Self-Improvement | Good Nutrition | The Self Improvement Blog

Food, Nutrition & Health – The Connection Revealed

March 8, 2012 By Admin 1 Comment

“Food, glorious food! Hot sausage and mustard!” So the urchins sang in the musical “Oliver!” Food certainly plays a major role in our lives. It can do far more than give us energy… it can help us feel good, it can enhance our social lives, it’s the centerpiece of many holidays and social traditions. It can be very pleasurable!

Pleasurable yes! Healthy, not always. So what is the basic purpose of food and how does it affect our health?

The basic purpose of food is to provide nutrients to the body so that it can function. Certain nutrients are necessary to combine with oxygen to create energy for physical activity and for all internal functions, including repairing and building cell tissue.

But food and nutrition don’t always go “hand in hand.” And without nutrition, the body can’t function its best. Health and energy ultimately suffer.

Definition of Nutrition

Nutrition simply means something that nourishes. To nourish means “to feed or sustain with substances necessary to life and growth.” Not everything that is called “food” contains nourishment! And just because a product has a nutrition facts label, that is no guarantee that there’s any nutrition in it. That’s why “junk food” is called “junk” – because it has a lot of calories but no real nourishment – no nutritional value!

Nutrition: Macronutrients and Micronutrients

The nutrients that the body needs for energy and to provide the building material for cells, tissues, muscles, bones, hormones, etc. etc. (all physical structure and bodily processes) are broken into two categories: Macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients are called “macro” (meaning “large”) because they form the largest percentage of the nutrients the body needs to function. The macronutrients are:

Carbohydrate
Fats (also called lipids)
Protein and
Water

Micronutrients are called “micro” (meaning “small”) because they are needed by the body in very small quantities. The micronutrients are:

Vitamins
Minerals

The body needs all of these nutrients in balanced quantities to achieve good physical health and to operate at its best.

Food and nutrition

Before the advent of convenience and fast foods, food and nutrition wasn’t an issue. Food WAS nutritious! Interesting how there are now epidemics of diabetes, obesity and many other health problems since the nutritional quality of our food supply has deteriorated. Food processing to the degree that is found in fast foods and convenience foods not only robs food of most of its nutritional value, but the pesticides, preservatives and additives that can be found in processed food is toxic to the body.

Food, nutrition and health

Learning the basic facts about the nutrition (or not) in food and how it contributes to health (or doesn’t) is probably the smartest thing someone could do to improve their health and energy. Believe me, there are truckloads of false data and myths about food and nutrition that keep people from enjoying better health and vitality.

Food manufacturers with their slick marketing and advertising make matters worse! It appeals to our taste buds and emotions, but processed food eaten on a regular basis, as most Americans do at this point in time, takes a serious toll on health and energy.

The person who said “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was not kidding!

B. B. Martin is passionate about health education. Her research and writing to help educate others comes from her personal need for useful information on how to improve her own health and energy levels.

For more in depth understanding of the relationship between food, nutritition and health, check out the articles at http://www.improving-health-and-energy.com/food-nutrition-health.html

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Tips For A Healthy Christmas

December 18, 2011 By Admin Leave a Comment

By Mark Warrington -

It’s almost the time of year where everyone gets home to spend the holidays with their family. This is also the season where we love to stay warm and eat the Christmas treats that are set on the table. The spending-time-with-the-family thing is indeed very joyous, but eating a lot of sweets and fatty foods coupled with the lazy cold weather? It is such a weight gaining avenue. While everyone wants to enjoy the holidays without having to add several pounds to their weight, here are some tips on how to have a healthy Christmas this year.

Eat, Eat, and Eat Healthily. Since Christmas time is never allowed to pass without having sumptuous meals, you might as well eat of what they are eating also. There is no need to miss out. However, you can have smaller portions or just a little bit to satisfy the taste buds. Having a fruit and vegetable diet with occasional white meat like fish will be enough to power your body. In cold seasons, you will have to eat fewer calories because your metabolism also becomes relatively slow. Having just the right amount of carbohydrates and calories will ensure that none of it will be stored as fat.

Vice-Free Holiday. It’s also high time to prepare a New Year’s resolution. You might want to lose weight or you might want to quit smoking and drinking because these are very harmful to your health. Most heavy drinkers and chain smokers started from little tastes of these vices. And mind you, that little taste often becomes a habit. So think about some healthy resolutions that you can make part of your new year that’s coming up.

Burning Fat in the Cold Weather. You don’t have to postpone your exercise routines just because you are at home or the gym may be closed during the holidays. You can still continue using creative ways to simulate the usual routines that you do at the gym. In fact, you can even use day to day activities as a form of exercise. It could be better if you had your own home fitness equipment so that you could proceed with the usual routines if you feel uncomfortable when you exercise without it.

If you can do all of these tips, you can safely say that you had a great and healthy Christmas. As a matter of fact, these tips are also applicable to your everyday life. Christmas or not, it is important that everyone eat the right foods, live a vice-free and healthy lifestyle, and regularly exercise to keep our bodies healthy.

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Filed Under: Health Tagged With: exercise, good nutrition, self improvement, tips for a healthy Christmas

Do Not Underestimate the Psychological Effects of Fitness

December 11, 2011 By Admin Leave a Comment

By Vic Vogel -

There is much written about the physical effects of fitness. Overlooked, but equally important, are the psychological effects derived from fitness. Fitness gurus often speak of the mind and body experience. There is more to this than the metaphysical implications. Fitness has a profound affect on your psychological state.

In an article reviewing the impacts of exercise on the psychological state Dr. Daniel Landers, from Arizona State University had this to say, “The research literature suggests that for many variables there is now ample evidence that a definite relationship exists between exercise and improved mental health. This is particularly evident in the case of a reduction of anxiety and depression…Exercise is related not only to a relief in symptoms of depression and anxiety but it also seems to be beneficial in enhancing self-esteem, producing more restful sleep, and helping people recover more quickly from psychosocial stressors.”[1] The chemical effect that exercise has on the brain causes an improved mood, “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You will also look better and feel better, when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Regular physical activity can even help prevent depression.”[2] Although much more research is needed, it is clear there is a direct link between your psychological state and your physical fitness.

Going into 2010 recession has gripped us, unemployment is higher than it has been since the Great Depression, and people are experiencing more psychological trauma, e.g. depression, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem, especially during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The difficulty in taking advantage of fitness is the lack of knowledge about fitness and the effect it can have on health, both physical and psychological. Least known are the psychological affects. The personal training profession spends much of its time measuring the physical effects of exercise and nutrition. Lost in many cases is the association of improved psychological impact resulting from exercise and nutrition. This lack of knowledge leads to focusing more on the physical aspects of fitness training at the exclusion of the psychological issues. Personal support plays a large role in reinforcing the psychological impact of fitness training. Most trainers focus on body fat percentage, weight, body circumference, and lean body mass to measure progress. Equally important are mood, self-esteem, self-worth, and a healthy psychological state. The measurements for psychological impact often rest in others opinions, journals, mood charts, and feedback from loved ones. Discrimination based on appearance, related to size, is well documented in the business world. Fitness not only effects your personal life, it effects your professional life, which then effects your psychological state of mind.

Most people feel the need to improve their fitness during the holidays. Mostly, this is due to the physical effects of eating and lack of exercise, e.g. pants are too tight. In the current times, it is equally important to seek fitness for psychological reasons. People often experience stress, depression, and anxiety during the holidays. They increase their exposure to others, e.g. parties, relatives they have not seen for awhile, and hordes of shoppers in stores. How others view you can either lead to feelings of insecurity and poor self-esteem, or elation and good self-esteem. Your fitness level will have a direct bearing on how others perceive you, and the resulting psychological impact.

Your psychological health is impacted by physical factors and emotional factors. Physical factors can be improved through exercises that increase and release endorphins in the body, “Endorphins act as analgesics, which means they diminish the perception of pain. They also act as sedatives. They are manufactured in your brain, spinal cord, and many other parts of your body and are released in response to brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neuron receptors endorphins bind to are the same ones that bind some pain medicines. However, unlike with morphine, the activation of these receptors by the body’s endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence.”[3] Emotional health is experienced by the positive reinforcement people receive about their improved appearance, which in turn improves their self-esteem. This blog is too short to go into detail about these relationships. There are many articles and books on this subject. They can be researched through the internet and libraries.

When deciding to embark on a fitness program ensure you consider not only the physical benefits related to fitness, but also the psychological benefits. Make sure when designing your strategy for fitness that you include measurements that relate to your psychological improvement. Review these measurements as often as the physical measurements you have established. This holistic approach to fitness will benefit your Total Fitness.

[1] Landers, Dr. Daniel. “The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health”. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS SERIES 2, NUMBER 12, OF THE PCPFS RESEARCH DIGEST July, 2006:

[2] Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity. Mayo Clinic.com. 12 16-2009

[3] “Exercise and Depression”. WebMD. 12-16-2009

Vic Vogel is an internationally NFPT certified personal trainer /fitness consultant, author, and sports nutritionist. He provides fitness consulting to individuals and businesses. Vic has conducted fitness lectures in both businesses and non-profit organizations. He is the Principal and owner of Strategy for Fitness, [http://www.strategyforfitness.com], and CEO of Victor L. Vogel & Associates, Inc. Vic’s two books Building a Strategy for Fitness: A Model to Reach and Sustain Total Fitness & Health, and Strategy for Fitness: Nutritional Manual can be found at Amazon. Vic publishes a fat loss review blog http://www.wayfastfatloss.com He holds a Masters degree from the University of Oklahoma.Vic resides and practices in Oklahoma City, where is specialized in clients over 50.

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Diet for Healthy Hair

November 16, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Kum Martin -

Healthy hair is not a result of hair care alone. Instead, proper nutrition with a healthy diet is equally important. Protein is the most vital nutrient required for healthy hair and its growth. Some other minerals essential are iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iodine and silica. Iron ensures supply of oxygen to the follicles and zinc prevents hair fall. Copper maintains the hair color and its deficiency causes graying. Some of the vitamins vital for growth of hair include vitamins A, B, B3, B5, B12, C and E.

Some of the essential nutrients required for healthy hair are:

• Food like whole grains, beans, pulses, lentils, legumes, products of soy like soy milk and tofu are rich in proteins and Vitamin B.

• Eggs rich in Vitamin B; red meat, chicken, poultry, salmon fish, and turkey are rich in iron, protein and Vitamin B.

• Dairy products with low fat content like yogurt, skim milk, and cottage cheese are excellent sources of proteins, minerals and calcium which are required for hair growth.

• Green leafy vegetables, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, spinach, cabbage, onion cucumber, lettuce, sprouts of beams and also Brussels sprouts; fruits like citrus fruits, papaya, watermelon, Indian gooseberry, apricot, avocado, strawberry, cherry and blueberry are good sources of vitamins and minerals.

• Nuts like cashew, almond, walnut, pecan, Brazil nuts; dry fruits like prunes, raisins, and dates contain essential proteins, Omega 3 fatty acid, zinc, iron and selenium.

• Olive oil, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax-seeds are essential to improve hair growth.

One should also avoid stress, have plenty of fluids, take adequate rest, and avoid fatty and processed foods.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in healthcare. He also offers top quality articles like:
Early Shingles Symptoms, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Baby Boomers – 4 Elements of a Healthy Lifestyle

October 9, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: While this article specifies “Baby Boomers” it really applies to all of us. Enjoy.

By Sherry L Harris -

For anyone born during the post-World War II Era, up until the Vietnam Era, you have been automatically labeled a Baby Boomer. This generation had proven to be the largest in quite some time, and as they get older, more of a focus has been placed on becoming much healthier.

The Baby Boomers have seen the toll that hard work, lack of proper sleep, and poor nutrition have had on both their parents’ and grandparents’ generations, and this has been motivation to make a difference in overall lifestyle choices.

First and foremost, everything we do to our bodies has some kind of impact, whether it is positive or negative. But what we eat can sometimes help us to improve our quality of life, and make it possible to add several years to our lives. Good nutrition is significant, because it can release antioxidants for heart health, or help us to feel more energized so we engage in more activity throughout the day.

As long as we are practicing good nutrition, the next step would be to exercise. Whether you go to the gym every day of the week, or simply walk a mile a couple of days a week, physical activity has proven its benefits, especially to people over the age of forty. Getting the body moving increases blood flow for heart health, releases endorphins for mental health, and allows the body to sweat, releasing toxins that are extremely bad for the skin and other organs.

Another element that the Baby Boomers should consider is the impact of cigarettes and alcohol on personal health. This generation grew up in an era where nothing much was thought about smoking several cigarettes a day, and imbibing alcohol was a regular occurrence in many homes. It seems like such obvious advice, but giving up smoking, and limiting the amount of alcohol you consume can really add years to your life. But really, the way you feel will improve one hundred percent.

The last element of a healthy lifestyle for Baby Boomers would be a good night’s sleep. So often, working adults feel that they can get through the day on only a few hours, and be fine. Yet, what they do not realize is that, even though they may be able to function at the office that does not mean that this behavior is healthy.

Looking and feeling great involves taking care of your body, and taking the time to relax and fall asleep in a timely fashion often falls to the wayside. But many people of this generation are beginning to realize the need for sleep, and taking steps to ensure they fall asleep quickly at a decent hour, to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Unlike with exercise, nutrition and quitting smoking and drinking, you do not have to do much to practice this method of health. All it takes is lying on the bed, and drifting off into a deep slumber, and years will be added to your life.

By combining all of these positive behaviors, the Baby Boomer generation will demonstrate that they will far outlive the average age of their parents and grandparents. All it takes is four positive steps.

Sherry Harris is the author of the successful e-book “101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia”. Get the FREE e-book at http://www.ScentToSleep.com Knock-out insomnia for good with aromatherapy sleep mist, so you can wake up refreshed and energized – visit us now.

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Number One Health And Longevity Secret – Key To Good Nutrition And A Tip To Eating Healthy

October 1, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Josiah Friberg -

“A drunkard may reach old age; a glutton, never.” – Sylvester Graham

I’d like to share with you the number one health and longevity secret. Would you like to know how to live longer and healthier? Would you like to live in optimum health and live to a ripe old age before you die? Would you like to enjoy your health and actually die healthy? If so, then I’ve got some good news for you.

Now, before I share it with you, I’d like to make you a deal. I will share this secret with you, IF you will promise to try it for at least 3 weeks. Fair enough?

Why 3 weeks? I personally believe that it takes about 3 weeks to create a new habit, whether good or bad. In this case, you’re going to be doing both. You are going to be creating for yourself a new lifestyle changing habit, while at the same time you’re breaking an old unhealthy habit. If you can apply this secret to your life for three weeks, consistently, then you’ll have the best chance of it becoming a new healthy lifestyle habit. Once it becomes a habit, it will be far easier to do on a consistent basis. As a new habit, it will benefit your health in numerous ways and contribute to your longevity.

#1 HEALTH AND LONGEVITY SECRET – Practice systematic undereating.

It may sound too simple to be true, but this truly is the number one health and longevity principle. This key to good nutrition and eating healthy is critical to your health and well being.

For the next three weeks, I want you to practice conscious under-eating. In other words, every time you sit down to eat a meal or a snack, I want you to take smaller portions than usual and eat less. It’s that simple, but it really makes a huge difference upon your health and how you feel after eating a meal.

The less you eat, the better you will feel because your digestive system will not be overloaded. Every time you eat, you put your digestive system to work breaking down the food in your stomach. Then your body has to assimilate the good nutrients and eliminate all of the toxins and waste. This whole 3-step process puts a strain on your body and it’s main organs.

What’s the opposite of under-eating? OVEREATING!

Did you know that overeating is one of the main causes of premature aging and degenerative illnesses? Overeating is a huge problem in our nation. Americans, on the average, overeat more than almost any other culture. As a result, we have not only a very high percentage of overweight and obese people, we have millions of people who are suffering from premature aging and terrible degenerative illnesses.

Here’s one final eating healthy tip. Eat only when you are really hungry. If you’re not hungry at mealtime, skip the meal. And remember, when you are hungry, practice conscious systematic under-eating. You will live a lot longer and be able to enjoy optimum health. Eating less food every day is one more of the keys to good nutrition and tips to eating healthy. I challenge you to try it for 3 weeks and see what a difference it will make in your life and long-term health.

Josiah Friberg has studied health & nutrition for 25 years. His nickname is, “The Naked Nutrition Knight,” because he believes strongly in whole food nutrition. Visit his daily blog at: http://eatinghealthynutrition.blogspot.com

Discover the single most nutritional experience of Josiah’s life, while at the same time learning about a home business that he is building that actually helps thousands of people with their health. [http://extra-income-home-business-Uri.blogspot.com]

Josiah is also a photographer; visit his inspirational photography gallery at: http://fineartinspirationalphotography.blogspot.com He lives in Moravian Falls, North Carolina.

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How to Maintain Good Health

August 8, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Jane Chaster -

Maintaining a good health requires a lot of effort, perseverance and determination. You must be knowledgeable about a lot of things in order for you to do that. You must realize that it is not magic and hard work is vital to attain your optimum level of functioning.

If you have good health you will be able to experience a lot in your life. Your life will be more fun and enjoyable. Family activities will be enjoyable because you can participate without any hindrance physically. Also, you can save your money for any possible hospitalization because you are less vulnerable to diseases.

There are things that you can do to improve or maintain your health like exercise, diet and proper rest or sleep. Exercise is an important factor of having a good health because it keeps your body active and functioning. It gives you the sense of self fulfillment and confidence when you see your body fit and healthy.

Exercise burns excessive fats and calories in your body. You can keep yourself less vulnerable from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and osteoporosis by having a regular exercise. You can do biking, swimming and jogging with your family to enjoy physical exercises better.

A good and healthy food will feed your hungry body with good nutrients and needed energy. You can eat healthy foods by choosing those with low to moderate fat, low calories and high in protein foods. These foods will be enough for your body.

You must not eat less or more than what your body requires. Always remember that your body functions because of the energy that you take in through food. Any excess will be harmful because it will be deposited as fat and any less will cause breakdown of organs and tissues.

Sleep is also important in maintaining your healthy body. It is very vital for you to rest after a hard day to repair any damages in your body. You have consider sleeping at least 6-8 hours a day to maintain a fit body.

These three factors are very vital for you to maintain a healthy and fit body. You must have the balance and harmony of these three interacting factors in order for you to attain your optimum health and function. You will attain good health if you can balance your life accordingly.

Exercise regularly for a better health. Learn to use Treadmill Running Machine and attain your optimum health.

Learn more about motorized treadmill to exercise in a unique and enjoyable way.

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Understanding Good Nutrition

July 14, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Andrew M. Miller –

Do you understand what is meant by ‘good nutrition’? Many people think that they do, but they really misunderstand what is meant. If you think that good nutrition means that you are dieting or trying to lose weight, you’re off base. Nutrition just means to have a balanced and healthy diet consisting mainly of foods that are healthy for you.

Eating healthy is easier than you realize. Many people think it is just too hard to eat well but this isn’t the case. Besides, eating a better diet can help you prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

You maybe already knew that. But did you know that if you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you also will increase your energy, mental focus, and memory? That’s right.

Don’t think that you need to cut out all of the foods you like and subsist on nothing but celery and bran, either. You can still eat your favorites, just within reason. If you limit how much you consume of foods that aren’t all that great for you, you can still enjoy them without worry.

You also will want to learn appropriate portion size. Many of us think we are eating one serving of something when we’re actually eating two or three. If you know what an appropriate portion is and you stick to that measure, you are very unlikely to overeat.

If you have some focus and discipline, your nutritional balance can help you in many ways. You can even pair up with a friend and follow your new lifestyle together.

You and your friend can track each other’s progress and encourage each other. Try to eat fresh foods, especially fruits and veggies. When you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, this is very healthy for the body.

In fact, fruit makes a great pick for a quick snack. Fruit tastes great, as attractive, and will help you chase away hunger. Don’t’ eat just fruits though, you also need fiber and carbohydrates. For these, a good choice is whole grain items.

You do want to limit fast food and processed foods. Both fast food and processed foods are unhealthy for you. Rather than heading for the drive through or picking up a processed prepackaged meal, why not cook something fast at home instead? It doesn’t really take that much more time! Most meals don’t take hours to cook, or even an hour. If you do need something to eat that you can grab quickly and take away, you can buy a prepackaged salad at many grocery stores.

Many people know the health benefits of the microbead pillow and are looking for resources on the knee pillow.

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For the Health of It!

June 30, 2010 By amaslan Leave a Comment

By Allison Maslan –

We often take our health for granted until there is a reason to give it some attention. When acute pain or chronic symptoms arise, all of a sudden our health, which we may never have given a second thought, shoots to the forefront of our consciousness. If we are younger, and lucky enough to not experience any serious ailments, we may assume our good health will continue. And as we age, if we don’t treat our body-mind with care, prevention and maintenance, the systems of our body can begin to break down and become more vulnerable and susceptible to weakness and disease.

The Blastation Program incorporates a holistic point of view on healing because every part of your life affects and influences every other part of your life. For instance, financial worries can promote physical changes in the body that may lead to health issues. Meanwhile, it is clearly true that health impacts everything. When your body feels strong, it is much easier to focus, and your mood is uplifted and calm rather than frustrated and stressed. You are able to see and receive the abundance of life, rather than walking around seeing your life as that half-empty glass. By the same token, when your body is tired, weak, and in pain, it’s difficult to see and appreciate life’s simple beauty and the opportunities that may be sitting right at your feet. When you’re in pain, or feeling depressed, anxious, fearful or angry, it’s hard to get motivated to find or connect with your sense of purpose and passion.

In Deepak Chopra’s book, Quantum Healing, he explains that every cell in the body regenerates itself. The lifespan of red blood cells, for instance, is approximately thirty-seven days. Even brain cells have the capacity to regenerate. Nerve cells, he mentions, take the longest to renew. In fact, within a seven-year period, the body can create a completely new body of cells. Poor health is limiting, but the good news (as Deepak’s observation suggests) is that we can improve our health and well-being at any time, at any age of our lives.
Life can be stressful at times, no question.

And too much stress with no support to counteract its often harsh energy can have detrimental effects on the body and the psyche. On the other hand, when your body-mind is feeling nourished, sound and resilient, the stress will not create such a serious impact or have chronic implications.

When you find yourself under stress, overwhelmed, running late, and dealing with conflict or in an emotionally challenging situation, your body tenses up. You start gripping the steering wheel or gritting your teeth while thinking about what terrible thing is going to happen because you messed up big-time. Panic may even set in. Heart palpitations, tension headaches, and stomach upsets are a few of the physical reactions that you might have encountered in a stressful moment. If this is your state much of the time, you can see where chronic physical conditions could arise.

Your first line of defense is to breathe.

Your breath is your connection to life. Your first action as you entered this world was to breathe. Without breathing, there is isn’t anything for the body to draw on. Bringing in oxygen and expanding your lungs in a stressful moment, will give your body the new life energy it needs to deal with the crisis, and then bring your system back to center.

Do the Blastation Breathing Exercise on the Health Page anytime your are under stress or have a moment just to chill.

Move That Body!

I challenge you to make exercise a priority in your life. As I’ve already noted, it’s an important element of Blastation because a healthy motivated body-mind is more likely to have the energy and motivation you’ll need to reach your dreams. If you haven’t exercised in a while, it may take two to three months to start realizing some of the benefits—such as weight loss—even though you’re likely to start feeling better emotionally right away. So don’t give up after a month of little progress on the weight-loss front. Work out with a friend, hire a trainer…but whatever you do, stay consistent, and don’t give up. Longer term, regular exercise provides the opportunity for a longer, healthier, and more productive life. Please remember that without health you’ll never reach your true wealth. So turn off the television, stop making excuses, and get that body moving.

Input your mini feats for your weekly exercise plan so that you will be committed to making it happen. Any time you write your goals down, they move from fantasy to reality!

More Vitality, More Passion.

There’s nothing more humbling than to witness someone’s life transform from illness to vitality, from apathy to passion. When that happens, everything changes. As individuals reclaim their health, it can positively impact the dynamics of their entire life. There’s a desire to improve relationships, the motivation to reach for more in their careers, the incentive to be creative, and the inner peace to enjoy life’s small but powerful moments. You can improve your health at any age and at any stage. I went from huffing and puffing up the stairs to running 10k-run obstacle courses through the mud. If I can do it, so can you. The path to a healthy body-mind is an important part of the journey to the life of your dreams.

Filed Under: Self Improvement Tagged With: exercise, good nutrition, health, healthy, Self Improvement, Stress Management

Nutrition As a Stress Management Tool

May 19, 2010 By Guest Contributor 3 Comments

By Kristine Clemenger -

You may not connect what you eat with how you handle stress, but whether you like it or not the two are very connected and you can make it harder on yourself or easier on yourself with the choices you make. A body that is supplied with good nutrition will be healthier and that health is directly connected with how well you handle the physical and emotional stress that are a part of our every day life.

Food is a tricky issue for many of us. We must eat to live. We can’t just avoid food like we can other things that we don’t handle well. And food is involved in many social situations and often the foods available at social functions are not the best choices for health, nutrition and a slim waistline.

Your food choices can give you energy or rob you of energy, give you a clear-thinking brain or a foggy, fuzzy brain. The foods you choose help determine whether you will be sickly or healthy with a strong immune system.

Here are 5 rules for good nutrition:

1) Increase good fats such as olive oil and avocados and decrease bad fats such as red meats and too much full-fat dairy such as cheese, butter and cream. Realize however that you do need some fat. Not all fat is bad. Of the solid mass of the brain, 60% is fat! Your brain NEEDS fat to function properly. Stop replacing fat with “fat-free” which are usually chemicals (read the label!) and just reduce the real fats you do eat and steer towards the healthy kinds.

2) Increase good carbohydrates such as fruit, legumes, vegetables and whole grains and decrease bad carbs such as refined sugars, candy, cakes, soda, white rice etc. Use stevia or other natural sweeteners instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

3) Drink plenty of water. Your body is 70% water and your brain is 80% water. Stay hydrated! Drink less caffeine and alcohol and more water. And if you do drink caffeine and alcohol be aware that you need even more water to offset their dehydrating effects.

4) Take a good daily multivitamin/mineral supplement and a fish oil supplement.

5) Watch for hidden food allergies These are things you eat that make you feel unwell, sluggish, moody, or irritate your skin…for many people this is SUGAR!

If you just begin using these few simple guidelines and focus on your food as another way to manage stress you will not only feel better and handle stress better, you will look better, be a nicer person, sleep better and enjoy your life more!

Kristine Clemenger
Holistic Health Practitioner
http://WellspringSanDiego.com or http://AuraPatchInfo.com/
Please visit us for more information on natural and holistic health and Aura Patch products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristine_Clemenger
http://EzineArticles.com/?Nutrition-As-a-Stress-Management-Tool&id=4238257

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: emotional stress, good nutrition, handle stress, manage stress, stress management, stress management tool

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