Boost Your Immune System
With the change of season come several elements that may affect your body if your immune system is not working properly.
Disorders in the immune system can result in dangerous health conditions like infections that can be easily prevented by following a handful of tips to boost it:
- Exercise. It is the simplest way to keep your body moving and it costs nothing. Exercise helps strengthen your immune system and prevents overweight, another important factor in the development of chronic disease.
- Lower your intake of sugar and fat. Consuming too much sugar or fat suppresses the cells that fight bacteria. Instead, it is recommended you eat foods with high nutrient content like vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
- Reduce your stress. Even though short-term stress may boost the immune system, constant stress has the opposite effect and exposes the body to cortisol and adrenaline, which suppress the immune system proper functioning.
- Be social. Wether you interact with a small or large group of people, being in contact with others will help make your immune system much stronger.
- Eat antioxidants. A diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants will help fight infection. To get enough of this in your diet expert recommend eating an abundance of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, like berries, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots.
- Adequate rest. Simply put, fatigue increases your susceptibility to illness. Most adults need from 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.
- Practice relaxation techniques. Laughing and meditation are the easiest way to reduce stress levels. Who wants to be on edge all the time?
PDF Fennel, More Than A Kitchen Companion
Fennel has been a long culinary companion for most of us, but did you know it also has several medicinal properties? Its cultivation is not reduced to a particular area, and can be found in many regions including Europe, Asia, North American and Australia.
Fennel contains anethole, which could explain its medicinal effects:
- Fennel tea, made by pouring boiling water on bruised fennel seeds, has been used throughout history to help indigestion, reduce infant bloating and to improve the lymphatic system.
- The tea can also be used as a breath freshener and applied as an eye wash.
- Ancients also used syrup made from fennel juice to alleviate chronic cough and fed fennel tea to nursing mothers to increase the flow of milk.
- There are studies that show fennel can be a very effective diuretic and a potential drug for treatment of hypertension.
Fennel Essential Oil can also assist on physical matters, keeping the mind stable and functional, yet uplifted. Try it for yourself.
Stop Stressing! Three Fast Ways to Chill Out
Massage At Work was recently featured in Lauren Levinson’s article for Real Beauty.
Three Fast Ways to Chill Out give tips to lower your stress by targeting three pressure points in your head: cheeks, nose and temples.
Read the whole article following the link to Real Beauty website and magnify your potential with a stress-free day.
Salt Therapy for a Healthy Body
Salt is essential for keeping the body running properly and for good health.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed saltwater inhalation therapy for bronchial and lung disorders.
The National Academy of Sciences recommends that Americans consume a minimum of 500 mg/day of sodium to maintain good health. Individual needs, however, vary enormously based a person’s genetic make-up and their lifestyle. Nowadays, more people are rediscovering and enjoying the benefits of salt therapy.
When shopping for culinary or bath salt, it is important to find the words “all natural” on the packaging and avoid highly refined salts, for they are bleached and chemically treated.
In its natural form Salt is an easily processed nutrient that influences the body in three distinct ways:
- Reduces stress. Unrefined salt is rich in calcium and magnesium, the latter being a key mineral to keep the body free of stress.
- Improves overall health. Salt helps carry nutrients into the cells and regulates several body functions, including bolstering the immune system and enabling healthy digestion. It also has a large variety of minerals needed for optimal health, many of which are missing from our daily diet.
- Assists in detoxifying the body. Salt baths with warm water help open the pores, allowing toxins to be released and permuting the body absorb minerals.
Most of our salt comes from foods, some from water. Doctors often recommend replacing water and salt lost in exercise and when working outside. And just like with everything in our life, balance is crucial for optimum results.
Drink Water, stay healthy in winter time
Most of us run a very hectic lifestyle and sometimes forget to balance our diet.
The one thing that should never be absent in your daily routine is water.
An average adult’s body contains the equivalent of 45 quarters of water, and through normal activities loses two to three quarters each day,
It is as easy to get dehydrated in winter as during summer time. You may not be sweating but water vapor is still being lost through your breath. The colder it gets outside, the harder is it for the body to maintain a 98.6 degree temperature. Producing that extra energy requires extra water. Drinking at least 70 ounces of water a day will help you stay warm.
Dehydration can cause exhaustion, muscle fatigue, cramps, loss of coordination and even a stroke. A dehydrated person is also more susceptible to winter colds and flu.
Remember not only to carry your gloves and hat to keep your outer body warm, but to also have some water handy to keep your organism running smoothly.
Share the benefits of cranberries this Holiday
This week most of us will breathe cranberries and turkey during the Thanksgiving celebrations, but did you know that cranberries, besides being a delicious side dish are also great source of Vitamin C, dietary fiber and the dietary mineral manganese?
Cranberries are a fruit and native plant of North America. Our Native Americans were the first to use them as food, and their health benefits have been greatly advertised.
Many believe that drinking a glass of fresh cranberry juice after an intense workout helps your body replenish vitamins, minerals and the fruit’s natural sugars will aide the muscles recover and contributes to the body overall growth.
Cranberries also have the ability to prevent peptic ulcer by inhibiting the adhesion of bacteria to certain areas of the stomach lining, Some laboratory researches have shown that consumption of cranberry juice may also be beneficial against bacterial infections in the urinary system.
So on this holiday times eat moderately and enjoy the benefits of one of America’s favorite foods.
Refresh your life with Pomegranate
November is National Pomegranate Month.
Pomegranate is not only a fruit famous for its meaning (“apple of murderous seeds”) but also valued since ancient times for its household and its medicinal properties.
Pomegranate is a rich source of Vitamin B5 and Potassium, and its edible seeds contain high concentrations of fiber and unsaturated oil.
To choose a juicy sweet pomegranate it should be an unblemished fruit that feels heavy in the hand. The larger the fruit, the better developed and sweeter the flesh inside.
Making pomegranate juice is very simple, just requires a little patience:
- After carefully scoring the fruit with a knife, separate the seeds (arils) from the white membrane with your fingers.
- Be careful not to get the juice on your clothes because it stains.
- Put the fleshy seeds into a extractor or blender, process, strain and then refrigerate or freeze.
You may want to try mixing pomegranate juice with other beverages for a nutritious drink, or spice it up with spirits for refreshing results.
American Heart Month – 3 Tips To Stay Heart Healthy
President Obama has officially named February as the American Heart Month. Heart disease is the top reason for cause of death in American women and men. Every 1 in 3 people are living with a heart health problem. This is a great time to raise awareness with your family and friends to start living a healthy lifestyle and improve their heart health.
Here are 3 easy actions you can take every day to help keep your heart strong and won’t feel like huge impossible changes:
1. Eat a heart healthy diet
Use more olive oil, garlic, and eat more fish like salmon to get a dose of omega-3 fatty acids while you limit your intake of fried foods/fast food and sugar like sodas, cookies, cakes.
2. Exercise regularly
Doing 30 minute exercise sessions 3-4 times a week can help lower your risk of heart disease.
3. Live a healthy lifestyle
Not only will exercise and a healthy diet help you live longer but staying away from smoking, monitoring alcohol intake, trying to reduce stress and anxiety and monitoring your weight all contribute to your heart health.
Incorporate these 3 changes into your life to help keep your heart strong. Staying healthy not only benefits you but your family and friends, too.
Add Some Ginger to Your Life for a BOOST
Fight off colds this season by incorporating ginger into your diet. It’s an “herb” with strong flavor that is unmistakable AND has medicinal properties.
Ginger has been used for several health properties for hundreds of years in many different cultures. Some of the benefits include:
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Calm nausea and motion sickness
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Aid digestion
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Increase blood circulation
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Lower cholesterol
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Boost the immune system and
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Acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
