Is Mr. Higgins ready?
-Golden milk
Update!
How SmartPhones are wrecking us!
In today’s culture, everyone seems to be constantly plugged into some device, be it a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Sedentary lifestyles inevitably result in thousands of hours spent with your body resembling a human question mark—head jutting forward, shoulders are rounding and stomachs getting closer to your knees.
A crick in the neck and upper shoulders can develop from over-stressing your neck muscles the day before, from awkward sleep positions, from harshly twisting or turning your head during exercise, from having Smartphone Syndrome posture, or from clocking hours of Quasimodo-like keyboard posture while hunching at your desk.
However, it’s important not to overlook the potential for Smartphone Syndrome—also known as Text Neck—a repetitive use injury that occurs to your upper back, neck muscles, forearms, wrists and hands caused by a combination of poor posture, excessive texting and smart phone use.
Did you know that for every inch the head moves forward in posture, it increases the weight of the head by a staggering 10 pounds? When a 12-pound head is held forward from the shoulders by only 3 inches, it causes 42 pounds of pressure on the neck and upper back muscles.
Beware of fast food like hotdogs!
-not all trainers are on a fitness mag cover!
So really, what is inflammation? When medical pros talk inflammation, they’re referring to a combo of heat, pain, redness, and swelling that can happen externally or inside the body, explains functional medicine physician Susan Blum, MD.
That (not-so-fab) four crops up when the immune system gets “poked” by some kind of irritant,like a food you’re sensitive to, an environmental toxin, or damaged tissue, Dr. Blum says. In response, the body calls immune cells and fluid to the irritated area to help kill whatever’s there, which is ultimately a good thing. But if it’s happening for too long, it can be very, very bad.
“The inflammatory response should be self-limited,” Dr. Blum says. “All of those inflammatory molecules, immune cells, and fluid can really disrupt the functioning of wherever [the inflammation] is located.” That’s why chronic inflammation’s at the root of so many diseases, from Alzheimer’s to cancer.
Why what you eat matters so much
The number-one way to reduce an “inflammatory lifestyle” is through diet, says Dr. Blum.
Wheat, dairy, and sugar tend to be the biggest offenders, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to jump on the gluten-free bandwagon. “If you have Celiac disease, you absolutely do,” Mendez says. “But some people might find they’re okay with gluten if they just cut out wheat, but keep barley, rye, or spelt, for example,” she explains.
More in Iced cold water!
What Happens When You Drink Cold Water
– When you drink cold beverages your blood vessels shrink, your digestion becomes restricted and hydration is hindered.
– Instead of working to digest the food and absorb the nutrients to create energy, your body is expending energy to regulate your temperature. This can lead to water loss.
– Drinking cold water after a meal creates excess mucus in your body, which can lead to a decrease in immune system function, making it easier to catch colds and illnesses.
– If you eat food while drinking cold beverages or immediately after, the water temperature solidifies fats from the foods we’ve just eaten and the body in turn finds it hard to digest the unwanted fats from our bodies.
Some people say that drinking ice water is beneficial because it burns more calories. I argue that we do not want to make our digestive system have to work harder; we want to makes things as easy on it as we can. There are many other ways to burn calories!
Benefits to Drinking Warm Water
Here are some benefits to drinking water that is room temperature or warmer:
– Faster + increased hydration
– Natural digestive enzymes are stimulated and therefore your digestion is enhanced
– Food breaks down more easily
– Your bowels move better (warm water with lemon in the morning is great for this!)
– It purifies your blood and increases your bodies natural detoxification processes via your skin, kidneys and lymphatic system
Once you get into the habit of drinking water at room temperature or warm, you will notice a dramatic improvement in your digestion and the way your body feels while eating and after the meal. Some people have also reported reduction in sugar cravings.
So, the next time you eat out ask your server to “Hold the Ice!”
Good reasons to stop drinking soda!
Tips for Summer as we get out of the routine!
Any food ideas for snacks as we get out of the routine?
Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Yogurt
Ingredients
4 Peaches
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1 cup Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
Honey, optional
Heat grill to medium. Half and pit peaches and brush both sides with butter. Please peaches on grill and cook about 2 minutes per side. Combine yogurt and cinnamon and place on top of peach. Drizzle with honey, if desired.
Serves 8
Nutrition Facts: 32 calories, 5 grams carbohydrate, .5 gram protein, 1 gram fat, 1 gram fiber
Belly issues tips!
Time to change your workout?
The science of why no to high heels!
