This summer has been especially brutal due to the high humidity and even higher temperatures. Most people are looking for a way to stay inside and work out, however there are some dedicated individuals that wish to train outside regardless of the conditions. This is a great article by Gina Kolata that deals with the proper way to acclimate yourself to the outside weather. YOU already know that if you exercise outside on hot and humid days, you should drink plenty of water. And you are probably well aware of the risk of heat stroke given the countless reports about the warning signs. But if … [Read more...] about To Beat the Heat, Learn to Sweat It Out
Portion Control: Does anyone really know how to eat?
As more and more restaurants pop up across the United States, the obesity epidemic continues to rise. Most people consider the largest portion of food for the lowest cost the best answer to fill their hunger needs. The problem is that lack of activity and the high caloric meals ends up with costly consequences. This article by Kristen Stewart has some great information on portion control. At home and away, our meals have all become supersized. And so have we! Find out why how much you eat is just as important as what you eat in your diet for controlling weight. Over one-third of U.S. adults … [Read more...] about Portion Control: Does anyone really know how to eat?
Summertime: Rising Temperatures can also mean rapid foodborne bacteria growth
As we enter the latter part of the summer, we have gone through several heat waves with temperatures reaching the 100 degree mark. Many families utilize this time to grill out on their back deck with friends and family. Rising temperatures outside also mean that the risk of foodborne bacteria increases exponentially. The best way to prevent the spread of bacteria is making sure that you are handling food with proper safety and precautions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided user-friendly guidelines for families to make sure that they are healthy and bacteria free this … [Read more...] about Summertime: Rising Temperatures can also mean rapid foodborne bacteria growth
Want to Boost Brain Power? Workout
Companies are always looking for ways to increase employee production. Well there is a great solution and that is to have your employees work out. It has been shown that exercise boost cognitive function and the lasting euphoric feeling afterwards can have many positive benefits to employee interaction. This article by Gretchen Reynolds talks about the process of working out and how it correlates to brain function. Upending the cliché of muscleheads, scientists at the Laboratory of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging recently set out to examine whether changes in muscles prompted … [Read more...] about Want to Boost Brain Power? Workout
Inactivity: Don’t just Sit There
Everyone knows that inactivity can lead to many major risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. This article by Gretchen Reynolds talks about the detriment of individuals just sitting around albeit at work, home, or restaurant. ONE lesson I’ve learned while writing about fitness is that few things impinge on an active life as much as writing about fitness — all that time spent hunched before a computer or puzzling over scientific journals, the countless hours of feckless, seated procrastination. While writing about the benefits of exercise, my muscles … [Read more...] about Inactivity: Don’t just Sit There
Choosing a Sugar Substitute
Sugar is found in every carbohydrate and has a crucial role in the body's function. This article written by Kenneth Chang talks about the different types of substitutes you can find when you are at a restaurant. White. Pink. Blue. Yellow. On restaurant tables everywhere, the colors of the sweetener packets instantly identify the contents. Sugar. Saccharin. Aspartame. Sucralose. Reaching for one to pour into a cup of coffee or tea can sometimes feel like sweetener roulette, with the swirl of confusing, conflicting assertions about which are safe and which are not. Alissa Kaplan Michaels, … [Read more...] about Choosing a Sugar Substitute
Father’s Day: The Best Gift for Dad
As we approach Father's Day this weekend, this is the time that we show our gratitude for our father. Many families will be grilling out or taking dad out to dinner. Others will be trying to find the perfect gift for dad and yet there are always a few that put very little thought or effort into the whole process. There are many fathers that get that same tie or some hideous shirt that their kids were able to find on clearance. I can only speak from personal experience, but my father has been a very positive and supportive influence in my life. My father has a tireless work ethic and a great … [Read more...] about Father’s Day: The Best Gift for Dad
Memorial Day Grilling: The Dos and Don’ts
Memorial Day is fast approaching us and many families will be firing up the grill for the first time this season. The picnic season will begin usually with things like hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, pasta salad, and desserts. This is a great article by Fritz Lenneman in which it gives a nice blend of things to be aware of for the upcoming holiday weekend. When the warm weather finally settles in, no one wants to slave over a hot stove. Fire up the barbecue and enjoy the season! Safety First Before you send out the invitations to your first summer barbecue, Toby Smithson, RD, CDE, … [Read more...] about Memorial Day Grilling: The Dos and Don’ts