Category Archives for "health"
We are 100! Best of the past.
To celebrate episode 100, we’re looking back on the top downloaded podcasts that included subject matter experts.
In episode 48, Julie Suzette dives deeper into mindfulness. She explained that you can condition the body to enable meditation and mindfulness. This could involve relearning how to breathe, which can be difficult, though you will learn to breathe in more deeply which can reduce stress. Yoga is also a great option for becoming more mindful, as there are many different styles of yoga to try, including hot yoga or restorative-style yoga.
We spoke with Jimmy Moore in episode 23, who discussed ketosis. Jimmy explained that ketosis is when you allow your body to become a fat burning machine rather than sugar burning machine. To shift to fat burning, you should get rid of sources of sugar, so the body can run efficiently on fat and a byproduct of fat called ketones. Obviously losing weight is a benefit of ketosis, but it also decreases your hunger. Your mood can stabilize, allowing clear thinking. Energy levels can also improve in ketosis.
In episode 74, Dr. Vincent Pedre discussed the microbiomes of our gut, which includes trillions of bacteria. Depending on the type of food you eat, you have the potential to grow bad bacteria in your gut. Because of this, the biggest source of healing starts in the kitchen. What we eat actually controls how genes are expressed. Our health is in crisis because the root of many diseases is inflammation from our gut.
In episodes 53 and 58, Dr. Michael Greger explained the positive effects of a plant-based diet, especially in regards to preventing and even reversing heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
In episode 77, Dr. Jason Fung discussed the problem with obesity. He explained that long-term diets are the issue to solve. It’s not simply what we eat, but when we eat that makes a difference. It is helpful to make one’s diet intermittent and break the cycle of insulin resistance, which can lead to obesity.
To check out more of the 40+ Fitness Podcast, visit the Archive.
https://40plusfitnesspodcast.com/150
May 13, 2016
- in fitness , guest/interview , health by allan
Healthy brain happy life | Dr. Wendy Suzuki
Dr. Wendy Suzuki runs an interactive research lab in NYC, is regularly interviewed in the media, lectures nationally, and serves as reviewer for neuroscience journals. She is also the author of Healthy Brain Happy Life. In her book, Dr. Suzuki details how her skills as a scientist helped her to improve her own life. She used neuroscience to change her life, which also changed the way she practiced science.
Dr. Suzuki explains that exercise is a critical component of being a healthy human. We know about the positive physical effects of exercise, but it also has a positive effect on the brain.
Engaging in exercise can improve mood function. After a good workout, you may notice being in a better mood. This is due to an increase in the neurotransmitters that usually decrease during a depression. Exercise also leads to an increased attention span. It has showed improved function with acute or long-term exercise. And perhaps most importantly, exercise stimulates the birth of new brain cells that are critical for long-term memory.
An interesting thought to consider is whether movement itself has any impact on one’s memory. One technique is the idea of a memory palace, where you visualize a space you’re familiar with and mentally walk through it while placing different items in different rooms that you need to remember. This works especially well with lists of items that should be remembered in order.
To improve your brain health through exercise, Dr. Suzuki recommends following these three tips:
- Engage in a regular form of exercise you enjoy. This will put you in a great mood and improve your memory.
- Find a regular meditative activity. This will cause positive brain changes and decrease your stress.
- Engage in altruism as a great way to increase dopamine in your brain.
While exercise won’t fully cure any memory degradation over time, it can help to delay this by strengthening the brain. To contact Dr. Wendy Suzuki or learn more about Healthy Brain Happy Life, visit www.wendysuzuki.com.
May 11, 2016
- in guest/interview , health by linda
101 homemade products | Jan Berry
In today’s episode, we are joined by Jan Berry, the author of 101 Homemade Products for Skin, Health and Home. Jan is also the writer and photographer of the blog, The Nerdy Farm Wife. She is also a contributed to HobbyFarms.com and Natural Herbal Living Magazine.
Jan talks about her background and inspiration for her creative ways to turn herbs, flowers and other garden plants into beautiful, fun and practical products. She discusses how she’s especially fond of finding fun and practical uses for weeds and otherwise overlooked plants, such as dandelions.
Homemade products are featured that are easy to make and use commonly found herbs, flowers, oils and other natural ingredients. Going green has never been easier or more affordable. Local, natural ingredients are key to making something beautiful, effective and good for you and your family.
Jan describes herself as a serial hobbyist with many interests, yet her blog has morphed into a place where she shares soap making ideas and tips along with herbal recipes and natural DIY body care projects. Learn and explore more about Jan Berry’s 101 Homemade products for Skin, Health and Home at the Nerdy Farm Wife website.
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/
May 9, 2016
- in guest/interview , health by linda
The big book of kombucha | Hannah Crum
An industry journalist and author, today we talk to Hanna Crum, author of The Book Book of Kombucha. Hanna is also known as the Kombucha Mama, and founder of Kombucha Kamp, the most visited website in the world for Kombucha information, receipts and advice. KKamp’s mission is to “change the world, one gut at a time.”
The health of our gut is an important foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Ancient humans always incorporated fermentation into their diet because of the lack of modern practices such as refrigeration. Kombucha has been undergoing resurgence as the concept of gut health is in the wellness spotlight.
So what is Kombucha? It is a fermented beverage made from tea. A starter culture of bacteria and yeast is added which increases the nutritional content of the beverage. Just like other fermented foods, Kombucha brings billions of self-perpetuating beneficial bacteria to your gut. It is available at health food stores, mainstream grocery and retail stores, and it is also easy to make at home. A lifetime supply can be made from one fresh, healthy culture.
Learn more about Kombucha and its gut health benefits from Hanna Crum who is an industry journalist and Master Brewer. She directly mentors thousands of new and experienced Kombucha brewers and provides consultation services for Kombuchs start-ups since 2007. Along with her partner, Alex LaGory, their reporting has been featured in BevNet, Beverage Specrum Magazine, Whole Life Times Magazine, Los Angeles times, Elephant Journal, Vital Juice and mother others while her instructional video series with E-How/Expert Village has racked up over 1 million views.
Kombuchakamp.com
Store.kombuchakamp.com
May 5, 2016
- in guest/interview , health by julie
The age fix | Dr. Anthony Youn
Dr. Anthony Youn is a nationally recognized board-certified plastic surgeon. He is a leader in field of plastic surgery and has been featured on GMA, Today, and CNN, just to name a few. He is also the author of The Age Fix.
The Age Fix examines typical aging concerns and offers practical tips that don’t involve surgery. In fact, the book is intended to be an avenue of information for people who don’t have access to a plastic surgeon. It is truly a head to toe guide, covering such typical issues as age spots, wrinkles, and saggy skin.
One typical area of concern is stretch marks. Dr. Youn explains that stretch marks are tears in the deeper part of the skin. Unfortunately, there is no way to erase them, though a fractional laser treatment can improve their appearance. Another issue is loose skin, especially after a dramatic weight loss. This can only be treated surgically.
Dr. Youn also explains that there are several factors that accelerate the aging process of our skin. The most detrimental is excess sunlight. Dr. Youn recommends applying SPF 30 sunscreen to your face every morning. Sunblock is best used on the body. He also recommends that children do not use sunscreen spray, as the ingredients may be problematic to their hormonal balance.
Smoking is another area of concern. Smoking decreases blood supply and circulation, leaving skin to appear wrinkled and without a healthy glow. The foods we eat can also have an aging effect. Excess sugar intake can cause inflammation, possibly leading to skin aging and acne. The worst food to consume is soda pop.
Finally, alcohol is another substance that is not recommended. One exception is a daily glass of red wine, as it contains helpful antioxidants that can combat free radicals. However, more than one glass can become detrimental.
If you exercise regularly and avoid these problematic factors that can age your skin, you can look younger without undergoing plastic surgery. To connect with Dr. Youn directly or to purchase The Age Fix, visit www.dryoun.com.
May 2, 2016
- in health , solo show , weight loss by julie
Elimination diets
What exactly are elimination diets? Believe it or not, they can actually be used to rebuild your health. Elimination diets involve removing all of the foods that could be causing you problems. In fact, you may have a sensitivity or allergy to some foods, but you may not even realize it. Once the food is removed from your diet, you are able to clearly see which foods may be causing you issues. This will allow you to craft a healthier gut and diet moving forward.
An elimination diet usually takes about four weeks. During that time, you will eat only fruits, vegetables, and meat—basically real, whole foods. You can try different tastes and textures to give you some variety. Write down how you’re feeling. Keep track of your results and reactions. Though it will be difficult, your gut will reset. Once this has occurred, you can begin reintroducing certain foods back into your diet in a responsible way.
When you’re ready to reintroduce eliminated foods, start with items you feel would be least likely to cause an issue. Consume a very small sample the first day. If you don’t have any issues, continue to consume that food for the remainder of the week. Each week, add a new food back in, but only one type of food per week. Do not add processed food or sugar back into your diet.
Why would you want to do an elimination diet? The main reason is a desire to be healthy. After going through an elimination diet, you will feel lighter and cleaner. You’ll be in tune with your body, as you’ll be actively paying attention to how it’s acting and responding to certain foods. You’ll have a full understanding of how all different types of foods affect you.
Doing an elimination diet is a great way to get healthy and build a strong microbiome. By learning what you can and shouldn’t eat, you’ll have a good nutritional blueprint for the future.
Goal setting
We all have goals. In fact, goal setting is an important process. If you have a strong commitment, then your goal is the map to your success. When we have goals, and are then able to meet those goals, we experience a great sense of accomplishment. This often pushes us forward to wanting to meet an even greater goal. But how do we set goals to maximize our opportunity for success?
First, you need to look at your life in a more strategic way. Think about what you really want out of life. If your goals are not congruent with what you want, then achieving that goal won’t have much meaning for you. And what would be the point of that? If your goal doesn’t fit your life, you’re not going to be passionate about it and are less likely to follow through.
A strong goal is a SMART one. Goals should be:
Specific – The goal should have a direct link to something you want to accomplish. It’s clear cut and finite.
Measurable – The goals should have a metric or milestone so that it’s clear when you have reached the goal.
Achievable or Attainable – The goal needs to be something that is within your capacity, though it should certainly be something that stretches you.
Relevant – The goal has to matter or make a difference to you. This will cause you to be motivated to stick with it.
Time-bound – The goal should include a specific amount of time within which you’re aiming to achieve it.
Do your goals have all five SMART elements? If not, what’s missing? If you need help fine tuning your goals, visit www.older.fitness/goal to sign in and receive a free worksheet to assist you in your goal setting.