DAILY EXERCISE

No doubt about it, most of us need more exercise for its health benefits.  Beginning with children who now spend so much of their time sitting around watching TV, playing video games, etc instead of playing outside, riding bikes, etc, to adults whose jobs keep them behind desks and in front of computers hours and hours a day, we need to move around!  Daily exercise doesn't mean an expensive gym membership, it can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator.  Take a few minutes to think back over your day and how many times you could have exercised more.  Here are a few ideas in addition to the one just mentioned:

• Only going a few blocks?  Walk instead of drive.
• Park farther from the door to your office or the shopping center, etc.
• When watching TV get up and walk around during commercials or between shows.
• When talking on the phone, stay active.  Instead of getting in your comfy chair, walk around, load the dishwasher, pick up the room, etc.
• Carry your groceries in one bag at a time.  The extra trips are exercise!
• Get a friend to walk around the block with you, push the young ones on the swing, work in the yard, etc.
• Put dishes, etc that you use often on a higher shelf.  Stretching to reach them is exercise!

Start now to add exercise to your life daily, no matter how small.  This is especially important for diabetics, most people with heart disease, etc.  And get the young ones started out right by limiting 'lazy activities' and encouraging 'busy activities'.

CHEWING GUM FOR HEARTBURN?

According to Kings College of London researchers, chewing gum can reduce heartburn-related symptoms.  Chewing gum (sugar-free!) boosts the production of saliva which is an alkaline that helps neutralize stomach acid.   More saliva also means more swallowing.  More swallowing stimulates the muscle contractions that help digest food, according to the researchers.  Also, a piece of hard candy or a lozenge may have the same effect.

Note: This is in reference to mild and occasional heartburn. Severe or constant heartburn is a reason to see your doctor.

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PARKISON'S DISEASE AND VITAMIN-E

Some studies have shown that patients who suffer from Parkinson's disease, when compared to their similar-aged siblings, ate a diet with less nuts and seeds.  Nuts and seeds are high in vitamin E and an actual study of Parkinson's patients at Columbia University found that those taking megadoses of vitamin E did have fewer symptoms than those who did not take the extra vitamin E.  Probably worth your while to add some walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc (see E photo below) to your diet if you aren't already doing so.  They have many health benefits and this seems to suggest another one.

HEALTHY CANNELLINI BEANS

Cannellini Beans are an excellent 'white food' that should be included in our diets on a routine basis.  One cup of these beans provides almost half of our daily fiber needs and provides 14 grams of protein.  Fiber is important in so many different health ways and protein is essential to our daily diet.  Protein and fiber are also both great blood sugar stabilizers for diabetics and both are filling, thus helping to keep us feeling full.  Cannellini beans are easy to work into the diet for those who don't want to sit down to a bowl of beans.  Learn to include them in your soups, salads, etc.

 

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PISTACHIOS AND HEART DISEASE

Research shows that pistachios help to lower ones risk of heart disease.  Researchers at Penn State University found that adults who got 20% of their calories from pistachios reduced their LDL cholesterol by 12%.   For an 1800 calories a day diet, that would mean eating about 1/2 cup of pistachios.  You may not want to eat that many pistachios a day, but including them in your diet on a routine basis would probably be a good idea.