Mindful Monday GOKI Readers, my first question is: Where did the sun go? If yesterday was the first official day of Spring, Why, oh why has it been sleeting and yes, SNOWING, in some parts of the NorthEast? I say, Mother Nature has a funny sense of humor!
Well, onto my series of health tips, hopefully these tips are of some benefit to all of you.
March 21, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Eat A Variety Of Fruits And Vegetables
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is key to a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are rich in different essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Eating a variety ensures a greater intake of these essential nutrients; aim to try different types and colors. Whether you are choosing fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or juice, you will receive the added benefits of this healthy food group. Juices and canned fruits do not provide as much fiber as the other types, so it is best to eat the fruit or vegetable more often. Eat at least five servings per day of fruits and vegetables, consisting of at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables.
As always, To Your Health!
Sunny Sunday GOKI Readers, and a Happy First Day of Spring!
After a tumultuous and stormy winter it is a great sight to see such a beautiful start to a new season.
On another positive note, after such terrible events befalling Japan with its earthquake and tsunami, there was a glimmer of hope after 9 days that an elderly woman and teenage boy were rescued from their collapsed building. I realize that there are so many that are still missing, but this demonstrates the power of the human spirit to survive catastrophic events.
With that said, for all my readers who were accustomed to me posting videos, primarily of informational/instructional nature I wanted to take a musical stance today and share a song that, I believe is inspirational, and exemplifies the human spirit.
Enjoy!
P.S. If you liked this go check out my lens,
http://www.squidoo.com/inspirationalsongs
Sunny Saturday GOKI Readers, today I bring you yet another informative health tip via my trusty little desk calender I actually purchased last month, titled: 365 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power, written by Carolyn Dean, M.D., Valentine Dmitriev, Ph.D., and Donna Raskin.
March 19 & 20, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Opt For Dark Chocolate
According to study results published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times what is found in green tea. Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture/American Chemical Society's findings, dark chocolate tested the highest for antioxidants over other fruits and vegetables. Comparing the levels of antioxidants dark chocolate came in with a score of 13,120, its closest competitor milk chocolate had levels of 6,740 and third was prunes at 5770.
Friendly Friday GOKI Readers, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
As from the beginning of this month I am continuing with my mission to provide one tip of info to aid you folks in your daily lives.
March 18, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Know When You May Need More Iron
Certain types of people are at a higher risk for iron deficiency and should be screened periodically.
* Infants and children, because of their growth and choosy eating habits.
* Adolescents, especially girls who have started their menstrual cycle, who consume a junk food diet.
* Women who are pregnant, because they are supporting their needs as well as the baby's.
* The elderly population because of poor dietary intake and decreased iron absorption due to aging.
* Women of childbearing age who experience excessive menstrual bleeding because they lose iron-rich blood each month.
* Strict vegetarians who eat only plant foods, beacause the iron in these foods is not absorbed as well as the iron in animal products.
As Always, To Your Health!
Thoughtful Thursday GOKI Readers, and for all you folks of Irish descent (or wish you were :)), Happy St. Patrick's Day!
March 17, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Take Folic Acid
Folic acid's main role is to maintain the cell's genetic code - DNA, the master plan for cell reproduction. It also works with vitamin B12 to form hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Deficiencies of folic acid include anemia, impaired growth, and abnormal digestive function. Taking too much folic acid through supplements can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency and could interfere with other medications. In the synthetic form - the form used to fortify foods and in supplements - folic acid has a UL (upper intake level) of 1,000 mcg per day for adults over eighteen.
As always, To Your Health!
Wise Wednesday GOKI Readers, today's tip installment continues my mission to give you at least one good piece of info, in this case from the health and wellness sector on a daily basis.
March 16, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Eat Whole Grains
Foods made from grains should be the base of a nutritious diet. Grains include bread, rice, pasta, and oats. Whole grain foods, supply vitamin E and B, vitamins such as folic acid, as well as minerals like magnesium, iron, and zinc. Whole grains (like whole wheat) are rich in fiber and higher in other important nutrients. In fact, eating plenty of whole grain breads, bran cereals, and other whole-grain foods can easily provide half of your fiber needs for an entire day. When choosing grains, look for the words "whole grain" or "whole wheat" to make sure the product is made from 100 percent whole-wheat flour. The aim should be to consume at least six servings of grain products per day. Choose frains that are rich in fiber, low in saturated fat and low in sodium.
As Always, To Your Health!
Thoughtful Tuesday GOKI Readers, today comes another tip of health info courtesy of the desk calender titled: 365 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power, written by Carolyn Dean, M.D., Valentine Dmitriev, PhD., and Donna Raskin.
March 15, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Pace Yourself
Your body converts all carbohydrates into glucose to be used as fuel or energy for the body. Glucose circulating in your bloodstream is known as blood sugar, which enters your body's cells, where it is converted to energy. Since simple carbohydrates, or simple sugars, are already in their simplest form, they go straight into the bloodstream. Complex carbohydrates require digestive enzymes to break them into glucose. Some glucose is used immediately for energy and some is stored in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen. If you consume more calories than you need, excess glucose is also stored as fat. After you eat, the hormone insulin lowers the level of glucose in the blood by stimulating body cells to take up and store excess glucose. This helps to prevent your blood sugar from spiking too high. By monitoring the rate and volume of complex carbs you consume, you can help your body function at high capacity and prevent it from adding fat cells.
As always, To Your Health!
Mindful Monday GOKI Readers, as we begin another workweek, let me once again express my heartfelt sentiments to all those who are watching the utter devastation befallen Japan due to the massive earthquake, with subsequent tsunami, and now explosion(s) at the nuclear power plant(s). My thoughts and prayers are with you, I realize the road to recovery will be long and hard, but I hope you know that the world is watching and will come to your aid.
March 14 2011, Brain Boost Tip Of the Day
Stay Mentally And Physically Active
In 2005, Ohio State University researchers reported that older people who exercised regularly were more likely to maintain the mental acuity they needed to do everyday tasks like follow a recipe and keep track of the pills they take. Some of the recommended mental activities for older people included crossword puzzles, trivia games, Scrabble, card games, and projects, such as fixing appliances and cooking. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2001 investigated the benefits of keeping active both mentally and physically during leisure time to prevent Alzheimer's. A group of inactive adults between twenty and sixty years of age was compared to more active peers. Researchers took into account all variables and still found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's in inactive people was four times that of active people.
On a personal note, as the daughter of a parent with Alzheimer's, I can 100% attest to this information finding. My mother was an active woman for a vast portion of her life, sadly due to other medical ailments that had befallen her over the years, her physical life was hindered. I see now that the physical activities she did were her form of exercise, and when those activites were no longer being performed, and no other alternative exercise to take it's place, the symtoms associated with the onset of Alzheimer's began to take root.
Therefore, for anyone who has a loved one starting to show signs of this terrible disease, I stress the importance of trying to keep your loved one active as much as possible, because, as we have heard time and time again, when the body is moving, the blood flows throughtout carrying the all important oxygen to all parts of our bodies, thereby keeping us alive and fit.
As always, To Your Health!
Heartfelt Saturday GOKI Readers, today I want to express my sympathy to all my readers who may have family members in Japan whom have suffered in some fashion or another from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that followed.
My daily series of health tips continues, with the express hope that this information will indeed aid one and all, even in some small manner.
March 12 & 13, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Chomp On Chives
Chives and chive flowers are high In vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, calcium, and blood-building iron; and they stimulate the appetite and promote good digestion, reduce flatulence, and prevent bad breath. Chives, when eaten regularly, may help to lower blood cholesterol levels. Because of their high vitamin C content, they can help prevent colds of speed recovery from a cold; the sulfurous compounds in them are natural expectorants. Best used fresh; they are easy to grow in pots at home.
To Your Health!
Thoughtful Friday GOKI Readers, today let me begin by expressing my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, who are experiencing a devastating earthquake that has spawned a tsunami that has effected Hawaii as well as the West Coast of the United States.
On a personal front, my sister informed me that her husband/my brother-in-law has also suffered his own health scare, by having a mild heart attack.
These two incidents may be a world apart in regards to the severity inflicted, but I dare say, not in the sentiment(s)/emotions felt by the fear of the unexpected, and the realization of what has transpired.
With that piece of info said, let me carry on with my latest health tip, found in the desk calender titled: 365 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power, written by Carolyn Dean, M.D., Valentine Dmitirev, Ph.D., and Donna Raskin.
March 11, 2011 Health Tip Of The Day
Pick The Superfoods
Some foods are better for you than others. The key is to eat a diverse diet, with an emphasis on those foods with nutritional punch. The majority of Americans don't consume nearly enough fruits and vegetables. Government health officials suggest five servings of fruits and vegetables daily--twice the amount suggested for meat and dairy. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of any anti-aging regimen because they are packed with essential nutrients in their most natural and useful form.
For all my readers I say Take Care, and as always, To Your Health!
