Make Exercise & Nutrition a lifestyle!

Exercise is king, Nutrition is Queen. Together they rule!

If you pair regular exercise with a well-balanced diet, you'll notice immediate changes in mood and energy levels. More importantly, consistently eating well and exercising will improve your health and extend your lifespan. The guidelines are relatively simple: engage in at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise and two full-body strength training sessions each week and eat a nutritionally diverse diet, low in fat and sodium, but high in fiber. Ask your health care provider to help you devise a more detailed diet and fitness plan.

Energy

If you eat healthy, small snacks and meals throughout the day, you'll keep your blood sugar from crashing and feel more energetic. If you hit the gym for 30 minutes each day, you'll have the added benefit of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which is a natural mood booster.

Weight Control

Losing weight and keeping it off takes a combination of eating fewer calories and burning more energy. Eat nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables and lean meats and other proteins that will fill you up. Integrate physical activity into your everyday routine in addition to scheduled exercise. For instance, take the stairs at work or park at the far end of the lot.

Health

Regular exercise and good nutrition may ameliorate or prevent a myriad of conditions including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and depression. Consult your physician to make sure your diet and exercise plans are compatible with your medications and health conditions.

Self-Esteem

There is nothing like running farther or improving your physique to boost your self-esteem. Take time to enjoy your new healthy lifestyle. Update your wardrobe and enroll in a cooking class. Keep fitness fun and interesting by trying something new -- go for a hike, take a martial arts course or register for a 5K.

Sleep

If you exercise vigorously for 30 minutes a day, you may find you sleep much more soundly at night. A good night's rest will improve your mental acuity and energy levels the next day.

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The Amazing Benefits of a plant-Based diet

No one food can reduce your risk for cancer, but there is an overall diet that can. Learn what it means to eat a plant-based diet and see all the ways it can help your body.

If you've given any thought to  cancer prevention, you have probably thought about your diet. Almost every week a new trend is hitting the health food headlines. It can make it almost impossible to settle on what to eat and not eat.

But there is one diet that is consistently proven, over more than two decades, to reduce your risk for cancer. It is a plant-based diet.

Eating plant-based means your meals are mostly plants: vegetables, whole grains and fruits. Beans, seeds and nuts are also included.

Fill your plate with these plant-based foods.

Why plant-based?

It supports your immune system. Plants have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. The vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in plants help keep your cells healthy and your body in balance so that your immune system can function at its best.

“Plants give your body what it needs to help fight off infection,” says Andrea Murray, MD Anderson health education specialist. “A plant-based diet strengthens your immune system to protect you against germs and microorganisms.”

A healthy immune system is essential for reducing your risk for cancer because it can recognize and attack mutations in cells before they can progress to disease.

Plant foods reduce inflammation. Plants’ essential nutrients work to resolve inflammation in your body. The same tiny phytochemicals and antioxidants that boost your immune system also go around your body neutralizing toxins from pollution, processed food, bacteria, viruses and more.

“Antioxidants in plants grab all these so-called free radicals that can throw your body off balance,” says Murray. “To reduce inflammation, it’s important to eat plant-based and to listen to your body’s signals for how foods work for you.”

Prolonged inflammation can damage your body’s cells and tissue and has been linked to cancer and other inflammatory diseases like arthritis. A plant-based diet may protect you because it removes some of the triggers to these diseases.

A plant-based diet helps maintain a healthy weight. Staying at a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk for cancer. When it comes to cancer, the only thing more important than maintaining a healthy weight, is not smoking.

This is because excess weight causes inflammation and hormonal imbalance. If you are overweight or obese, your risk is higher for 12 different types of cancer including colorectal, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney and pancreatic cancers.

If you eat mostly plants, you remove many of the foods that lead to weight gain. Add in exercise and you’re on a path towards weight loss.

Plants are high in fiber. Fiber is present in all unprocessed plant foods. It is what makes up the structure of the plant, and if you eat more of it you access a whole host of benefits.

Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. Fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar and it’s great for good bowel management.

Fiber is very important for reducing your cancer risk. This is especially true for your risk for the third most common cancer: colorectal cancer.

A plant-based diet reduces your risk for other diseases too. The benefits of eating mostly plants are not limited to reducing your cancer risk.

A plant-based diet also has been shown to reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some mental health illnesses.

Make sure your plant-based meals are healthy

Even a plant-based meal relies on you to avoid the major diet pitfalls, like sugar and fat.

Using healthy cooking methods and knowing how to make the most of your vegetables can help you get all the benefits a plant-based diet offers.

This means deep-fried vegetables are out. So are highly processed foods like crackers and cookies.

Limit sugary desserts as well and make sure you are picking whole grains. Regular pasta, white bread and white rice may be plant products, but they are not made from whole grains. Choose 100% whole wheat pasta and bread, and eat brown rice.

Choosing plants will help all your body’s systems work the best they can.

“We just have to eat plants. They are so important for our body’s long term health”.

GREEN IS LIFE!!

Lets go #plantbased!

#healthiswealth #salads #wholefoods

proper hydration is extremely essential!

Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and lubricate your joints. Water is needed for overall good health.

Path to improved health

Look to water first

You should drink water every day. Most people have been told they should drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. That’s a reasonable goal. However, different people need different amounts of water to stay hydrated. Most healthy people can stay well hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than 8 glasses may be enough. Other people may need more than 8 glasses each day.

Other options

While plain water is best for staying hydrated, other drinks and foods can help, too. Fruit and vegetable juices, milk, and herbal teas add to the amount of water you get each day. Even caffeinated drinks (for example, coffee, tea, and soda) can contribute to your daily water intake. A moderate amount of caffeine (400 milligrams) isn’t harmful for most people. Here are the caffeine amounts found in popular drinks:

• 12 ounces of soda: 30 to 40 milligrams

• 8 ounces of green or black tea: 30 to 50 milligrams

• 8 ounces black coffee: 80 to 100 milligrams

• 8-ounce energy drink: 40 to 250 milligrams

However, it’s best to limit caffeinated drinks. Caffeine may cause some people to urinate more frequently or feel anxious or jittery. Plus, be mindful of what you drink. Some choices may add extra calories from sugar to your diet.

Water can also be found in fruits and vegetables (for example, watermelon, tomatoes, and lettuce), and in soup broths.

Sports drinks can be helpful if you’re planning on exercising at higher than normal levels for more than an hour. They contain carbohydrates and electrolytes that can increase your energy. They help your body absorb water. However, some sports drinks are high in calories from added sugar. They also may contain high levels of sodium (salt). Check the serving size on the label. One bottle usually contains more than one serving. Some sports drinks contain caffeine, too. Remember that a safe amount of caffeine to consume each day is no more than 400 milligrams.

Energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine. Also, they contain ingredients that overstimulate you (guarana, ginseng, or taurine). These are things your body doesn’t need. Most of these drinks are also high in added sugar. According to doctors, children and teens should not have energy drinks.

If staying hydrated is difficult for you, here are some tips that can help:

• Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. To reduce your costs, carry a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water.

• If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your drink.

• Drink water before, during, and after a workout.

• When you’re feeling hungry, drink water. Thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan. Some research suggests that drinking water can help you feel full.

• If you have trouble remembering to drink water, drink on a schedule. For example, drink water when you wake up, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and when you go to bed. Or, drink a small glass of water at the beginning of each hour.

• Drink water when you go to a restaurant. It will keep you hydrated, and it’s free.

Things to consider

If you don’t drink enough water, you may become dehydrated. This means your body doesn’t have enough fluid to operate properly.

Your urine can be an indicator if you’re dehydrated. If it’s colorless or light yellow, you’re well hydrated. If your urine is a dark yellow or amber color, you may be dehydrated.

There are other signs that can signal you may be dehydrated. They include:

• Little or no urine.

• Urine that is darker than usual.

• Dry mouth.

• Sleepiness or fatigue.

• Extreme thirst.

• Headache.

• Confusion.

• Dizziness or

• No tears when crying.

Some people are at higher risk of dehydration, including people who exercise at a high intensity (or in hot weather) for too long, have certain medical conditions (kidney stones, bladder infection), are sick (fever, vomiting, diarrhea), are pregnant or breastfeeding, are trying to lose weight, or aren’t able to get enough fluids during the day. Older adults are also at higher risk. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration. It doesn’t send signals for thirst.

Note that water makes up more than half of your body weight. You lose water each day when you go to the bathroom, sweat, and even when you breathe. You lose water even faster when the weather is really hot, when you’re physically active, or if you have a fever. Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. Be sure to actively drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.