Loving Healthy Living

Swine Flu

 

What is H1N1 Flu?

    

 This is a new strain of the flu virus.

So far, the severity of this virus does not appear to be much different than the seasonal flu. However, we can expect to see many more cases as few of us will have immunity to this virus.

  This virus appears to be more frequent in children and young adults than the seasonal flu.

  Symptoms: fever greater than 100 degrees, headache, fatigue, sore throat, cough, runny or congested nose, and body aches.  In some individuals, diarrhea and vomiting may also occur.

 

 

 Prevention

   

Wash your hands frequently!

  Cover your coughs and sneezes with your sleeve, not hands.

  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

  Don’t share food, drink, or utensils.

  Frequently clean commonly used surfaces in your room such as doorknobs, keyboards, and bathroom areas.

  Try to avoid close contact with sick people.  Eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly!

Cleanliness in Common Areas

1. If you shave, clean up all hair follicles when done

2. If you are bleeding clean up all blood

3. Don’t put your tooth brush down on common counters

4. Try to keep your bathrooms clean as possible throw all used paper towels into the trash

5. Use the toilet seat protectors and flush them when done

6. Wash hands, Wash Hand and Wash Hands

7. Try not to use the hand rails in  stairwells if you are physically able.

 

My First Green Smoothie

Alright, I suspect many of you dear readers have heard about green smoothies, but how many have actually tried it? I suspect not many. Well I'm here to show you how easy it is to get more green in your life without sacraficing taste. The first thing you need to know is your green smoothie does not have to be ALL green! What fun would that be? So here is what I want you to do my dear reader, go to one of my  blogs about smoothies, pick a fun recipee (like the one below), and add just a tiny little kale leaf, or spinach, Blend it in nice and smooth, and VOILA, your first green smoothie! As you feel more daring, slowly start adding more greens until you reach the maximum amount of greens you can put in your smoothies and they still taste great to you! A good goal to try and set is 70% fruit and 30% greens.

Why go Green?

• Great source of fiber
• great sourse of omega-3 unsaturated fat
• helps the digestive system (then you wont have to buy the embarrasing stuff at the supermarket!)
• Great source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and  pretty much all those other vitamins listed on the back of your vitamin bottle!
• Many have reported improvements in energy, skin condition, and digestion!
• Helps with weight loss if used to replace  one of 5 small daily meals or used to fight junk food cravings!

 

Some great greens to put in your smoothie are :

lettuce, dandelion greens, kale, celery, watercress, escarole, mustard greens, turnip greens, carrot tops, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage,  and alphalpha.

 Fun Smoothie Recipee

1 banana
1 apple
4-5 strawberries
1-5 pieces of greens ( spinach leaves, parsley, or kale)
1/2 cup of ice
1 tablespoon  of flaxseed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!    -Healthygirl

 

Smoothielicious Part 2!

I've looked at my recent traffic on this page, and I seem to be getting a lot of page views on my smoothie article, so I thought I would make another one. Please feel free to leave comments and tell me what you would like to see more of! This blog is for you my dear readers! So without further adoo, I have have more recipees for you!

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

1 large sliced ripe banana

1 1/4 cups frozen raspberries

1/2 cup of ice 

6 oz cup of strawberry banana yogurt

1 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)

 

 

 

 

• For thicker, eat with a spoon, delicious smoothies, use frozen fruit

• For those of you trying to lose weight or gain muscle, these fruit smoothies are great to put your supplements into!

Summer Hunny Fun

1 banana

1 cup  strawberries

1 cup  blueberries

1 cup  cherries

1/2 cup of ice

splash of orange juice

6oz cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 teaspoon honey (optional)

1 tablespoon of flaxseed (optional)

*This will not all fit into a magic bullet blender, so the recipe will have to be cut in half if that is your blender of choice 

Hope you enjoy these new recipes! Let me know what you think!

Swimming for Fitness

 

Swimming for exercise.... have you ever tried it? There is always lap swimming, which is a great way to get in shape and beat the summer heat! Most pools set aside lanes for swimmers to do laps in during certain hours of the day. The pools are usually in the "down time" of the day, so you don't have to worry about children getting into your lane, or being self conscious about your bathing suit. It's just you, the pool, and the lifeguard, and trust me, the lifeguard is the last person you should be self conscious in front of. (Coming from a person who used to be one!) The pool is their job, and all they are concerned about is if you are still breathing.

Ok so you have a suit, the goggles, and you know about lap swimming. What's still keeping you away? Maybe lap swim isn't for you. After all, it is a very repetitive exercise. Some of you dear readers may even have  a hard time swimming. Well I have the perfect water cure for you! A new workout system that is becoming more popular is called Aquasize. This is a class that is taught with an instructor, like yoga or Zumba, but in the water. There is shallow and deep water aquasize, depending on how fit you are and how well you swim. Shallow water aquasize is a lighter workout for those starting out. They have small weights you strap on your ankles, and many tools for new and exciting ways to work out! If that doesn't seem like a hard enough workout, you and upgrade to deep water aquasize. Call your local pool today and see what they have to offer!

For those with achy joints, arthritis, and stiff muscles, a "take away the aches" class might be right for you. This class is still gaining popularity, so not all pools will have it, but if you are having these kinds of problems and your pool offers it, it is worth it to try it. This class is one that I have taught personally, so I know the benefits! It is not much in the realms of a workout, but more of a body loosener. This will help ease pains that come with age and medical conditions. I highly recommend this class if it is available to you.

Of course every pool is going to be different, and will offer different services. Go ahead, give your pool a call, see what they have to offer. What have you got to lose?

 

Smoothielicious!

 

Craving something sweet?  Who isn't? One great way to please the sweet tooth is with smoothies! These are great for summer and easy to make. The key to making great smoothies is to be experimental. Typically there are three ingredients: some fruit, some cream, some ice. By cream I mean yogurt, Ice Cream or Milk. I recommend using a Magic Bullet, but any blender will work.

A few things to keep in mind when making smoothies:

~ Some of the most popular smoothie fruits are bananas, strawberries, pineapple, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

~ Crushed ice is easier on the blender, and takes less time. If you don't have crushed ice, it is available at Sonic for about a buck fifty for a whole bag!

~Flax Seed is a great additive for your smoothies. It's tasteless and has omega-3 essential fatty acids, lowers cancer risks, and helps with arthritis.

~If you are trying to get into green smoothies, but are afraid to start, try putting whole strawberries with the leaves on them. This will still give you a rich fruity taste, with a hint of green power!

~ For those lactose intolerant, dairy alternatives are just as tasty. Start experimenting!

Here are a few recipes of my own creations to get you started:

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

4 large strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 6oz. cup of strawberry or vanilla yogurt

1 ripe banana
1/2 cup of ice.

1 tablespoon of flaxseed (optional)

Combine strawberries, yogurt and ice. Blend until perfectly smooth.

 

 

Passion Fruit Explosion

 

4-6 pieces of pineapple chunks

2-3 peach slices

1/2 banana

1/2 cup of ice

Splash of orange juice

2 scoops of sherbert ice cream

1 tablespoon of flaxseed (optional)

 

Put items in blender from biggest to smallest, for optimal room in blender. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

 

For more information on flaxseed:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

Lose the foods and Lose the Pounds!

Many people think losing weight is a temporary diet and exercise regime. People say "I'll go on my diet tomorrow" or "I'm starting South Beach diet soon" but the fact is, for the general population, we can't go on diets. Even if it "works" you will gain it back unless you make it a LIFESTYLE change. Do you want to be on South Beach forever?, Considering the cost and effort, most people don't.

 What you need to do my dear reader, is change your LIFESTYLE. Don't start big and dramatic, or you will most likely go right back where you started. I want you to start small. Here is a list of foods that make cellulite come and want to stay. Pick five to eliminate from your life for good! (yes you can have it on blue moons.) Don't cheat and pick things you never eat anyways. Pick five items, and stick to it. You will be amazed with the results!

1. Mayonnaise
2. Milkshakes
3. Muffins
4. French Fries
5. Bacon
6. Regular AND Diet Soda
7. Doughnuts
8. Cheesecake
9.  Fried Chicken
10. Pizza with Processed Meats
11. Pot Pies
12. Potato Chips
13.  Ribs
15. Pecan Pie

All the foods on this list are high in saturated fat, provide little nutritional value, and becon cellulite to come find you. Start by losing some of these fattening foods, and you'll lose some pounds!

~Healthy Girl

Some websites with more information:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb307276.htm

http://www.lovetoknow.com/top10/worst-foods.html