My love affair with Tea!

Sodas can have some serious negative effects on your body when consumed regularly and I really want to take steps to a healthier lifestyle. I’ve actually succeeded at cutting soda out and I’ll tell you why...

I treat myself to tea.

I think we all like to be treated to something special. When I would bring a soda or an energy drink to work I felt like it was a special treat to myself; a pick-me-up for the long work day. When my heart started to flutter from drinking too many energy drinks I decided to stop and stop fast.

My treasured Finding Nemo thermos

Now, instead of bringing sodas or energy drinks to work I brew myself my own cup of green tea every morning with a spoonful of local honey. It's healthier, cheaper and with still enough caffeine (you can also get decaffeinated) to brighten your day.

Plain tea can be a healthful, calorie-free beverage, but be careful how much cream, sugar, and flavorings you add into your cup, add too many and your once-healthful drink becomes a rich dessert. I favor natural honey because unlike processed sugar and artificial sweeteners, honey is antioxidant rich and does your body good while taking the edge off your tea.

Laboratory studies suggest that tea may reduce cholesterol levels, help prevent blood clotting, lower the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and even fight inflammation, cancer, and seasonal allergies.

Also ladies, studies suggest these possible health benefits specifically for women:


• Black and green tea may lower risk for ovarian cancer.

• Green tea may reduce breast cancer risk.

There are several different teas to choose from, each one delicious and beneficial in it's own right. Try them out!

Apples = amazing

I am going to take a moment of your time to gush about apples.

Fall brings the season of apples, apples are plentiful this time of year and one of the reasons I love this season. Apples are my favorite fruit. Why? They are easy to find, easy to serve, always affordable and extremely good for you.

Apples are packed full of antioxidants and a fiber called Pectin. Pectin is a soluble, fermentable and viscous fiber; a combination with a huge number of health benefits.

• The free-radical fighting power of the natural antioxidants found in an apple help prevent aging effects and breakdown of the brain; reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Red apples contain an antioxidant called Quercetin that can help boost and fortify your immune system; reducing the risk of sickness.
• Several compounds found within the apple’s peel and in the apple itself help prevent the growth activity of cancer cells in areas such as the liver, colon and breast.
• The fiber in apples lowers cholesterol by binding with fats in the intestines and passing it out of the bodies’ system. In slowing the build up of cholesterol and preventing the cholesterol in your system from solidifying, the fiber in apples also helps keep the arteries and heart cleaner and reduces the risk of heart disease.
• The fiber in apples will help you maintain weight by filling you up without costing too many calories.
• Biting and chewing on apples stimulates saliva production in the mouth. Saliva reduces tooth decay by lowering levels of bacteria.

This is only a short list of the benefits of apples. I could go on longer than you dare to read. Suffice to say, they are incredibly good for you and it is very true that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

How do you consume apples?

I like to eat them cut into small pieces for easy snacking (better than chips while you're gaming!). When I feel more ambitious I will cook them with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top or convert them into homemade applesauce. And then there is the always amazing fresh apple cider…or any apple cider for that matter.

Walking for aerobics

I love walking.

That’s my aerobic exercise, walking. Adding aerobic exercise or “cardio” to your workout routine has numerous health benefits including building endurance and strengthening your heart, reducing the risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure. Aerobic workouts also help you burn calories and lose weight. Other forms of aerobic exercise include but are not limited to jogging, running, cycling, swimming, and so on.

Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity. You should be able to carry out short conversations while doing aerobic exercise. If you are having trouble getting enough air while you’re talking, you are most likely performing anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise is medium to high intensity exercise that concentrates on building strength, speed and power. In some cases anaerobic exercise occurs simultaneously with aerobic exercise.

I carry stress in the muscles surrounding and associated with my spine, when affected I get incredibly tense and painful. Sometimes I’ve had to start walking slow until the muscles start to relax and pick up speed as I go. No matter how I feel when I first start walking, I always feel great when I’m finished. I suggest cardio for at least 20 to 30 minutes three to five times a week.

Take a look at this amazing infographic created by everybodywalk.org …

Visit www.everybodywalk.org!

Water, water everywhere

The human body needs water to remain healthy and functional. Our bodies use water in their cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because our bodies lose water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water we need depends on a variety of factors, including the climate we live in, how physically active we are, and whether we are experiencing an illness or have any other health problems.

We all know it’s healthy, we all know we need to drink it, but quite often we shirk it off for tastier and less healthy beverages like soda, alcohol or sweetened tea and juices. Drinking water is a good habit, a habit that can be learned, and it comes with some pretty powerful benefits.

• Water is one of the best tools for weight loss. It can replace high-calorie drinks like soda, juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. It’s also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs and no sugar. Drink plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.
• Drinking a good amount of water could support heart health, by affecting factors such as the thickness of blood and plasma. In fact, a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that subjects who drink five or more glasses of water per day have half the risk of fatal coronary heart disease compared with those who drink less than two glasses of water each day.
• Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired -- even mild dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of your body weight. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated -- and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.
• Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. Often when we suffer headaches it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one and upping your intake of water could lead to less.
• Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. A week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.
• Our digestive systems need water to digest food properly. Water can often help cure stomach acid problems, and water along with fiber can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration).
• Water flushes out toxins and waste products from the body, leaving your system cleansed and much healthier. The elimination of these toxins and waste can also contribute to weight loss.
• Related to the digestive system item above, drinking a healthy amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.
• Being dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic activities, by slowing you down and making it harder to lift weights. Exercise requires additional water, so be sure to hydrate before, during and after exercise.

Starting a good habit is easy. Continuing that good habit until it becomes second nature, not so much. Always carry a water bottle with you and keep drinking. Replace other beverages you normally drink with water. Give yourself a goal of how much you would like to drink per day and improve upon it.

Happy drinking!