What are the latest and greatest health-related products? How can I spice up my ho-hum workout? Are the new nutritious food products and health-focused restaurants worth my money? If you're asking any of these questions you've found the right spot!Note: While I'm a journalist with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology and am a Certified Health Education Specialist, I don't replace the guidance/counseling that comes from a good chat with your doctor or dietitian. For more information, feel free to contact me at karlaswalsh@gmail.com!
Healthful Bites
Since I’m anything but on a schedule with my blog lately, I wouldn’t be interrupting by tossing in a new feature, right? I’m hoping to offer “Your Healthful Hints” weekly or biweekly as quick, distinct action steps you can take to live a more wellness-filled life. Away we go!
1. Hit the weights before you get your flu shot. This is not new research, but I stumbled across these findings while web searching about how long I should hold off strenuous lifting after getting my vaccine. It turns out, the immune cells that go to your muscle tissue increases after exercise, which may improve your overall resistance to the virus. It was a small study, but a little time strength training before the shot certainly can’t hurt!
2. Sweat for 10 minutes. That’s all it takes to boost metabolism for an hour or more, Women’s Health reports. The more fit you are when you do workout, the easier your body breaks down the energy stored. But everyone gets the metabolic benefits that last past the time you leave the gym, even after just a short burst of exercise. String together a few of my Good for You Moves videos to simply squeeze in your time today!
(Image from Science Daily)
3. Keep an eye on your cheese. Dairy Management, a lobby for the popular pizza, sandwich and pasta topping, is spending millions of dollars to promote increased cheese consumption. The study the organization often sites to claim the healthfulness of dairy products (“Eat three servings of dairy each day to lose more weight when on a lower-calorie diet!”) was actually funded by (guess who!) Dairy Management.
Anyway, cheese is not the devil and can certainly be enjoyed in moderation. Just don’t let yourself be duped into ordering that additional slice of extra cheese ‘za or believing that multiple servings of full-fat dairy is going to make you slim!
(One cheese we can surely get behind: The Packers! Go Pack Go :) )
I’m setting my alarm now to wake up and do a circuit training workout DVD before heading to the office. What small steps are you going to take to make it a healthful week?
The good news this week is brought to you by the Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy radio show! I was a guest on the show/podcast Thursday (one week after the amazing Bob Harper—hubba, hubba ;) ).
Our topic: many of the great stories from the July/August issue of Fitness magazine! Want to learn more? Here are links to a few of the stories we discussed:
- Supercharge Your Metabolism: Keep your calorie burning body running on all cylinders!
- Beat Desk Job Drain: Simple tricks to get more energy and less stress.
- The 2010 Fitness Healthy Food Awards: Pizza! Ice cream! Muffins!
- Run Your First (or Fastest!) 5K: You will cross the finish line with this training plan.
I’m the last guest on the show—I come on a little bit later than 45 minutes in. Take a listen and then tell me what food from the food awards needs to be on your next list! And what story do you wish you could find in health magazines that you read?
