns more fat than traditional cardio.

Monitor Your Calories

What works for one won't work for another.

I detest calorie counting and the apps that help you do so. For some, it's a method that has revolutionised their understanding of nutrition.

Calorie counting is unsustainable and pretty boring, yet it's the go-to method for almost everyone, which I recommend.

Firstly, focus on food quality. Keep as much as possible to natural, wholesome, foods. Secondly, monitor your portions, not by measuring calories, but with your hand.

Based upon three to four meals a day for females, each meal should contain a palm-sized portion of protein, a fistful of vegetables, a cupped handful of carbs and a thumb-size portion of fat. Men should double these amounts.

This is a starting point, so you may have to reduce or increase your portions depending on your progress.

Think NEAT

What's NEAT? It's a mouthful: Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

Simply, this means everything you burn while you're not eating, sleeping or exercising, such as housework and even fidgeting!

While we focus on improving nutrition and getting more active, we could become more active daily.

The average person who has a busy life and a demanding family usually needs to start moving more at the outset.

Things like standing more or a ten-minute walk before dinner may seem insignificant, but they all add up!

Give Yourself a Reason

I've spoken to people over the years who exercise for the sake of it. They know it's good for them, but that's about it.

That's unlikely to motivate you when things get tough and you don't feel like moving when nights are dark.

'Getting fit' is extremely vague and doesn't make your heart burst with inspiration, does it? That's why fitness regimes usually crumble within weeks. What does inspire is having a clear reason to keep working towards your goal.

This can be done by, for example, writing in as much detail as possible how you'll feel on your summer holiday having achieved your goal.

By using these four points in 2020, you could be well on your way towards developing and sustaining a healthier, active lifestyle.

For more information on Hurley Fitness, visit https://www.hurleyfitness.co.uk/ or email kevinhurleyfitness@gmail.com.

Continued here:
Kevin Hurley on ways to gain healthy lifestyle in 2020 with Hurley Fitness | Ely and Soham Sport News - Ely Standard

A healthy lifestyle includes many different components. Diet and exercise are arguably the two most significant elements of a healthy lifestyle, but being healthy and avoiding illness involves more than just eating right and getting off the couch.

Preventive care can be critical to long-term health. A healthy diet and routine exercise can help lower the risk for various ailments, including heart disease and diabetes. But what about preventing more routine conditions, including the flu?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor visits every year. Despite the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, some people still dont get one each year.

But a look at some of the many benefits of being vaccinated against the flu might compel such men and women to change their minds and get their flu shots this year.

While its common sense to note that the flu shot keeps you from getting the flu, just how effective the flu vaccination can be might open the eyes of even the most ardent flu-shot opponents.

According to the CDC, in seasons when the flu vaccine viruses matched circulating strains, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by as much as 60%.

The flu shot can also save you money and vacation time. The CDC estimated that 48.8 million people got sick with the flu during the 2017-18 flu season. In addition, the CDC estimates that the flu caused workers to miss approximately 17 million workdays and led to more than 950,000 hospitalizations.

The cost of a hospital stay is often considerable, and workers who value their vacation and personal time will almost certainly lament having to use some of that time at home nursing the flu. By getting the flu shot, anyone can greatly reduce their risk of spending time and hard-earned money recovering from the flu.

The flu shot can help prevent serious medical events. A 2013 meta-analysis of various studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the influenza vaccine was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among people with heart disease.

In addition, the CDC notes that previous studies have found that the flu vaccination has been associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease.

The flu shot can protect children. Humans immune systems mature as they grow, and the flu vaccine can be an invaluable ally to children as their immune systems are still evolving.

A 2014 study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that children who were fully vaccinated were between 74 and 82% less likely to be admitted to pediatric intensive care units than unvaccinated children.

The flu is a formidable foe. But an annual flu shot can bolster everyones chances of beating or even avoiding the flu.

Continued here:
My Health, My Choice: The benefits of the flu vaccine - VVdailypress.com