Saturday, March 28, 2009

Man's Best Friend... A Life Saver?




Who doesn't love a trusty companion like a cat or a dog. You can talk to them about absolutely anything without being judged and no matter what, they will love you... After all, you do feed them - ha! ha! Did you know that your best bud has positive effects on your health? Well believe it because owning a pet is ideal for well-being!


(Loki)
BENEFITS:
- Lower Cholesterol
- Reduced Stress = Lower Blood Pressure
- Increased Physical Activity (the pet needs a work out)
- Increased Mental Health (less lonely & depressed)
- Some Pets can Predict Seizures!
- Feel as Though You Have a Purpose
- Be Less Anxious & Feel Safer
- Those Who Have Experienced a Heart Attack Could Have a Higher Survival Rate
- Encourage Playfulness & Laughter
- Help Start Conversations With Others
- Give Nonjudgmental Warmth & Affection

(RIP: Jackson, October 5, 1996 - January 14, 2009)
The reason for this post is because my family has had dogs ever since I was about 5 years old... and Recently my oldest dog (Jackson) passed away. He was the family's best friend and honestly, I think he was a person stuck in a dog's body! He had such a wonderful personality and really taught my family "what not to do" when it comes to training... But despite his stubbornness, we loved him more than anything else. We do have another dog named Cody who is a great companion as well... and loves attention! Recently, we got a new puppy named Colter (5 months old at the moment) who is already showing signs of Jackson! Sadly, with me away at college I won't necessarily get to benefit from his health promoting attributes (listed above) but... I know my parents will be very pleased and continue to exercise and live healthy lives.
(Cody & Colter)

* All Dogs are German Shepherds and a part of my family!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Fountain of Youth?

We are always looking for ways to prolong out lives as much as we can, here is a list of how we can gain extra years while also feeling great!

1. Walking (+ 2 to 4 years)

2. Feeling Successful (+ 4 years)

3. Eating Seafood & Other "Power" Foods (+ 4 to 5 years)
4. Don't eat Fast Food (+ 4 years)

5. Don't Smoke/ Or Stop Immediately (+ 2 to 8 years)

6. Lifting Weights (+ 3 years)

7. Losing Extra Weight (+ 3 to 4 years)

8. Playing Games (+ 2 years +)

9. Getting "Down & Dirty" (+ 3 to 8 years)

10. Cutting out Sugar (+ 4 years)

So if you're serious about adding years to your life that are... FULL OF LIFE... add a few of these activities to your daily life, along with getting enough sleep at night!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

So many things to keep track of...


BONE HEALTH
(one of the many things in our bodies we need to take care of)

Bones are what keep us together and without them... we would be nothing! Here is how to keep them healthy throughout your life:


CALCIUM
*Recommended Amount: 1000 mg (19 to 30) & 1200 mg (31-70) = must be taken in 500 mg doses because the body can only absorb so much at once.
*Food Sources: Dark Leafy Green Vegetables, Fish & Fish Bones, Milk (Although I do not advocate drinking milk), Fortified Products


VITAMIN D
* Recommended Amount: Anywhere from 1000 IU to 10,000 IU daily
*Food Sources: Cod Liver Oil, Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel, Tuna, Liver, Algea, Eggs (whole) & of course... the sun! (20 minutes in the sun = roughly 20,000 IU)


VITAMIN K2
*Recommended Amount: between 90 & 120 mcg (19 years old +)
*Food Sources: Olive Oil, Swiss Chard, Spinach, Kale, Parsley, Broccoli & Watercress


MAGNESIUM
*Recommended Amount: 420 mg/day for adult men & 320 mg/day for women (more can cause a laxative effect)
*Food Sources: Halibut, Leafy Green Vegetables, Nuts, Whole Grains, Pumpkin & Squash & their Seeds, Yellow Fish Tuna


WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISE
*Recommended Amount: 30 to 60 minutes daily for people of all ages
*Types: Weight Lifting, Walking, Running, Jump Roping, Skiing, Dancing, Stair Climbing, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Snow Shoeing, Hiking, Tennis, Soccer, Hockey, Football, etc.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Where's the BEEF?



"If beef is your idea of 'real food for real people' you'd better live REAL close to a GOOD hospital" - Neal Bernard, M.D.

Neal Bernard's statement needs to be fine tuned...

Not ALL beef is created equally...

Did you even know that there was a difference in grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef? Have you always believed that cows simply roamed open pastures, eating all the grass in the world, and simply love life?

Sorry to be the bearer of BAD news and all but... that's completely false. Cows may roam on lush grass for about 6 month to 2 years of their lives and then BAM... off to the feed lot they go where they are FORCED to chow down on grains not suitable for their stomachs. In fact, in order for farmers/feed lot workers to make sure cows do not get sick and die from eating grain, they have to make the switch from grass to grain over a gradual period of time. If a cow was to go from grass to grain over night, it would die...

And why are cows fed grains? To get nice and PLUMP! Because PLUMP meat sells to those who don't care an ounce about their health!
(Oh and by the way, cows eat grains to get fat... so people out there, if you want to gain weight: eat all the grains to your hearts content!)

So why am I talking about this... What is the "who cares" to my rant... I want to emphasize how important reading labels and making sure when you buy your beef (or any red meat for that matter) at the store, on-line, etc... that is be GRASS-FED and GRASS-FINISHED!!! The health benefits are tremendous! In fact there are so many that some say grass-fed/finished red meats are a near perfect health food! Who would have thought eating RED MEAT could = health! TAKE THAT NEAL BERNARD!



FOR MORE INFORMATION go to... EATWILD.com
or: GrassfedParty.org


OH AND DID I MENTION..... THIS MEAT IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS?

Sunday, March 8, 2009

ANOTHER ONE DOWN!!!


Who would have thought my favorite show could "whoop" so many people's butts even before it started! Well... I guess I under estimated the "power of dance". Nancy O'Dell is the latest to withdraw from the competition due to a torn meniscus! What are these people doing during their training sessions, flying through the air? Bungee jumping? I am a little sad to see her go because after all she is one of my idols! Both her and Jewel will make appearances throughout the season to talk about their progress though, so they will in fact get a little face time on camera. Well with two hours to fill on both Mondays and Tuesdays, I think they will have time for it. 

So do you want to take a guess as to who will be filling Nancy's shoes?! None other than the "jilted" bachellorette Melissa Rycroft! She's tangoing her way from one ABC show to the next. Let's hope she takes her anger for Jason out on the dance floor, because I am sure there is enough pent up in her to have her win the entire competition! Oh and it doesn't hurt that Melissa is in pretty decent shape and is an ex-cheerleader! 

Well T minus 2 days and counting! I cannot wait to hear the cheesy music, be blinded by the sparkling get-ups and be memorized by... DEREK HOUGH! ha ha! 

Thursday, March 5, 2009

UPDATE ON DWTS!

It seems as if Jewel will not be HOOFING IT THIS SEASON! Which in away, I think is good because having a married couple on the show is kind of weird and I think the other contestants would think it to be awkward! But guess who is taking her place! None other than Hugh Hefner's recent EX... Holly Madison! Now it sounds like I am really excited about this... which I actually sort of am because I am a CLOSET The Girls Next Door fan! That show is hysterical (if you have never seen it, it's on E!... check your local listings!) I wonder if this play boy bunny can shake her "bon bon"... enough to get the mirror ball trophy! She is in good shape... although her large "knockers" may hamper her success! ha ha ha! 



GOOD LUCK HOLLY! I MAY END UP ROOTING FOR YOU!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Dancing with the Stars is BACK!!!!


I have quite a few guilty pleasures... One being the show: DANCING WITH THE STARS! I adore this show because the way the professional dancers twist, turn, flip, jive, etc is awe-inspiring and I love watching the improvements (or lack-there-of) of all the stars as the weeks progress! Plus, Tom Bergeron is hysterical and is so quick-witted! Oh and of course... the other reason why I am obsessed with this show... because I am completely IN LOVE with Derek Hough! When I move out to California in the near future, my plan is to find him!! He is so cute, seems so sweet, really funny and... the way he moves his hips... need I say more? 

Season Eight is going to be an interesting cast.... (And 2 have already been injured - 1 may actually drop out)...
STARS THAT WILL BE DANCING:

Lil' Kim - A Grammy Award Winning Multi-Platinum Rapper, Singer & Actress. She spent one year and one day in Prison in 2005. PARTNER: Derek Hough 

Steve-O - A dare devil who is not afraid to hurt himself. Starred in the Jackass movies and TV series. Went to rehab in 2008 for cocaine. PARTNER: Lacey Schwimmer 

Nancy O'Dell - Anchor of Access Hollywood. (My IDOL - being an entertainment journalist would be my dream come true!) PARTNER: Tony Devolani 

Lawrence Taylor - Football player. Known as the greatest defense player in the history of football. Played for the New York Giants - 2 super bowl titles. PARTNER: Edyta Sliwinska

Shawn Johnson - Youngest DWTS contestant yet. Won 1 gold metal and 3 silver metals at the Olympics 2008. PARTNER: Mark Ballas 

Chuck Wicks - Singer and Song Writer and Julianne Hough's boyfriend. PARTNER: Julianne Hough (I thought she said she was not going to perform this season? Perhaps, he boyfriend changed her mind) 

Gilles Marini - Best known for his full frontal nudity in the Sex and the City movie. (Currently injured - groin and leg) PARTNER: Cheryl Burke 

Denise Richards - Actress who currently has a reality TV show on E! and is best know for having a public divorce from ex-husband Charlie Sheen. PARTNER: Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Steve Wozniak - "The Woz" Helped create APPLE's first line of products and gave major influence to the MAC. PARTNER: Karina Smirnoff 

Belinda Carlisle - This singer is best known for being the lead singer in the GO GOs. PARTNER: Jonathan Roberts 

David Allen Grier - A TV & Movie actor most recently in the movie Dream Girls. PARTNER: Kym Johnson  

Ty Murray - One of the most accomplished rodeo riders of all time and married to Jewel. PARTNER: Chelsie Hightower 

Jewel - This singer/song-writer perfects her talent through country music and is married to Ty Murray. She has been nominated for a Grammy 3 times. PARTNER: Dmitry Chaplin 


SO WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN?