Author Reveals Why Your Personality May Be Causing Your Bad Health Habits – Yahoo Finance

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OTTAWA, Ontario, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Making healthy lifestyle changes is something most people recognize they should be doing but setting goals and taking action can be challenging. But what if there was a way to personalize your approach to goal-setting and health? A way that would allow you to stay on track and finally make the progress you have been hoping for?

Internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and wellness expert Nathalie Beauchamp, D.C., IFMCP, an Ottawa-based doctor of chiropractic and certified functional medicine practitionerwith the Institute of Functional Medicine,reveals how individual personality traits may be the reason you struggle to change habitsespecially those that relate to your health.

Through her years of experience, Dr. Nathalie has uncovered four core personality types that come into play when changing health habits. Each personality type requires a different method of goal-setting and planning to ensure that individuals stick to their goals and never feel resistant to change. For example, people who are detail-oriented, one of the four personality types, require all the facts before beginning a program. They are not going to jump on board the latest health trend until they have consulted professionals and done the research. If they aren't careful, Dr. Nathalie says, they may suffer from analysis paralysis.

Invite the author of Hack Your Health Habits: Simple Action-Driven, Natural Health Solutions for People On the Go!to share:

What the four personality types are, which one your audience members are and what it means for their goals

How to finally uncover hidden motivators based on their personality factors

What each personality type should look out for to avoid getting off track

Fun actionable ways to implement lasting lifestyle changes

About Dr. NathalieDr. Nathalie is a chiropractor, a former professional natural figure/bodybuilder, a wellness consultant, speaker, author, and radio and TV personality. As a natural and holistic health-care practitioner, she recognizes that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for health. Everybody is different and therefore, their approach to hacking their habits should also be different. She's known as a no-nonsense, get-it-done doctor who simplifies complex health information into easy, actionable steps anyone can implement and feel a difference in their overall health and vitality.

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Contact: Nathalie Beauchamp, (613) 852-1770; 233142@email4pr.com; Drnathaliebeauchamp.com

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SOURCE Nathalie Beauchamp

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Author Reveals Why Your Personality May Be Causing Your Bad Health Habits - Yahoo Finance

Aljur does more with a healthy lifestyle

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LUNGE and attack. NELSON MATAWARAN

Wearing boxer shorts and hand wraps, actor Aljur Abrenica is about to strike, moving toward his opponent, athlete Mark Tura. The leading man of GMA 7s Kambal Sirena then lets loose explosive kicks. Tura tries to hit back, but Abrenica seizes his leg and holds him, before he dispenses a nasty bout of blows and elbows.

Abrenica is a man of many interests such as photography, car racing, surfing and martial arts. He discovered his love for racing and drives around with a Dodge Challenger SRT, the same model that Vin Diesel used in Fast & Furious 6.

Lately hes been preoccupied with Muay Thai, a brutal but elegant sport that combines kickboxing and hand-to-hand combat. Unlike in other combat sports, a Muay Thai fighter engages in full-body contact (except the head) using the knee, shin and elbows.

ABRENICA uses his shin, which is not allowed in other martial arts, to thwart his opponent. PHOTOS BY NELSON MATAWARAN

An uncle introduced Abrenica to Mua y Thai when he was 12 years old but other sports got him distracted.

Laman ako ng kalye, he says, explaining his love for outdoor activities.

At 24, he decided to take up Muay Thai again. I like the sweat, the toxins are removed. I learn self-defense skills. The most important is discipline. Its not an easy workout if you stay up late and drink.

He adds that it has given him greater flexibility. I used to be tight but now I can split.

The training has helped him do credible fight scenes. My moves are more genuine, Abrenica says.

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Aljur does more with a healthy lifestyle

Fit Club A Modern Fitness Center in the Heart of Tbilisi – Georgia Today

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Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term benefits on our health and reduce our risk of developing numerous diseases. Moreover, regular activity can reduce stress and gift us a feeling of happiness through the endorphins our body releases during exercise. As such, a healthy lifestyle is becoming an increasingly important part of our daily life.

This trend is also noticeable in Georgia, where more and more people, especially youth, start working out to improve their health and physical shape.

Choosing the right fitness center, one which is able to fully meet our needs and demands, is crucial. There are many such facilities in Tbilisi, and a modern fitness center Fit Club is distinguished among them.

The fitness center opened two years ago and was quick to gain popularity and trust among its customers due to its exclusive offers and services.

Fit Club, in all appearances like a prestigious fitness center of New York or Europe, offers unique opportunities for a healthier and happier life in one space in the heart of the Georgian capital, with diverse service and high-qualified instructors.

This is where you will find all the right conditions for active relaxation and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

Fit Clubs convenient location in the city center is one of the main advantages of the club, as it is easily accessible for any visitor from any district of Tbilisi. Moreover, Fit Club offers its members a solution to one of the biggest problems nowadays: parking, with a well-arranged free parking system. Clients of Fit Club lose no time searching for a parking place while visiting the club.

By becoming a member of Fit Club, one gets full access to the latest sports equipment, including gym, personal trainer service, pilates reformer machines, Finnish Sauna and rooftop pool.

One of the most attractive and special features is an outdoor swimming pool located on the top floor of the building, filled with clean, turquoise water. The pool is available for Fit Club members year round.

At Fit Club, one can experience the highest level of service and a team of highly qualified, professional instructors who care about creating healthy and beautiful body shapes.

Apart from providing the best conditions for working out, the fitness club offers its members a healthy menu for which there are several profile cafes and restaurants in the same building.

The gym is located on the second floor of the building, while three different types of restaurants and two cafes on the lower floors, making it the perfect place not only for exercise, but for arranging meetings with friends and even business partners, or simply for a delicious and healthy lunch in calm and cozy environment. Once the workout is over and you want to rest, you dont have to go anywhere the restaurants and cafes are at your disposal in the same building!

At the Fit Club caf, one can taste healthy, fresh detox cocktails and diverse dishes full of vitamins.

GEORGIA TODAY spoke to Sopho Meladze, Manager and Pilates, Swimming and Fitness Instructor of Fit Club, who elaborated on the benefits and advantages the newly opened fitness center offers its customers.

We have many fitness clubs here in Tbilisi. What makes Fit Club stand out?

Unlike other fitness clubs, we have everything our members need in one space, which is a great comfort for them. And our outdoor swimming pool operates year-round with the water cleaned daily. It is also comfortable for the customers that the hall is fitted with all kinds of equipment and that we also offer relaxation areas - a sauna and a caf.

Fit Club was the first to bring pilates reformers into the country and now has its own certified pilates instructors. This service is especially popular among customers, as pilates has a significant effect on our body strengthening and improving the shape of muscles and helping us look healthier and better.

Along with the latest equipment and reformers, we offer a dry sauna for our members maximum relaxation and comfort, a weight correction program and a personal coach service.

What makes the swimming pool so special compared to other pools?

I can confidently claim we have the cleanest rooftop pool in the center of Tbilisi, where the water is cleaned with the latest technologies daily. In our poolside caf, we provide our users with a nutrition program, and they can buy healthy products and detox cocktails necessary for their diet on the spot.

Which features are especially attractive for customers at Fit Club?

Our club is designed for those who do not like crowded gyms or long queues at reformers in the hall. Upon arrival, you will pick up on the clean, well-arranged environment, smiling and friendly staff, qualified instructors and quality service. All our instructors are certified - both in the hall and in Pilates, which is yet another advantage of the Fit Club.

The biggest advantage of the Fit Club is that absolutely every coach is highly qualified, and the club has an ideal, orderly situation and service.

At first, we determine the goal of our members and then provide them with an individual workout and nutrition plan for the best results.

At Fit Club, one can enjoy a dry sauna. How beneficial is it for health?

The sauna is very relaxing and helps the muscles to relax after a workout. It also removes extra water, salts and toxins from the body. This, along with many other exclusive features offered by Fit Club, makes it a favorite place for those who care for their healthy and active life and seek maximum comfort.

04 November 2019 17:17

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Fit Club A Modern Fitness Center in the Heart of Tbilisi - Georgia Today

These healthy food swaps will overhaul your diet – Telegraph.co.uk

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Healthy eating doesnt have to involve complicated diets or extreme approaches. By making some simple swaps to your regular choices, you can bag more beneficial nutrients, sustain energy levels, avoid too much snacking and feel better inside and out. Here are our suggestions for some smart switches you can build in this month for easy eats with serious benefits...

Why? It turns out Goldilocks had the right idea a bowl of porridge is one of the best ways you can start your day (though we dont suggest stealing it from a bear). Oats contain a soluble fibre called beta-glucan, found to lower bad cholesterol (note that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 3g of oat beta-glucan). Oats are also a complex carbohydrate, and are full of fibre and nutrients, so they take longer to digest, helping you sustain energy levels through the morning. Just remember to opt for natural oats without flavourings or added sugar. Try topping your porridge with some sliced apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or banana and flaked almonds, to add a little natural sweetness.

Why? OK, were not trying to deprive you of your must-have morning java, but as the day wears on, try going green, and enjoy the zen vibes that follow. Green tea is loaded with powerful antioxidants and also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. That should make your to-do list that bit more doable.

Why? If lunch just isnt lunch without a sandwich, dont panic you can still have your carb hit: just switch it for a wholemeal version that will pack health-based benefits with every bite. Upping your intake of wholegrains can help boost the nutritional quality of your diet, due to increased intake of micronutrients. They may also help you feel fuller for longer, staving off those mid-afternoon hunger pangs.

Why? Theres a reason hipsters look healthy, and its not just down to fusion yoga and unicycling. Mashing an avocado and adding it to your sandwich filling gives you a great creamy taste, like mayo, but also allows you to squeeze in one of your five-a-day. Plus these delicious fruits (technically a single-seeded berry, for any fact enthusiasts) are nutritional powerhouses rich in fibre, full of healthy fats, and a great source of potassium. So get mashing.

Why? Because (a bit of some) chocolate is good for you. By switching to dark chocolate, youre getting higher levels of cocoa flavonoids, antioxidant molecules that are believed to be beneficial to brain function. Studies have also found dark chocolate to contribute to heart health via normal blood flow. Look for bars with 70 to 85 per cent cocoa to bag the benefits, and think a few squares rather than entire giant bar (sorry).

Why? Because they are an all-round healthier, hunger-satiating snack, with walnuts in particular singled out for their high levels of antioxidants. They are also high in protein and fibre, with studies showing nuts like almonds can help you to feel fuller for longer (and less likely to hit up the vending machine for another pack).

Why? Even if youre not veggie or vegan, health experts recommend we limit our intake of red meat. Beetroot burgers are on trend as a meat-free alternative, and available in many supermarkets.

Why? Though they might be tasty, the humble spud doesnt count as one of your five a day, but sweet potatoes do, making them an easy way to up your veg intake and feel instantly virtuous. Sweet potato is full of beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. Its also a good source of potassium and fibre. Oven-bake wedges or try it mashed as a side or perhaps as a tasty alternative topping on a cottage pie.

Why? Because its just as (if not more) creamy, while serving up a delicious dollop of nutrients. High in protein and rich in calcium, Greek yoghurt makes a healthier accompaniment to desserts or a great one in its own right. Look out for an unsweetened version and add some fresh fruit, chopped nuts and cinnamon.

To help you support your health and well-being outside and in, Centrum has partnered with Telegraph Spark to help you make small yet effective changes*.

Centrum wants to motivate you to boost your health in a simple, enjoyable and sustainable way. Working with leading experts and nutritionists, exercise and wellness brands, we have curated a wealth of tip-packed, easy-to-follow content from healthy eating ideas to on-trend activities and ways to de-stress and relax. Centrums range of multivitamins is specially tailored to help support you every day based on your age, gender, lifestyle and nutritional needs.*

To find out more, and discover which Centrum is right for you, visit centrum.co.uk

*Multivitamins are intended to supplement your diet and should not be regarded as a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Centrum contains vitamin D, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system, and vitamin B12, which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

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Decreasing pain and increasing function, even through COVID – The Kingston Whig-Standard

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Dr. Brad Murray, who grew up about ten minutes from Lucknow, is in his 15th year practicing at the Lucknow Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, which he opened in 2006, after working as an associate Chiropractor in a practice in Teeswater for over five years.

Murray completed his B.Sc. Hons. Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, before graduating from the National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Illinois in 2000.

Murray offers chiropractic treatments, using low force instruments including the Activator and the VF adjuster by Sigma Instruments, as well as utilizing gentle hands on adjustment to the spine and extremities. Chiropractic adjustments are used to correct and improve joint motion, in order to decrease pain, and improve function and quality of life.

In addition to chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Murray utilizes his laser therapy to help speed healing for a wide range of conditions and injuries, including neck and low back pain, sciatica, rotator cuff injuries, hip and knee Osteoarthritis, and many more.

Murray has completed extensive training in acupuncture, rehab exercises, soft tissue techniques such as myofascial release, foot dysfunction, sports injuries, concussions, Lumbar Spine Stenosis, and nutritional supplements. Ultrasound therapy and Flexion-Distraction (traction) are also possible treatments offered in the clinic.

Proper foot function is a major focus Murray has for his patients, as dysfunction can lead to foot, knee, hip, or lower back pain. Murray adjusts the foot and ankle to improve joint motion and function if needed. Gait assessments are also done, including computerized foot scans done by walking over a force plate, in addition to a complete examination. From this information, it is determined if custom orthotics, from The Orthotic Group are necessary.

The newest addition to the office is an exercise program. This is comprised of assessments of the spine, posture, gait, and movement. The spinal and postural assessment identifies dysfunctions, which lead to prescribing mobility and functional exercises, to improve and maintain function for the long term. Exercises are done in office and at home, with access to online videos and home journal.

They offer a number of products for purchase, ranging from nutritional supplements, vitamins, braces, Superfeet (non-custom) orthotics, pillows, Biofreeze, exercise bands and mobility equipment, inversion tables and more. For more for information, see their website http://www.lucknowchiropractic.com, or their Facebook page.

Murray has a wonderful staff that includes Linda Durnin, Kathy Hackett, Brianna Yuill, and Sherry McBurney. Registered Massage Therapist Marlee Gowing, and Reflexologist Bonnie Kuik also join him in the office.

During the Covid-19 shut down, Murray has had to lay off all four staff members, and is allowed to treat only acute or emergency patients. Associate chiropractor in the office, Dr. Ron Goertzen, has not been working since the start of the pandemic.

Its been an adjustment, said Murray. Im treating over 90% less patients. Im getting more and more calls from patients I havent seen in weeks.

Murray is hopeful that he will gain his original customer base back after the pandemic passes, but has some worries about financial strains on his clients after COVID has left so many without jobs.

I am very confident that when we are allowed to resume care for patients, that we will be busy, very quickly again, said Murray. I have amazing patients that have supported the practice for many years, from Lucknow and the surrounding communities and I expect that to continue. As the weeks add up, many patients are asking when they can get in again, as they are feeling the affects of missing treatments for so long.

Murray is encouraging patients to keep active during this isolation period in order to minimize potential issues that they may experience without treatment. Go for a walk outside or on a treadmill, ride a bike, play sports, do home stretching, and develop a home workout program. There are many options to stay active. Alternatively, Murray is available over email for assistance. In addition to movement, practice a healthy lifestyle by getting a good nights sleep, drink plenty of water, reduce stress, and eat nutritious foods.

Murray has always supported local initiatives like sports teams and the Fall Fair, and takes great pride in his community. He is very excited for all of this to pass and for Lucknow to return to some form of normalcy. Before COVID Murray began some office renovations which he is excited to reveal later this year

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Decreasing pain and increasing function, even through COVID - The Kingston Whig-Standard

HEALTH MATTERS: Fighting dementia with a healthy lifestyle – centraljersey.com

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Most everyone knows that a healthy diet and regular exercise are good for your heart, but growing evidence suggests theyre good for your brain too.

More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimers disease, the most common form of dementia in the United States, according to the Alzheimers Association. As the number of people age 65 and older continues to increase, so does the number of new Alzheimers cases.

June is Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to Alzheimers disease and raise awareness about how to keep your brain healthy as you age.

Dementia is an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells, and the majority of cases are linked to Alzheimers disease in which high levels of certain proteins, both inside and outside brain cells, make it difficult for cells to stay healthy and communicate with each other.

The second most common type of dementia is vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke. Many dementias are progressive, meaning symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse.

Symptoms of dementia can vary greatly. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of dementia, though many people have memory loss issues that are not linked to dementia.

Other cognitive difficulties associated with the early stages of Alzheimers disease and other dementias include:

Challenges in planning or solving problems

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Confusion with time or place

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

New problems with words in speaking or writing

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Decreased or poor judgment

Withdrawal from work or social activities

Changes in mood and personality

If you or a loved one experience trouble with memory or other cognitive skills, see a doctor to determine a cause. Early diagnosis and treatment may be able to help slow the progression of dementia and improve quality of life.

As the Alzheimers Association reports, research suggests that combining good nutrition with mental, social and physical activities may have a greater benefit in maintaining or improving brain health than any single activity.

Many of the same healthy lifestyle habits that are good for your cardiovascular health also benefit your brain. This is because your brain is nourished by a rich network of blood vessels, and anything that damages these vessels can deprive your brain of vital fuel and oxygen.

To help reduce your risk of cognitive decline, follow these tips:

Control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly by your doctor. If you are on medication to help control your blood pressure or cholesterol, make sure you are taking it as prescribed and that it is working effectively. High blood pressure and cholesterol can lead to vascular disease and stroke, which can in turn lead to dementia.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese puts you at risk for a range of other health complications including heart disease and diabetes, which can increase your risk for developing dementia.

Eat a healthy diet. According to the Alzheimers Association, what you eat may have the greatest impact on brain health through its effect on heart health. Evidence suggests that following a Mediterranean diet may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, olive oil and other healthy fats. In addition, limiting salt intake and refraining from processed foods is part of eating healthy.

Exercise. Regular physical activity not only helps you maintain a healthy weight and a healthy heart, but research shows it may directly benefit your brain by increasing blood flow and oxygen to your brain cells. Moreover, exercise releases feel-good endorphins that help combat depression, another risk factor for dementia.

Minimize alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, and therefore increase the risk for dementia. Federal health guidelines recommend limiting alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

Protect your head. Brain injury through traumas like a car accident or a fall can increase your risk for cognitive decline and dementia. Always buckle your seatbelt; wear a helmet while riding a bike, skiing or participating in contact sports, and take steps to prevent falls.

Sleep well. Be sure you are getting enough quality sleep each night. Sleep helps recharge your body and your brain so you can think clearly and keep your memory sharp. The National Sleep Foundation recommends older adults get between seven and eight hours of sleep every night.

Keep a full calendar. Studies indicate that when older adults engage in social activities they experience less cognitive decline than those who are more isolated. Having a daily routine and schedule also aids memory.

Learn something new. Study a new language. Pick up a new musical instrument. Take art classes. By challenging your brain, you are strengthening its web of connections and creating new connections. The stronger the web, the better it protects against dementia.

When it comes to fighting dementia, keeping both your body and your brain healthy is key. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can reduce your risk for Alzheimers and other dementias and stay sharp as you grow older.

To find a physician with Princeton HealthCare System, go towww.princetonhcs.org or call 888-742-7496.

Anshu Bhalla, M.D., is board certified in family medicine and geriatric medicine. She is a member of the medical staff at University Medical Center of Princeton.

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HEALTH MATTERS: Fighting dementia with a healthy lifestyle - centraljersey.com

Healthy is the New Sexy Heres 5 of the Top Wellness Trends for 2020 – Chiang Rai Times

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Healthy is new sexy and this year people are paying even more attention to their health and wellness than ever before. And what exactly have become the trends in self-care this year? Lets see.

Non-invasive methods of aesthetic cosmetology is an alternative to surgical intervention.

Cryolipolysis for those who cant reach the desired shape with a diet and a healthy lifestyle, ultrasound for dermatological issues and aging such as hyperpigmentation, blackheads, scars, wrinkles. Fillers, laser, injections, and the list goes on.

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) reports that non-invasive treatment increased by 10.4% while the popularity of operations decreased.

According to ISAPS.org, the most demanded procedures are:

And top countries for non-invasive procedures are the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, India, Italy, and Turkey.

Consequently people dont think about preventive medicine as an unnecessary loss of time anymore. Modern humans strive to achieve a lot. And they realize how health is important in their way to success and happiness. Thus, the demand for preventive medical examinations called check-ups continues to rise in 2020.

There are lots of programs for different patients needs basic check-ups, cancer, neurological, cardiac, gastric screening, female, male, pediatric, etc. The choice depends on the age, gender, heredity, medical history, specific complaints, and symptoms if any.

Advanced Medtech solutions make it possible to undergo exams in advanced hospitals in just one day. The fastest check-up takes only 3 hours.

Some hospitals such as Kyung Hee Medical Center (Seoul, South Korea) offer a smart check-up. The hospital system with AI determines the type of screening package right for the person based on his/her age, sex, and personal features.

According to Bookimed, an international platform to match the hospital and arrange treatment abroad, the top affordable destinations for check-ups are Thailand, South Korea, Greece, Turkey, India, the UAE.

Retreats are the programs aimed to escape from everyday life to devote all time to work on oneself. The origin of retreats is found in most world religions. In a modern context, a retreat is an opportunity to free yourself from tension, relieve stress, reboot thinking and go beyond its current limits. Even more the number of people who care about their health and state of mind and want to find peace with retreats is increasing worldwide.

Above all the essence of retreats is in a total change of ordinary scenery a healthy daily routine, healthy meals, restoring physical activity, practices. A cardinal change in exercise, nutrition, and the environment with a lack of time for idle thoughts and Internet surfing makes it possible to see your self and to change it as much as possible.

Today there are lots of retreat programs so anyone can find the appropriate one. They can last from several days to several years, and they can be both individual and collective, general or dedicated to specific practices, located not far away from home or in remote places in the mountains.

The American magazine Harpers Bazaar states that most popular retreat destinations in 2020 are Indonesia, Mexico, Himalayas, Colombia, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica and also Thailand.

Even more wellness and spa tours are more popular than ever as poor ecology, stress, and overload affect peoples mental and physical health.

Tours for wellness are suitable for people of different ages. Programs also include SPA procedures, thalassotherapy, Ayurvedic sessions, bathing in thermal springs, various types of massages. Their primary purpose is to give a customer all conditions for relaxing, gaining strength, distracting from the monotony, and enjoying nature.

TripAdvisor names Indonesia, India, the USA, Australia, Thailand, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Maldives, and Spain as the most blissful destinations for wellness travel.

You are what you eat this old veritas is coming back with new approaches. One of them is detox.

Detox programs involve a special diet aimed at removing toxins from the body and reducing weight. The doctor assesses the degree of toxin contamination; bioenergy examination; measuring the ratio of fat; bone and muscle tissue; consulted with a nutritionist; and following treatment with yoga and massages.

A vacation in a detox center is also an opportunity to get rid of the accumulated stress and extra centimeters. Also to erase tension from the face, add vitality, lightness, and gain inspiration for a new lifestyle. Some centers focus on losing weight, others coping with chronic diseases of the liver, stomach, intestines, skin, and allergic diseases. People with chronic illnesses should consult a doctor first.

According to Forbes magazine, the best places for detoxing can be found in Costa Rica, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Italy, India and also Thailand

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Ayurvedic herbs that will help boost your immunity – The Indian Express

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By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | Published: December 13, 2019 10:50:32 am Do you consume these Ayurvedic herbs regularly? (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Ayurveda, one of the oldest healthcare tradition in the world, controls and regulates the three basic energies in the body pitta, vata and kapha. In Sanskrit ayur means life and veda signifies the knowledge to live life. As per ancient Ayurvedic texts, strong immunity is the foundation of healthy living. Immunity protects the body against all external and internal agents of diseases. But maintaining an ideal level of immunity (ojas) is not that easy. It can be achieved by following a healthy lifestyle. Ayurveda focuses on strengthening the immunity through a balanced lifestyle and recommends the consumption of a few herbs, says Mohamad Yusuf N Shaikh, founder of Kudrati Ayurved Health Center.

Below, he shares a few Ayurvedic herbs that can help boost the bodys immunity.

1. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is widely recognized for boosting the bodys immune system as it is rich in biologically active substances, amino acids, peptides, lipids, and the bases of nucleic acids. It also helps reduce blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol levels and reduces the stress hormone.

2. Garlic: With its antiseptic, anti-fungal, and nutritive properties, garlic has been used as an immune booster for thousands of years by Ayurveda. It is a powerful natural antioxidant, which protects the body from bacterial and viral infections, without causing any side-effects. Garlic acts as a natural antibacterial agent when it is fresh and raw as it contains allicin that kills viruses and bacteria. It is a good medicine against coughs, colds and chest infection during the winter.

3. Ginger: An ingredient packed with immune-boosting benefits, ginger also helps prevent nausea and soothes an upset tummy. Ginger is also very effective in keeping your body warm and helps break down the accumulation of toxins in your organs. Add ginger to a stir-fried dish or boil it to make a cup of ginger tea with some added lemon for a pleasant and a healing hot drink.

4. Amba haldi: Also known as raw turmeric, it is a vital Ayurvedic herb which is mostly found during the monsoon season. Amba haldi helps in revitalising the blood and purifies it by removing the toxic agents. It also helps in maintaining the health of the stomach and digestive system.

Apart from all these herbs amla, holy basil and triphala, used in the form of tea and tonics, also help in boosting the immunity.

Consuming fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dairy and unprocessed products will provide your body with the desirable nutrition and ojas (immunity). However, packaged food items that are processed, canned, and frozen are harder to digest, and thus create ama (toxins), because they are old, denatured by processing, or even include harmful ingredients such as chemical preservatives. Organically grown foods are best because they are not only free from harsh chemicals but also contain all the essential minerals. Vegetarian proteins such as paneer (homemade cheese), milk, and pulses (split-moong dhal, lentils and other small, split beans) help to enhance immunity. But meat is not a recommended protein because it is difficult to digest and creates ama adds Shaikh.

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Ayurvedic herbs that will help boost your immunity - The Indian Express

Ask the Expert: Will an Ayurvedic Diet Cure My Winter Blues? – bostonmagazine.com

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Wellness

We chatted with the lead Ayurvedic Counselor at Boston's Down Under School of Yoga in Brookline to get the low-down on this ancient Indian practice.

Photo via Getty Images

If youre starting the new year with some winter doldrums and struggling to meet unrealistic fitness goals, maybe what you need isnt a laundry list of resolutions but a fresh perspective on health. Insert: Ayurveda.

Everything that goes on in the universe, and in our lives, is a transfer of energy. We put food into our bodies to create energy. We interact with one another and either pass on energy or take energy. And as the seasons change, we experience a monumental shift in energy. Think back to the summer: You probably had a lot more energy during the dog days of August than you do now. This is what the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda is all about: Balancing energy systems with the cycles of nature.

It can be a hard thing to conceptualize since city living has become so far removed from nature. Plus, Boston is teeming with technology. Even the wellness industry is filled with new and innovative ways to help us become healthier, stronger, and betterfaster. And theres nothing inherently wrong with the push for more, but at what point do we sacrifice intuition for innovation and the betterment of the collective for solitary prestige?

We chatted with Claire Este McDonald, nurse and lead Ayurvedic Counselor at Bostons Down Under School of Yoga in Brookline, to get a better understanding of Ayurveda and how to apply it to everyday lifeespecially, and most importantly, while living amidst the hustle and bustle of a city.

Ask the Expert: Will an Ayurvedic diet cure my winter blues?

The answer: Maybe. But remember, diets dont work. Its about consistent and healthy lifestyle habits, which is what the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda is all about.

To understand Ayurveda, you have to understand the five elements of naturespace, air, fire, water, and earththat, combined, make up the three doshas, or energies, that all Ayurveda principles rely on. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We all have some aspects of each dosha, but for the most part, lean heavily towards one. There are multiple online questionnaires to help you find out which doshas youre made ofbut like any personality test, take it with a grain of salt.

McDonald explains that Vata energy embodies the elements of space and air and is the energy of movement. Pitta reflects the qualities of fire and water and resembles transformation, while Kapha embodies water and earth and personifies structure.

She points out that none of us are the same, as in all things. By understanding which energies we are made up of, we can better maintain our nutrition and exercise to instill balance throughout the seasons, because as we move throughout the different seasons, these energies are higher during different times.

In the fall we begin to have more roughness and coldness in the air, or Vata energy, McDonald says. It becomes very mobile, light, and dry, and those who have higher Vata qualities might notice dryer skin, stiffer joints, a harder time getting going in the morning, and your energy might become more erratic.

Conversely, in the summer, Pitta energy is higher and we crave lighter foods, our moods are boosted, and our overall morale is a little livelier. Which seems rudimentary, but there are lessons to be garnered through Ayurveda. And as McDonald tells me, it all comes down to how well were digesting our food.

In the winter, we need nourishing foods that are grounding, she says. Its why our bodies crave heavier and denser foods like soups and stews. She recommends incorporating spices like ginger, turmeric, coriander, and cumin to your meals as well as fennel. And she says when you sit down to eat, dont hold backeat, and eat a lot.

Grounding exercise in the winter is also a good idea. But overexercise is not good, she adds. Do things you are drawn to and exercise to the point where your upper lip becomes sweaty. It cleans the skin and the channels of the body to improve circulation, and at the end of the day, its basically a way to get your bowels moving. Because, as stated earlier, its all about how well youre digesting your food.

In the summer, all the opposites are true. You might not be as hungry, McDonald says, so you want to consume foods that stimulate digestive firewhat she calls our ability to digest food in an appropriate manner. Foods that fit the bill include parsley, coriander, and cilantro, and she suggests also taking advantage of the bountiful harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables during this time of year.

The basics of Ayurveda are simple: Eat with the seasons and listen to your body. But theres a whole system of practices and diagnostics beyond nutrition and exercise to explore that an Ayurvedic practitioner can help you with. And as with all things related to a healthy lifestyle, its about creating a routine you, and only you, can maintain.

Sometimes we act as if were the only people that exist in the universe, McDonald says. The universe has an impact on everyone and energy is constantly flowingit cannot be created nor destroyed. Its simply transferred. How is it flowing through you and what can you do to optimize it? We have more control over our health than we realize.

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Ask the Expert: Will an Ayurvedic Diet Cure My Winter Blues? - bostonmagazine.com

Outrunning the risk of dementia – Harvard Health

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Even if dementia runs in your family, smart lifestyle changes can help you improve your chances of staying ahead of it.

Published: December, 2019

There are many things you can change about your life, but unfortunately, your genes are not among them. For better or worse, you are dealt a specific genetic hand when you are born. But that does not mean you are defenseless.

Take dementia, for example. If this cognitive disorder runs in your family, new research suggests there are ways to perhaps avoid the same fate.

"Just because you have a family history of dementia does not mean you are doomed," says Dr. Andrew Budson, a lecturer in neurology at Harvard-affiliated VA Boston Healthcare System. "Adopting certain lifestyle practices may offer protection against dementia, delay its appearance, and even slow its progression."

Dementia is an umbrella term, much like heart disease, that covers a range of cognitive problems, such as memory loss, problem-solving difficulty, and other impairments in thinking skills. (Alzheimer's is one type of dementia and the most common.) Dementia occurs when brain cells are damaged and thus have trouble communicating with each other. This in turn can affect a person's thinking, feelings, and behavior.

The science behind what causes dementia, and who is most at risk, is evolving. Old age is a common factor, of course, but a family history of dementia also is associated with a higher risk.

How much of a role do your genes play? For many years, doctors just asked about first-degree relatives parents and siblings as an indicator of a family history of dementia. But now that has expanded to include aunts, uncles, and cousins.

At age 65, the chance of getting dementia among people without a family history is about 3%, but the risk increases to 6% to 12% for those with a genetic link, according to Dr. Budson. It's common to develop early symptoms around the same age as a family member who had dementia, but this can vary.

Symptoms of dementia can vary from person to person. According to the Alzheimer's Association, common examples include repeated problems with

Many symptoms begin slowly and worsen. If you or someone else notices early signs of dementia, see your doctor. An early diagnosis can help you get the maximum benefit from available treatments.

There is no cure for dementia, and no 100% certain way to protect yourself, but you can lower your risk even if you have a genetic connection. Studies have suggested that certain behaviors can offer some protection.

These include engaging in regular aerobic exercise; following a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean, DASH, or MIND diet; not smoking; and keeping alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day on average. "The same lifestyle habits that can protect the average person can also help those with a family history of dementia," says Dr. Budson.

A recent study published July 14, 2017, in JAMA looked at the association between lifestyle choices, family history, and dementia risk. Researchers recruited almost 200,000 people, average age 64, who had no symptoms of dementia.

The researchers compiled information about the participants' lifestyle habits, including exercise, diet, smoking, and drinking. Genetic risk was assessed from medical records and family history.

Everyone was given a score based on lifestyle and genetic profile. (A higher score was better for lifestyle factors, and a lower score was better for genetic factors.)

After 10 years, the researchers found that people with a high genetic score meaning they had a strong family history of dementia lowered their risk of dementia if they also had a high lifestyle score.

In other words, this finding suggests that adopting healthy lifestyle habits could help prevent dementia even if it runs in the family.

The researchers found just the opposite for people who had low lifestyle scores and high genetic scores. They were more than twice as likely to develop dementia compared with people who followed a healthy lifestyle and had a low genetic score.

This means that if you have a genetic link with dementia, you can further raise your risk if you are sedentary, eat an unhealthy diet, smoke, and/or drink too much alcohol.

"This research is great news for those with a family history of dementia," says Dr. Budson. "It points out that there are ways to take control of your life."

The sooner you can make these lifestyle changes, the better, but evidence also suggests it's never too late to begin. You also don't have to make all these changes at once, adds Dr. Budson.

"Making lifestyle changes may take time, so adopt one now and focus on that, and then pick up another one later when you are ready."

Here are some suggestions from Dr. Budson:

Image: Nastasic/Getty Images

Disclaimer:As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Outrunning the risk of dementia - Harvard Health

Heres How Sabbatical Beauty Owner Takes Care of Her Own Skin and Health – phillymag.com

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Sweat Diaries

Adeline Koh, founder and owner of Korean-inspired skincare company Sabbatical Beauty, runs on yoga, martial arts, and kombucha.

A week in the life of Adeline Koh, founder and owner of Sabbatical Beauty, Phillys Korean-inspired skincare company. / Photograph courtesy of Adeline Koh.

Welcome to Sweat Diaries, Be Well Phillys look at the time, energy, and money people invest in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle in Philly. For each Sweat Diary, we ask one area resident to spend a week tracking everything they eat, all the exercise they get, and the money they spend on both. Want to submit a Sweat Diary? Email lbrzyski@phillymag.com.

Who I am: Adeline Koh (@adelinekohphd, @sabbaticalbeauty), 40

Where I live: Graduate Hospital

What I do: I founded and run Sabbatical Beauty, a luxury, handcrafted Korean-beauty inspired skincare company. I formulate all my serums, cleansers, toners, and masks myself and we hand-make everything in our lab/studio in the Bok Building.

Before that, I was a tenured English professor at Stockton University, and Ive also held fellowships at the National University of Singapore, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania. I left academia for Sabbatical Beauty in 2017. It all started when I went on sabbatical and started to formulate my own Korean beauty products because I was unhappy with the existing formulations out there. Many mainstream Korean beauty products proclaim they have things like Ginseng in them, but the botanical active ingredient is usually low on the ingredient list. I started making my own products and my skin got so much better that my other professor friends wanted in on the action. I started an online shop and did well enough that I saw a way to focus on running my own company full-time.

What role healthy living plays in my life: It would surprise most people who I grew up with that Im as active as I am, given that 1.) I was the sickly kid who always sat out gym class because of asthma, and 2.) Im very uncoordinated and have a terrible sense of balance. I would say though that what I do have is a dogged ability to work hard, and a lack of embarrassment at how bad I look when Im doing something. I find that these two qualities have helped me move across different fields throughout my life from transitioning out of a tenured English professor position to becoming a small business owner to trying to learn martial arts when you get right and left mixed up a lot.

Health memberships (and what they cost):

In between writing content to promote on Sabbatical Beautys social platforms, Koh makes an Asian rice and tuna bowl for lunch. / Photograph by Adeline Koh.

7 a.m. Up slightly later today because my rescue pup Cooper had an upset stomach last night and I had to get up in the middle of the night to clean up his accident. Wake up and offer the poor pup a smaller breakfast today because hes under the weather.

7:30 a.m. I make myself a raspberry passion perfect energy Yogi tea and start working immediately. I set aside most of today to do a lot of web design, including creating a new blog post on my upcoming Crystal Queen skincare collection. Other things I have to work on today: updating my social media ads, creating and scheduling Facebook and Instagram content, and a whole lot of other things like renewing business insurance.

11:45 a.m. Still working and theres so much I have to do that Im barely making a dent yet. I drink a Brew Doctor Kombucha (I cant get enough of kombucha). I usually try to intermittent fast on most weekdays because it helps me to think more clearly, so my first meal is lunch, and kombucha gets me through the mornings. I also do a quick skin refresh with my micellar beauty water on a cotton pad, add some donkey cream and sunscreen (the single most important step to preventing further signs of aging).

1:30 p.m. Not really hungry but I know I need to eat. I make my own Asian rice bowl with good quality canned tuna, short grain white rice, sesame oil, green onions, and masago, plus some nori on the side. I follow that up with a few slices of pandan honeycomb cake made by Monmoney Prak from my skincare brunch party with Caphe Roasters last weekend.

2 p.m. My poor pup just started throwing up red chunks. Im worried and call the vet. I was supposed to check out Freehouse Fitness for a class with my friend Nicole Rossi, my Bok neighbor who creates the most gorgeous floral arrangements. But since Cooper is sick, I cancel my evening plans to take him to the vet.

6 p.m. Our vet at World of Animals is giving him an anti-nausea injection and some fluids, and says he should be okay. Thank goodness! My husband says, I came with an dog, I left with a camel because hes got a little bit of a hump on his back where the fluids were injected.

6:45 p.m. I stop by the grocery store to pick up canned chicken for Coops as he needs a bland diet for the next week. I also grab chili toppings for my husbands dinner tomorrow and some Greek yogurt for myself ($24.23).

7:20 p.m. I do an at-home martial arts workout since I missed my other planned one. Warm up with jumping jacks, mountain climbers, pushups, regular and jump squats. I do a bunch of drills (flutter kicks, regular kicks, my studio Martial Postures version of the Dirty Dozen), and do a bunch of hip stretches. It takes me about 40 minutes with some rest in between drills.

8:30 p.m. I make Tamago Kake Gohan with instant dashi, leftover katsobushi, and green onions with soy sauce. Topped with masago and nori. Tastes amazing, looksnot so much. I then have a few leftover pandan waffles from last weekend, plus another kombucha.

10 p.m. Time for my shower and skincare routine. I use an oil cleanser (my vacuum cleaner cleansing oil), my inflammation reducing Chang Es silver moon pearl serum, my cannabis sativa balm (no THC), and then do my Guasha facial massage routine to settle down before going to sleep.

Daily total: $24.23

As a thank-you for helping cover the counter, Koh is treated to complimentary lunch at Poi Dog Philly. / Photograph by Adeline Koh.

6 a.m. I wake up, but am too busy snuggling my dog child in bed to actually get up until 7 a.m.

8 a.m. I was scheduled to go to a women in food and hospitality meeting at Barbuzzo (my philosophy is that my skincare is basically my grandmas soup on my face) but Coops is being clingy and a little off, so I decide to work from home instead to keep an eye on him.

8:30 a.m. My manager calls in sick. Everyone is sick or getting sick. Really hoping Im not next! I drink a Yogi tangerine stress relief tea followed by a kombucha to try to keep the germs away. I get back to work on my insurmountable pile of to-dos.

11 a.m. I take Coops with me as I drop off some Sabbatical Beauty goodie bags to Kiki Aranita at Poi Dog Philly for a party that shes catering. Kiki also hooks me up with a free lunch because I helped her cover her counter last week for a few hours as her counter staff is in the hospital for a broken leg. I tell her that for her food, I will work for her whenever she needs me.

11:30 a.m. I said to myself that Id try to not eat fried chicken during this Sweat Diary but obviously I lied to myself. Poi Dogs mochi nori chicken with red cabbage and short grain rice is incredible. I eat half the plate lunch and two coconut butter mochis and feel instantly happier.

12 p.m. Its snowing out, although that wasnt in the forecast. I make chili using this recipe for my husbands dinner and shredded chicken breast for Coopers treats this week.

1 p.m. Back to computer work. I write copy, create graphics, and schedule a few social media posts. Coops is doing better, now bugging me for table scraps which I cant give him because he needs to stick to a bland diet. I boil some chicken and shred it to give to him as replacement treats.

3 p.m. I head over to Bok to prep for a skincare party Im throwing for some of the Philly Mag staff.

4:30 p.m. The staff arrives and I give Gin
a Tomaine a hug as weve been fans of each others work for a while now, despite never having met. We enjoy some wine as they try all the steps and mask. Once they leave, I clean up and head over to my martial arts class.

7 p.m. I arrive at Martial Posture. I started learning martial arts here a few months ago and am addicted because of how challenging it is, and because it melds so many different aspects of physicality: flexibility, movement, cardio fitness, strength, and precision. Its hard af but my instructors Vicente and Thomas are super sweet and always encouraging, making it easy to want to keep learning. In tonights adult class, I learn a new Judo technique called O-goshi, a major hip throw. I really suck at it but I get better the more I practice. Thats what I appreciate about it, working at the drills piece by piece means eventually I can execute the movement, just with enough patience and relentlessness.

8:30 p.m. I am home and starving. I eat my leftover mochi nori chicken with additional rice, top it with masago, one spam musubi, three little chocolate wafers and the rest of the coconut butter mochi. I am sad that the mochi is gone and make a mental note that I need more in my life. I have another kombucha.

10 p.m. I shower and realize I totally forgot to do my skincare routine this morning. Bad beauty boss. I do the same routine as last night, watch MSNBC as I play Angry Birds Match to wind down, and then go to bed.

Daily total: $0

To start off most weekday mornings, Koh rolls out her mat and flows at Amrita Yoga. / Photograph by Adeline Koh.

6 a.m. I wake up, pet Coops, feed him and take him out, and thank the stars that yoga is 5 minutes away. I think the universe listened when I said that I needed a yoga class I had no excuse not attending when Amrita Yoga opened up so close to me.

6:30 a.m. Yoga with Tracy Phoenix. I love this space so much. I usually come early to sit in heart bench for a while. Tracy is amazing as usual, super tuned in to the classs energy. She leads us through an energetic, challenging flow that heats us up and stretches us out for the day. I leave in a good mood.

7:45 a.m. I hit the grocery store to stock up on kombucha (theres a special going on!) and more chicken for Coops ($21.52). Coops is doing better, although his GI is definitely still stressed out (lets just say someone has been stinking up rooms a lot).

8:15 a.m. Back home for another work-from-home day. I vow to get my crystal skincare collection blog finally written today. I open and consume one of the new kombuchas I just bought.

12 p.m. Been making some headway on copy, finally. I eat my last spam musubi and make a rice bowl with plain rice and these *amazing* seitan red-braised meatballs that Ange from the amazing Malaysian restaurant Im obsessed with, Sate Kampar, made last weekend. I get full a few bites into the rice bowl and put it away for later.

4:45 p.m. I snack on a Greek yogurt, some toasted nori strips, and the last few slices of the pandan honeycomb cake (*sob*).

5:30 p.m. Im still behind in work, so I decide to skip my evening martial arts class and continue working.

6:30 p.m. I stress-eat a few chocolate covered cookies and almonds which makes me realize I need breakfast for dinner to satisfy my sweet tooth: I have rolled oats with protein powder and maple syrup topped with almond butter. I then make myself a berry orange tea with some hydrolyzed collagen.

9:30 p.m. I have another kombucha and decide to head to bed in half an hour. Exhausted.

Daily total: $21.52

Kohs evening skincare routine includes her hand-made oil cleanser, inflammation-reducing serum, THC-free cannabis sativa balm, and a Guasha facial massage. / Photograph by Adeline Koh.

7 a.m. Still exhausted despite sleeping in a bit. Feed Coops who is upset he cant have his regular treats yet. Hes doing a lot better, though.

8 a.m. I reschedule some appointments originally happening today for next week since I need to get my online work finally completed. Its another day in a creative hole. I also need to plan out updating my customer touch point journeys. Im overwhelmed with everything I have to do, but I usually am! I get started with some Yogi tea.

10 a.m. Im finally on a roll, hoping it keeps going! I have a great idea for Instagram engagement and just posted it.

11:30 a.m. Still on a roll. I have another kombucha. Did I mention I was working on a kombucha skincare line for spring 2020 as a collaboration with Inspired Brews? Its going to be awesome!

1 p.m. I get stuck with a photo editing issue, so I decide to take a break and make lunch. I make a quick dashi broth with kombu kelp and anchovy stock and make a pumpkin tofu miso soup.

3:45 p.m. I finally finish my behemoth project: the crystal collection blog post. Now for all the plugging and scheduling. Im exhausted, but the biggest thing is done for the week. Now for all the fires that have been waiting for me

4:45 p.m. I eat a few handfuls of dark chocolate covered almonds and a little dish of Annies cheddar bunnies.

6 p.m. I arrive at Martial Posture to join the teen class because my usual instructor Vicente isnt around. We do conditioning for most of the class, and then work on some kickboxing drills after. I have a really nice partner named Trione.

7 p.m. I stay for a second class because enough people come for an adult session and Thomas the instructor says its okay to stay if I want to work out more. I basically cant get enough of martial arts so Im like heck yes! We work a lot more on techniques in this class, ending with working a lot on the O-goshi throw I started learning on Tuesday.

8 p.m. Stop at Tsuki Sushi to pick up dinner for me and the husband. I get the three roll special ($47.80).

9 p.m. Craving some sweetness, so I eat three chocolate covered cookies and have a kombucha.

10:30 p.m. I shower, realize again I am a bad beauty boss because I forgot to do my morning routine. I end the evening with my go-to skincare regimen.

Daily total: $47.80

After a rigorous training session, Koh poses with Ish, the owner of Martial Posture. / Photograph courtesy of Adeline Koh.

6 a.m. Im up and the dog wants to snuggle so its hard to drag myself out to go to yoga.

6:30 a.m. Yoga with Tracy again. Im always amazed at what an amazing teacher Tracy is and what command she has of the physical body and how to explain how it works to people. This morning she basically has does do flows with every yoga lunge you can think of, and the final flow has vinyasa thrown in between each lunge. It is obvious and fitting then that I leave sweaty af. I think sweatier than after my two-hour martial arts sessions yesterday.

8 a.m. Check in at work on my laptop, then take a shower and do my morning routine. This morning its my vacuum cleaner cleansing oil, the brightening Carols sake and rice serum, and donkey cream followed with sunscreen.

11 a.m. Im at Bok meeting Jessica Weaver because Im starting to research traditional Chinese medicine more and developing TCM-influenced products like the Chang Es silver moon pearl serum. Jessica tries on all the SB (you can do that too if you make an appointment for a Skincare Party for One with us). We also plot putting together an Asian skincare event where folks come and wear masks while getting acupuncture at the same time for 2020.

1:30 p.m. I walk a few blocks from Bok to get to I Heart Cambodia. Their food is amazingly done with care and attention I dont often see outside of Southeast Asia. I get the Cambodia seafood rice soup and fried dough (really similar to the Chinese fried crullers I grew up eating with congee) ($13).

5 p.m. My staff left but Im still editing photos for Instagram and working on some content in the office.

6:15 p.m. I get to Martial Posture, super excited because I get to work with Ish, who is the owner. Im always amazed by how he executes postures without even really seeming to put effort into it. Today hes worki
ng with me on the spinning back kick, and some moves that will lead into some pretty intense spins. I do a starter version of what will one day turn into fake-out kicks with one leg and kicks with the other leg all while spinning around. We then end by practicing sets one through 10.

7:30 p.m. I pick up dinner from Rosys Taco Bar ($73.56). I get a tequila shot while waiting because why not.

9 p.m. For dessert tonight: a chocolate Pejoy (basically filled Pocky sticks) packet and two kombuchas.

Daily total: $86.56

Money spent: $180.11Workouts completed: SevenKombuchas consumed:10

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Heres How Sabbatical Beauty Owner Takes Care of Her Own Skin and Health - phillymag.com

Happiness is the X-factor in your health – PhillyVoice.com

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Guys, if you're looking for that edge, that secret factor that can help you get healthy, here it is: Get happy.

Yes, there is a huge body of research that documents a link between healthiness and happiness. And there's even hope for the old farts known for their grumpiness and pessimism.

A Harvard Medical School reportsays that being young has little or no bearing on happiness. They cite a study where adults grew steadily happier as they moved into and through middle age. Happiness levels only decline slowly when health problems and other life problems emerged according to the study. Could it be that easy?

Now, for the record, the Harvard report adds that it's helps to lower your stress levels over a period of years and with a positive outlook and relaxation techniques, you could reduce your risk of health problems. Definitely a reasonable ask.

Looking deeper, an article by Caroline Wilmuthasserts that happiness may not cure what ails you, but it might help stop you from getting sick in the first place. And Kira Newman reportsscientific studies have been finding that happiness can make our hearts healthier, our immune systems stronger and, our lives longer. She also suggests that happiness can help combat stress.

Perhaps the most preeminent study, and one specifically focused on male behavior and the connection between our social relationships and happiness, is the 75-year-and-counting Harvard study of adult development.

Its researchers have tracked the lives of 724 men and now their children. According to study director Robert Waldinger, 75 years of research on male health can be boiled down into one simple point: "Good relationships keep us happier and healthier."

There you have it. A game plan that reinforces the importance of our social relationships and the positive impact that happiness can have on our health. Couple that with some healthy living and you've got a winning recipe.

But what comes first? Do we need to be happy to find the motivation to start living healthy? Can healthy behavior contribute to our happiness and get us into the cycle where the two become mutually reinforcing? Either way, the key is to foster the connection.

I consider myself a positive, glass-half-full guy. Trust me, after 40 years in management, I'm not naive to the ways of the world and the crap that we all deal with.

That said, I try to see for the positive side of things. When I look into the eyes of my 4-year-old grandson, I can't help but feel happy and believe that there's hope for our troubled world. A positive outlook works for me.

On the interplay of healthiness and happiness, my experience is that they absolutely go hand in hand. You may have experienced the same.

For me, a good workout is the perfect antidote tothe stress of daily life. I love to exercise in the morning, in part, because it sets the tone for my day, and gives me the feeling that I can handle whatever it brings.

As a single dad back in my 30s and 40s with 2 boys at home, diet and exercise enabled me to balance a busy career and fatherhood. It kept me upbeat and happy when I could have easily played the blame game and bemoaned my mistakes of the past.I'm not sure if it was the proximity of my fatherly experiences or my healthy lifestyle, but I was happy and feeling good.

How about you? What makes you happy? How can you bring happiness, and healthiness into your life? The literature is full of guidance. In an article in Psychology Today of the same name, psychotherapist Barton Goldsmith identified 10 Simple Ways to Find Happiness. Among my favorites on his list are being open to change and finding purpose.

My personal approach to finding happiness is to engage in a simple 4-step analysis:

Whatever method you use, remember that happiness and a positive outlook can go far in supporting your health. A little attention to this "X" Factor can go a long way.

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Happiness is the X-factor in your health - PhillyVoice.com

Paleo, keto, vegan: The diets more people are trying for a healthier lifestyle – Red and Black

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Paleo, keto, vegan three funky, unfamiliar words associated with health and fitness have begun to fill the aisles and shelves of grocery stores.

These three diet models Paleolithic, ketogenic and vegan are everywhere, promoted and endorsed by social media influencers and celebrities, used on food packaging for energy bars, gummy bears and ranch dressing and hailed by friends sharing testimonials about successful diet plans.

Isaac Mourier, a sports nutrition intern at the University of Georgia, said popular diet models are often shared along with success stories.

So they want to do it for one reason, but thats only because theyve seen somebody looking good or feeling good or whatever, and not really understanding it, Mourier said.

While popular diets are based on some research themselves, they are not wholly agreed upon by nutrition experts. The current ChooseMyPlate guidelines, the official guidelines from the U.S. government, are a dietary reference based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines created by a group of scientists who comb through relevant nutrition-related studies to produce a set of principles.

Within this framework, however, the scientists who conduct this research are not the ones who actually publish the guidelines that is up to the USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This gap in publication allows room for lobbying organizations to have a say in what gets released to the American public.

Elizabeth Klingbeil, a doctoral candidate in dietetics at UGA, said the amount of research that goes into these guidelines should not be brushed aside when considering ones diet. If the goal is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Klingbeil said, following the Dietary Guidelines are a good start.

People think that, That cant be it, it must be a more complex problem, Klingbeil said. But time and time again a well-balanced diet where all of those food groups show up on your plate in their correct amounts works great.

Senior entertainment and media studies major Maryanna Reed followed the paleo diet with her family while living at home during the summer. Paleo is a diet model of refraining from consuming processed foods that werent available during the Paleolithic era. Reed said she felt better, had more energy and lost weight.

Though she is no longer following a paleo diet, Reed said she tries to have a day of eating paleo here and there. She said the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables is a deterrent, especially as a college student.

Maryanna Reed, 21, a senior entertainment and media studies major at UGA, poses for a portrait outside of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Reed followed a paleo diet over the summer with her family in order to increase her overall health. She enjoyed following the diet and recommends it to anyone looking to up their dietary health. (Photo/Gabriella Audi, http://www.gabbyaudi10.wixsite.com/mysite-1)

Many popular diet trends are aimed at specific demographics that are able to maintain the diet people who can afford organic or specialized food and can control every meal they eat. The exclusivity, Klingbeil said, reflects the lack of sustainability of some diets.

Theres a lot of other options for people just because its in a can or a bag doesnt mean its necessarily bad, you just have to read whats on it, Klingbeil said.

Audrey Haynes, an associate professor of political science at UGA, followed a fairly strict ketogenic diet for about four months to reduce joint inflammation and lose weight. Her orthopedist recommended she cut out sugar, which was contributing to her inflammation.

Dr. Audrey Haynes, an associate professor of political science in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia, poses for a portrait in her office at Baldwin Hall on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Haynes adopted a keto diet for about four months to reduce bodily inflammation caused partly by added sugars as well as to lose some weight. She still follows a modified keto diet model and has a new outlook on health because of her experience with the diet. (Photo/Gabriella Audi, http://www.gabbyaudi10.wixsite.com/mysite-1)

The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that pushes the human body into a state of ketosis, during which fat is burned for energy instead of glucose found in carbohydrates. The breakdown of fat cells produce ketones, organic compounds used to fuel the body. The goal of ketosis is to function either mostly or completely on ketone energy, essentially burning fat to be used for energy.

Haynes joints felt better within two days of following the diet model, though she attributes the decrease of inflammation to cutting out sugar. In four months of eating keto and exercising consistently, Haynes also lost 20 pounds.

Senior religion and Arabic major Sam Fisher has followed a vegan diet for six years. He does not eat animal products including meat, dairy, eggs and honey to avoid harming animals. This extends into a vegan lifestyle, such as avoiding leather and products tested on animals.

Fisher doesnt see the need for the addition of dairy to the Dietary Guidelines, especially since an estimated 30-50 million American adults are lactose intolerant. And many non-dairy milk options are fortified with nutrients and have more calcium per glass than cows milk.

Sam Fischer, 21, a fourth year religion and Arabic major at UGA, poses for a portrait on UGAs north campus on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Fischer has been vegan for six years and follows a vegan lifestyle so as to cause as little harm as possible to all living creatures, including animals. (Photo/Gabriella Audi, http://www.gabbyaudi10.wixsite.com/mysite-1)

Reed, who followed the paleo diet for about four months, said she did not know much about the USDA Dietary Guidelines except for the food pyramid she learned growing up.

MyPyramid, the predecessor to the current MyPlate guidelines, was widely criticized as being too confusing for the average American to understand. Klingbeil said the lack of education regarding the food pyramid could be a factor in why there has been a recent surge in diet trends.

As a dietitian, as a nutritionist, you try and implement something thats sustainable that is going to promote behavior change for life, Mourier said. Whereas a lot of these diets, because theyre so restrictive, they put people at risk of making them kind of go backwards.

From a nutrition standpoint, Mourier thinks its important for people to consider exactly what theyre cutting out when adopting a new diet. He said carbohydrates shouldnt be considered all bad because they are important for day-to-day bodily functions, especially for those engaged in athletic practices.

When it comes to calories, Mourier said its important to understand what a calorie is before labeling it as good or bad it is simply a unit of energy, whether eaten through a Brussels sprout or a McDonalds hamburger.

A calorie is a calorie, but how many nutrients do you get per calorie of your food? Mourier said. Its no longer about calories, its about the other things that are involved.

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Paleo, keto, vegan: The diets more people are trying for a healthier lifestyle - Red and Black

Bahamians Urged to Make Healthier Lifestyle Choices – The Washington Informer

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With diabetes now the fifth-leading cause of death in the Bahamas, the countrys minister of health urged Bahamians to make more healthy lifestyle choices to prevent getting the disease.

The prevalence of diabetes in 2005 was 6.7 percent. It has now reached 13.9 percent and if we include pre-diabetics, we have a staggering prevalence of almost 19%, Dr. Duane Sands said at the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association Conference on Friday, according to The Tribune, one of the Bahamas leading newspapers. Our death rate from diabetes stands at 37.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

Noting that it is a well-known fact is that many persons with diabetes suffer from foot and ankle ailment and complications, Sands added, Around the world, approximately a million people with diabetes will lose a part of their lower limb.

It is for this reason, Dr Sands said, why prevention of foot ulcers is an important priority for podiatric medicine and the diabetic patient in general.

Eight-five percent, give or take, of amputations are preceded by an ulcer, and therefore, can be prevented, the Bahamian health minister said. With these startling statistics in mind, it demonstrates that a multi-disciplinary team approach for the treatment of diabetics and diabetic foot problems is required.

Podiatry services were reinstated in the public sector about one year ago and since that time, approximately 700 patients were treated, he said. They were aged between three months and 98 years. Sixty percent were treated for a diabetic foot. There were 161 minor surgical cases.

Sands noted, however, that there is still a major shortage of podiatrists in the country, a shortage he said presents a challenge to the countrys health care system.

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The BHF is helping to refine the use of a common blood test to detect heart failure in more patients as early as possible. – British Heart Foundation

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We have partnered with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals to refine the use of a common blood test to detect heart failure in more patients as early as possible.

With record numbers of people going to hospital with heart failure in England, its vital to improve the accuracy of tests to treat the right patients at the right time, helping more people to better manage their symptoms and live fuller and longer lives.

Heart failure means that your heart is not pumping blood around your body as effectively as it should. For people with severe heart failure, everyday tasks like going upstairs or walking to the shops become impossible. Although theres no cure for heart failure, you can stop your condition getting worse by taking your medication and living a healthy lifestyle.

NT pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a blood test used as the first step in diagnosing suspected heart failure. If a patient has a test result above a specified limit they will need to have an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart) to confirm a heart failure diagnosis.

Sarah Young, Nurse Consultant Cardiology at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, led an audit, supported by the BHF, which revealed patients were undergoing tests unnecessarily or not getting the echocardiogram they needed if the result was raised.

After discussing the findings with nurses, doctors and consultants, Sarah created a new simpler algorithm for how the test should be used more effectively to target higher risk patients. Reducing unnecessary blood tests and importantly, ensures the right patients undergo an echocardiogram.

While the NT pro-BNP pathway is not new, the audit demonstrates it is not always used appropriately and there is a need to support clinical staff to use it most efficiently.

This improvement could cut costs and save patients avoidable trips to their GP. Over a six month period, the audit found unnecessary tests costed just one small area of the hospital around 1,600.

Sarah Young said: What we want is for the right patients to get the right test at the right time, which will improve their care and treatment. Using these tests appropriately will not only save money, it will mean people that need an echocardiogram will be able to access this when needed.

The number of people in England who have been admitted to hospital due to heart failure is on the rise, which means the use of NT pro-BNP and echocardiogram testing are likely to grow.

Several factors could be contributing to the rise in people living with heart failure, including an ageing and growing population, growing numbers of heart attack survivors and stubbornly high rates of people living with heart failure risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Sally Hughes, our Head of Health Services Engagement, said: Heart failure is still not being diagnosed early enough thats why were supporting new ways to ensure more people get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Its early days, but if improvements like this yield earlier and more accurate heart failure diagnosis, we could provide treatment sooner for the estimated 920,000 people living with this often cruel and debilitating disease in the UK.

Keeping track of many different medications to treat heart failure which is often one of a number of long term conditions that the patient has to manage can be difficult. Were also supporting a project to ensure these patients take the right medication properly to help control their symptoms and reduce any unnecessary medications too.

The Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group linked pharmacists with the community heart failure specialist nursing team to create a new referral pathway for patients to have their medicines reviewed. Clinically, it has already proven beneficial. From the first eight referrals the team received from the nurses, the pharmacists recommended 33 changes or interventions. They also stopped 12 unnecessary medications saving nearly 1,500, as well as potentially preventing two hospital admissions with the associated healthcare costs.

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The BHF is helping to refine the use of a common blood test to detect heart failure in more patients as early as possible. - British Heart Foundation

Tivity Health: Digitally transforming healthcare solutions – Gigabit Magazine – Technology News, Magazine and Website

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By Georgia Wilson . Nov 04, 2019, 7:49AM

Founded in 1981, Tivity Health is a leading provider of healthcare solutions for fitness, nutrition and social isolation. Tivity Health works hand-in-hand with its members, clients, partners and customers to create everyday opportunities for long lasting health and vitality, says Paul Edmisten, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Tivity Healths goal is to be the leader in transforming healthy living for adults by empowering and engaging them to live their best lives through nutrition, fitness and social connection, says Edmisten.

Formerly known as Healthways, Tivity Health was among the boutique darlings of the Nashville healthcare community, focused on disease management in the early years and transitioned to total population health and well-being,comments Edmisten. Healthways had been successful growing and transitioning the business over the first three decades, until they experienced performance challenges leading up to 2014. Throughout 2014 and 2015 the company went through tremendous change from the board, to CEO and throughout the organization. In the summer of 2015, Edmisten became involved with the company following Alvarez and Marsals partnership with Healthways to restructure the company and to set a course for the future. As I partnered with the executive management team, the board and Donato Tramuto, CEO of Healthways and today CEO of Tivity Health as the newly appointed CIO, we eliminated tens of millions of dollars in operating expenses, and ultimately landed on three options to move the company forward. They included continuing to work with the existing business units and products, managed through continuous change and transformation (the long-haul approach). Tsmall partshe short approach was to shut down underperforming business units of the total population health business, and the third approach was to sell the total population health business. Small parts of the business were sold leading up to July 2016, when Healthways successfully sold its total population health services business to Sharecare. In January 2017, Healthways rebranded as Tivity Health. With the launch of Tivity Health and its divesture of the total population health business, our financial profile strengthened and grew, notes Edmisten. Witnessing first hand and being personally involved in the series of events and transactions that occurred during this span of time was priceless. Something many never experience in business and will never learn in business school. Notes Edmisten. Tremendous change occurred impacting all aspects of the company.

Tivity Health has been leveraging Big Data for years. What AI and machine learning permits us to do is learn more. Traditional statistical approaches only get you so far when dealing with Big Data - Paul Edmisten, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Tivity Health

Since the divestiture, Tivity Health has evolved transforming its people, processes and technology to enable a robust B2C data and technology stack that align with Tivity Healths strategy and objectives. Edmisten highlights that, in order to align the mission, mindset and operating model of Tivity Health, the company had to transform the way they defined, delivered and engineered its products to create the desired consumer experience. Donato Tramuto, CEO of Tivity Health shared that Paul Edmisten played a key strategic role during our transformation of Tivity Health. His pragmatic and transformational leadership has helped our company adopt a product, data-centric and consumer-driven culture within Tivity Health.

Tivity Health has been leveraging Big Data for years, comments Edmisten. What AI and machine learning permits us to do is learn more about our members and consumers. Traditional statistical approaches only get you so far when dealing with Big Data. Tivity Health has already benefited greatly from AI to unearth important user personas among its members with the aim of extending its learnings to enhance applications in the customer journey.

A big part of our strategic direction continues to be how we leverage data insights generated from our advanced analytics coupled with OMNI channel technology to enable, automate and scale our member experience, says Edmisten. With these advanced analytics, Edmisten combined data augmentation and artificial intelligence to gain insight into how members engage with their products and services. Those who know SilverSneakers love us, the problem is not enough people know us, says Edmisten. Understanding our members needs and wants will help us target our engagement through digital/TV marketing or our channels that include web, call center, mobile and social.

From a product engineering standpoint at Tivity Health, simplicity, reliability and scalability are the core focuses for its solutions. While the company continues to refine their core platforms optimizing the consumer engagement, they continue to innovate and expand capabilities through wearables, IOT and 5G to enhance consumer engagement, improve speed, and the desired outcomes for our customers. Extending our platform and mobility solutions to integrate wearables and IOT devices enables our members and consumers to be more connected, and we can learn more about their activity and nutrition habits while enabling the desired consumer experience and loyalty. As the industry and consumers adopt 5G, and basic internet access is extended to rural America, Tivity Health will be able to positively impact millions of people who are suffering from social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness are major concerns leading to a number of health issues in America today. yCurrently, Edmisten is working on leveraging voice assistants, as well as mobile and wearable technology to drive customer engagement and deliver online virtual trainers for exercise. As part of our efforts, we are constantly innovating to address these challenges through IoT, mobile technology and wearable technology, as well as creating automated independent platforms that are flexible and cloud agnostic.

As a CIO, I am a big believer and proponent in maximizing the intersection of data and technology. While that sounds very simple and, on the surface, straightforward, it's an art to really perfect and differentiate the experience and value to a consumer, comments Edmisten. You have to be intentional and disciplined in the approach that you take. You must align the entire organization around a consumer centric product capability to maximize the impact on customers and the bottom-line financial result.

We buy and integrate best in class technology solutions to enable our product and services. We partner with industry leading partners that bring best practices in the areas of Marketing Automation, ERP, CRM, Data Augmentation, and Resources/People. Each one of our partners brings a very unique capability, and it has been critical for our success as an organization to identify and enable those strategic partnerships, establish close relationships and align on clear objectives, says Edmisten. Some of the key partners include Redpoint, Nuestar, Axciom, Oracle and Stratfield consulting to name a few.

An essential part of Tivity Healths risk management is information security. Our Chief Information Security Officer, his team and his strategic partners are constantly assessing the threat landscape through an agile Information Security program focused on identifying and remediating risk. We are constantly reviewing, researching and evolving our processes and controls to improve our protection level against emerging threats, says Edmisten.

Looking to the future, Edmisten sees two immediate opportunities emerging for Tivity Health. With the acquisition of Nutrisystem and the passing of the CHRONIC Care Act, Tivity Health can provide via a sophisticated supply chain nutritional options on a large scale to seniors.

In addition to these immediate opportunities, Edmisten sees emerg
ing key trends in health and fitness that could provide opportunities for innovation at Tivity Health. Health plans and healthcare organizations have begun leveraging data analytics to provide benefits that are personalized and customer-oriented. Additionally, health plans and organizations are utilizing Big Data to support clinical decision making, precision medicine, readmission prevention, chronic condition management and risk identification, says Edmisten. Another area of focus for Tivity Health is helping to address the social determinants of health, the way health plans can have the most impact when identifying and engaging with the right people is through data, algorithms and technology-enabled solutions says Edmisten. Many of our health plan partners have invested in development of predictive models to support those at risk of social isolation and food insecurity to name a few. Donato Tramuto, CEO Tivity Health shared We have a tremendous opportunity within the company as we integrate Nutrisystem, and add a nutrition business unit, into our house of healthy lifestyle brands to help address the social determinants of health. Paul and his team will be center stage to enable, automate and scale our combined products and services to our customers.

Reflecting on the company, Edmisten believes that Tivity Healths biggest strength is its team of colleagues and the passion they have for the company, consumers and customers. Their efforts are truly changing the lives of people around the country. He concludes: Over the past three years we transformed our people, processes and technology at Tivity Health, and with strong leadership, talented colleagues and a clear vision we have been successful in doing so.

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Tivity Health: Digitally transforming healthcare solutions - Gigabit Magazine - Technology News, Magazine and Website

Exhaust from your vehicle may give you stroke as can an unhealthy lifestyle – TheHealthSite

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Air pollution today is at an all-time high. It is the result of solid and liquid particles and harmful gaseous substances that are suspended in air. Most of these pollutants come from the burning of fossil fuels, industrial waste, agricultural activities and mining. An alarming increase in vehicular traffic and the exhaust from it is also a major cause of increasing pollution. Traffic exhaust air pollutants contain carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, fine dust and soot and benzene. These are extremely harmful for health and can cause severe health complications that can result in death. Some of the health risks are respiratory ailments like asthma, heart diseases, cardiovascular disorders, stroke and even some cancers.

Now a new joint study at Karolinska Institutet, University of Gothenburg, Ume University, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute and SLB analysis-Environmental unit in Stockholm say that high levels of traffic exhaust even at ones residence increases the risk of stroke. And, this is true for even low-pollution environments. The journal Environmental Health Perspectives published this study.

According to researchers, it is the black carbon from traffic exhaust emission that increases the risk for stroke, and not particulate matter from other sources. Black carbon is basically the sooty black material that is emitted by gas and diesel engines. They say that this study identifies local traffic exhaust as a risk factor for stroke. For the purpose of the study, researchers followed around 115,000 middle-aged healthy individuals from Gothenburg, Stockholm and Ume over a period of 20 years. They saw that around 3,100 participants suffered a stroke during this time.

Researchers relied on dispersion models and Swedish emission inventories to estimate how much different local emission sources contributed to particulate matter and black carbon at specific addresses in these cities. They took into consideration traffic exhaust, road wear and residential heating, among others, in their analysis.

They saw that for every 0.3 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3) of black carbon from traffic exhaust, the risk of stroke went up by 4 per cent. However, the same was not the case with black carbon emitted from residential heating, particulate matter in general, inhalable

particles with a diametre of 10 micrometres or less (PM10) or from particles with a diametre of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM2.5). They say that the annual averages of PM2.5 ranged from 5.8 to 9.2 g/m3. This is lower than current European Union standard of 25 g/m3.

Researchers rue the fact that there is currently no specific metric for black carbon in EU, which includes it as part of its broader regulation of particulate matter. But they add that, black carbon from traffic exhaust could be an important measure to consider when assessing air quality and health consequences.

Some of the major causes of stroke are an unhealthy diet that contains a lot of trans fats and saturated fats. Foods high in salt and cholesterol also increase your risk. A sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption and use of tobacco are a few other factors that can make you more susceptible. You can control all these things with a few modifications in your lifestyle.

However, there are a few other factors that may be beyond your control. Sex is one such factor. Women are more prone to strokes than men. Age also plays a role here and you are more likely to suffer from stroke as you grow older. Genes are also responsible and if hypertension runs in the family, it increases your risk too.

Stroke can also be caused by an underlying health condition. High blood pressure, hart disorders, diabetes, high cholesterol and sickle cell disease may also lead to a stroke.

If you experience or witness another person experience the symptoms of a stroke, you must emergency medical assistance. Clot-busting medication, that can lessen the severity of damage, can only be given in the first hours of a stroke. Other than this, your doctor may recommend a mechanical thrombectomy to pull clot out, surgery or the implant of stents. Other than this, there are various medications like anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, statins, blood pressure drugs and tissue plasminogen activator to name a few.

Early treatment is essential. It can not only save lives but also bring down your risk for complications and disability significantly.

It is true that some things are out of your hands. But you can control some of the associated risk factors and easily bring down your risk of and even prevent a stroke. All you have to do is try and live a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking and keep away from alcohol. Excessive intake of alcohol can increase your blood pressure, and this may cause a stroke. Try to maintain a healthy body weight since obesity significantly increases your risk. Have a lot of fruits and vegetables and stay away from junk food. Regular exercise will also help you to bring down your risk. So, take out your walking shoes, join a gym or just go for a walk.

And, the most important thing to do is to go in for regular checkups. Take care of your health. If you have any disorders, get it treated immediately. Take your medications on time. All this will go a long way in helping you bring down your risk of a stroke.

Published : November 1, 2019 6:27 pm | Updated:November 2, 2019 11:03 am

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Exhaust from your vehicle may give you stroke as can an unhealthy lifestyle - TheHealthSite

Oriflame to focus on wellness, position as healthy lifestyle brand: CEO Magnus Brannstrom – Business Today

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Swedish direct selling company Oriflame, known for its skincare and wellness products, has been focusing on expanding its portfolio to wellness for the last few years. Now, moving on, it wants to position itself as a healthy lifestyle brand and focus on routine products that people use for their well-being, says its CEO and President Magnus Brannstrom. "We will expand in weight management, sports and fitness and subsequently there will be products like meal replacements, higher protein products for enhanced performance in sports and fitness," says Brannstrom. Alongside this, he said, they will continue expanding their existing skincare and wellness portfolio but refused to share the details of the new launches.

Brannstrom said the fundamentals remain the same - the importance of treating skin every day. He said, "We launch new products every month but usually concentrate on major launches in the fall and the spring."

The difference, he said, is that this time "is it is highly likely that you to see more customised products suited for India since the need for products for the oily skin is an increasing focus here."

While companies prefer to have similar products because of the benefit it brings in terms of price and performance, in skin, the companies need more variety. "In northern hemisphere, people want to be tanned, and in the southern hemisphere they want to be fair. Also, there are different skin needs in different parts of the world in terms of skin elasticity, colour segment and different colour preferences and with climate change this might change drastically." Currently, from their 1,000 cosmetic products, approximately 750 are global, and there are 250 products that are regional, specifically for the one part of the world. He said they are also launching a skincare application where consumers can get their skin assessed from the mobile app. This will essentially enable their consultants to give expert advice to consumers. The users will have to put their skin in front of the phone's camera and the app will analyse and help them determine the type of skincare routine and products they should use. "This will help consultants who are not skincare experts make them look professional. It will also help consumers get the right information."

The firm recently delisted from Nasdaq Stockholm. It was followed the buyback of the firm by Oriflame's founding families valued at nearly $950 million. The firm says its future sales growth will be from Mexico, Russia, Turkey, India, China and Indonesia. Oriflame currently has 30 lakh consultants in 60 countries.

Also read: GVK Group raises Rs 7,600 crore to reduce debt; acquires 23.5% stake in Mumbai airport

Also read: Unlike what the industry thinks, we are not against anyone, says TRAI chairman

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Oriflame to focus on wellness, position as healthy lifestyle brand: CEO Magnus Brannstrom - Business Today

10 Crucial Steps To Living A Healthy Lifestyle

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If youve been reading us for some time now, you probably know that there is not only one right way to improve your life, there are in fact more ways to live a healthy lifestyle, which will probably result in changing many things about yourself.

Living full time (as we want to call it) can be very hard nowadays. Especially if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.Work, money, society It seems like everything is taking its turn, not allowing us to fully enjoy life.

But why do I correlate enjoying life with living a healthy lifestyle? Well simple, you see, if one is healthy in every sense of the word, its hard not to enjoy life. And living like that makes you enjoy it even more.

But how can one achieve that?

How to change your lifestyle to match that description? How can you have a lifestyle that is healthy, fulfilled, interesting and enjoyable?

Well, just keep reading:

Not only did we mention this before, but we also did a whole article on how much exercising is important if you want to move your life forward, and make room for some improvement. The truth, simple as it is, is that adding exercise to your life on daily basis is one of the best ways to promote a healthy lifestyle in general. The health related benefits are huge, as is the step you are taking towards self-improvement.

Here is the post that goes more deeply in this matter:

Giving the roller coaster of a schedule that many people are having today, probably the one that sent you here at the first place, we must come to realize just how much important sleep is to all of us. Many studies conducted on couple of the best universities around the world suggest that every individual needs from seven to eight hours a sleep during the night.

And this is the important part- during the night! You see, sleeping in a period in which the body isnt designed to sleep, is equally bad as sleeping less hours. By ruining this schedule, the body endocrine system is not producing melatonin (the hormone which is responsible for making us sleepy) in the right amounts, or shuts production completely.

Here is a post dedicated about why sleeping is so much important, the importance of a good sleeping schedule, the benefits of waking up early and what to do in order to make the most out of it:

This is one of the cornerstones, truly a foundation upon which one healthy lifestyle is build. And make no mistakes, it will change everything for better once you implement the healthy diet into your everyday life. Not only you will be healthy, but you will also have tons and tons of other benefits as well.

Here are some helpful articles we wrote about healthy diet a while ago:

Time = life, therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life. Alan Lakein

Time management is a process, chain of techniques if you will, that not only make sure that we are on our best when it comes to spending our time, but also gives us the opportunity to know we are doing the best we can, and taking all we can actually take. It can also be a pretty good tool in the battle against stress.

You should only take a look at somebody who is successful in life and is truly enjoying it. The first picture you will get is of a person who is determined in what he is going after, and most of all a person who knows how to get organized, probably possess an effective time management skills and knows what to do in order to achieve his dream.

No man is an island. Youve heard that before, dont you? Well, it turns out that its not only true but its also necessary if you like to live healthy.

You probably assumed by now that we are not only talking about physical health, but rather about health as a whole. Meaning psychological health, health of the spirit as well as of the body. And being social creatures, we humans make everything with tilting toward this fact over and over again.

The way weve built society, the way we try to find new ways for us to correspond, interact Thats really in our nature, and by acknowledging that we must try to be as much social as we can. Forget about everyone that you are not quite fond of, and devote yourself on people you find spending time with enjoyable and relaxing.

Whether this may be your friend, family, significant other Doesnt matter really. What matters is that you go and spend as much time as you can with them.

Now many of you are confused as for why this is listed as one of the steps to living a healthy lifestyle. Fair enough, Ill give you an explanation.

Being curious and wanting to learn everything about everything makes you younger in a way. It makes your spirit remain like it was when you were just a child. It leads towards intellectual growth, and makes you engage yourself further on in using your brain as much as you can.

Just by reading this, you are proving that you are in fact curious person. And what is the result? Well, you are improved in a way or at least heading towards there.

You see, we said that health doesnt necessarily apply just to the body. You must also nurture your brain, your intellect. That is achieved by reading, asking questions, doing some games like puzzles and crosswords, challenge yourself to think deeply about something, have a profound discourse with someone that challenges you. Staying healthy is a wide concept, and this is one of its fundamentals.

An obvious way to fully live a life while enjoying it. Do you smile a lot? Or just from time to time? Or maybe youve forgot how is like to hear yourself giggling about something?

It is our aptitude for humor, our innate characteristics, which make us so fond of it. It is one of the first things a baby does while learning this world, a sign, a symptom of happiness and health if you will. Learning how to put a smile on your face is worth more than learning anything else in life.

Your outlook of life can affect you more than you think. It is about how you perceive things that surround you. Your interpretation of them is what defines them as being one way or another. It defines your perception upon this world as a whole, shapes your experiences even on a daily basis.

Give your undivided attention to people that have positive outlooks on life, and try to figure out how you can change your way of seeing things. Being positive helped many people in life. I once read a book by Bear Grylls in which he explains how being positive changed his life completely, and allowed him to be where he is today.

Another thing closely connected to living a healthy lifestyle when it comes to spirituality and psychological health is having a place or a thing that you really enjoy, and is just for you. Having a hobby is one of the steps to live a healthy life.

Whether this is reading, working in your garden, playing some sport, writing or playing some instrument, it doesnt really matter.

The thing is that you must hold up to this and try to enjoy it more often. For example, I play on my violin from time to time and enjoy practicing pieces from Bach, Sarassate, Mozart and many others. Find your passion about something, and hold up to it for dear life.

As for the last one, it is essential that you reminisce things now and then, and do a check. What am I talking about? Well for starters, you should schedule a visit to the doctors at least twice a year, and do some basic tests. That way you always have the upper hand in case something comes down the way. Checking things out from time to time is one of the steps to living a healthy lifestyle.

Visit a therapist or find some other ways to win the battle with the stress, or just try and take some time for you to realize in which aspect of life you are heading in opposite direction. Doing this you will never feel like there is something that you are not doing right when it comes to your health in general, and you will be more on top of things.

These are some of the ways that are proven to make your life better and h
ealthier in more than one way, and in turn make you enjoy a more fulfilled, healthier life. No matter which one you choose to start with, they will all allow you to make a great change towards better, and you will immediately feel the results .

Can you add more to this? Do you know some other ways of living a healthy lifestyle?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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10 Crucial Steps To Living A Healthy Lifestyle

Living with Breast Cancer with healthy lifestyle expert and founder of Pretty Wellness Caryn Sullivan – WTNH.com

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We are well into breast cancer awareness month,and while its important to honor those who have lost their battle, its also important to talk about how to handle the hard journey of living with breast cancer.

We were joined by healthy lifestyle expert and founder of Pretty Wellness Caryn Sullivan, who has been on this journey herself. This is what Caryn hopes viewers take away from her segment:

There is hope going through cancer (or other hardship) is devastating, but you dont have to be devastated. This short guide and journal can hopefully help make that hard time a bit easier for the cancer patient, caregiver and friends.

Caryn was lucky and blessed to have three strangers fall into her life guiding her through the first few weeks of disease. Not everyone has that, so she wanted to share what she learned to hopefully eliminate some of the stress and help those touched by cancer.

Tips for Those Diagnosed:

Caryn was diagnosed at 31, three months after her wedding. It came out of left field and she remembers crying on day two thinking, Im supposed to be a newlywed. The nurse told her, even though she had cancer, she could be happy. She then chose to look at life that way. She would have ugly days, but always found a little something to bring her joy and happiness.

Caryn Sullivan is a two-time breast cancer survivor, living with stage IV disease. Shes the founder of Pretty Wellness, author of Happiness through Hardship and proud mom of a ten-year old boy. Follow her on Instagram @PrettyWellness for daily wellness tips and healthy living resources.

Upcoming Public Events:

Right now you can buy online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.com and in some local stores.

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Living with Breast Cancer with healthy lifestyle expert and founder of Pretty Wellness Caryn Sullivan - WTNH.com