Inspiration in The Shower

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Mind

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Creativity, Flow, Healthy Mind, Ideas in she shower, Inspiration, Inspiration in the shower, Mental health, Water

Have you ever noticed that your best ideas come to you when you are in the shower or if you are a guy, while shaving? You may get a solution to a problem you have been dealing with or a burst of creativity.

No one really knows why we get inspiring messages around water. It may have something to do with the flow of water leading to the flow of ideas, or it could be that showering puts us in the state of flow, similar to meditation, allowing us to connect to our intuition. During this time we are open to receiving information while not distracted by electronics, other people or multi-tasking.

Let the ideas flow!

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Prevention Pays Off

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body

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apple cider vinegar, Common cold, Cough, Daily Movement, drinking apple cider vinegar, Eating Healthy, Fever, Flu Symptoms, Health, Healthy Body, Healthy Lifestyle for Prevention of Colds and Flu, living a healthy lifestyle, Meditation, Mild Case of Illness, Prevention, Sleep, Sneeze, Sore throat, Washing Hands, Water, Whole Grains

Last week I was sick for a few days. It started with some sneezing and a runny nose. The next day I had a fever of 101 degrees for less than 24 hours, and by the fourth day I was just about back to my healthy self!

There is a virus going around and I attribute the “mild case” I had to living a healthy lifestyle of eating an abundance of vegetables, along with some fruit and whole grains. In addition, I meditate daily, drink lots of water, get some daily movement and go to sleep early. See last weeks post “Please Take Care of Me,” for more details about prevention.

By comparison, other people I know who have been sick with similar symptoms have had a sore throat, bad cough and higher fever, lasting for days. About a week before I developed any symptoms, I had begun drinking apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon in 6-8 ounces of water each morning for the health benefits. I never had a sore throat or a cough, and during the days I felt sick, I increased the drink to 2-3 times a day.

Do all you can this year to stay healthy, including frequently washing your hands!

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Please Take Care of Me!

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body

≈ 1 Comment

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Airborne, Alternative Health, apple cider vinegar, Boost Your Immune System, Boost Your nutrition, Chronic Symptoms, Cold and Flu, Cold Symptoms, Emergen-C, Emotional Stress, Health, Healthy Body, Immune system, Lower Stress, Meditation, Prevention, Reiki, Sleep, Staying Healthy, Strengthen Your Immune System, Stress, Throat lozenge, Water

Winter is in full swing and for some people it is a time of getting sick or fighting off symptoms. While we may not be able to avoid being exposed to germs, there is a lot we can do to strengthen our immune system so that we don’t get sick, and if we do, it is short-lived.

If you are experiencing low-grade chronic symptoms, especially runny nose, mild sore throat, stuffed up head and feeling tired, it’s your body’s way of saying, “Please take better care of me.”

Here are some suggestions:

1. Get some extra sleep by going to bed earlier.

2. Drink plenty of water, and tea, hot water with lemon and honey, apple cider vinegar in water, or clear vegetable or chicken broth. Sip on liquids throughout the day to flood those germs out!

3. Boost your nutritional intake by eating fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains, while eliminating or significantly decreasing the amount of sugar you consume.

4. Take nutritional supplements, vitamin c, Airborne, Emergen-C, use cough drops.

5. Lower stress with meditation, yoga, a warm bath, etc.

6. Increase circulation with movement, exercise, walking, etc.

7. Reduce emotional stress by processing and releasing sadness, grief, loss, fear, anger and resentment. Journal, draw, use visualization, prayer, or talk with a trusted friend or professional.

8. Try a massage, acupressure, acupuncture, or Reiki.

If you are sick or have had chronic symptoms, it may be wise to visit your doctor and get a check-up with a blood test to assess what is going on and to rule out any deficiencies.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Put Your Oxygen Mask On

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body, Healthy Eating, Healthy Mind

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adequate sleep, Basic Needs, Breathing, breathing exercises, Creating a Healthy Lifestyle, Eating Well, fruit vegetables, Health, Healthy Lifestyle Habits, Healthy Snacks, Meditation, Mental health, Oxygen mask, Relationships, Self care, Sleep, Water, Whole Grains

Creating a healthy lifestyle is like putting on your oxygen mask on. When we take care of our basic needs we have so much more to give, making us better partners, better parents, better friends, better employees or employers, and just better human beings.

Let’s start with breathing. Take a deep breath. Breathing is one way to calm our nervous system, reduce stress and restore clearer thinking. Meditation or breathing exercises that include slow deep breaths are like putting on an oxygen mask.

Next to breathing, eating well and often enough are vital for your body. When we get too busy it’s easy to choose something quick to eat that may not be very good for the functioning of our body. Aim for more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and remember to hydrate with plenty of water. For snacks, apples, pears and almonds are quick and easy to eat at home, when traveling, at work, or when out and about.

Sleep is vital. In fact, it may be one of the most important things you could do for your body. Getting adequate sleep allows for regeneration, repair and healing of your cells. Sleep also affects your hormones that and regulate your body systems and everything from mood to weight.

Without your oxygen mask on you can’t respond to an emergency, yet alone daily life.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Eat, Drink and Be Healthy!

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Eating

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Breakfast, Cruciferous Vegetables, Fruit and Vegetables, Healthy Holiday Eating, Recipe Links, Salad, Soup, Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating, Water

Tis the season to get together with family and friends, and attend parties at work and/or social clubs and organizations. With food and drinks in abundance, not to mention candies, cookies, pies and cakes, it’s easy to let your healthy eating slide until January.

Here’s a challenge for you. Select one or two of the following tips to use throughout this holiday season.

1. Start each morning with a healthy breakfast. It’s a fact that people who eat breakfast don’t allow themselves to get so hungry that they over-eat once they do eat their first meal of the day.

2. Eat at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day. For fruit, think apples, pears, bananas, oranges, berries, melons, etc. Your vegetables may be raw: carrots, celery, jicama, red peppers, peapods, broccoli, or cauliflower, or cooked, including cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, kale or Brussels sprouts. Or consider spinach, zucchini, winter squash or asparagus.

3. Eat a salad each day. Choose 2 cups or more of lettuce or greens (spinach or kale), add raw vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, jicama, carrots, etc., and a protein if desired (cooked beans, tuna, cooked salmon or chicken), or a tablespoon of almonds and top with a small amount of dressing.

4. Eat a serving of soup each day. Broth based with vegetables is preferable. If making your own, add 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1/2 cup cooked whole grain noodles or 1/2 cup cooked beans to vegetable broth along with your vegetables.

5. Make water your drink of choice throughout your day. Drink a large glass of water before your meals and snacks or sip on water throughout your day. For a hot beverage, consider tea, or hot water with lemon and honey.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Have You Found The Lifestyle That Works For Your Body?

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body

≈ 3 Comments

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Deep Breathing, Feldenkrais Method, Healthy Body, Healthy Diet, Healthy Lifestyle, healthy-living, maintaining weight loss, Meditation, Metabolism, Movement, Obtain and maintain a healthy body weight, Physical Activity, Prevention of Diet Related Diseases, Relaxation, Sleep, Water, Whole Grains, Yoga

Many components make up a healthy body, including what we eat and drink, how much we sleep, some physical activity and relaxation.

Let’s look at each one:

1. What we eat and drink: A healthy diet, made up primarily of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and lentils has been shown to prevent and reverse diet related symptoms and diseases. Also, since our bodies are made up mostly of water, it makes sense to make this our “beverage of choice.”

2. Sleep: Recent research has shown how important sleep is for our basic functioning and the ability to reach and maintain a healthy body weight.

3. Physical Activity: Movement helps with circulation, burning calories, increasing your metabolism, building agility, stamina and strength. It can also improve mood, blood pressure and build a strong core and back.

4. Relaxation: For some people a regular practice of meditation, deep breathing, Feldenkrais or yoga serves as a way of relaxing the body and the mind.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Is Your Body a Pond Or a River?

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body

≈ 6 Comments

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Circulation, circulatory systems, Exercise, good nutrition, Health, Healthy Body, Movement, Physical Activity, Water

Have you ever seen a body of water, like a pond, that has no water flowing into it or going out from it? It just stands there with no movement. It often looks dirty and may have algae, dirt and leaves in it. In contrast, a river is a naturally flowing source, usually of fresh water, heading towards a lake or ocean.

Movement of your body is like the water of a flowing river. Our bodies have circulatory systems that function optimally when they have good circulation from movement, and work poorly when stagnant like a pond or a body of water with no movement. Physical activity gets your heart pumping blood throughout your body carrying oxygen and nutrients to where they are needed. Just 15-30 minutes, once or twice a day, of any form of exercise or movement you enjoy, may improve your digestion, mood, energy, sleep, and allow you maintain a healthy body weight or lose weight.

Movement, along with good nutrition and plenty of water, will keep your body functioning at its best.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

And the Winner Goes to…Water

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by creatingahealthylifestyle in Healthy Body

≈ 11 Comments

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Healthy Body, Healthy Lifestyle, Water

Hands down, water wins as the most vital component of our body. Did you know that adult bodies are 50-60% water, our brain is 85% water, muscles are 75% water, our blood is 82% water, our lungs are 90% water, and even our bones are 25% water.

Research has shown that for some people, drinking water when we are dehydrated can relieve body aches and pains, including headaches, it can elevate mood and energy, and even lessen symptoms related to allergies and asthma. It’s important to drink water to keep your body hydrated to function properly. Another benefit of drinking water is appetite control. By drinking a glass of water before each meal you will feel less hungry and as a result eat fewer calories.

Water, the zero calorie beverage, can not be substituted by drinking other liquid beverages that contain caffeine, sugar, sugar substitutes and other chemicals, like coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks and juices. The amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight, activity level, and climate.

For variety, flavor your water with a wedge or squeeze of lemon, lime, orange, strawberry, apple, peach, nectarine, pineapple, mango, or a mint leaf.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis