Every year we learn more about the human body, what causes us harm, and more importantly what we can do to live well—longer. With this in mind, we’ve combed through recent research and published articles to uncover what the experts say are the best health goals for 2015.
Just last week, we reported that lunchmeat is far the healthy choice you think it is. Although it is lean, and full of protein, it is also heavily processed and loaded with nitrates and nitrites and has been linked to an increase in heart disease risk. Yet, at the same time, you don’t want to ditch the homemade sandwich for eating out every day. Studies have shown that individuals that eat out on a daily basis exceed their sodium intake everyday—often within their one-hour lunch break. Eek!
Last week I shared with a group of Hilton Head Health guests the love I have for my newly acquired Fitbit. Little did I know that in doing so I would open the floodgates to all sorts of humorous, Fitbit confessions.
I used to celebrate (or avoid) Valentine’s Day like a lot of people out there. Some years were bright, others dark. There was heartache, romantic mishaps and some very sweet moments too. But February 14th, 2003 changed Valentine’s Day forever. I was diagnosed with an incurable, stage IV cancer.
Not long ago, I would be frustrated if I didn’t find a parking spot close to the store entrance. Now I find myself looking for spots at the edge of the lot. Because every step I take makes a huge difference.
A guest arrived in Tucson feeling fine, so he was surprised when a Canyon Ranch nurse took his blood pressure and said it was high. He’d never had that problem before. He booked an appointment with Nicola Finley, MD, and she got an even higher BP reading. Luckily, she’s an intuitive doctor with broad perspective.
Balance isn’t just for yoga. In fact, a little bit of chocolate can go a long way when it comes to your diet. Dark chocolate has been shown to be filled with antioxidant flavonoids (which can minimize your risk of heart disease and reduce blood pressure). Some scientists have gone so far as to claim that the sweet stuff has more flavonoids than any other food (including blueberries). According to research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, those said flavonoids help blood vessels relax, helping calm overall stress. Word to the wise, choose the lower fat dark chocolate to milk chocolate. It has a higher count of the good stuff.
Thanksgiving is traditionally a day of overindulgence. In many families, the main activities are eating, watching football on TV, feasting on the leftovers, and taking a nap. But it can also signal the start of an unhealthful holiday season – a five-week period in which food, alcohol, parties and stress can lead to weight gain and regret by January 2nd. But Burr Leonard, founder of The Bar Method and Bar Online wants to change all of that. November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, has been declared “Workout Wednesday” by the American Council on Exercise. “Americans tend to gain one or two pounds around the holidays and often don’t return to their previous weight, resulting in the extra pounds adding up over the years,” warns Burr. “To avoid weight gain from the high calorie meals of Thanksgiving, Americans can reserve the day before as a time to be as active and healthy as possible.”
Named top 25 Influential Wellness Experts By Mind Body Green, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and one of our own travel…
About 50% of the country had snow on the ground Tuesday and as record-setting low temperatures set in, we’re setting the record straight when it comes to winter health and fitness myths.