Healthy Lifestyle Essay Example – Topics, Sample Papers …

Paper type: Essay Pages: 2 (359 words)

Why is a healthy lifestyle so important for us? It is important because it can help us to avoid the disease and illnesses such as hypertension and cancer. Having a healthy lifestyle also makes the life become more enjoyable and the most important thing is a way to keep our body in good condition in order to accomplish day-to-day tasks. When youre living a healthy lifestyle in your future, it will make all of us have a healthy body and mind.

It is also very important to have a healthy lifestyle because it will save your life in the future. By living a healthy lifestyle you will be fit and youre able to do things that you have never done before, or even thought about.

In addition, there are several ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle that is exercise, eating healthy and reducing stress. Exercising regularly is very important because through exercise it can boost the metabolism in our body.

It also can help us burn off the excess calories in body and increase the mobility in our muscle and joints.

Next, eating healthy is also a very important way. Eating healthy does not mean eating expensive food with little waste. We should choose to eat the food that contain minimal amount of unhealthy fats. We must also choose to eat a variety of different whole foods instead of eating processed foods.

Last but not the least, healthy lifestyle can bring us lots of benefits that we cant be expecting. Managing your weight is the key to obtaining all of the health benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle. A weight reduction of just 10% will significantly reduce risk of heart disease and other obesity-related illnesses. The other benefits are reduced tension and blood pressure.

There are so many ways to having a healthy lifestyle and we can take more benefits from having a healthy life. So, lets practice this healthy lifestyle by doing exercise regularly, have enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and stay away from unhealthy habits such as consume junk food, and dont ever having a lot of stress.

Be healthy, be happy.

Sources:www.health.comwww.wholeliving.comwww.healthylivingforlife.comwww.shape.com

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Early BC COVID patient on the mend, talks about experience – BC News – Castanet.net

Photo: Contributed

He is case number 231.Ladner resident Jerry Glubisz is on the road to recovery after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-March.

Glubisz is sharing his story of being diagnosed and treated as well as the importance of following the provincial health guidelines, including social distancing.

I thought I had the seasonal flu, he said. My wife didnt get it and suggested I get checked out and then my employer, BCAA in Langley, said we dont want you back to work until you get checked out.

Glubisz said he went to Delta Hospital late in the day on March 12, just before things started to get crazy.

They put me into a negative pressure room and asked me where I had been, and I did say I was at Costco in Burlington, just below Bellingham, earlier in the month and that is considered a hot zone, he recalled.He said doctors took a nose swab and a chest X-ray, finding some pneumonia on his right lung. He was prescribed a seven-day supply of antibiotics.

I took the meds, and it took a few days to get the test results back, and I had COVID-19, Glubisz said. I felt pretty bad for those six days, very little appetite, lying around in front of the fireplace because I had chills. I had no chest respiratory problems, there was no vomiting, but I was extremely tired.

Glubisz, who is 63 and in good health, works out three or four times a week,suspects his healthy lifestyle helped him fight off the virus, although he did say he hadnt felt that bad for years.

I havent taken a sick day in five years, so it took something major like this to knock me down, he said. Its been about 10 days, and Im feeling pretty much back to normal. I have a bit of a lingering cough, but that should be gone soon.

Glubisz said the care he received at Delta Hospital was top notch.

The care was amazing. I thought Delta Hospital staff were very professional. They were very careful and took extreme caution, he said. Then I began dealing with the health unit who called me daily for temperature checks and to make sure I was on the right track to recovery.

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5 Steps to Rebuild Your Fit and Healthy Lifestyle During the COVID-19 Outbreak – STACK News

With large-scale shutdowns happening across the United States, the opportunities to train at gyms are disappearing. While it's important that we adhere to social distancing and avoid areas where viruses can spread, many of us are trying to find ways to continue our health and fitness routines despite the rapid change.

The biggest challenge for me has been replacing a fully functioning gym with a pair of 10-pound weights, the couch and the family pet. Many of us are struggling to find a replacement for our gym routine leading to negative effects both physically and psychologically. Goals are getting crushed, training programs are getting tossed aside and people are growing frustrated with their bodyweight-only programs at home. Where did the fun go?

I love that people are taking their health and fitness so seriously, as gyms start providing online training programs by the truckload, people are willing to try anything and everything to stay consistent. The gym has become the church of the millennial generation, with family and friends going together every week. With goals being accomplished and friends being made at gyms across America, it makes sense that we are struggling to replace it in the wake of this nationwide shutdown.

In the sea of confusion that is the fitness industry right now, these are a few ideas to keep in mind when realigning our training programs. These ideas are part of an effort to help find the fun factor that comes with training consistently that many of us have found over the years at our local gyms.

This can not be overstated. Some of us enjoy going to the gym and working out with Buckcherry screaming in our ear while others enjoy the conversations that pop up between sets. Regardless of this, the sense of community that comes when we walk into the gym is not going to be there when we search YouTube search for the newest bodyweight workout of the day. It will take effort for us to have a group to train with. It may be through a social media site, the services that your gym is offering or simply reaching out to people you normally see at the gym. Building a community around you will help both your training goals and your psyche as we go through these difficult times.

We enjoy success. The hard truth is that if our goal was to improve our Deadlift by 50 pounds over the next few months, the odds of that happening if we have no access to a barbell are not great. They're terrible actually. As opposed to putting our goals on hold and sitting in the dark waiting for the sun to come up, let's pursue something different, shall we?

This could be taking the aforementioned Deadlift goal and adjusting it to a bodyweight goal. It could mean improving our mile time or a Push-Up repetition max. If we have a goal to pursue that is plausible given our access to equipment, we have a chance to reach it and find new goals, which means more fun training time. None of us like failing, so it's a good time to readjust our expectations to the situation at hand. Scaling our training goals helps us stay challenged but avoids the extremes of boredom and total failure anxiety.

It's fair to say that we may not be getting as many steps in our day if we aren't going outside, to work, to the store or anywhere other than the bathroom. By logging our time training we can notice and name the time that we are taking to prioritize our health. Reward those small victories like a 20-minute walk or 15 minutes of yoga. At the end of the day as we get blasted by the most recent news, it'll be nice to look back and remember the minutes that we put ourselves first. Intrinsic motivation stems from enjoyment and enjoyment stems from success. If we are to stay motivated during these tough times, logging every success we have can go a long way.

The best ways that I've found for logging would be through a simple written journal, an online training platform or in a visible place like the calendar or whiteboard.

We are all smart enough to realize this. Turn off the news, email, social media and all other forms of distraction during training unless they are being utilized to accomplish building a community.

We may not hit our training goals this month and we need to be prepared for that. I've seen physique competitors pulling out of cancelled competitions, professional baseball players struggling to find a place to train and local parents forgetting about their health and fitness as they care for little ones at home. This is no time to be hard on ourselves and demand more. We can enjoy the successes that we have and find patience if our efforts fall short of our goals.

This is an unprecedented challenge for many of us. Prioritizing our health and fitness may still be a long way off. When we are ready I hope these few ideas help create the community and enjoyment that we all have come to expect from our training routines.

Photo Credit: hobo_018/iStock

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5 Steps to Rebuild Your Fit and Healthy Lifestyle During the COVID-19 Outbreak - STACK News

Healthy lifestyle and medication as good as stents and surgery in preventing heart attacks – USA TODAY

Decades of medical wisdom are being called into question after a new study suggests some people with heart disease might be undergoing surgery they don't need. CBC - Health

Common heart procedures such as stents and bypass surgery don't prevent heart attacks or deathsmore often than cholesterol-lowering drugs and lifestyle changesfor millions of Americans with stable heart disease, a new, federally funded study shows.

Cardiologists often use invasive measures such as inserting stents to open clogged arteries or bypass operations to reroute blood around a blocked artery. Findings from the ISCHEMIA study, unveiled Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting,found these procedures donot prevent heart attacks or deaths more effectively thanmedication and lifestyle changes.

However, the study, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,reported people who experience frequent angina, or chest pain, had more reliefafter stents or bypass surgery compared with medicine and lifestyle changes alone.

The largest-of-its-kind study provides compelling evidence forcardiologists to adopt a conservative approach in takingcare of millions of Americans with moderate heart disease, said Daniel Muoz, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center cardiologist.

This study will help us make sure the right patient gets the right treatment, Munoz said. For this subgroup of patients with stable disease and stable symptoms, this study powerfully suggests we ought to have a conversation with the patient and really try to do the most we can with medication.

Study: Young women more vulnerable to heart disease, cardiac woes

For your health: 7 healthy habits that can protect you from heart attack and stroke

Dr. Annapoorna Kini, center, performs a non-emergency angioplasty at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Feb. 16, 2017. Through a blood vessel in the groin, she guides a tube to a blockage in the heart. She inflates a tiny balloon to flatten the clog, and leaves behind a mesh tube called a stent to prop the artery open. (Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP)

The question of whether aggressive treatment is more effective than cholesterol-loweringmedications alonehas been controversial in cardiology circles. A study in 2007foundstents or bypass operations were no more effective than medication and lifestyle changes in preventing heart attacks or deaths, but the study was criticized over how it was was designed and conducted.

Any changes in medical practice would affect a sizable population. The American Heart Association estimates17 million people have stable heart disease, 9.4 million with chest pain.

The ISCHEMIA study of 5,179 high-risk patients in 37 countries found no difference in the death rates among people who received stents or bypass operations compared with medication and lifestyle changes.

"The all-cause rates of death were the same," said Judith Hochman, who chaired the study and is a senior associate dean for clinical sciences at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine."We saw no difference in overall survival between the two strategies."

It's common for people to get cardiac stress tests or CT coronary angiograms even though they do not report symptoms. If those tests are abnormal, patients might be sentto a hospital's cath lab to receive a stent or get bypass surgery.

"That strategy is not supported by the data," Hochman said.

'We are at a point of real stagnation': Progress against heart disease stalls

If heart doctors halted such practices, it could save the health care system more than $500 million a year, she said.

The study might prompt discussions among patients and cardiologists based on how to address heart disease. People who exercise frequently or perform rigorous activities might choose to undergo a stent procedure or bypass operation if medication and lifestyle changes don't control frequent chest pain.

Among people who had chest pain once a month, according to the study, 70% of people who received invasive procedures reported they were pain-free compared with40% percent of those who only took statins and adopted lifestyle changes.

"Many patients will come to their doctor or their cardiologist with a bias themselves about what they think needs to happen, including, 'Can we just stent this and fix it?' "Muoz said."Part of our obligation, thanks to a quality study like this, is to make sure they understand what stenting might do and what it might not do for them in the long term."

SOURCE National Institutes of Health; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; USA TODAY research(Photo: USA TODAY)

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Healthy lifestyle and medication as good as stents and surgery in preventing heart attacks - USA TODAY

Understanding the Health Triangle, Social, Physical and Mental Health in Human Life – Thrive Global

One commonality virtually everyone in the world has iswanting to be healthy and in shape. We do this by dreaming about our dreambodies, fantasizing about what we want to look like in our clothes, and othersimilar ways. Whats interesting is that most of us know the steps we need totake to create that life.

Whether its cutting junk food out of our diet or increasing the number of daily activities we do, the problem is that most of us are stuck with simply starting the journey. However, this process doesnt have to be complicated.

Simply starting the steps you know you need to takeputs you much closer than you think to achieve your goals. In saying that, youalso dont want to jump into what you think is a healthy lifestyle completelyblind. Here is a problem that many people make. Doing the wrong routines orplans to get in shape has the potential to do more damage to your body than notdoing anything at all.

For the most part, simple research about your body typeand conditions should give you a good idea of how to go about starting yourhealthy lifestyle. Worth noting, this journey is going to take more than simplyworking out regularly and eating nutritional foods.

Creating this life has proven to be more of a mentalstrain than anything else. In other words, it will require you to push yourselfto your physical and mental limits to see how far you can go. Once you knowyour limits, you give yourself more room to try new things to increase yourchances of succeeding in your goal to be a healthy person. With this in mind,lets go over seven tips you must follow to stay in shape and be healthy.

1: Hydrate

Hydrating is one of the most overlooked tips yet one ofthe most effective in helping you stay in shape. If you drink at least a gallonof water a day, your energy and performance output will stay consistentthroughout the day.

2: Avoid Starvation Diets

Despite popular belief, you dont need to starveyourself to stay in shape. All in all, stick to diets that keep you energizedas opposed to ones that starve you to lose weight.

3: Find An Exercise YoullEnjoy

As we all know, exercising will need to be a part of your life whetheryou like it or not. However, there are ways to make it fun and exciting. Bymixing exercising with a sport or activity you like doing, you can trickyourself into thinking youre not working out at all.

4: Eat Foods Youll Enjoy

One thing that avoiding starvation diets will allow youto do is eat foods you enjoy eating. This should be the main priority of yourdiet over anything else. Just keep in mind that you know what foods are morehealthy for you than others. 63 per cent of Australian adults were overweightor obese while 35.7%among American young adults were obese due to unhealthy eating habits.

5: Have Regular Physical Check-Ups & Insurance

Your body can be looked at as the vehicle you drive tocreate a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, it needs to be maintained andchecked for any irregularities. You can do this by having regular check-upswith your doctor. Also worth noting, this is where having health insurance comes into play. This will protect youagainst any uncertainties that prevent you from making any progress. TheAustralian healthcare system is broadly funded by the government & byprivate health insurance as well. The healthcare is borne by NGOs, with asignificant cost being borne by individual patients. Thereby, you must alwayscheck the facilities & benefits provided to you by your countryshealthcare system or private firms with better facilities & affordableoptions & choose the one that stands perfect as per your needs.

6: Surround Yourself WithHealthy People

They say that you end up taking the characteristics andlikeness of the people you surround yourself with the most. If this is true,surround yourself with people that already have the lifestyle that you want tolive.

7: Be Consistent!

Arguably the most important quality to have whencreating a healthy lifestyle is consistency. You need to remind yourself thatthe most in-shape people today didnt get there overnight. Taking smallincrements over time will get you to where you want to be physically andmentally.

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Understanding the Health Triangle, Social, Physical and Mental Health in Human Life - Thrive Global

Ways to promote a healthy lifestyle within your home – Flux Magazine

words Alexa Wang

You may have noticed that even within your own household, your family members have different eating habits and preferences. They may also have different opinions and approaches when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Whatever your role is in your home, whether youre the wife, husband, father, mother, son or daughter, you can promote a healthy lifestyle at home.

Promotion by leading and example are good ways to have them try out and practice new healthy habits. There are different areas you can encourage a healthy lifestyle, such as exercise, diet, detoxification, stress reduction or changing unhealthy habits such as drinking and smoking. Once your family gets into the program, you can see all of them leading healthier and happier lives and enjoying a better quality of life.

When speaking of being active, the first thingthat comes to mind is exercise. When itcomes to exercise, one of the most common complaints would be it is a tiringactivity. Others complain that it is often repetitive. Youll have to convinceyour other family members that it is an enjoyable activity. You may have tostart with your exercise regime alone for the first few days or weeks. Be agood and convincing example to them by showing them that you are following yourexercise schedule faithfully and that you are enjoying it. They may get curiousabout your exercise and ask about it, thats a good start. You can then letthem repeat after you or go along with a few reps just to try it out. Alwayswear your best smile when performing your exercise regimen. If exercise is justnot everyones thing, there are other ways that you can make your familymembers stay active. The main purpose of keeping your family active is to avoida sedentary lifestyle.

Sedentary lifestyle, or being a couch potatois one of the problematic and unhealthy habits that affect most families thesedays. A sedentary lifestyle can actually put you and your family at risk formany health problems, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease such ashypertension. Staying sedentary for most of your time at home is also anunproductive and unstimulating activity, which is not beneficial in keepingyourself mentally sharp and active.

There are also otheractivities that you and your whole family can enjoy and are also healthy.Swimming is one good example. Its not only fun, but its also a great form ofexercise. For a safe and supervised swimming experience, you can go to yourlocal public swimming pools or to private resorts with stationed lifeguards.Other fun activities that can make you and your family stay fit are walking,jogging, biking, hiking, and dancing. When you and your family members enjoydoing healthy activities, it is likely that they will continue doing them. Toavoid being repetitive and boring, introduce a new activity or add variationsto the usual ones like instead of your usual biking to the park, try changingthe route to the beach or around the neighborhood.

Preparing a healthymeal will mean starting from scratch. You want to have all-natural and organicingredients for your home-cooked meals. It can be quite a challenge, especiallyif you and your family got used to eating processed foods, takeout meals,fast-food chains, and restaurants. The main concern about these practices isthat although eating is convenient and easy, we dont know what these foods aremade of and whats in them. Personally preparing the food you eat and cookingfrom scratch is the best way of guaranteeing that you know whats in the foodyou are consuming. The preparation and cooking may take time, but you canalways find ways to overcome these setbacks. Preparing healthy food is a goodcomplement to an active lifestyle in order to sustain the health benefits youare achieving, such as healthy and younger-looking skin, well-sculpted body,properly toned muscles and ideal body mass index (BMI).

Stock up on naturalingredients such as animal products, fruits, vegetables, and grains. To dothat, you need to set aside time once a week to make one big shopping trip tobuy your natural ingredients. When it comes to cooking and preparation,schedule your home cooking sessions an hour or more earlier to cover the entireprocess and finish preparing the meal ahead of time. This way, you dont eat upthe time allotted for other important activities and you can still proceed withother activities as scheduled. Buying bulk items and unprepared or unprocessedfood can help you save money by spending less when buying natural ingredients.

Meals do not solelyconstitute your familys diet. A significant portion of their diets comes fromsnacks and after-meal eating. While snacks are becoming our most common way ofrelieving hunger and craving, we can still control the kind of food we want ourfamily to eat as comfort foods. Aside from preparing healthy meals, you canalso set aside time for preparing healthy snacks. Fresh fruits, nuts, and whole-graincookies and crackers can be great snacks to munch on. Yogurt and granola barsmake a flavorful treat and peanut butter, chocolate, and cream cheese makesdelicious dips and additional flavors for your healthy snacks. Exploredifferent recipes and look for a doctor- or nutritionist-recommended websitesthat offer healthy snacks and food recipes and tips. Take the extra effort toprepare and pack healthy snacks for family members who are going to work andschool to make sure they are continually eating healthy food even when awayfrom home. They wont have to get snacks from vending machines or fast foodjoints.

A growing number ofresearch and studies are being conducted on how stress affects your health and well-being.Stress, particularly chronic stress, has been linked to a myriad of healthissues, from simple to complex ones such as headaches, digestive andgastrointestinal problems, and cancer. It doesnt mean that you have to totallyeliminate stress. Stress is our bodys natural reaction to external stressors(social situations, environmental factors, and unexpected life-changing events)and internal stressors (psychological situations, illness, and medicalprocedures), which evokes physical, mental and emotional responses. It isactually essential for survival because it triggers bodily processes andchemical production that help our body prepare to face dangers and threats and helpus cope with difficult situations. However, we should limit the amount ofstress we receive within normal levels. When we experience more than the usuallevels of stress and we get to experience it on a regular basis, we aresubjecting ourselves to chronic stress, which can lead to adverse effects onour health.

There are many ways tomanage stress. Yoga is one of the most effective stress management activitiesyou can try. You can enroll in a class or you can practice yoga at home withyour family. The good thing about yoga is it relatively easy to perform and itspositive concept of being non-judgmental to both yourself and others. Sincesome of our major sources of stress come from our unhealthy interaction withother people and being so hard on ourselves, this concept is a very welcomechange of pace for us. Yoga also cultivates the principle of the unity of mindand body, which is highly relevant when it comes to managing stress. Stress ishighly affective to both our mind and body, which makes yoga an effectivepractice for relieving stress. Yoga also trains our bodys parasympatheticnervous system, which our very own stress-countering response system. Withregular practice, it also lowers our chronic daytime stress levels and improvesour rate variability, which are factors that improve our ability to handlestress. You can start with basic yoga breathing and simple yoga poses that thewhole family can follow. You will all notice the difference in a few days.

Meditation is anothermind-body practice that is effective for managing stress. Like yoga, it is easyto perform and can be done by all your family members. While most of us preferto meditate alone, it can also be done as a group, in a relaxed,distraction-free and peaceful environment. No equipment is necessary
and matsare optional for meditating. You dont necessarily have to sit whilemeditating. You can choose any position you find most comfortable, like lyingdown or standing up. You can start with deep, slow and rhythmic breathing andslowly relieve your mind of thoughts as you close your eyes. You dont have anyconscious control over what thoughts come to you, but you can let them progresslike the flow of water and let them take you to another level of peace. Thegist of the practice is to not let stressful thoughts intrude on your mind andfocus on a certain word or significant mental image to screen out negativethoughts and achieve a sense of inner peace. Chants or background music can begreat ways of assisting you in focusing your mind while in meditation. Withregular practice, you experience a sense of calmness and heightened theperception of your surroundings and better awareness of your own self, whichcontributes to a better stress response. There are many variations formeditation that your family can enjoy practicing, such as music meditation,loving-kindness meditation, basic mindfulness meditation, chocolate meditation,bath meditation, and walking meditation.

You can be aneffective promoter or endorser of products that are beneficial to the health ofthe whole family. This is where you can influence their opinions about stayinghealthy, be personally trying out the products and offering convincingtestaments of their effectiveness in promoting health and wellness. One of thefamily-use products that Your Wellness Kingdom recommends is a homesauna. Contrary to popular belief that saunas are exclusively for weight loss,saunas are actually good for improving the overall health of all familymembers, regardless of age. One benefit is it detoxifies the body. Not onlydoes a sauna loosen fat adhesions in our circulatory system, but it alsopromotes sweating, which is a natural way our bodies eliminate waste andharmful elements. Speaking of circulation, saunas improve cardiovascularperformance due to improved blood flow. The ambient heating temperature ofsaunas loosens fat deposits and dilates small blood vessels around the body,which improves the transport of red blood cells and oxygen throughout the body.Improved circulation also helps lessen swelling, inflammation, and aches fromintense physical activities like gym workouts, physical training, and athleticactivities, which makes saunas great for recovering from extreme physicalactivities. Saunas also help relieve stress by relaxing the muscles and easingup the accumulated tension in our bodies. This gives you a relaxed and calmfeeling while soaking up to the saunas temperature. Saunas can help you sleepbetter at night due to its balancing effect of the release of wakefulness andsleep hormones, which as endorphin and melatonin, respectively. It helps in thesmooth transition of endorphin release during wakefulness to melatonin releasefor sleep. With so many benefits a home sauna can offer, it can be a greatproduct to have at home.

Dietary supplementsand vitamins are also products that you can recommend for your family. One ofthe most overlooked vitamins and nutrients are vitamin D and calcium,respectively. There is no age restriction as to who can take supplements ofcalcium and vitamin. Both children and adults need calcium for proper bone andmuscular maintenance. Vitamin D is a great support to the effective absorptionof not just calcium, but also essential minerals such as magnesium, zinc, andphosphate. Another important supplement you can introduce is fiber. Althoughthis is not a vitamin or a mineral, it is still an important substance thatyour body should have, no matter what age bracket you belong. Fiber isimportant for maintaining a healthy digestive system and for the efficientdisposal of waste from the digestive system. Nutrients from the food you eat arebetter absorbed, your blood sugar levels are well regulated and yourcholesterol stays at healthy levels when you have enough fiber in your body.

A healthy lifestylefor the whole family can take considerable effort and involves a large scope.It takes regular exercise, healthy eating, practicing healthy habits and usinghealth-enhancing products to achieve the overall wellness that you aim for yourfamily. It takes, planning, positivity, and determination to get everyoneinvolved and be on the same health goal as yours. Over time, once a healthylifestyle has been integrated into your family life, youll thank yourself thatyou made that wonderful effort to promote a healthy lifestyle for your family.

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Ways to promote a healthy lifestyle within your home - Flux Magazine

What to know about food portions – Valley News

TEMECULA Portion control is a big part of a healthy diet. In fact, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that, when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, how much food a person eats is just as important as what they eat.

No two people are the same, so a portion thats satisfying and healthy for one person wont necessarily be the same for another person. Answering some common questions about food portions can help people understand this vital component of a healthy lifestyle.

What is the difference between portions and servings?

The NIDDK said that a portion is how much food a person chooses to eat at one time, while a serving size is the amount of food listed on the Nutrition Facts label. The portion a person eats may or may not match a serving size. Thats because a healthy portion size is typically based on various factors, such as age, weight and gender, unique to individuals.

Should calories come into play when determining healthy portion sizes?

Calories do merit consideration when determining healthy portion sizes. However, the amount of calories a person needs is based on a number of factors, including how physically active that person is. The NIDDK said that a 150-pound woman who exercises vigorously throughout the week will need more calories than a woman about the same size who is not as physically active. When trying to determine their calorie needs, men and women should consult with their physicians, who will consider their lifestyle, age, medical history and other factors before advising patients about how much they should eat.

What if I am still hungry after reducing portion sizes?

Its likely that people accustomed to big portions will still be hungry as their bodies adjust to reduced portion sizes. In such instances, people can try taking more time to eat. Even if theres less food on the plate, eating slowly gives the brain a chance to receive the message that the stomach is full. According to the NIDDK, it can take as long as 15 minutes for that message to make its way to the brain. Eating slowly reduces the risk of overeating, and people may even be surprised to learn that a smaller portion size than theyre used to is all they really need to feel satisfied.

Portion control is a great way to get healthy and maintain a healthy weight.

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What to know about food portions - Valley News

New Study Reveals You Burn More Than 50,000 Calories a Month Parenting – msnNOW

Shestock/Getty Images Feeling bad that you couldn't make your spin class again? Don't! A new study says parenting tasks burn 50,000 calories per month.After having my fourth child, everyone kept asking mehow I stay in shape. "Being a mom!" I would joke. But it turns out there's truth behind my comedic routine. A new survey reveals you burn up to 50,000 calories a month parenting. Of course, those of us who run after kids all day, bend over to pick up socks, Legos, dropped Goldfish, and crayons, wrestle little ones into car seats and bathtubs, fix meal after meal, clean up spilled juice, run to school, playdates, and after-school activities, and hoist backpacks, and tote booster seats, all with a baby on their hip will think, "Um, duh." Still, how affirming is to see a breakdown of how physically grueling parenting can be?

The report, conducted by UK-based retailer Wren Kitchens, looked at the daily activities of 1,000 parents with kids between the ages of 3 and 6, and found completing daily parenting tasks scorches almost 1,500 calories (for a person weighing 156 pounds, which is the average in the UK). One of the "exercises" they evaluated with the help ofcalorielab.comis carrying small children, which burns an equivalent amount of calories as doing -ready for this? - 218 burpees. I'm never hitting the gym again! Because between preparing meals, making beds, moving household items, and dressing kids, we parents seemingly have CrossFit beat.

Weekly activities like doing laundry,food shopping (my personal least favorite to-do item), and loading and unloading the car burns nearly 2,500 calories. You'd have to do thousands of burpees to get that result! Personally, I don't mind doing burpees, but thousands? Not one parent I know would even have the time for that between playing with their kids, and keeping them flush in fresh clothes and their favorite snacks. Meanwhile, I'm loving that vacuuming burns 387 calories per week. With a 16-month-old who puts everything in his mouth, I find I'm vacuuming multiple times per day. So basically, Iammaking that circuit training class at the gym I always wish I had time to go to after all.

This study is great news for parents, no doubt. Except, why is it that we don't all look like Jennifer Lopez then? I'm guessing it's because between folding sheets, sweeping, taking our kids to swim lessons, karate, ballet, and horseback riding, and making sure they are having the best, most fun childhood ever, we often neglect our own health and well-being. Case in point? I ate the half-crushed mini-muffin my son dropped on our kitchen floor for breakfast. And the last time I didn'tscarf down the pizza crusts my kids inexplicably leave on their plates? Um, never.

Ultimately, while I appreciate the much-needed recognition the study provides that parenting is a down-and-dirty, sweaty job that challenges the body and mind much like a Peleton session, it's still up to us to live a healthy lifestyle and make self-care a priority. Because hunting down a missing puzzle piece, while wearing a toddler in a carrier, with a load of laundry that needs folding on our hip, can only do so much to keep us in shape. But I'll be dam*ed if I ever do a burpee again!

Gallery: Ways to get a flat stomach without diet or exercise (Good Housekeeping)

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Schools adjusting to life with less sugar – Jamaica Observer

BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERTSenior staff reporterhibbertk@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, November 10, 2019

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SEVERAL Corporate Area primary schools have made adjustments to their canteen menus in keeping with the Guidelines for Beverages in Schools, which was tabled in Parliament at the start of the year and places restrictions on sugary beverages in and around schools.

Following the tabling of the guidelines, some secondary institutions revamped their offerings and implemented their own bans. However, there were concerns for the primary schools which also have to contend with outside vendors.

When the Jamaica Observer visited four primary schools to see the implementations made since the guidelines were tabled, the schools all shared one common sentiment they were in agreement with the guidelines and had began making adjustments long before Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton announced his plans.

Long before the minister spoke about no sugary content we had stopped offering sodas, so that was out of our menu at the tuck shop. When that came in from the minister we sprung into action. We adjusted, based on his regulations. My canteen supervisor ensures that the persons who we contract to get beverages from are compliant with what the minister says. We have implemented and adjusted what we have in our tuck shops so they are at the sugar content that is recommended. We have also implemented water day so every Wednesday it is only water that is served to everyone on the compound, said Shallette McIntyre, principal of St Francis Primary and Infant.

McIntyre added: Initially when we started the water day it took a little while to adjust, even the teachers. Initially the students would come and say 'miss, we need to have something sweet'. It took a while to adjust; we remind each other and they remind me. Now everyone has settled in. We are looking to extend it in terms of fruit day because now we are officially on the Jamaica Moves programme. We have the policy and are up to date and abiding by the rules.

Kahiefa Walcott Johnson, head of the infant department at Excelsior Primary and Infant School also said changes were implemented before the guidelines, as they are governed by the Early Childhood Commission.

Because of the babies and because of the standard that is required, we have been practising that before the ministry introduced it. We don't encourage children to drink sweet drinks; they are encouraged to bring two bottles of water each day and each Wednesday it's just fruits and water, Walcott Johnson said.

However, the canteen that serves Excelsior Primary is operated by Tastee Jamaica, a fast food chain popularly known for its beef patties.

Leon Dobson, the canteen supervisor, explained that they have adjusted their meal offerings to include healthier options.

We don't sell soda, just box drink, flavour splash, and natural juices. We have also introduced healthy days on Tuesdays and Thursdays where there is no fried food and we are looking to introduce another healthy day, Dobson said.

Rose Williams, vice-principal at New Day Primary and Junior High, also said the school had removed sodas and mainly promotes the consumption of water as beverage.

While we don't have water days we promote water drinking a lot. We also let parents know where we are going in accordance with the ministry. On a class basis they are encouraged to drink more water and eat more fruits. Especially in grade one, nutrition is a big part of the curriculum and the coordinator will introduce fruits students are not accustomed to. In addition, there is a lot of health education going on and partnerships with corporate companies that stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle to both students and teachers, Williams said.

Olga Robinson Clarke, principal at New Providence Primary said in keeping with the guidelines, the school had made a concerted effort to purchase more water and the cranberry flavoured bag juice, said to contain less sugar than other flavours.

We have been buying more water. Some grades we have a water day where they drink only water either bring it, or buy it at school. Few will say 'miss mi want something sweet', but when they see their friends buying the water you will find that they do buy. Usually that bell that goes at lunch many will buy the water, Robinson Clarke said.

Health minister Dr Christopher Tufton said he is pleased with the general acceptance of the policy to restrict sugary drinks in schools and said in the coming months additional measures such as a nutrition policy to guide meal preparations for students will be introduced.

This is being done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. All this is of course to address the increase of obesity and premature illness in our children. We still have some challenges, however, including trying to influence what vendors sell on the outskirts of school compounds. This we have to work on, he said.

Out of the four schools visited, vending was observed at New Providence Primary and New Day Primary and Junior High. However, the school administrators said they do their part in terms of health education and continue to encourage students to make the healthier choice.

Tufton further addressed concerns that the guidelines for beverages in schools were paternalistic and restricted freedom of choice.

The truth of the matter is Government has to act in a manner that respects freedom of choice but at the same time protects the vulnerable and greater good of society. In this instance our children are risking their development because of excess consumption of certain foods. That applies generally but certainly within the school environment, the Government has a responsibility to give the best possible guidance and the best possible learning environment. In that regard the choices they make can't be free for all particularly when the government discerns certain threats with some of those choices, he said.

The health minister further explained that the restrictions are supported by strong scientific evidence and within public health there is a duty to do no harm.

Just as how you have restrictions around tobacco and alcohol because of the clear scientific evidence to suggest that at a young age consumption of those things are harmful, the science is very clear around excessive consumption of sugar and indeed of other things. This is why the nutrition policy as a holistic approach is necessary, Dr Tufton said. We have done work to show that up to 70 per cent of our students consume one or more bottles of sugary drinks per day. On the associated challenges of premature illness and learning disability around obesity and premature illness, it is quite responsible for government to create an environment that is more conducive for young people to learn and develop. That is a duty that we have. I don't accept the issue around trying to restrict freedom of choice in this instance.

Moreover, Dr Tufton encouraged parents to continue to act in the best interest of their children by monitoring their food consumption at home and within other environments.

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Schools adjusting to life with less sugar - Jamaica Observer

Lipoprotein "Little A" Can Cause More than a Little Damage to the Heart – Scientific American

Bernie Sanders is lucky. He needed heart artery stents at the age of 78, but others have had major cardiac issues at younger ages, such as Bob Harper, the fitness guru from The Biggest Loser, who was only 52 when an artery blockage caused him to suffer a heart attack, and he almost died. When it comes to heart disease, you can seem healthy one day and be gone the next. This discrepancy is why doctors and health care professionals work so hard to prevent it: the first warning can often be your last. For those patients who receive preventive cardiac care, many will have some risk factor that their doctor will find and counsel them on how to lower. Even with this precaution, however, 20 percent of heart attacks are still not preventable.

This 20 percent is what I worry about. As a cardiologist who has met too many patients after they needed resuscitation following their heart attack or cardiac arrest, I wanted to do more. I wanted to know what else we are missing, especially for women. When I and my colleagues opened Rush University Medical Centers Rush Heart Center for Women more than 15 years ago, I needed to learn what young women and men whose fathers or close relatives died or had a heart attack in their 40s were at risk for.

A former mentor of mine, the late Angelo Scanu of the University of Chicago, discovered that a particular cholesterol particle is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease: lipoprotein(a), which is inherited and affects about 20 percent of people. Sometimes called Lp little a or Lp(a), this protein is a complex molecule that is similar to the more familiar low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. They contain similar moleculesapolipoprotein(a), or apo(a), for Lp(A) and apolipoprotein B, or apoB, for LDL. Both can cause plaques in many of the arteries and aortic valve that can lead to heart attacks, strokes or sudden death. And even worse, Lp(a) is similar to the molecule fibrinogen, which causes blood clots.

So what can one do about Lp(a) when it is found to be elevated in people? Well, thats the problem. Studiesshow that plant-based diets can lower Lp(a) by a small percentage, but it may be too small of a difference to be meaningful. Certain individuals have an inherited gene, usually the Lp(a) intron gene, which causes them to have levels so dangerous that even an extremely healthy lifestyle cannot prevent a heart attack. There are somemedications that can lower Lp(a), but the currently available ones, such as niacin, which can do so by about 30 percent, dont actually make a difference in lessening events such as heart attacks or strokes. Underway studies are investigating whether new medications that can drop Lp(a) by as much as 80 percent will be enough to make a difference in those events. Until those studies are complete, doctors advise that the best way to decrease the risk from Lp(a) is to lower LDL cholesterol and take a small daily dose of aspirin.

Lp(a) is common in the general population, but there are racial differences that may explain why some people are at higher risk of heart disease. South Asians have the highest prevalence, with 35 percent of their population having Lp(a) greater than 50 milligrams per deciliter, followed by Africans at 30 percent. Asians have long been thought by doctors to be at low risk for the illness because East Asians, such as Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, have a lower possibility of experiencing coronary artery disease as compared with other ethnic groups.

But its not just South Asians; Filipino and Vietnamese people also have higher risk than the East Asians. Patients from these backgrounds should check with their doctor about the risks they may have for elevated Lp(a).

Alarmingly, the decline in mortality from cardiovascular disease that we saw from about 1980 to 2010 has stopped. Since 2010, the National Center for Health Statistics has reported an increase in cardiovascular-disease-related deaths. In the latest statistical update, from 2016, the leading cause of death from cardiovascular disease remains coronary artery disease, at 43.2 percent, followed by stroke, at 16.9 percent. More than 60 percent of such deaths is still from plaque buildup. Studies are continuing to see if lowering Lp(a) can decrease the risk of heart disease.

Until then, people should calculate their risk of having a cardiac event in the next 10 years. If the risk is greater than, or equal to, 7.5 percent, cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins can reduce the chance of heart attacks strokes and death. If the risk is between 5 percent and 7.5 percent, further testsincluding measuring Lp(a), finding coronary artery calcium using CT scans and determining family history of heart diseasemay need to be done to decide whether a patient requires statins. Additionally, the Lipoprotein(a) Foundation provides resources for those with inherited Lp(a) to better educate and empower themselves.

When I started my life as a doctor more than 35 years ago, I wanted to become a cardiologist to prevent heart attacks. Those with a family history of early heart disease not only need to get tested for the usual risk factors of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking but also must make sure they know if their Lp(a) is high and get their children tested as well.

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Lipoprotein "Little A" Can Cause More than a Little Damage to the Heart - Scientific American

Ikea urges Indians to adopt a healthy lifestyle by sleeping well – The Drum

Ikea, the global home furnishing brand, is urging people to improve their sleep in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The campaign, titled 'Let's Celebrate Sleep, Everyday' showcases how members of a family struggle to sleep due to light and sounds coming from the windows, uncomfortable mattresses and pillows and the phone buzzing late night.

The advertisement further highlights the importance of sleep in order to function efficiently, especially during the festive season.

The campaign will run across TV, print, digital, radio, OOH, Ikea Family (Ikeas customer loyalty program) workshops and BTL activities such as placing Sleep Pods at prominent malls in Hyderabad.

Ikea also released a radio campaign to create chatter around the importance of sleep on multiple radio stations in Hyderabad and one of the radio shows called the expert talk features Ikeas interiors expert Mia Olsson, who shares home furnishing insights with the callers.

Amitabh Pande, marketing head, Ikea India said: Our culture very well rewards making the most of our day, we try and pack in 48 hours worth of action in 24 hours. Interestingly, our constantly connected lives and our relentless FOMO just adds to it, making us take the most crucial aspect of being our bodies for granted. How can you celebrate and have a great time if youre not rested enough every night? So, this festive season, we at Ikea are requesting customers to make time for sleep and celebrate sleep every day."

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IKEA is a Swedish-founded Dutch-based multinational group, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been the world's largest furniture r...

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Ikea urges Indians to adopt a healthy lifestyle by sleeping well - The Drum

15 Best Heart Rate Monitor Watches in 2019 – The Trend Spotter

From the gym to the workplace, there is always time to improve your overall health. Your heart is the most vital organ in the body, so why not take care of it? Whether youre running a marathon or taking a brisk walk in the park, keeping track of your body and pushing yourself further is a great way to reach the next goal. From a novice to a pro, here are the best heart rate monitor watches to help you keep track of your fitness and wellbeing.

Look stylish at work or on the running track wearing an Apple Watch Series 5. With an always-on display and a dedication to your health, this is sure to keep you looking and feeling great. It features an ECG app, a noise monitor, and a workout tracker to promote and kickstart your healthy life. Every health goal you want to reach becomes closer with this remarkable watch.

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Get a better insight into your workout with the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Its sleek and comfortable to wear to any occasion and can help you reach your fitness goal faster than ever. This smartwatch can even help you master the art of sleep it tracks and offers an insightful vision of your rest and monitors your stress levels. This is a stylish and versatile option for anyone who is on the move.

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Check the weather, daily news, and your health with the Fitbit Versa 2. This smartwatch looks sleek enough to wear in the office and works hard with you while youre at the gym. You can also wear it while youre sleeping as it tracks and monitors the quality of your rest this is the perfect option for anyone ready to kickstart their fitness journey.

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Take your fitness to the next level with the Garmin Forerunner 35. With its GPS enabled tracker, you can run further than ever before. This smartwatch offers helpful alerts, music connectivity, and notifications to keep you achieving your goals and will have you feeling your best. Whether youre finding the perfect tune or deadlifting, this is an excellent option for the person on the go.

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Feel better than ever with the Polar Ft1 smartwatch. The large screen helps you keep track of your heart rate while youre working out or just at home. This timepiece can elevate your health levels and push you to become the best version of yourself, no matter where you are on your fitness journey. This an excellent option for someone who wants some extra motivation and will stay with you every step of the way.

BUY

Burn more calories, run faster, and improve your stamina with the Fitbit Charge 3. With 15 exercise modes to choose from, you can swim, run, and do more than ever. From morning to night, you can stay on top of your health with ease. This fitness watch is waterproof, sleek, and has a 7-day battery life so that you can start a new adventure every day!

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Track distance, calories, and your heart rate with the Garmin vvosmart. This innovative timepiece keeps a record of your beats throughout the day and reminds you to get up and move around so you can stay active. Whether youre rollerblading or running for the bus, this will be the key you need to keep on top of your game.

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Maintain a healthy lifestyle with the sleek Suunto 3. Featuring a stylish and a 30-meter waterproof design, you can swim, run, and play without missing a step. No matter your fitness level, this smartwatch will adapt and offer new exercises that best suit you and your abilities.

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Maximize your workout and reach your goals faster using the Withings smartwatch. This steel timepiece looks stylish with any outfit and tracks every step you take. Every morning you can wake up to an insightful sleep analysis and discover the secrets to a healthy lifestyle. It is a timeless option for anyone ready to take action for themselves.

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Keep moving all day and reap the rewards with Fitbit Inspire. This fitness tracker keeps up with your busy schedule and helps you become your best self. Whether youre counting your calories or in need of a heart rate monitor, you can do it all from the one device. You can even wear it while youre asleep to get the best out of your sleep. From the workplace to the gym, it will stay by your side every step of the way.

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Put a spring in your step with the L8star fitness tracker. It is a sleek option for the person on the go and offers features like heart rate, sleep quality, and also includes six different sport modes. You can do anything with this watch, and the options packed inside can help you reach your goal sooner than ever.

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Help get the family off the couch and into the garden with the Letsfit fitness tracker. This water-resistant watch can help you get up on your feet and keep you moving all day. Featuring an accurate heart rate, with a sleek design, you can wear it from the office to the gym in an instant. Its a perfect option for guys and girls on the go and can help you achieve your workout goals.

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Whether youre just starting out or youre a professional athlete, you can track and push yourself further using the Willful fitness tracker. This handy watch offers all-day activity monitoring, including your heart rate and step count. Whether youre going for a jog or youre picking up the kids, this will be by your side with every step.

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Dive into the deep end using the MorePro health tracker. It is a waterproof watch that keeps up with your every move, no matter what youre doing. The dynamic heart rate monitor allows you to reach your full potential and stay within your limits, and the calorie counter can help you achieve every goal you have. Make the most out of your day using this fantastic timepiece.

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Dont let the weather hold you back, thanks to the Lintelek fitness tracker. Featuring 14 sport modes, you can understand how to move your body accurately and hit new heights. No matter where you are on your journey, let this sleek and sturdy timepiece help you get there.

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15 Best Heart Rate Monitor Watches in 2019 - The Trend Spotter

Danbury event to promote healthy lifestyle – Danbury News Times

Anthem and the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut unveiled a new mural at Morris Street Elementary School Thursday evening. Anthem provided the YMCA with a $25,000 grant to promote Go!-5-2-1-0. January 31, 2019, in Danbury, Conn.

Anthem and the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut unveiled a new mural at Morris Street Elementary School Thursday evening. Anthem provided the YMCA with a $25,000 grant to promote Go!-5-2-1-0. January 31,

Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Anthem and the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut unveiled a new mural at Morris Street Elementary School Thursday evening. Anthem provided the YMCA with a $25,000 grant to promote Go!-5-2-1-0. January 31, 2019, in Danbury, Conn.

Anthem and the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut unveiled a new mural at Morris Street Elementary School Thursday evening. Anthem provided the YMCA with a $25,000 grant to promote Go!-5-2-1-0. January 31,

Danbury event to promote healthy lifestyle

DANBURY Experts will promote healthy living at an event on Thursday evening.

The public will learn about the health and wellness programs in the community, including the new and existing family health care providers that accept all insurance, according to a flyer.

The session is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Rogers Park Middle Schools cafeteria. The event is part of the Go! 5-2-1-0, a wellness message, which encourages students to make healthy choices.

Free dinner and a flu clinic will be provided.

The YMCA, the Coalition for Healthy Kids, Anthem Foundation, Danbury Public Schools and Connecticut Childrens Medical Center are sponsoring the event.

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Danbury event to promote healthy lifestyle - Danbury News Times

Loss and living – Jamaica Observer

BarbaraGloudon

Friday, November 01, 2019

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We have shed so many tears already this year. The latest case to stir emotions is the terrifying incident which occurred on Monday afternoon at Clan Carthy Primary School in Kingston, when an unattended garbage truck got out of control injured an adult and crushed a seven-year old student to death.

The news reports in the past few days have shown the grieving parents, family and classmates of little Benjamin Bair. The Ministry of Education has deployed its grief counselling team to the school to offer whatever support is necessary to all who have been affected. Government officials have also announced the intention to revise policies to institute a higher level of safety for our children at school in particular when it comes to access by large vehicles which pose an even greater threat to children, many of whom are not even the height of the truck tyre.

I spoke with a friend who is a guidance counsellor at a nearby school and asked how do we help children to deal with grief? When they are so young, do they even understand what has happened? How do we explain and help them to make sense of tragedies such as this? He said the main thing is to allow the children to express themselves, whether by drawing a picture, writing a poem or a letter, and let them tell you how they feel. Give them the chance to talk about the situation when they feel ready to do so. Encourage and comfort them and allow them to take the time needed to work through the situation in their own time.

Everybody deals with grief in different ways. The five stages of grief were defined by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some of us, it is a long journey through those stages, and it can take years to truly accept a loss. Another friend said the worst thing for her was to have people tell her that it was time to move on from a loss. For them, they were ready, but I know how I feel.

For my counsellor friend, he says as difficult as it is to see the children crying and saddened by events, it is even harder for him when he comes across youngsters who have been through so much that they are unphased by violence and tragedy. He has taught children who casually relate tales of which family member has been killed or seriously injured in the same way they would tell him what they had for lunch. He wonders how they will fare out later in life. How will we, as a wider society, deal with the hurts and scars of past trauma?

Losing limbs

The other news that caught my attention this week was loss of a different kind. In an article by Desmond Allen in this paper's Monday edition, Dr Dalip Ragoobirsingh, director of The UWI Diabetes Education Programme, suggested that anecdotal evidence says there is one amputation per 1,500 diabetic patients in Jamaica and that the Caribbean is the amputation capital of the world.

We take the effects of diabetes far too lightly. We mix the sweet drinks and we eat the starchy foods that put us at risk and think that all is well. We literally want to have our cake and eat it too and not put on the weight. Professor Errol Morrison and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica have done a vast amount of work in highlighting the risks of this disease, but sugar continues to pose challenges for our people and our health system. I recommend to those with diabetes to get a copy of Monday Jamaica Observer and make note of the foot care tips that were published there. Knowledge is power. Take the power into your hands and save your feet too.

There has been a push for Jamaicans to embrace a healthy lifestyle as our levels of obesity grow like the numbers on the scale. Some people are getting the message, and it is good to see Jamaicans getting their exercise. If you wake early in the morning, all across the island, you will find people on the roads walking, jogging, and running to give themselves a chance for a healthier life.

An unfortunate situation is that exercise seekers are now having to focus on avoiding the two-footed tief dem who have been plaguing them. Still, they know that getting out there is a worthwhile endeavour and we congratulate them and encourage others to join them.

Next on the agenda is to take control of what goes on your fork. It can be rough to eat healthy when vegetables and fruits are so expensive. I must admit that I have had to shut mi eye and pass the lettuce and tomato when I hear the prices, but there are other choices that fit the pocket book. In any case, doctor bill is more expensive in the long run. Mek wi try save the limbs and lose the pounds instead.

Barbara Gloudon is a journalist, playwright and commentator. Send comments to the Observer or gloudonb@gmail.com

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5 tips to make your healthy lifestyle more affordable – Austin American-Statesman

Living a healthy life is not cheap. If youre paying for things like supplements, gym membership fees and organic groceries on a consistent basis, yourcash is very likely slipping through your fingers before you can even count it.

Making your healthy life more affordable may not be easy, but once the necessary habits are adopted, it will become second nature to you!

Use these tips to save money, stay fit, and feel good about your physical and financial health.

5 tips to make your healthy life more affordable

Look for fitness deals

Gyms can be expensive, but there are ways to get more and spend less if you know what to look for.

On the other hand, you can skip the gym altogether and use the Internet as your personal trainer. There are a number of websites that offer high-quality workout videos from top-tier trainers, for free or cheap. Here are a few to check out:

Shop at the right stores

Not all grocery stores are created equal. While you might love the one thats closest to you because its convenient, it may not be the best option for saving every week. A recent pricing analysis found that Aldi offered the most in average monthly savings (34.5%). Trader Joes, known for its deals and discounts, came in last, with 0% average monthly savings. Get more shopping insights from the full CouponBox grocery analysis here.

If you dont have an Aldi near you, do your own pricing test. Each week for the next month, buythe same groceries at four different stores shopping at a different one each week. Save your receipts and compare. Where did you spend the least? Maybe one store has a bulk section, great for stocking up on pantry items, while another is better for produce and fresh protein. Then modify your shopping routine accordingly!

Save on supplements

If you love your supplements, youre not alone. The supplements industry is currently worth $37 billion, so there is clearly no shortage of supplements available.

And with a little research, you canfind what you need at a price you love. Before paying out of pocket, see if your doctor can write you a prescription. If you can buy it from the pharmacy, you may be able to use your insurance, which could save a few dollars, depending on what you need.

Otherwise, Vitacost and Supplement Warehouse offer steep discounts on a variety of brands and types, and My Supplement Store is almost always offering free shipping for purchases over $50.

Note:Its important to make sure you do your research and even ask your doctor aboutany supplements you decide you take, as they could include ingredients that conflict with other medications youre currently taking.

Plan your meals

This may sound boring and typical, but planning your meals helps you buy just what you need, rather than spending on food that will end up in the trash. For example, you could plan on doing rice, veggies and protein for dinner for the next week. There are many ways you can change this up from day to day, while relying on a few affordable basics:

Planning your meals in this way allows you to get the most for your money, without spending on food you dont need.

See if you qualify for food assistance

Government food assistance, often called food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), is offered for a reason: sometimes we need a little help, and theres no shame in that. Many college students, for example, can qualify and get $60 $100+ in food money every month.

When I was in college, this was a lifesaver. I was able to get the healthy food I wanted, and now, with a well-paying job, I can afford it myself. The best part: Most who qualify receive a debit card, so when you check out at the cash register, no one has to know its not your regular bank card.

Living a healthy life can be affordable if you plan a little, look for the deals, and know where to shop. Youll be glad you took the time to do a pricing test and find the best online workout subscription when you see that youre saving every month.

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5 tips to make your healthy lifestyle more affordable - Austin American-Statesman

Four Ways To Ensure Healthy Eating Is Safe – Jamaica Observer

Marshalee Valentine

Thursday, October 17, 2019

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Observing a healthy diet does not mean that your food is safe for consumption. As a matter of fact, you should ensure that food safety is embedded in the diet programme you choose to follow. Eating healthy does not just involve watching calories and nutrients; it also requires that the food consumed is safe. There are times, however, when the two healthy food and safe food can be conflicting as there are practices in living a healthy lifestyle, such as raw food consumption, that may be detrimental to actual health and safety.

1. For those on a complete raw food diet, ensure that you source your produce from reputable suppliers. It is understandable that eating healthy requires that food isn't fried or overcooked but that healthy cooking methods such as steaming, broiling, grilling and roasting are used to prepare meals. Also consider the following:

Can you go on a raw food diet given your age and current health status? Consult with your doctor or dietician to determine this.

Try to at least use one of the above-mentioned cooking methods or even a dehydrator when preparing foods that may contain bacteria and parasites such as fish, eggs. Additionally, you want to be careful when consuming raw sprouts as bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella can thrive in the warm, humid environment in which sprouts are grown.

If you consume milk, ensure that it is not raw, meaning unpasteurised. Raw milk may contain Mycobacteria bovis (M bovis), which can cause non-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Cassava and kidney beans may contain toxins, so be careful to follow preparation instructions to avoid illnesses. Cooking kills some toxins, bacteria, and harmful compounds in these food.

2. Remember to always store all your perishable fruits in the refrigerator and never pack the refrigerator tight you must allow for air circulation to keep the food cool and fresher for longer. You need to also check for spoilage and remove any fruit or vegetable from storage that has evidence of spoilage or mould.

3. Ensure your meal prep containers and utensils are kept clean and stored in clean areas. Additionally, because you will be spending more time preparing meals, ensure all your food contact surfaces (counters, cutting boards, utensils) are kept clean and sanitised.

4. Always wash your fresh fruits and veggies with lukewarm water. Buy them from a reputable supplier.

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Four Ways To Ensure Healthy Eating Is Safe - Jamaica Observer

Hearts of gold! Kilkenny employers rewarded for healthy living initiatives – Kilkenny Now

Two Kilkenny employers have been awarded for prioritising their employees health at work, encouraging healthy living and healthy eating.

VHI Healthcare won a gold award andAut Even Hospital won a bronze award at the Irish Heart Foundations Happy Heart Healthy Eating and Active@Work Awards.

Held in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin this week, the awards recognise programmes at work, which assist staff restaurants in adopting healthier cooking practices and providing healthier food choices, with the aim of making the healthier choice the easier choice for employees.

Heart disease and stroke are among Irelands leading causes of death. However, 80% of premature heart disease and stroke are preventable through a healthy lifestyle.

Workplaces can play a key part in promoting and offering healthier food choices and physical activity programmes. The Irish Heart Foundation has been supporting healthy workplaces for over 20 years, and through the awards, recognises their efforts for prioritising employees heart health.

Health Guru Karl Henry presented the awards alongside Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, who was delighted with the culture of healthy living companies are trying to nurture.

The Irish Heart Foundation is delighted to recognise each of these companies for creating a culture of health and wellbeing and positively influencing peoples cardiovascular health by providing a long-term sustainable programme that demonstrates commitment to the organisations most important asset, its employees.

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Hearts of gold! Kilkenny employers rewarded for healthy living initiatives - Kilkenny Now