Sugar: Not always such a sweet thing.

Adult-onset diabetes is running rampant in our country. These days there are more deaths attributed to diabetes-related problems ever. Don't worry, I'm not being insensitive here. Many people can't help having blood sugar and diabetic problems, as their issues are hereditary or something they are born with. However, many adults who develop blood sugar problems and adult onset diabetes can easily control or rid the issue by simply making a few lifestyle changes and undoing poor choices made with diet and exercise as they have aged.

Harvard's School of Public Health gives some great tips to help reduce our risk of developing diabetes:  

• Put exercise first. Regular exercise by itself can cut diabetes risk. Exercise also helps to manage your weight. Choose things you enjoy and do them every day.  
• Try to keep your weight in check. Being a healthy weight is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of diabetes. Need to lose weight? Getting active and eating smaller portions slowly are your best bets.
• Choose healthy fats. Sure, they’ve got long names, but a diet rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats can help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Canola oil and olive oil are great choices, as are the fats in avocados, nuts, and seeds.
• Focus on plant foods. A diet high in whole grains can help lower the risk of diabetes and keep appetites in check. Choose a good variety of whole-grain foods.
• Cut back on refined carbs and sugary drinks. White bread, white rice, white pasta, and potatoes cause fast and furious increases in blood sugar, as do sugary soft drinks, fruit punch, and fruit juice. Over time, eating a lot of these refined carbohydrates and sugar may increase your risk for Type 2 diabetes. To lower your risk switch to whole grains and skip the sugar.

 Source: Harvard School of Public Health

Words to Live By

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”
- Thomas Edison

Pause.

Ahh, Spring. What a beautiful time of year.
I literally hugged a tree today.

The changing of seasons is a beautiful time to pause and appreciate
nature, loved ones, the beautiful things in life.

March: National Nutrition Month

That's right. March is National Nutrition Month. Though it's almost over already, we still have another week to focus on becoming more nutritionally aware. Instead of making a quick bowl of cereal for breakfast, eat a balanced breakfast with granola, fruit, or whole grains. Be sure to keep your body hydrated, and try to focus on eating a fresh, minimally processed diet.

To find more information about National Nutrition Month, read great information about eating a healthy diet and maintaining a wellness-based frame of mind, visit http://www.eatright.org/nnm/.

Words to Live By

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relatinship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well...that's just fabulous."

- Carrie Bradshaw

Spice up your life.

If you know me, you know I LOVE spicy foods. Hot curries, jalepenos, chipotle tabasco sauce, onions, and red pepper flakes are a regular part of my diet. Though I'm sure that one day my stomach will start protesting my intense love of these foods, I eat at least 3-4 meals per week that have a little kick.
Did you know that spicy/hot foods are actually good for your brain? For years, numerous studies have shown that spicy foods release endorphines in the brain and can even help ward off Alzheimer's Disease. Your metabolism can also be stimulated by spicy/hot foods. We can thank capsaicin, the element that makes spicy foods spicy, for these awesome benefits. Of course, the more capsaicin that is in your dish, the spicier the dish will be.

I've even read that Alzheimer's Disease has a very low occurence in India and Thailand, where spicy foods and curries are more prominent. Of course, this could be attributed to many other factors as well, including the state of the land the food is grown in, whether or not pesticides are used in food production, regional diet trends/habits, genetics. Personally, while enjoying green curry with steamed tofu (no fish sauce) cooked Thai hot from Sweet Basil (the best restaurant in Greenville, in my opinion), I also get a little satisfaction knowing I'm doing my brain some good, too!

Simple, Effective

I've blogged before about simple exercises that we can do throughout the day to help keep us fit, when there is time to kill or no time for a workout. One simple way I like to work out my legs is to simply take two or three stairs at a time. Normally I try to do this one at home so I don't make a fool of myself at the library or in stadiums, however.

Remember to keep your abs engaged and torso upright. Even going up and down your stairs at home a couple of times every day will yield more results than you'd think. Give it a shot!