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Caffeine Does Have Its Benefits

The benefits of caffeine and coffee are more than just helping you stay awake in class or during that boring business meeting. And, you don’t always have to drink something to get the benefits of caffeine. The most obvious health benefit as already noted is that it acts as a stimulant, improving thought processes, wakefulness, focus and condition, especially in sleep-deprived states. This systemic stimulation of the body can also increase metabolism and willingness to carry out activities.

Caffeine is also associated with a decreased risk of developing cancer. In particular, moderate regular coffee consumption appears to help prevent liver, endometrial, and colorectal cancer. Coffee may also aid in the prevention of liver cirrhosis. Along with anesthetics, coffee is some time prescribed to help with pain relief.

Caffeine can also aid in treating certain disorders such as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

A little more recently there have been reports of people benefiting from caffeine intake. Approximately three to five cups of coffee per day showed a reduction of type 2 diabetes, liver disease, gout, Parkinson’s disease, and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Caffeine taken daily through coffee or powder, can even help improve a person’s memory retention and increase attention span as well. Recent studies have shown a reduction of strokes in middle-aged women and older as well. This study done by Swedish researchers found that women who drank one or more cups of coffee a day were less likely to have a stroke compared to those who did not.

Caffeine is actually a well used ingredient in many skin care products. And coffee can be a great product to actually apply to the skin. Coffee or caffeine when it is applied to the skin operates as an antioxidant, vasoconstrictor and diuretic as well. Coffee works as a great exfoliator to help you get rid of your dead skin. By applying it directly to your skin and rubbing the granules gently, your skin will feel baby soft.

Coffee grinds have three times more antioxidant power that help reduce premature aging signs, hyper pigmentation, skin wrinkles, brown spots on skin and appearance of lines. Coffee is full of antioxidants that act as a vasodilator to heal your skin problems. It was previously believed that drinking too much caffeine will affect your skin by taking all the moisture from your skin because caffeine dehydrates fat cells that result in vacating the potassium and sodium component of the skin cells. But if you take coffee in moderation, those antioxidants will work to fight against free redicals that cause skin cancer. Studies have shown that coffee inhibits the growth of skin cancer cells in the body.

Coffee is also found in many skin care products including body scrubs, lotions, creams and perfumes and is used for its ability to reduce cellulite in the body. Coffee is also used in sunscreen lotion and creams as it contains sunblock effects. The caffeine that is present in the skin care products help also to reduce the redness in your skin. Caffeine tightens and firms the surface of your skin and improves your skin tone and complexion. Coffee improves the micro cellular flow in your body. It frees your skin from different radicals that causes acne, eczema and skin cancer. Coffee is also a known odor neutralizer and can absorb strong odors, like fish.

Coffee can also make your hair look great. It improves your hair and minimizes hair loss. Coffee includes rich antioxidant contents that can repair the damaged hairs and prevent hair breakage. It helps to make hair look smooth and shiny.

As in all cases, too much of something is never a good thing. It is stressed that with moderation, caffeine has many positive effects on our bodies. A safe, healthy intake of caffeine ranges from two to four cups of coffee a day, or 200 to 300 milligrams.

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Add Fiber to Your Balanced Diet

One of the simplest ways to kick start a healthy diet is to increase your dietary fiber. Processed food and fast food are easy and quick but they can wreak havoc on your digestive tract. Not only that but processed foods, which are high in fat and high and calories are linked to obesity and other diseases.

What does fiber do for us? Fiber’s primary role is to promote healthy digestion. Fiber cleanses the digestive tract by speeding up the excretions and toxins from the body. It also helps to prevent waste from sitting in the intestines.

There are two types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber passes through most of the bowel system unchanged and promotes the growth of friendly bacteria. Since this type of fiber is not digested by the body it helps to slow gastric emptying and therefore can help to reduce your food intake because you will feel fuller for longer. Insoluble fibre is found in bran, wholemeal flour, brown rice, whole grain cereal, vegetables, edible peels and nuts and seeds. Soluble fiber helps to reduce the level of cholesterol by binding fats that cause high cholesterol and pushing them through the bowel. This helps to prevent the bad fats from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Soluble fiber absorbs water during digestion which acts like a natural stool softener. Soluble fibres include fruit, vegetables, lentils, peas, beans, oats, barley, oatmeal and potatoes.

In terms of weight loss increasing your dietary fiber can aide in reaching your goals if combined with a balanced healthy diet and exercise. Fiber helps in long term weight loss and your dietary fiber intake should be monitored to ensure you’re meeting the daily recommended dose. Speak with your Doctor or Trainer to find out how much fiber you should be consuming per day. You want to make sure that you’re not consuming too much fiber as well because it can cause a mineral deficiency.

High fiber foods are typically low in calories and are filling so they help to prevent overeating or snacking in between meals. Due to the slowing of digestion with added fibre you can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels which is beneficial to diabetics. Fibre will also help to prevent tiredness, hunger pangs and lack of energy.

Adding dietary fiber to your diet is not a fad and it’s not a passing trend in healthy eating. It’s a key part in maintaining a health and balanced diet which can aide in weight loss but also keep you healthy and your body functioning at an optimal level. There are many easy ways to add fiber to your diet but if you’re still unsure on how to make this healthy change then ask your Doctor or training to go through your eating habits and help determine where you can make some changes.

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Seasonal Workouts

Changing your workouts every season can help reduce boredom and keep things fresh, leaving you energized and motivated to stay interested in working out.Try adding something new each season, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

Winter
The colder weather might keep you inside and out of the elements. In the winter you want to spend a little bit more time warming up then you usually do. The cold outside can make your muscles tight and unwilling to move. So it is really important to achieve a high degree of flexibility throughout your body if you want to stay injury free. If you do step out to do an outside exercise, make sure you are layered in clothing. The first layer should be of a material that absorbs sweat. The outermost layer should be wind and water proof. Enjoy some winter sports as well. They offer a fun way to get in some exercise. Ice skating and skiing are both winter activities that burn lots of calories. Getting to the gym to do your workout will also help to fight those winter blues. Add in some swimming or water aerobics at your gym or your local pool is something different to keep you interested. Talk to your trainer to give you some good suggestions for water fitness. Keeping fit during the winter will also help with those shoveling injuries that can happen, keep your fitness levels up and your back, arms and legs strong. Staying healthy and active will make the winter just fly by.

Spring
After what might have been a long winter, or at least what may have felt long, getting outside in the spring is a great way to refresh your workout routine. Talk to your trainer to have them build some outdoor exercises into your gym workout. If it’s not raining, add a walk to your daily routine either at lunch or in the evening after dinner, it’s a great way to enjoy the warmer weather, spring flowers and fresh air. Now that the snow is gone, there is no reason not to dust off that bicycle and take it out for a ride. Plan a good route with your trainer with some challenges, will add to your regular workout routine. Keeping fit through the spring will help you eliminate the potential of sore backs when you go to do your spring gardening.

Summer
Ahhhh….summer. Warm weather, longer days. Summer is a great time to get outside for some exercises to accompany your gym workouts. There are endless possibilities to get active in the summer. Summer is a good time to join a team. Get active in a baseball, soccer, volleyball, tennis league, etc. It’s a great way to get some exercise while having fun and meeting new people – most of the time it doesn’t even feel like exercise. Summer weather and conditions are great for starting that running program you have always wanted to do. The longer days and drier pavement makes it a lot friendlier to people to get out. Set up a route with your trainer that will challenge you and get some good results. Don’t forget you still need to visit the gym and work with your trainer to do some weight training. A full body workout will work best for a balance of losing weight and improving strength. Always remember, with summer usually comes heat, so make sure you drink lots of water to keep you cool and hydrated.

Fall
The leaves are turning and the days a little cooler. What better time to take some of your workout outside. Take a day a week and meet your trainer outside of the gym. Find a fitness trail nearby and do your workout routine. Fall is probably the best time to head out for a hike. Plan a day of it and pick a trail and area to explore. A trail with some hills will help burn more calories, tone your thigh and buttocks and usually gives a spectacular view as well. While the weather is still warmer and the waters not too cold, Fall can be a great time to get out for a paddle on a nearby lake, river, pond. It’s an excellent cardiovascular workout and a good way to keep your arms in shape.

Whatever the season, there is always something new and exciting to add to your workout regime to keep your interest and motivation. Work with your trainer and plan something different each season and keep things fresh to help you stay on track of your goals.

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Marathon Training

So, you’re getting ready to run a marathon. What should you do to really prepare? What should you eat, how should you train? Here are some helpful suggestions to get you on track to reaching your goal.

Key points that a good marathon training program should include.

Training Level
Before you even start training you should have a fairly good idea of your marathon goal as it relates to your running ability and experience. Don’t be too ambitious at the beginning if you haven’t run a marathon before. Sometimes just finishing the race comfortably is a good enough goal. Pick a training level you can handle from a weekly mileage perspective. You will run a lot of miles during the weeks of training. The program you follow will need to be tailored to your own marathon goal. One size does not fit all.

Vary Your Runs
Try to vary your running pace from run to run. In fact most training programs will indicate what type of fun you should do each day. For example, easy pace, hill run and marathon pace.

Alternate Your Training Days
The problem with training for a marathon is that your body does not have enough time to recover from the increasing effort as you get further into the schedule. To counter this a good training program will follow the hard day – easy day principle as much as possible. This means you will alternate lighter training days with the harder ones. For example: Day 1 – 7 miles at tempo pace. Day 2 – 7 miles at an easy pace. Day 3 – 9 miles at your intended marathon pace. Day 4 – 7 miles at your intended marathon pace. Day 5 – rest. Day 6 – 17 mile long run. Day 7 – 5 miles at an easy pace.

Diet
A good program should also include dietary advice. Many marathoners believe that eating lots of carbohydrates is all they need for training. This actually is not true. Yes, lots of carbs will fuel your running, but you need proper amounts of protein as well to help repair muscle tissue that is broken down, especially during the longer runs. You also need adequate amounts of fat, but unsaturated as much as possible.

Mental Preparation
It takes a lot of mental fortitude to get out of the door day after day (especially in poor weather conditions) and go for your required training run. Some things to help are training with a friend or a group with similar goals, taking a couple of days off if you feel down, keeping a positive attitude, and visualizing reaching your goal.

Cross-training
It’s not all about running. It’s about other activities that will help you build endurance and stamina. It will help you also avoid injury.

Without a proper training schedule and without commitment, you will have difficulty reaching your goal. Keep strict to your schedule. When marathon day comes, you’ll be thankful you did when you successfully cross that finish line.

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Take Charge

It’s time to stop dreaming of what could be and take charge of your life. Success will not come to you automatically; you need to do something about it. When we take charge of our lives it frees us up to prosper. Take charge of your life and make the things that you want and your goals happen.

Taking charge is a mindset of positivity. It means that you believe in yourself and your vision and you are committed to taking the steps that will make your vision a reality. There are times when we may actually be unaware that we are not in charge or realize that we can do something about what is not okay with our life. It takes self-awareness to care for self. We have to learn to listen to what we are feeling and then think about how we want to handle the situation.

The ability to have a “can-do, positive attitude” stems from the construct that your thoughts determine your feelings and your behavior. For example, if you think that creating a successful career is hopeless, you probably feel apathetic and scared. Build up your confidence and attitude and you will see the positive flow through all the aspects of your life.

How do you take charge? Here is a strategy you could use.

Firstly, you need to identify what you want to accomplish in your future. Think and visualize your life in 5 to 10 years. You need to have a vision of what you want so that you can start planning and making the decision to move to the destination you desire. You need to have a clear target, know exactly what you want.

Secondly, you need to take actions to make your goals and dreams come true. This may require some extreme changes to your life. Set your sights on your goals and make the changes and take the actions that are required to get you there.

Finally, it is important that you review your goals and dreams constantly while making these changes. This will allow you to stay focused and remind you of the outcome you desire.

To be fully in charge of our life is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. It is worth the lifelong investment to put effort into making it happen. We have the ability to consciously grow so that we can be the person we are capable of being. The result for us will be that we can truly prosper.

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ALS

Thanks to celebrities, social media and news media lately, ALS has really gained some awareness. ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It is a neurodegenerative disease that is rapidly progressive, affecting the nerve cells of the brain and the spinal cord. What happens in ALS is that the nerve cells die and leave voluntary muscles paralyzed. ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player from the New York Yankees who was the first to be diagnosed with this disorder back in 1939. ALS disease is a progressive and fatal disorder, and the most common cause of death among ALS patients is respiratory failure and pneumonia which occurs in two to three years after diagnosis.

Symptoms:

The common and early symptoms of this disease include weakness in the hands or feet, muscle twitching and trouble in swallowing or talking. Other signs include the inability to use the upper and lower extremities and “think speech” or the difficulty of projecting your voice. There will also be fatigability, constant dropping of things, tripping and slurred speech. As the disease progresses, there will be a difficulty in breathing and swallowing, shortness of breath, dementia and paralysis.

Cure:

At present time there is no proper cure for ALS and unfortunately no treatment. Treatment of ALS is symptomatic – the symptoms are the ones being addressed, not the disease itself. Supportive care is what is encouraged with the goal of improving the quality of life. Physical therapy, speech therapy, a diet that provides nutrients needed and eliminates the hazards of choking are the current treatment methods of ALS. A recent medication for ALS is Riluzole which helps in reducing the damage on motor neurons through decreasing the release of glutamate. This will prolong the survival of patients of ALS who have been using it.

ALS can be either periodic or genetic, and more genes are being recognized as likely causes of ALS. The fact is that a person can have the ALS mutation genes, but never get ALS, while a person without any particular gene can be prompted to this disease. Men have a 25% more chance of being diagnosed at an earlier age than women. However, once men and women reach into their 50s, diagnosis is about equal.

Thanks to recent Ice Bucket Challenges ALS has come out of the shadows and is getting the awareness it needs. Do what you can to help support research for a cure. Let’s all help in finding a cure before someone we know and love gets diagnosed with this crippling disease.

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Helicopter Parenting

A helicopter parent is essentially an over protective parent. Our children are our lives. It is our instinct to guide, help and protect them through life. But there is a fine line of protecting too much and allowing your child to learn and experience things for themselves. Helicopter parents will protect their children from any and all potential sources of harm, risk and/or disappointment. It’s where one of the best of intentions can lead to the worst of results.

If a child is not allowed to explore and make mistakes, adequate learning cannot happen. A parent that does all the thinking for a child will produce an adult that will always need the approval of his or her “primary brain” (the parent) and won’t be able to make their own choices and decisions. Helicopter parents believe they are protecting their innocent children from the harshness of the real world. But in reality they are preventing their kids from learning important life lessons and skills and setting them up for future failure and unhappiness.

Self-esteem is one of the most important things a parent can help a child foster. Self-esteem helps determine a child’s future success and ability. Achieving success and happiness is made much easier with good self-esteem.

Helicopter parenting can affect a child’s ability to learn decision making, that there are consequences to their actions and how to deal with rejection.

  1. Decision Making – This is probably one of the most important life skills a person develops. It is something that needs to be developed, learned and perfected. Children who can make their own decisions and are empowered to do so are given the chance to build their self-confidence and esteem.
  2. Consequences – Connected to decision making is learning that there are consequences to our decisions and actions. It is a crucial life lesson. It is during childhood that these crucial life skills are to be learned and developed so that they happen in a nurturing, loving and safe environment. It is better to learn these lessons at a young age where in general the consequences don’t have life-time ramifications.
  3. Dealing with Rejection – Rejection or failure is a part of life. Learning to deal with it and overcoming it are crucial life skills. The sooner a child is able to learn how to deal with rejection, the better they will be able to cope and persevere in life.

As well-intentioned a parent may be, if they are too over protective and hovering, rescuing, and excusing, they are only having a negative impact on their kids. They may find their children will have a deflated self-esteem, difficulty problem-solving, dependency issues, irresponsible behavior, a sense of self entitlement, become self-centered, needy and have a lack of resiliency and persistence. Protect your children, but let them learn for themselves. You’re only helping them become the best person they can be.

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Snacking, Choose Wisely

There is nothing worse than that hungry feeling in between meals. You don’t want to ruin all the hard work in your weight loss program by eating snacks throughout the day. You don’t have to have that feeling, there are lots of healthy snacks for weight loss that are delicious and still nutritious.

A good rule to follow when looking for healthy snack foods is to make sure you look for snacks that are high in protein and contain complex carbohydrates. Protein is critical because it is a primary component of every cell in the human body. The body uses protein to make and mend tissue as well as to reproduce bone, muscle, hair, nail, skin and blood cells. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy and come in two forms, simple and complex. Complex carbohydrates are your better choice, such as whole grains. However, you can choose simple carbohydrates as long as you choose “good” simple carbohydrates, like the ones found in fresh fruits.

It is important to try to keep your snack foods within the range of approximately 100 to 150 calories and not to have them in an amount that would take you over your daily calories count. If you are allowed 1600 calories per day then it is reasonable to have three meals of about 400 calories each and two to three snacks of approximately 100-150 calories each. This should keep you within a calorie count to lose weight and remain on a healthy diet eating plan.

In addition to selecting snacks containing high protein and low carbohydrates, making sure to snack regularly in between meals is vital. It’s a great idea to get in tune with your internal hunger clock; don’t wait until your stomach starts talking to you. Practicing portion control will make snacking more effective for you. Instead of grabbing an entire bag of nuts from the kitchen cabinet, try measuring out the appropriate serving size ahead of time.

Here is a list of some good snack choices.

  • Apple slices
  • Whole grain bread sticks
  • Unsalted rice cakes
  • Baked tortilla chips
  • Nuts (1 ounce or less)
  • Whole grain cereal
  • Fresh fruit
  • Unsweetened canned fruit
  • Baked apple
  • Raisins
  • Frozen grapes
  • Celery
  • Dark chocolate
  • Air popped popcorn
  • Low-fat/fat free fruit yogurt

Eating healthy snack foods is just one part of a health maintenance strategy that should incorporate eating healthy and being active. Talk with your trainer and plan out your meal plan and workout routine.

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Got Bloat?

We’ve all had that feeling of being uncomfortably full. It’s an awful feeling. You’re tired, lethargic, in pain and a lot of times your clothes are too tight. Bloating usually occurs after eating or during menstruation. Flatulence, pain, and overall discomfort are its annoying symptoms. Bloating can be prevented and treated. There are foods that can help decrease bloat in the stomach.

If you want to fight bloating naturally, all you have to do is eat foods that beat bloating and flatten your stomach. And, if you want to do this successfully, first you need to abstain from food or drinks that commonly cause bloating symptoms. Key items you want to avoid are salty foods, alcohol, sugary drinks, carbonated beverages and raw vegetables.

Eating more slowly is essential for the prevention of bloating. When you chew carefully the food in your mouth is processed more effectively so there is less work for the stomach. It is a great idea to devote more time for your meals in order to put this method into action. Also, you might want to keep chewing every bite until you count to 20.

Reducing the size of your portions always helps. Also try to eliminate the appetizer and/or dessert if you plan on having a hearty main course. And reduce the amount and types of side dishes you have.

Here are some foods that you should include in your food plans if you want to beat bloating and clean your system of gas or excessive fluids.

Yogurt
Yogurt has high water content which is good for the body. This probiotic drink contains good bacteria that helps break down food and moderate the gas or fluids that accumulate inside the body. This helps to keep the digestive system in good stead and allows it function without hassles.

Strawberries
Strawberries are great for fighting bloating and help promote digestion because of their high vitamin C content. You can add strawberries to your early morning oatmeal, lunchtime salads or use for dessert after dinner. Strawberries contain natural sugars so do not take them in excess because ironically they can cause stomach bloating too.

Spinach
Spinach enhances the fiber content inside the body and helps us fight bloating. Spinach requires adequate chewing and allows our bodies to ingest certain minerals and vitamins which help us combat acidic indigestion, urinary tract infections and constipation.

Asparagus
Rich in vitamins and minerals, asparagus, like coffee, is a diuretic. The vegetable promotes the growth of “good” bacteria in the intestines. The “good” bacteria acts to reduce build-up of stomach gas, reducing bloating.

Pineapples
Pineapples contain plenty of water which is capable of flushing out excessive fluids or gas from the body. Also, pineapples contain enzymes which helps facilitate the digestion of protein. Pineapples are made up of over 85% of water and contain bromelain which deals with complicated stomach problems or issues.

Bran Cereals
Cereals are semi-solids and move through the intestines rapidly. Because they comprise of high fiber they fight constipation and bloating. Women should ingest at least 25g of bran cereal every day.

Coffee
Coffee will tame bloating. Besides being a stimulant, coffee is a natural diuretic riding the body of excess water, one of the causes of bloating.

Eating the right food and keeping away from the wrong foods will help fight the uncomfortable feeling of bloating. Mixed in with a regular exercise routine, it’s a win, win and you’ll feel better all around.

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Too Much TV

Kids love to watch television. They can become engrossed in it, and if we’re not careful it can take over their lives. Children can become too addicted to it that they will avoid meals, throw a tantrum if taken away from it, and even believe that what they see on TV is real life. It can be very scary if limits aren’t established in the household.

Television isn’t bad. There are many positive reasons to have it on in your home. When your children are young, the shows that they watch are useful for teaching and for their development. They teach our kids how to count, spell, language and especially certain life skills, such as, manners and politeness. They also show values such as love, what is right and wrong, and trust.

As parents we need to set specific times for watching television. Some kids turn the television on as soon as they get in the house after school. On weekends it may also be the first thing to do as soon as they get out of bed. If left unregulated, TV can take over your child’s life.

During the week, television viewing should be kept to a maximum of two to two and a half hours. Focus on getting your kids involved in other things when they come home, finishing homework and chores, helping out with dinner, taking the dog out for a walk, or playing outside with friends are all great ways to keep your kids busy and away from the television set.

Try turning off the TV during dinner, use this time as family time. It’s a way to communicate with the family and take interest in what happens in their lives every day. Maybe something really exciting and out of the ordinary happened that you now get the opportunity to hear about. We sometimes miss out on getting to know each other if we don’t spend time talking to one another.

Obesity and being overweight is becoming more of a problem in our kids today. Sitting and watching TV hours on end cause over-eating. With over-eating and the sedentary behavior it is a recipe for unhealthy living. By turning the TV off and giving them this time to get outside and do something active can help eliminate this issue.

Television is meant to be entertaining, but not to take over your life. Children need to be active and not sedentary. Regulate the amount of TV time for your kids and promote outdoor or other mental development games and exercises. After all, real life is much more interesting than anything on TV anyway.

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