Rising healthcare costs, distrust of pharmaceutical companies, and the “fix-it when illness develops” approach not working, is leading many Americans to look for more natural ways to maintain good health – not only their physical health, but mental and spiritual as well.
This infographic shows how more Americans are turning to holistic healthcare and why:
Most people think they are fit – at least somewhat fit anyway. But are we really? There are some very easy and simple fitness tests that you can do to see whether you are fit or not fit. Ready to try them out?
1. Are you still energized after 14 hours?
After a long day, do you still feel energized or are you sitting in your chair dozing off? If you are fit, you should still be active and alert at 9 PM if you woke up at 7 AM. If not, you can blame your over sedentary lifestyle.
So what to do? Exercise, sleep and reducing stress are important in fighting fatigue.
2. Are you able to carry large water or milk containers without feeling the strain?
Are your arms pretty strong? What about your shoulders, back, chest and knees? Let’s find out! Take two one-gallon jugs of milk or water and carry them – do you feel the strain? If so, this means a lack of strength and makes you more vulnerable as you get older to injury, as well as issues with arthritis, osteoporosis, and even dementia or depression.
It’s a fact that if a strength training program is put into place for 16 weeks, older adults with arthritis can lower their pain levels by as much as 43 percent.
Were you able to carry this weight without effort? Good news – you’re fit!
3. Are you able to jump up and down without your heart racing?
Yes? Then you have good cardiovascular fitness and a controlled heart rate. No? Then you should enroll in a fitness class; one that focuses on endurance and lowering your resting heart rate. Interval training is a great way to boost your endurance.
4. Okay this one is going to sound odd but can you trim your toenails standing up?
Can you do it without feeling any discomfort? Ah, so now you realize how inflexible you really are. This is something you can work on. Take a yoga class to help ward off osteoporosis and arthritis. As we age, it’s very important to be able to stretch without pain.
5. Without moving your feet, can you twist and look behind you?
This movement tests your core strength and flexibility. Both of these are essential for strong, healthy, pain free backs.
So how did you do? If you passed all the tests then congratulations – keep doing what you’re doing! For those who failed, find a good gym, take a yoga class or just get out and walk for 30 minutes a day.
I would love to hear from our readers, so tell me how you did. Were you able to perform each task or did you have difficulty with some of them?
Connect with me on Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – LinkedIn – YouTube – Pinterest
Join me and other amazing speakers on The Self-Care Revolution
Find answers to your health care questions at Santa Fe Soul
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is taking time to walk through my local farmers market. There is something about it that is relaxing. It also allows me to choose the best organic produce for my family and indulge in trying new items or preparing them in different ways.
If you’ve never shopped at a farmers market, it can be a little overwhelming so I’ve put together a few tips to help you make the most of your visit:
• Note the hours and dates of your local market on your calendar. Set reminders on your smartphone that will alert you when favorite items such as tomatoes, peas, beans and strawberries come into season.
• Prepare your refrigerator and kitchen for the season’s harvest. Clean out your fridge’s produce drawer, and stock up on items that complement fresh produce, such as salad dressings and seasonings that can be used to turn basic veggies into delicious meals.
• While farmer’s market vendors will almost certainly have plastic bags on hand, take your own reusable bags or baskets to carry your purchase – they’re better for Mother Nature. If you’ll be buying perishable items, consider packing a cooler as well. Remember to place heavier items (like melons) on the bottom of the bag and lighter ones (such as berries) on top.
• You’ll find the freshest produce and best selection early in the day. Setting your alarm to wake you a bit early could ensure you get the pick of the day’s produce.
• Leave the $20 and $50 bills at home. Smaller bills will provide you with greater buying flexibility, and vendors will appreciate the change.
• Scope out the entire market before you begin making purchases. Certain popular items, such as tomatoes, cantaloupe, melons, peas and potatoes will be available from multiple vendors. Strolling through the market first will allow you to compare prices and taste samples to ensure you’re picking the best and most delicious buys for your family.
• Unpack bags as soon as you’re home and store each item appropriately. Create a menu plan for the week that incorporates everything you’ve purchased to help ensure nothing goes to waste. Don’t forget to incorporate snacks into your meal plan.
Connect with me on Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – LinkedIn – YouTube – Pinterest
Join me and other amazing speakers on The Self-Care Revolution
Find answers to your health care questions at Santa Fe Soul
We either live to work or work to live. Either way there are some frightening side effects no matter which side we land on, and it is affecting our day-to-day health in ways we have yet to understand.
Let’s take a look at why work stress keep our bodies in a constant “fight or flight” mode:
You get sick a lot
Do you get sick a lot? It’s sad to say, but 26% of you will still go to the office even when you’re sick, and another 34% of you continue to go until you feel the full effects of your symptoms. The problem increases exponentially in an office environment because you’re not the only one sick. Studies show that there are over 500 types of bacteria found in offices because people wait until the last symptom strikes before heading home.
There is also another very real factor: “Sick Building Syndrome” which the EPA warns against. If you have consistent symptoms such as headaches, sore throats, fatigue, dizziness and nausea and your physician cannot pinpoint the cause – you might be suffering from sick building syndrome.
You are putting on more fat
Studies now show that when you sit for hours on end, your metabolic functions significantly decrease. What that means is, you are burning much less calories. The consequences of this are obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and the list goes on.
Special note to women: For those of you who sit more than six hours a day, you have a 40% higher chance of dying younger than those who sit less than three hours a day.
You have back, shoulder and neck pain
New findings show that standing all day is bad for your health too but sitting over a computer with your shoulders hunched all day can lead to chronic back, shoulder, neck and wrist problems. Talk about confusing! So what do you do? There are best practices to follow when sitting at your desk to help minimize these issues and find maximum comfort:
First, when you are sitting comfortably, pull up to the edge of your work surface and look straight ahead. What you see is your optimal viewing zone, and things that you look at during work (computer screen, documents etc.) should be in or close to this zone.
Next, reach each arm out to the side of your body and move them from this position until the hands meet at the center of your body in front of you. The semi-circular area covered by the sweep of your arms is called your normal reach zone, and everything that you frequently use should be placed inside of or close to this area. You should not have to bend or stretch to reach things that you frequently use.
Then, relax your upper arms down to the side of your body. Using your elbows as pivot points, swing your forearms out to each side and then move them together until your hands touch in the center of your body in front of you. The area covered by the sweep of your forearms looks like that area covered by your windshield wipers, and it is called your normal working area. Things that you operate with your hands, such as your keyboard and mouse, should be placed in this area and positioned for optimum comfort.
You are ruining your eyes
Do you constantly stare at your monitor without looking elsewhere? Has it affected your vision? You may be suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome. Yep, this is a real disorder and is associated with a number of vision problems of varying nature such as dry eyes, blurred vision and the like. Headaches, aching shoulders and neck pain are included in the symptoms. You can help ease these symptoms by looking away from your computer screen at least once an hour.
You are feeling the stress
For most of you, it is stressing you out big time! Work is listed as a main source of stress by three-quarters of Americans – that’s a lot! They suffer from physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, nausea and emotional outbursts of anger as well as lowering their productivity.
It’s a fact, the more work stress you have, the higher your risk for illness and injury. The American Institute of Stress shows even more startling facts about the affects of stress.
Stress has also been a known damaging factor in our relationships. Sixty-one percent of women have stated that their jobs have a negative impact on their relationships. The average for men is much higher – seventy-nine percent state that work stress is a major factor in destroyed relationships.
So what do we do about it? I’ll discuss that in my next blog…
Source: www.cosmopolitan.com – www.stress.org
Connect with me on Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – LinkedIn – YouTube – Pinterest
Join me and other amazing speakers on The Self-Care Revolution
Find answers to your health care questions at Santa Fe Soul
Read Previous Post
Read Previous Post
Read Previous Post
Read Previous Post