No.#1 Weight Loss Activity!

Power Walking is one of the easiest, least expensive, most convenient and just about everyone can do it, fitness activities.

Lipolysis is a process in which our body mobilizes stored lipids (fat) and uses it as a source of energy.  But in order for this to happen oxygen needs to be present. During activities, such as running, we tend to require much more oxygen so the body is forced to use both lipids and stored glycogen.  Walking is far less demanding and therefore we generally get all the oxygen our body requires to primarily burn stored fat.

Plan a long walk, at least 40-60 minutes, wear the proper footwear, consider safety or bring a friend, and try and keep your pace at a moderate speed.  You can use your heart rate as a guideline (120 beats per minute is a great pace).

So walk off those extra pounds, stay injury free and enjoy the lovely fall weather which is ideal for those long street hikes with a friend.

Can Adrenal Fatigue be making your fat?

Constantly feeling exhausted, unmotivated, depressed, irritable, can't shake those extra pounds or always fighting a bug of some kind? Well you might be suffering from "Adrenal Burnout".

Today's world is extremely demanding! Juggling a career and family, dealing with the state of the economy, constant noise and air pollutants while trying to have an exciting life of some kind. Basically - we want it all!  But it does not come without a price! Our poor adrenal glands end up in constant overdrive which eventually robs us of our health.

These two little glands, situated on top of each kidney, are responsible for the strength of our immune system, normalizing blood sugar and regulating blood pressure.  But unfortunately, when we are needing to rest them, most reach for stimulants and end up burning these glands out more, leading to serious illnesses like cancer.

Take care of your adrenal glands by first recognizing when they have had enough.  Even a string of job interview rejections can lead to burnout.  Next, focus on a nutritious diet and regular, moderately intense exercise.  Finally, consider relaxation therapies so that you can handle stress more positively, like yoga, cognitive behavioral changes, breathing exercises or somatic-contraction therapy.  If you are considering a detoxification program just be aware that "toxin release" is quite a stressful event for the body and side effects may be very unpleasant.  I would suggest holding off until you feel your strength return.

They say that very few people fully recover from "Adrenal Burnout" as, in some cases, it may take years to bounce back.  But can you imagine feeling that healthy freedom once again.

For more info visit: http://www.womenlivingnaturally.com/articlepage.php?id=6

UNBELIEVABLE PAIN RELIEF!

Recently I had some dental work done which left me with a disturbed Trigeminal nerve on the right side of my face. Symptoms included pain, a horrible burning sensation all across the side of my face where a new crown was placed and of course emotional episodes most likely due to the irritation itself..  It turned out that the crown was insufficient and had to be replaced but all the extra procedures only elevated my problem.  I also discovered that I was having bad reactions to both Tylenol and Advil and I desperately needed something to manage the pain.

I've had 15 years experience as a Health Consultant at "The Garden Health Foods" in Vancouver and have recommended thousands of products for every condition under the sun.  So believe me when I tell you that I have never had something work so quick and so well for pain relief like Curamin.  Within a few hours my pain subsided and a week later the nerve finally calmed down so that the new crown could be replaced.  Though, following the seating of the new crown, the joint did experience a flare up. So I just took a few CuraMeds 375  ( part of the product line) and felt relief within an hour.

I'm usually pretty skeptical about natural health products, as many claim to do and be something they actually are not but this one is a winner!
( 2011 Vity Awards )

http://www.curamin.com/

EXERCISING IN THE HEAT!

Yeah!  It's summer!  And for all of you who love training in this fantastic weather here are a few tips to make it the best experience ever!

1)  Use water-based sunscreen as oil-based can retard sweating and increase your risk of overheating.

2)  Wear loose fitting clothing that can wick away sweat from your skin and allow the heat to escape.  (Dry-fit or Cool Max are excellent examples and to keep them smelling fresh just soak them in baking soda once in awhile)

3) Never exercise in temperatures above 85 Fahrenheit or 30 Celsius with the humidity being over 92% unless you are acclimatized to train in this environment.

4)  Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8oz's of water for every 15 minutes of exercise.  And splash cold water on your skin to help reduce your core temperature.  Avoid taking salt tablets.

5) Pay attention to warning signs of heat stress, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. (short labored breathing, parched feeling in the mouth, blurred vision, sensations of burning muscles and lungs, dizziness, nausea and possible sequences of irrational thought and action).

The right shoe!!

Never underestimate the value of wearing the right pair of athletic shoes.  Twice I had made the mistake of selecting the wrong shoe and twice I had developed an injury that was quickly resolved when I returned to wearing the right shoe for me and my sport.

There are many different types of sports shoes so finding a professional, who can help you choose the right type of shoe, would be your best first step.

Visit a shop that deals solely with athletic shoes and let them examine your gait in order to determine whether you pronate, supinate or just need neutral arch support.

The Saucony Progrid is an excellent shoe for those with a slight pronation and who love to run regularly, longer distances.

Visit Forerunner at 3504 4th Ave Vancouver BC for the best athletic shoe advice and service.

Don't do this to your fish!

Okay, so we all know that eating fish has ton's of health benefits, like lowering our risk for cardiovascular disease, reducing some cancers and improving our brain function but did you know that if you fry your fish you can pretty much say good bye to all those health benefits!  The frying process can completely destroy the EPA and DHA omega 3 fatty acids which most people are not getting enough of in their diet.  So if want the most out of your fish dish try lightly searing, broiling, baking or sushi raw and skip the battered and high temperature fry up.

Try sprinkling some powdered fennel seed or cardamon spice on your fish and broil it long enough to cook through but not dry up.  I've always said that when I can smell the fishing cooking, it's done. Though I can't stand fish that's too dry and you may enjoy it a little more cooked, so do check it with a fork.

Can Chocolate Really Be Good For You?

According to a recent study on the metabolic effects of dark chocolate consumption, dark chocolate helps to ease emotional stress.  "Most of chocolate's healthfulness comes from antioxidants that reduce the everyday oxidative stress on our bodies," write David Joachim and Andrew Schloss, co-authors of The Science of Good Food (Robert Rose.) They write that the health-promoting antioxidants in chocolate are called polyphenols.

Studies have shown that these compounds can increase blood flow and make blood platelets less sticky. Flavonoids, a subclass of polyphenols that are found in cocoa solids, protect the heart, according to several studies. It seems that these compounds act like scavengers with antioxidant capacities. In one study of 34,000 post-menopausal women who consumed flavonoid-rich food, 22 percent had a lower risk of developing heart disease.

Darker chocolate has the most flavonoids and to capitalize on the health benefits, chocolate manufacturers now list the amount of cacao in a bar. Look for at least 70% to get the most benefit from a bite. Generally speaking, the more bitter the chocolate, the higher the amount of antioxidants. But more important is the fact that the higher the cacao content, the lower the sugar content in the chocolate.

Dark chocolate protects against high blood pressure, too. According to a study published in 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, dark chocolate may actually help to lower blood pressure.

In one study of people who were under a lot of stress, it was found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of their stress hormones. This gives scientific support to what chocolate lovers have always called "the chocolate cure" for everything from bad moods to PMS.

Up until recently, the last pro-chocolate person you'd think of was a dentist. But last year, Dr. Linda Niessen, a dentist from the Baylor College of Dentistry in Texas, identified the tannins present in chocolate to be beneficial to dental health. She explained that the tannins stop the action of the bacteria on the teeth, thus stopping cavities in their tracks.

So can a chocolate a day truly keep the doctor away? The truth is, it's really too early to tell for sure, but the evidence so far is overwhelmingly favoring dark chocolate as a healthy food.

http://www.torontosun.com/life/healthandfitness/2009/12/10/12109496.html