Grapefruits are...

great for you!

In addition to the appearance of a groundhog, the remembering of a couple of our fore fathers, and of course tomorrow's celebration of love, February is National Grapefruit Month.  So let's see why this fruit gets a month all to itself.

• Packed with Vitamin C to fight off the common cold as well as protect against free radicals to prevent cancer, stroke, or cardiovascular disease  
• Low in sodium and high in fat burning enzymes
• Loaded with water and various enzymes to act as a jump start to your metabolism
• Lowers cholesterol

Start your day off right with this powerful fruit!

Staying healthy while traveling

Tomorrow morning I'll be on a bus headed to Providence, RI where I'll spend the weekend in retreat with the American Dance Legacy Initiative designing methodology and rehearsing repertory works.  This huge project is the LEAST of my concerns.  My biggest concern: getting sick while traveling. 

When crammed into a windowless bus for 3 hours and 40 minutes, as I will be tomorrow, face to face with strangers and their strange germs, during the height of cold and flu season, I want to be prepared.  Work travel also brings anxiety, lengthy days, and the pattern of eating out at restaurants - sometimes all three meals per day. So how can you combat these abnormal shifts to your life? 

Travel To-Dos:

• Rest prior to the trip (hmmm, as it's 11:55am as I write this, not sure I'll get enough rest tonight) and eat healthy and filling meals the night before and morning of travel
• Pack snacks! You don't have to tell me twice.  I'll pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on some 12 grain bread, pack an orange, and some cheese and crackers to be sure I have enough to snack on for the long morning and into the afternoon.
• Vitamins and water: while traveling you may not be eating enough of your normal daily nutrients so plan ahead for the chance of deficiency
• Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!
• Did I mention, wash hands?

Stay calm and relaxed and plan ahead with extra time for those "might happen" moments.  Find time for yourself and relish in any alone space you may have.  Reflect on your trip as it's happening (enjoy!) and don't be afraid to step away from the group early if you need to. Staying out to have cocktails before an 8am meeting isn't always the best idea ;)  

Rhode Island.... here I come!

February is American Heart Month

Not only is the month of February filled with spending time with the ones we love, but it's about reminding those ones we love to stay healthy, in particular - heart healthy. 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US - that's one in three deaths related to heart attack or stroke.  Most of us know someone who has suffered from a related illness -- my dad had a heart attack when I was in high school and it was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to go through.  He was not a healthy eater, not the most active dad in our neighborhood, and he was a smoker. I think that "Dads", in particular, are often the people we hear of related to issues with heart health.  How can we keep them, and all of the people we love, healthy and in our lives for the long run?

The Center for Disease Control recommends the ABCS:

1. Asprin for people at risk
2. Blood pressure control
3. Cholesterol management
4. Smoking cessation

Preventative health education is the key while we remind ourselves and others to make healthy choices.  By taking small steps like eating right, keeping active, and scheduling regular check-ups with our doctors, we can do our part to stay healthy.  Know your family history and ask questions to the people around you.

Have a heart and save a life of someone you love this month :) 

I've got a scratchy throat :(

My first scratchy throat of the New Year.... could it be because I'm surrounded daily by young people coughing and sneezing on me?  Could it be because the weather doesn't know if it's the dead of winter or if we're headed toward spring?  Could it be because I'm unlucky?  Nope -- the common cold is, completely common.

I'm going to try some home remedies:

• salt water gargle (have NEVER liked this one, but doesn't hurt to try again!)
• ice pops (sounds delicious and will definitely make these tomorrow)
• hot beverages like tea

In addition the Mayo Clinic recommends:

• water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey to loosen congestion and prevent dehydration -- avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse
• salt water gargle (guess I should really try it with TWO recommendations)
• zinc -- doctors are not sure quite why and there are a few questionable side effects, but it is highly recommended for colds
• chicken soup -- it's not only good for the teenage soul.... but has anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning effects

Keep it healthy NYC!  Wash those hands, cough into your elbow, and try not to share too much. 

I know Valentine's Day is fast approaching.... but beware if you're gonna share ;)

Are you a material girl?

The verdict is still out on whether last night's half time show was a success or not, but the truth is, people cannot stop talking about Madonna.  I have overheard conversations and seen tweets and status updates related to the ridiculousness of the show last night.... but the only thing it seems people are agreeing on is that yes, Madonna is 53 and looking good.

How does she do it? 

Obviously blessed with some good genetics, she keeps up with great habits:

• popularizing the vigorous Ashtanga style of yoga
• strong devotion to Pilates
• macrobiotic diet (with dinners consisting of fish, some kind of grain, cooked vegetable, salad)
• intense workouts (3-one hour sessions per day!) consisting of yoga, pilates, swimming, horseback riding, cycling, running, weigth lifting, karate
• uses a stair stepper while taking calls (45 minutes at a crack!)

Now, I'm completely aware that women, in particular, have a major balancing act to do with their lives, and having an endless supply of money and time is not typically the case.  But there is something we can learn here from this Material Girl.....

• devote yourself to a healthy lifestyle
• change up your workout so it fits with your life and it's fun and enjoyable
• eat healthy natural foods (grown from the earth, not processed)
• multi-task: when chatting with a girl friend take the phone and your body for a walk outside

One family in the article even mentions keeping workout equipment downstairs where the kids have their larger active play toys, so parents and children can "workout" together. 

Be your own "ray of light" while you "strike a pose" and stay healthy into old age :)

I heart the Giants!

NYC is going crazy for the big game this weekend.... but as we are coming down from the holiday hype (Thanksgiving to New Year's!) and are headed toward Valentine's Day (chocolate!), November to February is a season filled with so many excuses to party, celebrate and overload our appetites with unhealthy options.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Super Bowl -- a family tradition of four in a row Buffalo Bills loses, I know you're shaking your head -- but the food is one of the best parts: pizzas shaped like footballs, the wings(!), dips galore.... but here are a few healthy options to consider:   

A few major switch-a-roos for simple yet effective substitutes:

• choose baked, not fried
• choose a bean base, not cream base for dips
• use lean turkey breast for burgers or chili
• use unsweetened chocolate or cocoa for desserts

If all else fails and you find yourself surrounded by the delicious, unhealthy stuff -- decide it's a splurge day and get back to your healthy living on Monday!

Go Giants!!

 

Knock, knock. Who's there?

You are, and you are laughing your way to a healthy life!

Have you had one of those moments lately, when you are doubled over from laughter and you can barely breathe?  Those are some of my favorite moments and while those happy memories are being created, you can get healthy at the same time.  A study by Vanderbilt University states that 10-15 minutes of sustained giggling can burn up to 50 calories! Laughter gets you through those stressful moments and busy work days, but it can also speed up your metabolism while using more energy. 

So perhaps laughter really is the best medicine! Grab a friend, a joke book, an old episode of Seinfeld and get to giggling :)