Archives for January 2017

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Are your kids constantly sick with colds and stomach bugs, while other families appear to be the picture of health? There are many factors that affect the immune system. However, making some simple changes in the home and encouraging healthy habits can reduce nasty illnesses drastically.

Room Temperature

Research shows that temperature has an impact on health, particularly for people with respiratory problems. One area it can cause problems is in the bedroom. Being too hot or too cold can affect your sleep dramatically. Lack of sleep and poor quality sleep increases the likelihood of contracting illnesses. This is something that can be easily fixed by changing bedding and maintaining heating and air conditioning through companies such as www.mcgowansac.com.

Further details on how temperature impacts on health can be found on websites such as www.doctorshealthpress.com.

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Washing Hands

Regularly washing your hands significantly reduces passing the germs that cause colds and gastrointestinal illnesses. The tricky part is getting your kids to do this frequently. Teach your kids about germs and the importance of washing their hands. Any healthy habits need to be modeled, as well as being taught. So make sure you do this yourself regularly. Impose a rule where everyone washes their hands before sitting down to a meal.

Hand sanitizers are also useful for when kids are at kindergarten or school. However, they are not as effective as traditional soap and water.

Balanced Diet

A balanced diet helps to boost the immune system, which in turn fights off illnesses. If you haven’t done so already, ensure your kids are getting a mixture of colored fruit and vegetables in their diet. Foods rich in vitamin C are great for the immune system and include broccoli, strawberries, and peppers, etc.

Allergens

If your kids suffer from allergies, you may need to take extra precautions in the home. The actions you take will depend on the specific allergy. General tips include:

• Dusting and vacuuming regularly and installing an air filter
• Only purchasing home textiles and bed linen that can be removed and washed thoroughly
• Keeping pets out of kids’ bedrooms and play areas
• Using hypoallergenic bedding if required

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Home Hygiene

Germs and bacteria spread quickly in dirty homes. Make sure you keep on top of cleaning and removing trash, etc. The kitchen needs extra care to ensure food storage areas and the fridge are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis.

Research shows that chopping boards are a breeding ground for bacteria and you can’t always see it. Ensure you wash your chopping board carefully, especially if you use it to prepare uncooked meat, and change it on a regular basis.

Activities

Remaining active also boosts our ability to fight diseases. So it’s time to switch off the computer games and get some fresh air. Encourage your kids to be active by introducing them to games and sports. Set up regular family activities where they can walk and run around. Make your garden kid-friendly and provide interesting, fun games for them to play.

Making a few simple changes in the home and encouraging new habits could drastically improve the health of the whole family. Start now and enjoy a happy and bug-free year.

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It’s not reinventing the wheel to say that eating more fresh fruit and veg will be good for your health. This is something we have known, or at least accepted, for literally decades. It’s something our parents told us, and that their parents surely told them. So it’s not exactly revolutionary (much as some dieticians may seem to think it is).

So when it comes to making healthy changes in your lifestyle, you know you should be looking at fruit and vegetables. However, one thing that has changed is that basic knowledge of health issues has increased over the years. Fifty years ago it was “eat more fruit; it’s good for you”. Now, we really need to know more. Different foods have different benefits.

So, how do you target the specific improvement you need?

Health issues vary considerably from person to person. Where once upon a time it was sufficient to say you were feeling “under the weather”, now we know of countless possible reasons. Some of us have joint pain, others tenderness in the muscles. Sometimes we have digestive issues. We may suffer from headaches, or mood disorders.

In short, with so long a list of things that can make us feel less than perfect, we need to know as much as possible about the ways to make it better. While in some cases there is no substitute for a doctor’s attention, we can always make a difference with what we do. Top of the list of weapons in our personal armory is diet. And that’s where the fruit and veg come in.

Warning: the amount of fruit-based puns you’re about to read is immense. Prepare yourself.

Berry Good: Why You Don’t Need To Suffer From Low Moods

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Mental health is increasingly a focus in our society, but it’s fair to say that a lot of people don’t completely understand how it works. In short, you don’t need to be confined to your bed with depression for it to be a factor. A lot of people struggle with low-level depression that doesn’t make them go to the doctor but does infringe on their quality of life.

Berries are packed with antioxidants, which have been proven in clinical trials to have an effect on depression. If you don’t fancy taking anti-depressant medication, they are worth a try. The key point here is that depression varies in severity. In more severe cases, it’s still wise to consult a doctor.

Lacking In Energy? Time To Go Bananas

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We all have days when we seem to lack for energy. We wake up in the morning and everything seems like more of an effort. Anecdotal information and TV tell you what to do if this is the case – reach for the coffee! In the short term, this works – you do feel a burst of energy and can get over the hurdle. But it then takes back, with interest.

Caffeine has very limited nutritional benefit. It actually burns through what energy you may have left, and then you crash. If you eat a banana and have one on hand for later, you’ll be in better shape. Bananas are rich in potassium, which gives you slow-release energy and allows you to feel more energetic throughout the day.

Life Can Be A Bowl Of Cherries

Cherries are seen in many ways as a luxury fruit. They are a little more pricey than the likes of apples and oranges, but they are worth it for their health benefits. Indeed, for all the talk of superfoods, it’s hard to beat cherries for real health boosts. They contain a lot of antioxidants, for one thing, but that’s the tip of the iceberg.

There are also benefits to quality of sleep, due to the high content of melatonin. Their high levels of beta-carotene are useful for eyesight. In addition to these cherry health benefits, studies show an impact on inflammation, weight loss and heart health. In short, you should make room for them in your fruit bowl.

Time To Boost Your Celery!

It’s probably fair to say that celery is no-one’s favorite food. It’s not bad, and it’s not great. It’s just kind of … there. Its role is, typically, as a food to add texture to other meals. But don’t let that persuade you to do without it. Its health benefits are clear for all to see. Extracts from its seeds have been found to have a positive impact on blood pressure.

However, that’s just part of the story. Including celery (ideally steamed) in your diet will have ongoing positive benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, for one thing. For another, studies have shown it to be a handy source of luteolin, which is felt to have cancer-fighting properties.

All Fruit And Veg Helps Your Digestion

Whatever you pick from the fruit and veg aisle at your local supermarket, you’re helping your digestive tract. This is a health benefit that cannot be ignored. By keeping your digestive system healthy, you give your body a boost in fighting any illness. Not to mention lessening the risk of future cancers in the gastrointestinal tract.

The reason is that fruit and veg, in general, contain indigestible fiber. This picks up water and expands as it passes through the digestive system, triggering regular bowel movements. (Lovely subject this, isn’t it? But it has to be discussed!) In addition, it calms the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

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This is, incidentally, a reason why you should not take on all your fruit and veg in the form of juices. Although juice and smoothies are beneficial ways of getting nutrients, they do remove a vast majority of the fiber from fruits. So while you may enjoy a green juice a day as part of your health kick, eat some bananas or carrots to get the full benefit.

Each fruit and vegetable that you can buy will have its own benefits for your general health. In addition to the digestive benefits that we have seen above, they all play different parts. So one final note to bear in mind is this:

It’s not just a very good idea to eat more fruit and veg – make sure that you are getting different types into your diet. For an all-around health boost, an extensive range will always be better than a narrow focus.

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When you decide to spend a little more time and energy on your body, you can often feel bombarded with options. Not only are you unsure exactly what kind of exercise is right for you, but you’re feeling a little intimidated about how to get started. If that sounds like you, you don’t have to worry; you can find your feet, quit your bad habits, and feel comfortable with exercise. And best of all, you don’t necessarily have to join a gym.

Although you may know that signing up to a gym isn’t right for you, you still may not know what it is that you want to do. If you’re looking for workout options that you can easy add into your daily routine, enjoy and see results with, this post should help. Each of these ten suggestions may appeal to you in different ways, but you can do all of them without stepping foot into a gym.

Run

If you’re looking for an activity that you can do at home, or as close to it as possible, why not think about taking up running? You don’t have to join a running club; you can do it on your own, at your own pace and whenever you have the time. Just grab your running shoes, put your music on and let your feet guide you to the beat. If you struggle with motivation, you could also get a friend or loved one to join you on a simple circuit near to your home.

Track Your Movements

When you’re trying to improve your activity levels, it can be hard to know how well you’re doing. However, thanks to modern technology, it’s not impossible. You can actually keep track of the amount of movement you’re doing, whether you’re exercising or not, using your smartphone and even a few handy apps. Then, you can start to compare your days and see how well you’re doing. By seeing it all there on your smartphone, you also know whether you need to put in more effort or if you’re doing a good job.

Join A Club

Another idea would be to join a club. You don’t have to lift weights or become addicted to the cross trainer to stay fit and active. You can play sports and do it instead. If there is a particular game you like or have always wanted to play, why not sign up? Whether it’s tennis or hockey, badminton or basketball, you can find beginners classes local to where you live and enjoy the benefits of having fun while you exercise.

Buy A Machine

If you’re more interested in staying home to workout, then you might want to think about investing in a machine that you can use. There are plenty of different options to choose from, so you’ll need to decide whether you want a weights machine or cardio first. With weights, you can do some different exercises, and when it comes to cardio, you can choose between a treadmill, cross trainer or spin bike among others. Before you buy, make sure you research your options for the best spinning bikes, treadmills or cross trainers to find one that suits you the best.

Walk More

Another option would be to walk more. If you’re trying to take a holistic approach to improving your health and fitness, then you don’t have to limit your exercise to set times. Instead, you can try to get in extra little bits whenever you feel like it. If you drive to work, why not park a bit further away and get in some extra exercise. You can also do the same when you go shopping. Also, you might want to take a trip to a local park with your children, or you might decide to take your dog on a longer walk.

Have A System

One of the best ways to take control of your exercise routine when you’re not going to a gym is to have a system. When you’re a member of a gym, you often workout at the same times each day or you go to an exercise class that’s at a set time. But when you’re working out at home or on your own schedule, it can be hard to stick to it. So, make sure you have a system in place for when you’re going to workout. You can also do the same for your eating to make sure that you have a balanced diet.

Start A Class

If you struggle to stay motivated when you exercise on your own, you might want to think about joining a class. Again, you don’t have to join a gym to do this. You should be able to find really fun and exciting classes that are close to you. Maybe you’ve always wanted to do yoga or pilates? Or perhaps Zumba or a Barre class would be more suited to you? Either way, you can get a really good workout by joining a fitness class at a time and day that suits your lifestyle.

Spare Five Minutes

You might not have ever thought of it in this way before, but you can actually get a good workout in at home, without using any equipment. If you can spare five, ten or even fifteen minutes, there are a range of at-home workouts available for you to follow at home. If you’re not used to exercising or you’ve not done any for a long time, you might find an at-home bodyweight exercise routine a really great way of getting started.

Head To YouTube

And, if you’ve got longer, do have at-home workout equipment like a mat, jump rope, weights or a bench, you might want to head to YouTube. Just like the fitness DVD craze, there are a ton of great workouts now available on YouTube. And the best part is – they’re free. You can fit in a workout in your own time and even choose one that suits your abilities and fitness goals. Just search, click, play and participate.