justkeep-running:

5 Reasons You Should Be A Runner

1. Running strengthens bones better than any other aerobic activity.
2. Women who ran frequently as teenagers were less likely to develop dementia later in life.
3. Insomniacs fall asleep in 17 minutes on days they run, compared to 38 minutes on days they don’t.
4. The faster you run, the harder your heart works and the stronger it gets.
5. Running can lower blood pressure, raise good cholesterol, and boost immunity to colds and other viruses.

(via healthyandhappyandhopeful)

hungryrunner:

50 Bodyweight Exercises You Can Do Anywhere!

Can’t get to the gym but want to workout? Not a problem! Save this link and open it up anytime you’re in a need of a kick-butt, in-home workout. Mix and match your favorite moves to create a 30 to 40 minute routine and you’ll have yourself a calorie-scorching workout that’s just as good (if not better!) as any workout you can do at the gym. Plus, you’ll save valuable time not having to get to and from the gym. Sweet deal!

[image via Greatist]

(via justbreathe831)

Neal Barnard MD discusses the science behind food additions. Willpower is not to blame: chocolate, cheese, meat, and sugar release opiate-like substances. Dr. Barnard also discusses how industry, aided by government, exploits these natural cravings, pushing us to eat more and more unhealthy foods. A plant-based diet is the solution to avoid many of these problems. Neal Barnard is the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

healthylivingforyou:

Gotta do these.

(Source: nostruggle-noprogress)

Jack La Lanne Power Juicer!

There’s a juicer that’s been sitting in my house for awhile now, and no one’s used it! ..not until today! :D

liekearends:

Now that I am looking into dietary treatment to support my health recovery while doing testing in Germany and New York for bacteria infections, I am coming across many interesting documentaries that are talking about healing with nutrition.

Amazing what the Gerson therapy can do for treating…

thevegancheese:

Asparagus

• Asparagus is high in glutathione, an important anticarcinogen
• It also contains rutin, which protects small blood vessels from rupturing and may protect against radiation
• Asparagus is a good source of vitamins A, C and E, B-complex vitamins, potassium and zinc

Avocado

• Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat, which is easily burned for energy.
• An avocado has more than twice as much potassium as a banana.
• For a delicious, creamy salad dressing, mix together avocado and fresh carrot juice.

Bananas

• You don’t need to eat bananas for the potassium! (Although it is present in bananas, potassium is the predominant nutrient among most all fruits and vegetables.)
• Bananas are high in sugar, so they should not be eaten if you have blood sugar problems.
• Don’t eat bananas on an empty stomach; combining them with a bit of protein will help to normalize the insulin response caused by the sugar in the banana.
• Green-tipped bananas are better for your health than over-ripe bananas.
• On a side note: Because bananas are so popular, rainforests are often destroyed to make way for banana plantations

Beet Greens/Root

• Beet greens contain notable amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus
• They also contain vitamins A, B-complex and C
• Beet roots are high in carbohydrate levels and should therefore be used sparingly

Broccoli

• Broccoli contains twice the vitamin C of an orange
• It has almost as much calcium as whole milk—and the calcium is better absorbed
• It contains selenium, a mineral that has been found to have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties
• Broccoli is a modest source of vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol vitamin E
• It also has antioxidant properties

Celery

• Celery is the best vegetable source of naturally occurring sodium.
• It is high in potassium.
• The high water content in celery makes it ideal for vegetable juicing.
• As an easy way to reduce grains in your diet, spread peanut butter on celery rather than bread.

Cilantro

• Cilantro may be useful to treat urinary tract infections
• Both the leaves and seeds aid digestion, relieve intestinal gas, pain and distention
• They also treat nausea, soothe inflammation, rheumatic pain, headaches, coughs and mental stress
• Cilantro is a member of the carrot family

Chicory

• Chicory contains insulin, which helps diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels
• Chicory is closely related to lettuce and dandelion but is a member of the sunflower family
• It may be cleansing to the liver and gallbladder
• Chicory is beneficial for digestion, the circulatory system and the blood
• Chicory leaves are a good source of calcium, vitamin A and potassium

Chinese Cabbage

• Chinese cabbage has anti-inflammatory properties
• It is an excellent source of folic acid
• Chinese cabbage is low in calories and low in sodium
• It is also high in vitamin A and a good source of potassium

Dandelion Greens

• Dandelion is beneficial to digestion and is an antiviral that may be useful in the treatment of AIDS and herpes
• It may also be useful in treating jaundice, cirrhosis, edema due to high blood pressure, gout, eczema and acne
• Dandelion is also used to treat and prevent breast and lung tumors and premenstrual bloating
• Dandelion greens are high in vitamin A in the form of antioxidant carotenoid and vitamin C
• They also contain calcium and potassium
• Dandelion root contains inulin, which lowers blood sugar in diabetics

Fennel

• Fennel contains the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin
• This herb is anticarcinogenic and can be useful for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
• Fennel can be useful for indigestion and spasms of the digestive tract
• It also helps expel phlegm from the lungs

Green Beans

• Fresh beans contain vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, calcium and potassium
• Green beans are diuretic and may be used to treat diabetes
• A fresh bean should snap crisply and feels velvety to the touch

Jicama

• Jicama is low in sodium and high in potassium
• It has a slightly sweet flesh that’s on the order of water chestnuts, but crunchier
• Due to their high carbohydrate content, they should be used sparingly

Kale

• Kale eases lung congestion and is beneficial to the stomach, liver and immune system
• It contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the eyes from macular degeneration
• It also contains indole-3-carbinol, which may protect against colon cancer
• Kale is an excellent source of calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and chlorophyll

Kohlrabi

• Kohlrabi, which belongs to the cabbage family, is an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium
• It is also high in fiber
• Kohlrabi helps to stabilize blood sugar and is therefore useful hypoglycemia and diabetes
• It can also be effective against edema, candida and viral conditions

Mustard Greens

• Mustard greens are an excellent anticancer vegetable
• They may also be beneficial for colds, arthritis or depression
• While mustard greens sold in the United States are relatively mild in flavor, some mustard green varieties, especially those in Asia, can be as hot as a jalapeno pepper depending on their mustard oil content

Onions

• Onions are an excellent antioxidant, and they contain anti-allergy, antiviral and antihistamine properties.
• Sulfur compounds in onions help to detoxify the body.
• Onions aid in cellular repair.
• Onions are a rich source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant.
• To obtain the maximum nutritional benefits, onions should be eaten raw or lightly steamed.

Parsley

• Parsley is useful as a digestive aid
• It helps to purify the blood and stimulate the bowels
• Parsley is an anticarcinogen
• It contains three times as much vitamin C as oranges, and twice as much iron as spinach
• Parsley contains vitamin A and is a good source of copper and manganese
• For a natural breath freshener, try a sprig of parsley!

Peanut Butter

• When buying peanut butter, only buy organic varieties.
• Non-organic peanut butters are high in pesticides and fungus and contain aflatoxin, a potent carcinogenic mold.
• To increase the protein in peanut butter (peanuts have about the same amount of protein as soy), Brewer’s yeast can be mixed in. This is especially useful for vegetarians.

Peanuts

• Peanuts contain beneficial protein, but many people are allergic to them and find them hard to digest.
• They also contain aflatoxin, a carcinogenic, which may explain why peanut farmers have been found to have disproportionately high rates of cancer.
• Peanuts are high in fungus and, often, pesticides.
  They do not contain any omega-3, which can contribute to distorting your omega-6:omega-3 ratio.
• The peanut is actually a legume, not a nut (which is why they are often roasted).
• Peanuts contain about the same amount of protein as soy and are low in starchy carbohydrates.
• Did you know? George Washington Carver was largely responsible for popularizing the peanut as a food in America.

Pumpkin Seeds

• Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is good for the prostate and building the immune system.
• They also contain fatty acids that kill parasites.
• Raw pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids and beneficial proteins.
• For maximum nutritional benefits, seeds should be eaten raw.
• Roasted seeds contain damaged fat that can lead to plaque in the arteries.

Radishes

• Radishes have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
• They are a member of the cabbage family
• Radishes contain vitamin C, potassium and other trace minerals
• Grown in Egypt since at least 2780 B.C., radishes were originally black

Sweet Potato

• Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of carotenoid antioxidants
• They contain calcium, are high in vitamins A and C and contain thiamine
• Be careful: eating too many may cause abdominal swelling and indigestion
• Sweet potatoes are also high in sugar and therefore should be used sparingly
• Sweet potatoes are not related to the potato nor the yam—they are actually a member of the morning glory family

Tomatoes

• Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, flavonoids and other phytochemicals with anticarcinogenic properties
• Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (the vitamin C is most concentrated in the jelly-like substance that surrounds the seeds)
• They also contain vitamin A and B-complex vitamins, potassium and phosphorus
• A tomato grown in a hothouse has half the vitamin C content as a vine-ripened tomato

Zucchini (Summer Squash)

• Zucchini and other summer squash varieties contain vitamins A and C
• They also contain potassium and calcium
• The flavor of zucchini is best when it is less than six inches long
• Zucchinis can grow as large as baseball bats but have little flavor when they reach this size

…So what does meat, milk, cheese, and eggs cure again?

(Source: realfoodology, via veganskinnybitch)

The Worst Foods You Can Eat

(from Reader’s Digest)

(via veganskinnybitch)

healthy-fit-fabulous:

I was doing my recipes and workouts haunting and I found this for you guys!… You don’t really need a gym membership to workout in a great way, and with the guide of an expert!!!

First of all, you must complement this strength workout with a 30 min cardio workout. You can go for a walk/jog,…

(Source: skinnyandfabulous)

beccasfitlife:

searchingforbliss:

thefameofhealthandfitness:

With this challenge I will provide some guidelines but please note, I’m not a trainer and I’m not a nutritionist, but I am person who is passionate about health and fitness and I have worked hard to get to where I am.

How you design this challenge is in your hands. I will provide you with some suggestions and examples to help guide you but ultimately you will be the person setting your goals for the next 30 days. You don’t have to prove anything to me or other readers, you just need to prove to yourself that you are capable of doing what you set out to do, because you are. Mistakes, missed meals or workouts, unplanned cheats or temptations might happen. And if it does, don’t focus on the bump in the road, focus on getting over that bump and right back on track. Each meal, workout, hour of sleep, and each day is a new opportunity to learn from your mistakes. It’s an opportunity to reflect on each situation and to devise a plan for success when you get your second chance. There’s always another opportunity for change and become a better version of yourself. Only you know the direction you want to go in and only you know where you’re currently standing.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS 30 DAY CHALLENGE:

1. Get your sweat on for 30-120 minutes a day for 4-6 days a week (you can use your own program or something you found in a magazine. But whatever you choose, it needs to be consistent for the next 4 weeks).
2. Every Sunday schedule in your workouts for the week
3. Eat a clean meal every 2-3 hours (5-7 meals a day) (check out Tosca Reno’s EAT CLEAN DIET book, Oxygen magazine, my recipes/meals’ pages, or the Clean Eating magazine for some guidelines)
4. Eat protein with 3-7 of your meals
5. Cut out all added salt
6. Cut out all added sugar
7. Cut out all white flour
8. Get 7-9 hours of sleep every day
9. Drink 1-2 glasses of water with each meal
10. Drink 1-5 cups of decaf green or white tea a day
11. Avoid drinking alcohol if possible
12. Drink coffee before your workout if you need an extra boost (avoid energy drinks)
13. Prepare all your meals the night before
14. Schedule in 0-2 cheat meals a week (FYI: cheat “meal” does not equal a day)
15. If you plan on cheating also plan on what you will be having before the day
16. Say “No thank you” to treats that are unplanned
17. Eat your last meal 1-3 hours before bed
18. Take your measurements in the AM (on Monday, January 30th or Tuesday, January 31st) and again when the challenge ends. Measurements can include: photos in a bikini, using a measuring tape to measure your body (e.g., thighs, chest etc.), the scale, body fat %, try on a tigher pair of jeans etc. This is up to you but I don’t recommend you just use the scale! It is not the best indicator of your hard work.
19. Try your best
20. Give it your all
21. Ditch your excuses, it’s only 30 days - you’ll live

RULES FOR THE CHALLENGE!!!

RULE #1: If you are joining this challenge you will need to make a post on your blog stating what your goals are for the next 30 days (feel free to “steal” the NO EXCUSES picture and repost it on your blog).

For example:

• I will cook all my meals and bring my lunch to work every day
• I will drink 500ml before I arrive at work every day
• I will not drink alcohol during the next 30 days
• I will workout 5 days a week for 60 minutes
• I will have one cheat meal on ____________ and it will be 2 pieces of pizza from ____________.
• I will go to bed by 9:00PM Sun-Thur

RULE #2: You will need to post at least once a week (if not several times a week) how your challenge is going.

RULE #3: You MUST be honest. Honesty is key to change. If you mess up, reflect on it, get back to it, and do better the next time.

RULE #4: You need to TAG your challenge posts with #noexcuseschallenge so myself or any reader can see how you’re doing. Remember, we are all here together on the same journey towards health. No judgement.

RULE #5: Measure yourself at the end of your 30 days (in the same fashion you measured yourself originally) and make a post about your results. This could include your measurements, how your clothes fit, how your body or mind feel, personal realizations, etc.

RULE #6: Have fun and enjoy your journey!

Perfect! This goes along perfectly with my getting ready for spring break 2012 plan :)

I’ll post my goals later :)

(via beccasfitlife)