Why Fitness and Nutrition?

What is fitness? Similar to health in some ways, it is the state of being fit.  Able to do the given task well.  Having the body composition you want.  What is nutrition?  The process of taking in materials and using it for growth and cell regeneration.  What have they got to do with each other?  The fitness would be the what and the nutrition would be the how.  Which leaves only the question of why?  Wellness!  I'll quote thefreedictionary.com/wellness on this one "The condition of good physical and mental health, especially when maintained by proper diet, exercise, and habits."  Sounds nice right?  Stick around with the people you love for awhile and being sane and healthy while spending time with them.  Being able to work enough for yourself and to be generous as well.  I suppose there can be many reasons.  Small steps and curiosity help keep it interesting.  If you run into one of those days where motivation isn't there, try putting on the biggest smile and keeping it there for the next 15 mins, or telling a light-hearted joke to your co-worker.  Be creative, paint or draw something.  Blast you're favorite song and dance to it like today is the best day of your life.  That's all for now folks.

Grapefruit, A Great Fruit!

      Recently I've been drinking grapefruit juice more often.  So I took the time to look up how it interacts with the body.  First I found that it may interact with up to 85 common prescription pills.  So if you are on any form of medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist if grapefruit will interact with it. These interactions are explained better here: Furanocoumarins.  

     I became interested more in this fruit when I would notice both an energy boost and a general feeling of happiness.  This most likely can be explained by the larger amount of vitamins and minerals found in it.  I encourage you to research on your own what these are, as I am finding many things I'm not familiar with.  

     Some of the commonly listed health benefits would be:  Helping with proper digestion, urinary tract infection's, flu-fighting, lowers cholesterol, and providing a defense against some types of cancer.  So adding a few slices of grapefruit to a breakfast meal or having some juice with dinner may help you feel more up to par.  

    I've personally noticed it helping in recovery from work-outs and/or high-stress environments.  The taste is quite bitter, but it is growing on me over time.  If you really can't stand it, try mixing it with apple or grape juice .  So yes I would have to say grapefruit is a great fruit!   

Sites I learned most of this from:    

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/11/us-usa-grapefruit-idUSBRE92A12K20130311

http://neilbaum.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/a-grapefruit-may-be-the-new-apple-but-be-careful/

http://geniuscook.com/grapefruit/

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-grapefruit.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25

Super Eggs

   I've been eating eggs with more veggies in them.  They seem to add flavor and give me an energy boost in the morning.  Today was my most daring yet and it actually turned out quite good.

  Super Eggs:
What you'll need:

• 4 hash browns
• A small handful of green beans
• Onion (to taste)
• Garlic (to taste)
• A few spinach leaves
• A leaf or 2 of swiss chard
• 3 eggs
• A dash of milk
• Hot sauce of your choice
• A sprinkle of cheese (after heat is off)

   Start by tossing any frozen ingredients in the pan, to defrost, with some butter or non-stick spray.  Though I do recommend using ingredients that are as fresh as possible.
   Next begin chopping the remaining vegetables and add them.  Dump the eggs and a dash of milk (around 1/4 the mass of the eggs) on top.  Allow it to cook, slowly stirring and keeping anything from burning.
   Add a bit of hot sauce for flavor to the eggs and leafy vegetables.  Be aware the onions and garlic will enhance the hot sauce.
   Once the mixture is fairly dry, remove from heat and sprinkle some of your favorite cheese on top.

Enjoy

5 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Outside

   It's nearly spring and the days are getting longer and warmer.  I look forward to this time of the year, as flowers and critters shows up.  This is a great time to start a routine walk or hike.   Here are 5 reasons why something like that would be great for your mind and body:

1.    Being outside even for a short time may change your mind set and keep you in a better mood throughout the day.  A combination of Vitamin D and seeing life in a more open perspective could contribute to this.
2.    Physical activity on a routine basis helps your body stay healthy and clean out toxins that build up in your system.  Thus aiding you in achieving your goals more quickly.  There are many ways of enjoying yourself while getting exercise, like: biking, swimming, or playing sports.
3.    Changes of scenery and routine keep the mind young and active.  They also help keep your personal problems in perspective.  Maybe explore that creek you have driven by a hundred times, or go running on a new path.  Be curious and ask why.
4.    Become a part of the community you live in and get a better understanding of it.  Say hello to the neighbor a few houses down, who happens to walk his dog at the same time you do.  Or, walk by a local market and take note of community events posted there.  In the process you may meet people similar to you and enjoy good times with them.
5.    Taking the time to appreciate beauty.  A good amount of time is spent in a small car, getting upset at the person in front of you for not driving the way you think they should be.  Or, at a job where there are few windows and no wildlife around.  The world is beautiful though, don't forget to take the time to go outside and appreciate it.

   So there should be nothing stopping you from embracing health!  There are parks around almost every city, so travel the distance and enjoy yourself a bit.  You deserve it.

Natural Joint Strength

       I read a few articles today about nutrition for joint pain.  Allow me to share.    Many people experience joint pain for various reasons.  This pain usually arises from heavy stress on the joints, which is often caused by improper form or environment.  Along with muscle recovery, pay attention to your joints.  Flexibility and strong tendons help avoid injury as well as improving blood flow to help your overall health.

       Vitamin C helps the immune system function.  It's commonly found in oranges, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli and many other fruits and vegetables.  With vitamin C, you know you've had to much when your stool is softer than normal.  If your body is absorbing a lot of vitamin C you may need a few servings.

       Don't forget vitamin E.  This vitamin is important for many reasons, one of it's most well-known is it's anti-oxidizing properties.  It can be found in wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, almonds, dark-leafy vegetables as well as other green or orange fruits and vegetables.  This works with vitamin C to repair the cells throughout the body including the joints.

       Omega-3 fatty acids are an important oil that helps movement.  It's found in fish, olives, free-range eggs, and various seed or nut oils.  It reduces joint pain and is anti-inflammatory.  Try mixing various seeds and nuts into meals to get more Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.

       Pineapple which has a good mix of these vitamins and other helpful minerals and fiber. Last but not least, Papaya with great healing and recovery properties. Basically  switch up your diet.  Try having some tropical fruits, with some dark-leafy greens and flax seed.

       One final thing to remember, the physical aspects contributing to joint pain.  Environment and right form are big factors.  Get good insoles if you're walking on hard surfaces often, take time every few hours to stretch your hands if you are on a computer all day.  Whenever exercising focus on the movement and correct it till it feels right.  Watch videos or learn from other people's form as it helps.

       Thanks for reading.  I hope you found something useful.  I'll be posting more soon.
      
Here are some of the sites I read about this on:
www.livestrong.com/article/290557-foods-that-help-joint-pain/
www.fitsugar.com/Foods-Ease-Muscle-Joint-Pain-7634540
www.theinertia.com/health/top-foods-to-aid-joint-pain-and-surfin/2/