Monday, May 9, 2016
Stay Healthy and Prevent Cancer
Stay Healthy and Prevent Cancer
Did you know that 50% of serious disease or illness could be prevented if people chose healthier lifestyles? That includes cancer. There are six simple ways that you can reduce your risk of developing cancer or other serious conditions. Now is a good time “own” your health.1. Maintain a Proper Body Weight
Keeping off those extra pounds isn’t always easy, but it is definitely worth your time. Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of developing cancer. Integrate movement into your life. Walk rather than talking the elevator, park further away, get 30 minutes of exercise daily, and walk 10,000 steps per day. Eat a diet that is packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember calories in needs to equal calories out if you want to maintain your weight. If you want to lose weight then you will have eat less or exercise more to burn calories.2. Don’t Smoke
One of the best things you can do for your health is to quit smoking. It’s hard – anyone that has quit knows that, but they will also tell you how much better they feel. Don’t give up - if you fail the first time, try again and again. Get involved in a stop smoking program through your workplace if they offer one. Never smoke in the car or house where others will be exposed to second hand smoke.3. Drink in Moderation
Moderate drinking can help your heart and reduce your risk of developing some forms of cancer. If you do not currently drink, there is no need to start. Men should have no more than two drinks a day and women no more than one drink a day. Try to avoid situations that are centered around alcohol, choose non-alcoholic beverages at parties and meals, and if you feel you have an alcohol problem be sure to talk to a professional.4. Sun Protection
The warmth of the sun feels so good. Most of us look forward to those days. But without proper skin protection with sunscreen, we put ourselves at risk of developing skin cancer. Be sure to always wear protection. Use sunscreen with a rating of 15 SPF or higher, wear a hat, use long sleeves, don’t stay in the sun too long, and avoid the use of tanning beds.5. Protect Yourself from Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases like HPV are directly linked to certain cancers such as cervical cancers. Make sure to always practice safe sex by using a condom. Don’t rely on your partner for protection. Take your health into your own hands.
Living Healthy Doesn’t Have to Cost You More
Living Healthy Doesn’t Have to Cost You More
These are tough economic times and money is tight. You may be thinking that you will need to give up the healthy lifestyle you’ve been living. Yes, it might cost more for you to eat organic, and a gym membership might be an expense you will need to avoid, but wait, because here are some great tips to help you save tons of money and continue to enjoy your healthy lifestyle.
If you want to save money on your organic food purchases choose organically grown, rather than certified organic. There are tons of farmers who grow organic but who chose not to endure the cost and red tape of becoming certified. You can save as much as 50% by simply buying organic. In addition, you can save more by not buying organic for fruits and vegetable that have a protective layer like bananas or watermelon, or with foods that aren’t generally sprayed with pesticides.
Taking advantage of discounts and coupons can be very helpful in saving money. Seek out coupons/discounts specific to what you want. There are excellent websites to find coupon codes. You can save as much as 20%. Buy the smallest size that’s permitted with the coupon to maximize your savings.
If your gym membership is a cost you can’t afford, you can still get a great workout. Bootcamps are regularly held outside in group settings and require minimal equipment. They are also very cheap and in an hour you can burn as many as 600 calories so excellent value for your money. You can also take up walking as your exercise program. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes or runners and you can stay in shape. If you have a Wii, another option is to use Wii Fit to stay in shape. If you don’t have a Wii you can buy a used one for a fraction of the cost of new.
You can also consider setting up your own home gym if you have the space. Used equipment can be found in places like Craigslist and often it’s free. All you have to do is pickup the equipment.
If you need prescription drugs, you can save a little here too. Sign up and participate in a prescription saving program. The enrollment fees are usually low and renew annually that then discount your drugs. Shop around and compare prices among pharmacies. For example, Wal-Mart has some of the lowest pricing.
That’s just a few examples of how you can live healthy even when money is tight. What you need to do is think outside the box and get a little creative!
Physical Activity Plays Key Role in Healthy Living
Physical Activity Plays Key Role in Healthy Living
Research has shown that physical activity helps us to live a healthier longer life, and physical inactivity leads to premature aging, chronic disease, disability, and earlier death. None of us wants to be one of those statistics, yet when we try to integrate physical activity into our lives, many of us fail.
There are a number of reasons why failure occurs. Finding the time to exercise is a very common complaint. Losing motivation is also a common reason why a person starts to exercise and then quits before long. There are ways to combat how you get past your physical activity block, and it is important that you do so.
Physical activity does so much more than keep you fit. It is an excellent stress reliever and in today’s world where most of us are carrying excess stress, this is a great way to help you reduce or eliminate that stress.
Physical activity also increases your energy. Initially you may find you are tired after your workout, but over time if you stick with it, you will discover that you actually look forward to your workout because it energizes you. This is also why so many fitness trainers recommend you workout before you head off to work.
Your heart and lungs are strengthened through exercise, your blood pressure is reduced, weight loss occurs, muscles are toned, and your overall health benefits so that you can look forward to living longer in a healthy state where you can enjoy life.
What to Do?
When we talk about exercising most people’s minds jump to the gym. But there are many things you can do besides heading to the gym.
* Go for a 30 minute walk daily
* Use stairs rather than the elevator
* Spend more time moving and less time in front of your TV or computer
* Play with your kids – it will get you moving
* Go for a bike ride
* Look for cycling or walking paths in your neighborhood
* Go for a jog
* Go to the gym
* Get involved with Zoomba, Nia, or Yoga
There you have it – there are many ways that you can get involved and exercise. You don’t even have to spend any money on memberships if you don’t want to. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do just as long as you get up and get moving. You will enjoy the benefits almost immediately and for years to come.
Let’s look at some things to nurture your mind and spirit
Let’s look at some things to nurture your mind and spirit
1. Take a job you love. You spend nearly one-third of your life at work. Don’t spend it somewhere you hat because it will affect all other aspects of your life.
2. If you have a dream follow it. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you missed out on your opportunity. You live once, follow your dreams.
3. Make sure that you make time to socialize with friends, colleagues, and family. Socializing is very important to our well being. In fact, research has shown that a strong social network can actually reduce, even prevent, illness, and it eases stress.
4. Take time off. Make use of your vacation time, don’t skip it. Breaks every few months help to keep you energized and fresh. Even if you don’t go anywhere and simply spend the time at home.
5. When it comes to nurturing your spirit, if you feel like crying then cry, and do remember to laugh – in fact, laugh a lot it’s very healthy for your spirit.
6. Make sure you make time for yourself. A recent study showed people with a packed social calendar are more likely to become sick. Make sure you take one day a week for yourself to unwind.
7. The internet is a great form of entertainment and social media allows us to constantly be in touch with friends and family, but too much internet is bad for you. It can actually leave you feeling lonely and isolated, so limit your time online.
8. Exercising regularly will nourish your body and your mind. Just 30 minutes a day can help to keep you fit and reduce your stress, clearing your mind, and energizing you.
When you are looking to live a healthy life, always remember to include mind, body, and spirit.
How to Add 20 Years to Your Life
How to Add 20 Years to Your Life
What if you could add 20 years to your life without doing anything difficult? Would you do it? Let’s have a look at some five simple ways you can do just that.
1. Make sure to stay on top of your health – that means being preventative and having regular checkups and screenings. Being aware of family history that increases your risk of certain conditions and making sure that you stay on top of any tests or screenings you should have.
2. If you are prescribed medication take it – It is estimated around 25% of people do not take their medications as they should. If you have questions about your prescriptions talk to your pharmacist, if you find you need to take too many pills then talk to your doctor, and if you cannot afford your prescription be honest with your doctor they may be able to help.
3. Being a geek is good – A recent study conducted by Rush University Medical Center (Chicago) found those that spend time doing activities that stimulate the brain such as puzzle solving or listening to music reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 50%.
4. Home safety checks are important – Every year thousands upon thousands of people dies as a result of home accidents. Smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors that don’t work, loose hand railings, poorly built decks, etc.
5. Adopt a four legged creature – Did you know that having a pet in your life can add an additional two years to your life. Pets, particularly cats and dogs, are known to lower your blood pressure and your heart rate. The Long Life Equation said, that a study done in 2002 found that those who suffered from a heart attack and had a dog, were six times more likely to be alive one year later than those who did not have a dog.
There you have it – five simple things you can do that could add 20 years to your life. Of course, there are many other things such as eating healthy, not smoking, getting regular exercise, learning to handle your stress, learning how to breathe properly, being employed where you are happy, and numerous other things. Live your life, be happy, and make sure when you increase your longevity those extra years are healthy years that you can enjoy. What are you waiting for? Now’s the perfect time to implement a few changes!
Healthy Living Through the Mind Body and Spirit
We talk about living healthy, yet we often overlook the importance of our mind and spirit in our overall well-being. We focus on eating right and exercising to improve our health, but we don’t stop to think about nourishing our minds and our spirit.
Research has shown that providing nourishment to your mind and spirit reduces stress, improves your relationships, lifts your mood, and protects your health. It’s important to recognize that mind, body, and spirit are not independent of each other. So by taking care of your spirit your body and mind benefit too.
Healthy Living Begins With Your Mental Health
Healthy Living Begins With Your Mental Health
We spend a great deal of time trying to make sure we are living a healthy lifestyle so that we can enjoy life to its fullest all the while overlooking our mental health, specifically the stress in our lives.
Many of us think we are coping with the stress in our lives, when actually we are not. Stress affects us in many ways. Our bodies experience stress and then they react to it. Not all stress is bad, some is good. For example, having a baby can be stressful but it’s a good stress. That said, most of us have a lot of negative stress following us.
Stress is a normal body response to events where a person feels threatened. When you body perceives a threat your nervous system responds flooding your body with stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). Your heart pounds, your breath quickens, your senses sharpen. The sense of danger can be real or imagined, but the body’s defense system kicks into gear – the fight or flight response. This response helps you to remain focused, energized, and able to respond to the challenge at hand. Stress beyond a certain point is not helpful and can damage your health, your relationships, your mood, your productivity, and your quality of life.
Stress can cause many physical symptoms such as upset stomach, headache, chest pain, high blood pressure, and sleep problems. It can also cause some disease symptoms to worsen.
Consider the following stats:
1. 43% of all adults will suffer adverse health effects as a result of stress
2. 75% to 90% of all doctors visits are stress related
3. OSHA has declared stress a workplace hazard costing American industry more than $300 billion dollars annually
4. 50% of emotional disorders are the result of stress that went untreated
It is important that you learn to recognize when stress is out of control in your life. The most dangerous thing is stress that creeps up and builds. You get used to being stressed, it feels normal, and you don’t recognize the heavy toll it is taking on you.
Stress affects your mind and body, and it can shorten your life, so make sure you can recognize it and you deal with it.
Cognitive Symptoms include memory issues, poor judgment, unable to concentrate, and feeling anxious or constantly worrying. Emotional symptoms include moodiness, feeling overwhelmed, feeling lonely or isolated, and unhappy. Physical symptoms include aches and pains, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, rapid heartbeat. Finally, behavioral symptoms include sleeping too little/too much, isolating yourself, eating too much/too little, procrastinating, using alcohol or drugs to relax, and nervous habits like pacing.
Take stress seriously. Make sure you learn to handle your stress. Your mental health and your physical health are important to living a healthy life.
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