Living Well By Design

Wellness Tips

Below you will find some brief articles about all types of wellness topics.... I would love to hear feedback from you about questions that you have or topics you'd like to learn more about! Please contact us with your ideas....

Can Dehydration Be Affecting You?

Drink to your good health!

Did you know that approximately 70% of the human body is made up
of water? It should be obvious then that the kind of water we are
drinking is extremely important. For our body to be at optimal
health, we need to be consuming the most beneficial water
possible.

Here are some startling facts and statistics:

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
37% have suppressed their thirst mechanism to the point that it is often misinterpreted for hunger.
Even mild dehydration can slow down one's metabolic rate by as much as 3%.
A University of Washington study, found that nearly all participating dieters were able to deter their midnight hunger pangs by just drinking a glass of water.
The No. 1 trigger of daytime fatigue is lack of water.
Preliminary research has indicated that drinking 8-10 glasses of water each day could improve back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can negatively affect short-term memory and the ability to concentrate.
Drinking five glasses of water each day can decrease the risk of breast cancer by as much as 79%, bladder cancer by 50%, colon cancer by 45%, and deadly heart attack by 41%.

By drinking healthy living water you are positioning your body to
be at optimal health.

You are better able to ward off sickness because you have a
boosted immune system. You are also more likely to lose weight,
slow down the aging process, and better absorb important nutrients
including vitamins and minerals.

For more information about "Living Water", please visit http://www.life-enthusiast.com.

Source: Life Enthusiast, http://www.life-enthusiast.com

Blessings are a fabulous way to extend gratitude -- and the resulting inner peace has multitudes of health benefits for you and whomever you bless....

Enjoy this delightful youtube video:

Longevity: Your Choices DO Matter!

Lifestyle Extension Newletter Featured Article

	February 11, 2011
Lifestyle beats genes in longevity race

An article published online on December 22, 2010 in the Journal of Internal Medicine reveals that our own actions may be more important than inherited factors in dictating how long we live.

For the current investigation, Lars Wilhelmsen and colleagues at the University of Gothenburg evaluated data from the 1913 Men epidemiological study, which enrolled 855 fifty-year-old men in 1963. Subjects provided anthropomorphic, parental and lifestyle data, and were examined for cardiovascular health and other functions. The men were re-evaluated at the ages of 54, 60 and 67.

Thirteen percent of the participants were still living at 90 years of age. These survivors were likelier at age 50 to be nonsmokers, drink moderate amounts of coffee, have higher socio-economic status and have lower serum cholesterol levels compared with men who failed to reach this age, yet the number of years attained by the men's parents did not appear to influence their own longevity.

The most important predictive factors at ages beyond 50 included having low blood pressure and good cardiorespiratory function. When predictive factors at all examinations were analyzed, being a nonsmoker, consuming low amounts of coffee, being of higher socioeconomic status, having low serum cholesterol, and possessing good physical working capacity emerged as significant.

"Our study shows that hereditary factors don't play a major role and that lifestyle has the biggest impact," stated professor emeritus Lars Wilhelmsen of Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. "We're breaking new ground here. Many of these factors have previously been identified as playing a role in cardiovascular disease, but here we are showing for the first time that they are important for survival in general."

"The study clearly shows that we can influence several of the factors that decide how old we get," he added. "This is positive not only for the individual, but also for society as it doesn't entail any major drug costs."

One wonderful means of detoxification....

This one you will LOVE, and it has MULTIPLE benefits!

Most of my clients are not jumping up and down for joy when I mention the words "cleanse" or "detox", even when I explain all the amazing health benefits of a proper cleansing program.... but they are automatically assuming I am talking about an embarassing conversation about their daily elimination habits.... However, there are numerous channels of elimination in the miraculous human body, and this tip focuses on the skin as a detoxification channel - your largest organ! The main ways your skin rids your bodies of wastes, are through "sloughing" (getting rid of dead skin to make way for new skin cells), and "sweating".

WELLNESS TIP:

This tip accomplishes both sloughing and sweating, so it's a great practice to incorporate into your routine as often as once a week. Start by gathering your supplies -- you will need a dry body brush and a dry face brush (you can find at some spas, and most health food stores), baking soda, and epsom salts. Run your bathwater as hot as you can stand it, without burning your skin. Depending on the size of your tub, add 1/2 - 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 - 1 cup of epsom salts to the water. Feel free to add a few drops of your favorite essential oils as well (Lavendar is my all-time favorite!). Use your body brush and slough off your dead skin with a gentle rhythmic circular motion, starting from the feet and working your way up to your shoulders. Use your dry face brush the same way on your neck and face -- using a gentle circular motion. After you've covered your entire body and face, soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes. Feel free to have a shower to rinse off afterwards, and don't forget to keep your body hydrated with fresh (not tap) water! The hot water should cause you to sweat, while the epsom salts add magnesium to your body as well as pull toxins from your skin. The baking soda will assist in removing toxins, as well as helping to alkelize your body. You should find this to be extremely relaxing, so it might be best to do this detox right before you go to bed!

Are you really hungry --- or malnurished?

If you weigh more than your optimal weight, the answer may surprise you!

One of things I have found most fascinating is the study of why we eat..... It could be to satisfy a variety of emotional wounds, nourishing our hurting souls, or it could be to satiate our feelings of frustration or boredom.... But assuming you really do have hunger pangs, you might just be eating the wrong KINDS of foods. Consider that the Standard American Diet (SAD) consists primarily of fast foods, pre-packaged foods, and highly processed foods, the average American is tremendously under-nourished. The foods I've spoken of have little to no nutritional value to the human body once they have gone through the production to make them quick and easy to eat. This is why your body craves more....(More on food addictions later!)

WELLNESS TIP:

Eat highly recognizable foods as close to the original source as possible... which means shopping around the outer perimeter of the grocery store, and utilizing local butchers, farmers markets, and health food stores when possible. You might also consider planting an organic garden yourself when your region supports it! Real food, prepared with delicious seasonings, not only taste great, but are great for you as well!

Artificial Sweeteners - is saving yourself a few calories beneficial?

All the research says "NO!"

I'd first like to make a very important distinction..... There are zero calorie NATURAL sweeteners, and zero calorie ARTIFICIAL sweeteners....All ARTIFICIAL zero calorie sweeteners are chemically derived, and create varying degrees of toxicity! They can be found in diet drinks, powdered drink mixes, low-cal iced tea, gum, mints, yogurt, cookies, ice cream, fruit juices --- virtually any foods or drinks aiming for a low caloric content. Why are they so bad for you? Sucralose (Splenda) is formed by chlorinating sucrose, which changes the molecular structure of this sugar. Chlorine is a known carcinogen and is highly toxic. Aspartame (Equal or Nutrasweet) has been linked to 92 documented side effects, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, chronic fatique syndrome, depression, diabetes, hypertension, lowered metabolism, multiple sclerosis, and weight gain -- just to name a few! After being in the body for just 20 minutes, Aspartame begins breaking down from its original compound into methanol, formaldehyde (a Class-A carcinogen used to embalm corpses) and formic acid (ant venom). Additionally, besides being toxic, these substances have been known to be addictive.

WELLNESS TIP:

First, throw away anything with Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium (K), Saccharin, or Sucralose listed on the label if it is in your pantry or refrigerator. Avoid products claiming to be low-cal, diet, low sugar, etc. Try to wean yourself and your family from the regular and consistent use of all refined sugar products and all artificial sweeteners. Consider using NATURAL sweeteners, such as honey, agave nectar, xylitol, Stevia/Truvia, or Just Like Sugar for an occassional sweet treat. Better yet, incorporate fruit and greek yogurt into your desserts! Your body and your mind will thank you!