TIPS & FACTS

Blueberries contain more disease-fighting, age-proofing antioxidants than practically any other fruit or vegetable, even powerhouses such as kale, broccoli and oranges. In fact, blueberries were at the top of the list of 40 fruits and vegetables tested for their antioxidant potential. The group of substances that put the “blue” in blueberry—anthocyanins— are responsible for much of the fruit’s antioxidant power.

Blueberries (like other berries such as blackberries) also contain ellagic acid, which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Blueberries also boast a high fiber content, and much of that fiber is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol levels.

Keeping your body hydrated is key to overall health. Incorporating 8 glasses of water into your daily diet is an excellent way to keep your body fluid since water helps to regulate your body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to your cells, and removes waste.

Did you know that drinking water also helps cushion your joints, prevent constipation and lessen the burden on your kidneys and liver by removing some of the toxins?

Water is the great elixir and helps keep your skin looking soft, moist and supple while warding off blemishes. Best of all, water doesn’t contain any calories or sodium and gets an instant natural flavor boost with a simple slice of lemon.

Mia‘s tips

Get the most out of your spa experience by arriving at least 20 to 30 minutes early so you can familiarize yourself with the facility’s amenities and relax before your first treatment. Remember, arriving late will shorten the precious minutes of your spa treatment since most treatments end on time to accommodate the next appointment.

Go Red

Did you know that cardiovascular disease claims more women’s lives than the next six causes of death combined— about 500,000 women’s lives a year?

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement raises awareness that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer. Red is a symbol for women and heart disease. But red is more than a color—it’s the power of women investing in their heart health.

The campaign provides women tips and information on healthy eating, exercise and risk-factor reduction such as smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood-pressure control and blood-cholesterol management.

The grassroots movement began in February 2004 and has grown into a vibrant national movement as more women, men, celebrities, healthcare providers and politicians embrace and elevate the cause of women and heart disease.

For more information, log on to www.americanheart.org. 

The healthiest city dwellers in America live in San Jose, Calif., according to a study released by Sperling’s Best Places and Centrum®. The Centrum Healthiest Cities Study is the first-ever comprehensive “health report card” of U.S. cities. To create the study, Sperling’s Best Places gathered data on 50 U.S. cities from public and private sources and tested each city against 50 select measures in five major categories: physical activity, health status, nutrition, lifestyle pursuits and mental wellness.

1. San Jose, Calif.

2.Washington, D.C.

3. San Francisco 4. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.

5. Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah 6. Oakland, Calif.

7. Sacramento, Calif.

8. Orange County, Calif.

9. Denver

10. Austin-San Marcos, Texas

High levels of physical activity such as running, swimming or heavy gardening during leisure time can reduce your risk of stroke, according to a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Walking or biking to and from work for up to 29 minutes a day also may reduce the risk of strokes caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke).

“People should increase their physical activity during leisure time or commuting to lower the risk of stroke,” says lead investigator Gang Hu, Ph.D., senior researcher in the Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion at the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland.

The study is the first to find an inverse association between leisure-time physical activity and the risk of any stroke— ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding from a vessel on the surface of the brain into the space between the brain and the skull) or intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain).

With the cold and flu season just around the corner, the health professionals at the Lehigh University Health Center in Pennsylvania offer the following 5 tips to silencing that nagging cough.

• Drink plenty of clear fluids.
• Inhale steam by sitting in a steamy bathroom or using a vaporizer.
• Take one teaspoon of honey-lemon mixture as needed.
• Rest with two or more pillows under your head to help control your coughing.
• Consult your healthcare professional if you still are coughing after a few days.

Wondering if those weekend chores help shed the pounds? Well, the answer is a resounding yes! It may surprise you to know that some chores are as effective as a 30-minute workout when it comes to burning the calories. The following is a list of how many calories a 140-pound woman burns during 30 minutes of activity. How do you compare?

Source: www.checkweight.com