This just in…Health Scoop!

One of my favorite magazines to read and indulge in is Women’s Health.  There are so many essentials, thoughts, and helpful hints to eating right and living a healthy lifestyle.  I came across an article the other day containing countless intriguing facts so I thought I would share!

New Age Rules

You may have inherited your dad’s baby blues or your mom’s lithe legs, but your life span isn’t so predetermined. A new shows that life expectancy has much more to do with your lifestyle than with your parents’ longevity.  Researchers tracked 855 subjects and found that being a nonsmoker, having low cholesterol and blood pressure, and exercising on a regular basis are what pushed people into their nineties and beyond.   

Heart Check

Someday your doc might be able to suss out your future cardiac risk with a simple blood test.  People who tested positive for high levels of a protein called troponin T were much more likely to eventually die of heart complications according to a study published in the journal of the American Medical Association.  Soon, women as young as 30 will be able to get their troponin T checked.

Grapefruit Juice

Drinking grapefruit juice first thing in the morning curbs your appetite and keeps it in control for the rest of the day.  The natural sugar is a great energy boost for early wakeup calls!

Build a Better Breakfast!

This is a great article about Breakfast, the most important meal of the day that many people skip...

http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/build-a-better-breakfast

15 minute workout!

Stand up for Flat Abs! Challenge your core with these simple exercises that you can do on your feet.  These are great exercises because they are easy on the back, you can do them at the gym or at home, and they are quick and easy!

1.     Dumbbell Side bend:  Hold a pair of dumbbells at your sides, arms straight and core engaged.  Without twisting your upper body, slowly bend to the left as far as you can go, lowering the weight toward your left knee.  Pause, then slowly return to an upright position.  Repeat, bending to the right side. That is one rep. do 10!

2.     Standing Core Stabilization: Standing with your feet hip-width apart, use both hands to hold a dumbbell straight out in front of your chest, core engaged.  Moving your torso slightly, slowly rotate your arms to the left as far as you can.  Pause, then rotate to the right.  That’s one rep.  Do 10!

3.     Bow Extension: Hold a dumbbell in both hands above your right shoulder and point your left foot out to the side.  In one motion, draw your elbows down to lower the weight as you bend your left knee toward your chest.  Reverse the movement to return to start.  That’s one rep.  Do 10 and switch sides.

4.     Reverse Dumbbell Chop: Bend your knee, rotate your torso, and hold a dumbbell in both hands outside your left thigh.  Keeping your arms straight, swing the weight above your right shoulder as you straighten your legs.  Reverse the movement to return to start.  That’s one rep.  Do 10, then switch sides and repeat.   

Good Luck and Have Fun!!

11 Foods for Faster, Easier Weight Loss...

Check this out!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/11-foods-for-faster-easier-weight-loss-2489734/#photoViewer=1

Boost your mood with these foods...

Enjoying decadent stuff isn't the only way to snack away the blues. Many healthy eats do the trick too.
1. Perc up: we've always counted on caffeine as a quick pick-me-up and this is why. A recent study suggests that breakfast paired with 200 milligrams of caffeine improves mood. Aim for no more than 24 ounces a day otherwise that caffeine buzz becomes a bust.

2. Don't worry,"B" happy: a diet that's low in B vitamins can cause mood swings and anxiety. An easy way to make sure you're getting your recommended daily allowance is to eat a bowl of fortified whole grain cereal such as kashi U with 1% milk and a sliced banana every morning.

3. Pick the right protein: foods that are rich in protein are naturally high in tyrosine, an amino acid that helps boost dopamin, the brain's feel good chemical. Go for two servings of fish per week and an egg or some lentils every day to help keep a good mood from going bad.

Happy Monday!

15 Healthy Snacks Under 150 Calories

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/springcleaning/15-healthy-snacks-under-150-calories-2486569#photoViewer=15

15 Biggest Nutrition Myths!

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/15-biggest-nutrition-myths