DAY 51 – Low Glycemic Diet
Did you know that choosing to eat foods that are low on the glycemic index can increase your energy level and also help you lose weight?
It’s true.
Foods that are high on the glycemic index (like bread and pasta) will give you a quick boost of energy, but very quickly your blood sugar will crash and you will become fatigued. However, foods that are low on the glycemic index help you to sustain energy over time, and will help you lose weight.
From The Glycemic Index…
Eating a lot of high GI foods can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true if you are overweight and sedentary. Switching to eating mainly low GI carbs that slowly trickle glucose into your blood stream keeps your energy levels balanced and means you will feel fuller for longer between meals.
- Low GI diets help people lose and control weight
- Low GI diets increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin
- Low GI carbs improve diabetes control
- Low GI carbs reduce the risk of heart disease
- Low GI carbs reduce blood cholesterol levels
- Low GI carbs can help you manage the symptoms of PCOS
- Low GI carbs reduce hunger and keep you fuller for longer
- Low GI carbs prolong physical endurance
- High GI carbs help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise
Also See:
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Easy South Beach Recipes
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DAY 52 -Prevent Colds and Flu
Last Minute Shopping? Avoid Malls To Prevent Holiday Colds and Flu.
OK. If you’ve managed to stay healthy up until now, then do yourself a favor and avoid crowded malls for any of your last minute holiday shopping. Trust me. It may sound a little crazy, but it makes a lot of sense.
Your local mall is crawling with germs that are just waiting to turn your body into a petri dish.
For some reason, malls keep their temperatures very warm. And the warmth is a breading ground for germs. When you mix in hundreds of people who are walking through, touching the things you are touching, and coughing into the air you are breathing – Your local mall might as well be a viral minefield of toxic germs.
So, if you still have last minute shopping to do…Avoid colds and flu by avoiding the malls, and instead opt for smaller less crowded stores.
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DAY 53 – Headache & Stress Relief
Headache & Stress Relief: Make Your Own Herbal Eye Pillow
My mother reminded me of a Christmas gift I had gotten her many years ago, and that she still uses. It’s an Herbal Eye Pillow, and she swears it gets rid of her headaches. They are also great for relaxation, stress relief and even as a sleep aid.
These herbal pillows continue to be a popular gift, and it’s something you can even make yourself.
Here are the directions for making one of your own…
1. Stitch two 8-inch by 5-inch rectangles of satin, flannel or unbleached organic cotton fabric together, leaving one end open. Chose your favorite color or fabric design.
2. In a small bowl, blend 1 cup of flaxseeds with 1 cup each of dried English lavender, chamomile and peppermint.
3. Add the herbal mix to the fabric bag and sew closed.
4. Lie down; place the pillow gently over eyes for 15-20 minutes. Breathe and relax. Dispose of the pillow if it gets wet or damp.
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DAY 54 – Learn To Meditate
If you have spent more than five minutes in a row stressing about your life or worrying about the future, then you can find five minutes to meditate. Use meditation to direct your negative thoughts into positive ones, and promote better health.
Here are seven reasons why you should take some time each day to meditate…
1. Manage stress
2. Sleep better
3. Pain reduction
4. Support immune system
5. Reduces blood pressure
6. Improve memory
7. Reduce irritability
Here is a link to an article on Learning How To Meditate.
Also See:
Therapy For Your Soul
Why It’s Great To Meditate
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DAY 55 -What To Do With Leftover Cookies and Candy
It’s time to stop eating holiday cookies and candy. Do you think you can do it? Probably not as long as they are still in your house.
If you have leftover holiday cookies or candy in your house, you need to get rid of them. It doesn’t matter how you get rid of them, just GET RID OF THEM.
You can throw them in the trash or give them to a neighbor, anything to avoid being tempted to eat them yourself.
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DAY 56 -Eat Nuts For Good Health
Did you know that eating nuts regularly is good for your health?
It’s true.
Studies have shown that people who eat nuts on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. Almonds and walnuts can also help reduce cholesterol. Nuts are also good for people with type 2 diabetes. Nuts have a low glycemic index and nuts associated with the holidays (such as walnuts and Brazil nuts) contain potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium.
Tip: Buy nuts with the shells still on. It gives you something to do with your hands, and you’ll also be less likely to eat too many.
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DAY 57 -Keep Your Memory Sharp
Did you know that you can keep your memory and mind healthy with online games? You can actually have fun while keeping your mind sharp.
Experts suggest that not using our brain enough can be a major factor in losing our mental abilities as we get older. But using games and puzzles can improve our memory and concentration.
Here are two of my favorites…
This is an animated version of The Memory Game from a site with many mind and memory games.
Then there is Sudoku – a highly addictive number placement game that also relies on memory.
To complete a Sudoku puzzle you have to look ahead and follow trails of consequences — if you put a 6 in this box, that one must be an 8 and this one a 4, etc. This “planning” helps improve short term memory and concentration.
Do you play memory games to help keep your mind sharp? If not, would you consider trying?
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DAY 58 – Have Fun and Enjoy Your Life
Are You Having Enough Fun And Enjoying Your Life?
In today’s busy and stressful times, some of us may be forgetting about a very important aspect of good health.
Having Fun.
It’s true. Eating healthy food, getting enough exercise and sleep is all very important. But so is having a good time and enjoying life.
Tips for finding time to have fun…
1. Schedule a certain amount of time each day for doing something fun.
2. Include activities you enjoy doing on your own, as well as others that you enjoy doing with friends or family.
3. Planning activities is important, but being spontaneous is also beneficial.
When was the last time you did something just for fun?
Also See:
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DAY 59 – Avoid Alcoholic Beverages and Empty Calories
If you’re going to a New Year’s Eve party, then you are probably planning on having a couple alcoholic beverages too. But there are several reasons why you should consider not overindulging on cocktails. In addition to a hangover, if you are concerned about your weight, you should know that most alcoholic beverages are 99.9% empty calories.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid a New Year’s Day throbbing headache and hangover…
1. Eat before you drink. Do not consume alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.
2. Drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages between cocktails.
3. Be a sipper. It’s not a race, you have all night to finish your drink.
4. Contrary to popular belief…You really can have fun at a party without being drunk.
But if you do overindulge, here are a few tips for that too…
1. Prevent dehydration by drinking water before you go to bed.
2. Replace electrolytes by drinking a sports drink (like Gatorade) before you go to bed.
3. Get a good night sleep.
4. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland also recommends eating honey, which speeds up alcohol metabolism.
Well, whether you decide to drink or not to drink – Be safe, and have a wonderful time.
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DAY 60 – On November 1st we started 61 Days To Better Health, and today is our final post. I’ve enjoyed taking this journey towards better health with you. I hope you’ve found these posts helpful, and that you are on a road to better health.
Here is a look back at some of the issues we have addressed over the last 61 Days To Better Health…
Nutrition:
Fitness:
Lifestyle:
Thanks for joining me in 61 Days To Better Health…Tomorrow we begin our 2009 Good Health-a-Thon. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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