Living Young Forever

Let’s start off with a little reality check. The Recommended Daily Intake is 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables to satisfy our minimum vitamin and mineral needs. How many people can honestly say that they eat 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? What is a serving?

Based on the national food pyramid guidelines a serving of:

Vegetables and fruits is

• 1 medium piece of fruit

• 1 cup raw leafy greens

• ¾ cup fruit or vegetable juice

• ½ cup raw or cooked non-starchy vegetables, such as asparagus or squash

Multiply this by 5 or 10

How many people can say they eat 3-5 cups of fresh raw leafy vegetables a day? How about 1-2 cups?  The reality is that most Americans do not get nearly enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. That’s why taking a nutrient dense vitamin such as a whole food multi-vitamin is so important. Remember taking a multi vitamin is not a reason to stop striving to eat right and live a healthy life style it just helps keep you up with the daily nutritional demands for your body.

Going Green is the new buzz word and mantra of the politicians and environmentalist, and we think it is great. We love the idea of taking care of our little home floating around in the universe. After all it is the only one we have for now.  From the perspective of a health and wellness professional we have been chanting this mantra  for decades, GO GREEN, in fact we say GO SUPER GREEN, super green food that is.

The health benefits of super green foods have been well documented through the years. Studies have shown that green foods such as wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa, chlorella, spirulina, blue-green algae (AFA), and green tea can have a remarkable impact on improving and maintaining health. Some of the well know documented health benefits of consuming Super Green foods are more energy, neutralizing and removing toxins from the body, alleviating or control asthma, obesity, skin, anemia, arthritis, digestive problems, diabetes, heart disease, and hepatitis.  The list goes on but I think you get the point it’s SUPER.

We hope you continue taking steps to keep the planet healthy and green and use the same philosophy for your health as well.

As most of us go through the day it is not always practical let alone easy to eat right. Getting all the daily recommended intake of vital nutrients to keep us on top of our game can certainly be a challenge in today’s fast paced nearly nonstop world. But without vibrant health it is nearly impossible to keep up with the modern day demands and the break neck pace of life. Plagued by the temptation of easily available fast food, the option for Americans is usually to opt-out for high calorie low nutritional foods.

That is why it is so important to take a daily multivitamin supplement to insure getting optimal daily nutrient intake. Whole Food nutrient dense vitamins are always the best choice whenever possible as they supply not only a full spectrum of daily nutrients it is also “real food”. Taking an organic formulated daily vitamin is even better when available.

Let’s face it, often the most inexpensive foods are junk foods and processed foods that contain tons of calories. In fact, dollar for dollar, fast food is one of the most inexpensive ways to eat. A lot of people don’t have the money to purchase organic food and organic food ingredients at the store, and this can be a real detriment to people who are trying to eat healthy or lose weight. However, there are several ways to find more affordable healthy food, and it doesn’t involve shopping around or spending hours cutting out coupons.

The truth is, salads, fruits, and vegetables are some of the healthiest foods we can eat, and often they’re quite inexpensive. But it’s important to know where to shop, and what to shop for at the right time. Instead of the super market, head to the famer’s market where the prices are often a good deal cheaper. The produce is also fresher, and isn’t saturated with preservatives or chemicals. It’s also a good idea to buy what fruits and vegetables are in season, as these are often a few dollars per pound cheaper than when out of season. This is how eating healthy on a budget can be tasty and provide a good variety of different foods.

Clean air is so important to our health and although other than doing our best to help reduce outdoor air pollution such as driving less and buying green most of  us have little direct impact on outdoor air quality control. Fire season and natural occurring pollen is not something we have any control over.

All though the media focus is almost exclusive on out door air quality through sound bites and air quality alerts like spare the air days,  the truth is we spend more time in an indoor environment than out.  How much time do you spend indoors? Of course, the answer will vary. However the average is… in our modern non-agricultural society, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors! 65% of that time is spent in our own homes.

Recent studies have shown that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. In fact indoor air is quite often a cause of greater health problems than the polluted air we may encounter outside our homes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air pollution as the 8th most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease .

The off gassing of building materials, household furnishings and personal items is far more toxic than most outdoor pollutants. Simple because of the concentration levels do to the very efficient modern building techniques creating a energy efficient closed environment. In other words you are trapped inside box with very little natural air circulation or proper HEPA air filtration system.

A friend of mine that works in the local Fire Dept. explained to me that it is not the fire itself that is so dangerous but the chemicals that are being released in the smoke from the building materials and household furnishings that is so deadly. It is HIGHLY TOXIC.

These same materials when not burning continue off gas small but steady amounts of harmful gasses. More lives are lost to continued exposure to indoor air quality issues than alcohol related car accidents in the US each year.

WHATS THE ANSWER?

Change your central air filter regularly with a high quality HEPA filter. Get a High Quality Room Air Filter (approved HEPA filters only) we will explain that in more detail in our next blog. But this will give you the best way to balance the air quality and reduce the exposure to harmful indoor pollutants.

One of the 6 simple but basic steps to good health is getting plenty of clean water. Keeping hydrated is one of the most important elements of good heath. You can survive quite well with out food at an estimated  3-weeks and up to 25-weeks or more depending upon initial health and amount of fat. That is not to say you would be in very good health but you could survive death.

On the other hand  at a pleasant 80 F / 26.7 C or so the average person would only make it about 9 days without water. HMMMM Food or water? I’ll have another glass of water please. Preferably clean water thank you.

In today’s world unless you live under a rock everyone knows about the importance of keeping Hydrated. Just look at all the hoop-la about “sports drinks”, don’t get me started on that, but that is for another blog. However I will say this  DRINK WATER! Clean Fresh WATER! There I said it.

Now down to business. I honestly do not understand with all the Green consciousness in today’s media why people continue to buy bottle water. In a resent National Geographic study it was estimated that  “In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, adding 29 billion water bottles a year to the Pollution problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufacturers use 17 million barrels of crude oil”. “That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for twelve months”. HMmm am I missing something here? Or perhaps America is. Like a home water purifying system. First, it is much more cost effective Second, it its much better for the environment and third, it is cheaper and fourth it is not as expensive. But most of all it better for the earth. Have I got your attention yet? Get real, that $1.29 or even the .59 bottle of water is less than a penny if you have your own system. That’s right less than1 cent just add your favorite reusable water bottle. If you have a quality counter top or reverse osmosis in home system it is cheaper and it is most likely better quality water. So Keep hydrated, stay healthy and save money.

In an ever present world of rising  health care costs people are realizing that a pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure. It use to be an ounce and a pound but inflation is rampant in the medical business forcing basic services out of the reach of many. Between the cost of medical services and medical insurance (if you can get it) more and more people just can’t afford to get sick, literally.

The bad news is there is no end in sight soon, but the great news is prevention awareness is on the rise. People are making healthier food choices and using alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture to stay healthier.

Many people are going back to the basics and are taking there own health into there own hands by finding ways to “stay” healthy. Staying  healthy is truly the best way to avoid rising health care costs. We are not of course suggesting you should not seek out medical help when necessary or you should self diagnose. However we do believe that you can do some simple things to be pro active in prevention and to avoid the high cost of medical services. Prevention is allot less expensive.

With just a few simple basic time tested steps you not only can help minimize having  to go to the doctor you might just find that you fell better, are fully energized and getting more living out of life.

Here are our top six steps to a healthier you “Health Basics 101″.

1. Eat Whole Foods – Organic Whenever Possible
2. Drink  Plenty of Pure Fresh Water
3. Get Lots Fresh Clean Air
4. Get Proper Rest
5. Take Appropriate Nutritional Supplements for Nutrition Insurance
6. Exercise,- Get Your Body in Motion.

Watch for future blogs as we take an in depth look at these six simple ways to staying healthy.

In today’s hectic  daily pace it is not always easy to eat right. Between soccer practice, music lessons, dance lessons and a myriad of other things to do everyday it is all to often easier to catch a drive through at the closest corner fast food restaurant. Yes it is convenient but there is a healthier way to get you through to the next healthy meal.

With the increased demand for better options for health conscious consumers there has been a steady increase of healthy snacks available. A popular choice these days is the protein bar or whole food bar.With its increased popularity these delicious and healthy snacks no longer taste like dried up lawn clippings even kids love them. The leading brands such as the Cliff Bar, Think Thin, The Organic bar, and the Raw Revolution come in a wide variety of flavors to choose from so there is a healthy choice for everyone.

These healthy on the go snacks are not only good for you they are convenient and an affordable alternative to fast food. After all what price would you put on your health or your kids.

Part II of the protein puzzle-

Whats a gram of protein? So using our model from the last blog  if we need 62 grams of protein per day and we buy our meat lets say in ounces and pounds we need to do a little math again. So now its time to cut to the chase or in this case the Steak.

3 oz of Top Sirloin has ruffly 26 grams of protein a lean beef burger 22 grams so this means that if you ate 3 -1/4  lb lean burger patties in a day you would “meat” your minimum daily protein requirements. So you can fire up the Barbecue or you can ditch some of the saturated fat by using a protein supplement such as a protein smoothie for breakfast or a protein bar for a healthy snack. Either way it is easy to get your daily protein intake.

Those small and large size inflatable balls that can be found in gyms around the world are not just a fad; they’re here to stay. Exercise balls are great for several different activities, and are an important part of fitness. An exercise ball can be used for several fitness exercises including sit-ups, lunges, and stretching. Even sitting on an exercise ball instead of a standard chair can work out the abdominals and burn calories at a much faster rate. For people who are serious about getting in better shape or losing weight, an exercise ball is a solid investment for the home.

There are several guides online that teach how to use exercise balls in the most efficient manner. Engage in fitness activities, or just opt for sitting on the exercise ball when watching television or reading instead of a chair. It might not be as comfortable, but the results are quite spectacular, and are noticeable after just a short amount of time. In addition to fitness and weight loss benefits, exercise balls can even help to correct posture!