Tag: healthy eating

Stay Energized This Fall

It’s the time of year that most parents probably look forward to and dread simultaneously. On one hand, your kids will be out of the house more often, less bored and on a more consistent schedule now that school has started. On the other hand, this also means YOU have a new schedule, too!

It starts weeks in advance. The mad dash to get everyone and everything ready, from running around picking up supplies, shopping for clothes, to getting doctor physicals and lastly, haircuts. But it’s not over… not by a long shot. That’s because when the actual school year begins, it adds a whole new level of busy to your already full schedule, which can take a toll on the entire family.

The Fall Season is Beautiful…But Extremely Busy

The following expanded schedule of events should look familiar to most parents:

While we know you are super parents, this type of busy schedule takes a toll and is very challenging to continue for the long haul. Most will start removing some of the to-dos, like personal exercise and even after-school sports or dance for the kids. This is unfortunate because physical activity plays an essential role in both the mental and physical health of the entire family.

The Health Benefits of Staying Active
It is important to stay active to maintain and promote good health, especially when we are super busy and stressed! The same goes for kids. There are so many health benefits to physical activity for promoting continued growth.

DID YOU KNOW: Less than one-quarter (24%) of children 6 to 17 years of age participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day. 2

Healthy Eating for an Active Lifestyle

To fuel your body properly with energy needed to stay in motion, there are a few essentials you need.3

  1. Maximize with Nutrient-Packed Foods—Give your body the nutrients it needs by eating a variety of nutrient-packed food, including whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables.
  2. Energize with Grains – Your body’s quickest energy source comes from foods such as bread, pasta, oatmeal, cereals, and tortillas.
  3. Power up with Protein—Protein is essential for building and repairing muscle.
  4. Mix It Up with Plant Protein Foods—Variety is key. Be sure to mix in some beans and peas to your favorite dishes.
  5. Vary Your Fruits and Vegetables—Get the nutrients you need by eating a variety of colored fruits and vegetables, i.e., red and black berries, red and yellow peppers and dark greens.
  6. Don’t Forget the Dairy—Dairy is needed to help maintain strong bones for everyday activities.
  7. Balance Your Meals—Include the four food groups each day.
  8. Drink Water—Keep a reusable water bottle with you at all times to make it easy to stay hydrated.
  9. Know How Much to Eat—Plan a diet that is right for you and track your progress.
  10. Supplementation—Ensure you are getting all the nutrition you are not getting from your food by taking your vitamins.

For Clean, Healthy Energy Try EMPACT+
EMPACT+® performance drink mix is a new, all-in-one fitness product. It combines the major elements of fueling, hydration and recovery into one great-tasting drink.* It is a natural alternative to sports and energy drinks that contain stimulants and/or artificial sweeteners.

What It Does
EMPACT+ provides safe energy, replenishing electrolytes, vital nutrients and branched-chain amino acids that help maintain and support the development and rebuilding of muscle tissue.* It is designed to provide you with a range of physical and mental enhancements that power you through your workout or your day’s work.

How to Use It
Stir contents of one slimstick into 8-10 ounces of cold water and drink. Can be enjoyed one to three times daily, including between meals. For optimal results, drink 30 minutes before, during or immediately after exercise. Suitable for ages 9 and up.

FUN FACT: This three-in-one fitness drink is designed for athletes but is suitable for everyday use by men and women who want a safe boost of energy, without the unhealthy additives common in popular sports drinks.*

BENEFITS:

  • Provides a safe, delicious drink option all day, any day.
  • Helps the body stay hydrated during physical activity.*†
  • Provides a wide spectrum of electrolytes.
  • Helps maintain muscle mass during exercise and weight management.*‡
  • Helps support post-exercise muscle repair and recovery.*‡
  • Long-term use (3-4 weeks) may aid in preserving muscle and energy levels during periods of calorie restriction.*‡
  • BSCG certified drug free^

 FEATURES:

  • Free from soy, dairy, and preservatives
  • Contains naturally-sourced ingredients
  • Suitable for vegans
  • Contains fruit juice for color
  • Contains patented ingredients

ENDURANCE. HYDRATION. RECOVERY.

For the first time ever, the major elements of fueling, hydration and recovery have been combined into a single fitness product. EMPACT+ provides safe energy that you can enjoy any time. You’ll be able to do more—and recover faster.‡

Leave me a comment if you would like more information.

Sources:

  1. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=organized-sports-for-kids-1-4556
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm
  3. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fitness/pdfs/nnm_tipsheet.pdf

†When using 1 stick in 8 oz of water, 2-3x per day
‡When consumed prior to and following workouts
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

STATISTICS 101 — The Toll Life Events Take On Our Microbiome Health

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In this blog post, we will assess the toll that certain decisions and events, like overindulging, stress, sleep loss and holidays, take on our microbiome health. We will evaluate statistical data to support how widespread the concern is.

Chapter 1: How Life Events Impacts Our Health

In today’s fast-paced society, stress is a daily part of life. Just think about it — how stressful is your commute to work? According to the U.S Census Bureau, it now takes the average worker 26 minutes to travel to work. That’s the longest it’s been since the Census began tracking this data in 1980. Half the time you’re running late, there is traffic and you just hit two red lights…in a row! Your day can become stressful in an instant.

Even annual events like the winter holiday season that most people look forward to only compounds the amount of stress you already are experiencing. For example, according to NBC News1 45% of Americans would prefer to skip Christmas due to the “extreme stress” the holiday season brings, like the lack of time and money, as well as the pressure to give or get gifts.

While we may want to push our difficulties aside or pretend they don’t exist, how we deal with these situations is of prime importance to our mental and physical health.

Short-Term Stress vs Prolonged (Chronic) Stress

Research has shown that the stress response is an essential survival mechanism, which for most situations in life can be a good thing3. It helps to increase our reaction time, concentration and alertness and prepares the body for “flight or fight.”

When the stress response becomes prolonged (chronic) like when losing a job or a family member, our attention, memory, and the way we deal with emotions can be negatively impacted. This long-term stress can contribute to both physical and mental illness through effects on the heart and brain.

Top 10 Stressors:

  1. Having enough in emergency savings – 41%
  2. Job security – 39%
  3. Income fluctuations – 29%
  4. Paying utilities – 28%
  5. Paying rent or mortgage – 28%
  6. Financial market volatility – 25%
  7. Paying down/off credit card debt – 23%
  8. Having enough saved for retirement – 23%
  9. Paying health care bills – 19%
  10. Putting off major financial decisions – 17%

2The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll, on behalf of NEFE, from April 7-9, 2020, among more than 2,000 U.S. adults.

Chapter 2: How Stress Leads to Poor Health Choices

During stressful times we fall into destructive habits.  We make poor choices, sometimes unconsciously or without reason just to take our minds off of our stressful situations. We all know that our diet can impact our health, but few people know just how profoundly it interacts with the beneficial bacteria housed in our gut.

Fast Food Lifestyle Wreaking Havoc

Everyone’s microbiome is as unique as a fingerprint and is altered by everything we encounter. Overindulging in unhealthy foods can have a significant impact on your health and your microbiome. When you’re pressed for time, home cooked meals are usually the first casualty.

In fact, according to the CDC, over one-third of adults (36.3%) consume fast food on a given day. This reliance on getting quick, easy, and high caloric food is a main reason why over 73% of adults 20 and over are overweight4. In addition to expanding our waistlines, fast food has a significant toll on our gut microbes and your immune system. Diets high in fat and calories can contribute to obesity due to an altered gut microbiota.

The Connection of Stress to Lack of Sleep

Stress and anxiety often lead to insomnia and sleep problems. By the same token, lack of proper rest can contribute to stress. In fact, 35.2% of all adults in U.S. 18+ years old, don’t get the needed 7 or more hours a sleep per night5.

2020 just made it a little worse. It was a tough year with many experiencing sleepless nights wondering if they were going to have a job to pay their bills. With unemployment rates at their worst since the Great Depression, it’s not surprising that 48% of U.S. adults report losing sleep, at least occasionally, about a money issue6.

Top it off with reduced or no exercise, and little self-care time for relaxing, you have the perfect storm to affect the wellness of your microbiome.

Chapter 1 & 2 Sources:

  1. https://allonehealth.com/holiday-stress-guide/
  2. https://www.nefe.org/news/2020/04/survey-covid-19-crisisi-causing-financial-stress.aspx
  3. https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/stress-and-mental-health/
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html
  6. https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/losing-sleep-survey/
  7. https://allaboutmannatech.com/digestive-health-series-statistics-

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  1. https://us.mannatech.com/products/bundles/details/30301/