by Lovena Suson | May 17, 2021 | Exercise Tips
Are you thinking that you don’t have time to fit exercise into your busy lifestyle? Well, think again! Here are 8 simple routines that are easy to do and – best of all – they don’t take much time. Just spend 10 minutes or less on these easy activities and a new, healthier lifestyle will be yours!
As always, be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.
⇐ (CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW!!!) ⇑
Surely you can fit these fun, healthy activities into your busy life:
- Jump rope. If you haven’t tried jumping rope lately, now is the time to give this fun and invigorating exercise a try. Purchase a jump rope or fashion your own from any sturdy piece of rope. Start slowly and gradually increase both your speed and intensity. This heart-healthy exercise can be performed a few times a day for maximum exercise benefits.
- Climb stairs. Did you know that staircase in your home or workplace is actually a mini-gym in disguise? Take advantage of this exercise opportunity whenever you have a few extra minutes to spare. Climbing stairs builds strength and gets your heart pumping.
LOWERS THE ENERGY COST OF GETTING SOLAR PANELS BY 85%!!!
- Listen to music or an audiobook while going up and down the stairs. Before you know it, you’ll be looking forward to your climbing sessions!
- Dance to the music. Don’t be shy! Turn up your favorite music and dance with abandon! Dancing is not only fun, but it’s also a terrific form of exercise. Professional dancers are more fit than many professional athletes!
Bounce on a mini-trampoline. No doubt about it. Trampolines are just plain fun! Mini-trampolines can be purchased at many chain stores, sporting goods stores, or online. Pull out your trampoline and spend just five minutes jumping away. You may enjoy this exercise so much that you’ll increase the amount of time you have available for your exercise routine.
Many mini trampolines such as this one are available on Amazon. Always observe caution however, make sure the trampoline is secure. You don’t want to end up on the floor with a sprain or at worst, a broken bone!
- Quick calisthenics. Everyone has, at one time or another, practiced calisthenics. Now is the time to remember those lunges, knee bends, and jumping jacks of days gone by! Finding just five minutes in your hectic day to practice one or more of these calisthenics exercise routines can make a big difference in your health.
- Lift weights. Many exercise routines neglect that all-important need to increase upper body strength. Lifting weights solves that problem. Depending on your size and fitness level, choose the amount of weight appropriate for you. Start with lighter weights, and as you spend time on a daily routine, gradually increase the amount of weight you can handle.
- Walk faster. Will you be walking the dog later today? Or perhaps walking from your car into the shopping mall? Picking up your walking speed will also increase your fitness level. Walking of any kind is always a good thing, but walking faster enhances the exercise benefits you receive from it.
- Practice balance. Part of any healthy lifestyle is having a good balance. The more you practice, the easier it is to maintain balance not only in your exercise routine but also in your daily life. Practicing balance requires only a few minutes a day and best of all can be practiced anywhere with no special equipment.
Stand a few feet from a wall, kitchen counter, or other supporting structure and raise one foot off the ground. Hold this for 5 – 10 seconds. Maintain balance as long as you can. Repeat with the other foot.
- As seen in this picture, place one foot forward, the other foot in the back. Raise your arms as seen here and hold the pose for 5 seconds or more, maintaining your balance. Alternate with the left and right foot to strengthen both legs.
There are many more exercises you can do to improve balance. for the purpose of this short article, let’s keep it simple. But you get the idea. Tai Chi is a great exercise to improve balance. I have always recommended this exercise that is great for wellness. Yoga is an excellent exercise for promoting balance as well.
- With daily practice, you’ll notice a gradual increase in the amount of time you can keep your balance.
By following just a few of these simple and quick exercise routines, you’ll be on your way to a healthier and happy lifestyle. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Start now!
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by Lovena Suson | May 8, 2021 | Health & Fitness
Natural Methods That Boost Your Immune System
You depend on your immune system to fight off foreign substances that could make you sick. It will even help you recover if any of these contaminants attack your body.
A healthy lifestyle strengthens your body’s defense network. As a result, you catch fewer colds and reduce your risk for many serious health conditions. Try these natural methods to boost your immune system and enjoy better health.
Foods and Eating Habits That Boost Your Immune System
1. Fill up half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are what superfoods are all about. They help prevent and repair cell damage. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is the best way to meet your requirements for important nutrients. Most significant are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
2. Get enough zinc and selenium. Two other important antioxidants are zinc and selenium. Good sources for zinc include seafood, beans, red meat, poultry, whole grains, nuts, and dairy products. Selenium is also found in many foods like beef, poultry, tuna, and whole grains.
3. Watch your calories. Studies show that being overweight can depress your immune system. Excess fat cells are linked to chronic inflammation and decreased production of antibodies. Maintaining a healthy body weight can help fend off diabetes, heart disease, and other threats.
4. Limit sugars and fats. Diets high in sugar and saturated fats make your white blood cells less effective in guarding against bacteria. Stick to sensible portions of healthy fats like olive oil and cut back on soft drinks.
Helpful Lifestyle Changes
1. Reduce stress. Chronic stress bombards your body with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that interfere with your immune system. Find relaxation techniques that work for you like meditation or massage.
2. Get adequate sleep and rest. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night to keep their immune functions in top shape. As much as possible, go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
3.Indulge in healthy pleasures. During exercise and enjoyable activities, your brain releases chemicals that reinforce good feelings. As a result, this helps triggers the production of IGA proteins that boost your natural defenses.
4. Cultivate friendships. Social connections are essential to our physical health. The quality of friendships is more important than the quantity, so focus on whatever arrangements make you feel loved.
5. Engage in regular exercise. People who exercise regularly produce more leukocyte cells. Furthermore, they have a better chance of avoiding infection. Moderate exercise is all it takes, so go for a walk for a half-hour at least three days a week.
6. Drink alcohol in moderation. Repairing the damage from heavy drinking can weaken your immune system. As a result, you are more likely to succumb to any bug that’s going around. Play it safe by sticking to a daily maximum of two drinks for men and one for women.
7. Consider herbal treatments. Medical experts caution that further research is needed, but people have been using herbs for centuries to promote good health. Work with an experienced practitioner. Check references carefully and tell your doctor about any products you decide to take.
8. Observe good handwashing habits.. The benefits of frequent and thorough hand washing are indisputable. Use soap and water or hand sanitizers to reduce the risk of infection for yourself and others.
Take care of yourself so your immune system. By doing so, can focus on unwanted invaders like germs and viruses. Simple steps like eating right and reducing stress will pay off in fewer sick days. It may even extend your life by reducing your risk for cancer and other serious conditions. Add some of these immune-strengthening strategies to your life today.
by Lovena Suson | Apr 10, 2021 | Pain Management
Hot and Cold Therapy: Beneficial or Needless Self-Torture?
It is a known fact that heat or cold is a very common home remedy for pain. Whether in a form of a heating pad, liniments, it is the go-to pain relief choice. Heat and cold are commonly used for treating injuries to specific areas of the body.
But what about heating and cooling your entire body? We hear a lot about athletes soaking in a tub of ice cubes after a big game. Gyms featuring saunas to attract clients who go crazy using them after workouts.
Are these helpful in any meaningful way? Or is it just a silly fad without any merit?
Biohackers have promoted these ideas over the last few years. Let’s see if there’s any substance to their advice.
Spending time in a sauna regularly has its benefits:
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Good for Stress Relief. Sitting in a sauna can feel wonderful. It’s stress-relieving and cleansing, especially after you wash the sweat off.
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Facilitates the Formation of Heat Shock Proteins. Excessive heat stimulates specific genes to create heat shock proteins.
● These are helpful in eliminating free radicals in the body. Heat shock proteins can also repair damaged proteins.
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Spending time in a sauna can prolong your life. Research has shown that spending some time in a sauna at least four days a week may reduce the incidence of several causes of death. These include fatal cardiovascular disease, coronary disease, and sudden cardiac death.
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Endurance and aerobic capacity increase. Red blood cell counts and blood plasma volume increase with regular sauna use.
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Increased circulation. Heat causes your blood vessels to dilate and increases your heart rate. This can help injuries to heal faster and improve mobility in joints affected by arthritis.
Keep in mind that normal sauna temperatures are just fine. There’s no reason to crank up the heat in hopes of gaining greater benefits. No benefit is worth risking your life. Be reasonable.
A nice cold bath might not be that appealing but learn the advantages before making decisions!
A 10-minute ice bath can be beneficial, too:
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Reduces inflammation. Exposure to cold reduces inflammation. This is why you might ice a sprained ankle. It turns out that if you cool the entire body, the anti-inflammatory effect affects the entire body.
● An ice bath can reduce pain more effectively than just icing a specific area of the body.
● Many diseases, including heart disease, are believed to be at least partially due to systemic inflammation in the body. Regular ice baths may reduce the likelihood of developing many diseases.
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It can enhance the immune system. White blood cell counts increase after spending time in an ice bath. This has been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting sick.
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May reduce depression. Some studies have shown that regular ice baths can enhance mood.
The term “ice bath” is a bit of a misnomer. The most commonly researched temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which feels colder than you might think. It’s possible that your tap water is that cold. The time spent in the cold water was 8-12 minutes.
Maybe you don’t have access to a sauna or a cold bath. Will a hot tub, hot shower, or cold shower work just as well?
There’s not a lot of research on the benefits of these other options. It seems reasonable to assume that these could be viable substitutes, but there are no guarantees. It’s not too hard to find a health club that has a sauna, and you can take a cold bath or shower at home.
There are definitely health benefits to safely exposing yourself to hot and cold temperatures.
You may have also heard about the use of contrast bath, which is the use of contrasting temperatures that can shock the body due to the alternating action of vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
When the body is subjected to cold and capillaries constrict, it is called vasoconstriction. This also happens when an ice pack is used over bruises or inflamed joints. When heat is used, blood vessels open up, called vasodilation, dilating blood vessels. This is consistent with the physiological of heat: expansion.
In using hot or cold therapy, it is just important to remember: HEAT expands, COLD constricts. For muscle spasms, cramps, heat proves to provide relief than cold for already tight muscles. For inflammation, on the other hand, cold works better as it decreased warmth in inflamed joints or body parts.
The stress that these situations create stimulates the body to make healthy adaptations.
However, as with all things, it’s important to be safe and reasonable! If you use hot and cold therapy safely, they can benefit your health.
