Is Obesity a Disease?

                                                      
Is obesity a disease? That is a question that lingers on a lot of people's mind. Some people also have different answers on what they think is the definition of obese. First, obesity is when an individual is beyond the normal body mass index that isn't normal for their height. Some people say that obesity is a disease because it is a worldly epidemic that is as hard to deal with as other diseases. What is true, is that lifestyle habits do govern the obesity trend. That is an argument that has many different sides, but the only way to fix it is to improve your health. A few causes of obesity are: lifestyle, genetics, illnesses, and eating disorders. To end the trend of obesity, major changes need to take place. People are going to have to face the issue and PRESS to make a change. Start by drinking more water and changing eating habits. Incorporate thirty minutes to an hour of exercise into your daily life. Find motivation and maintain a happy state of mind. Don't quit no matter how hard it seems and guaranteed results will make for a successful health journey! End the trend of obesity!!


-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy 

Healthy Heart = Healthy Life

                                                      

The heart is what keeps us all alive, so it is the MOST important thing you should take care of. Of course we know most of the obvious things we can do to keep our hearts pumping, but did you know that there are unforeseen things you could be doing that take a toll on your heart? The heart is the strongest, but also the weakest organ in your body. It performs the most vital function to keep us going, but with excessive pressure, health problems and diseases arise quickly. Read some of habits to avoid to help keep that doctor bill to minimum! 

1) Assuming you're not at risk! 

2) Overeating and eating empty calories

3) Isolation from the world

4) Not eating your fruits and vegetables

5) Not getting enough daily exercise

6) Stopping or skipping recommended medications

7) Excessive anger

8) Over consumption of alcohol

9) Over consumption of salt

10) And not using it to help other people :) (that's my personal reason)

With simple habits to incorporate daily or avoid, you can keep your heart healthier longer, which means longevity, and I think we all would love to live to see 100! 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Belly Fat Burning Food

                                                

The stomach can be the hardest place to lose inches and pounds. However, with proper nutrition, it can be achieved. Listed below are the foods that should be included in your diet to help you get results.

Belly Fat Burning Vegetables:

-Broccoli -Kale -Turnips -Asparagus -Artichokes -Spinach -Salad greens -Brussels sprouts -Okra -Parsley -Onions -Parsley -Carrots -Radish -Mushrooms -Green Beans -Zucchini -Pumpkin -Cabbage -Celery -Chives -Peppers -Cucumbers -Squash 


Belly Fat Burning Fruits:

-Apples -Apricots -Blueberries -Strawberries -Limes -Cantaloupe -Mangoes -Tomatoes -Cherries -Cranberries - Oranges -Papaya -Peaches -Grapefruit -Pineapple -Pears -Honeydew -Lemons -Raspberries - Blackberries -Strawberries -Grapes 


Now of course, adding exercise to a healthy diet is the absolute best thing you can do. Having a balanced, nutrition diet is vital. You have to remember to burn more calories than you consume and to eat in moderation also. 

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Brain Exercising Tips

                                                                                             

Did you know that you can exercise more than just your body? You can also reap many benefits by exercising your brain. It can help keep it fit and functioning right. Also, brain exercising can keep your risks down for diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia, and prove to be a great help to stem the aging process. Try these simple exercises to keep your brain fit. 

-Try to learn a new word everyday

-Always eat breakfast, for its the most important meal of the day and enhances the functioning of the brain

-Try taking different routes to work and school

-Interestingly enough, humor uses multiple parts of the brain

-Play brain games, such as memory games, puzzles, crosswords, or draw or paint

-Read different types of books

-If you aren't ambidextrous, use your opposite hand to write 

- Meditate



-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Don't Ignore The Signs!

                                                

When you have a pain, it is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong and you need to see what the problem is. Sometimes pains can come randomly and frequently, and they should never be ignored. When something in our body needs attention, it tries to tell us by sending signals of pain to the brain. The pains can be very mild and at other times extremely intense, but our body is saying "Please see about me!" As serious as it sounds, pains in our body can be the cause of underlying condition or something that a doctor needs to see. Here are a few pains that shouldn't be taken lightly or ignored. 

Abdominal Pain
When you are hit with a sudden acute pain in your stomach, that could mean anywhere from intestinal blockage, a swollen liver, inflammation, complications with other organs and even pregnancy. 

Headache 
We all experience this type of pain and they can come frequently. The most common remedy is to take over the counter medications. However, if your headaches are too frequent, you may suffer from migraines or sinusitis. If you suffer from migraines, a doctor's look would definitely be in your favor.

Lower Back Pain
Most people suffer from lower back pain a lot. There aren't really specific reasons why we suffer from it. It could be a sprain, inflammation, stress, or even arthritis. There are tons of home remedies to help heal the pain, but if it is consistent, a doctor should be seen. 

Pain in the arms, shoulders, and chest
Pain in between your shoulder blades and shoulders could be a sign of stress, but it could also be an indication of something more serious. Sudden pains in the chest, jaw, throat, and arms, could be a sign of a heart attack. Arteries in the lungs could be getting clogged up by blood clots. If you have sudden shortness of breath or cough of blood, a doctor should be seen immediately. 

Pains may be bothersome, but there come up for a reason. So if your body sends you a pain signal, you should see about it immediately and try to fix whatever is bothering you.

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Does Being Skinny Mean You Are Healthy?

                                           
People come in all shapes and sizes. Skinny, obese, round, plump, slender, thick, pudgy, chubby, and fit. Usually, skinny people are envied, for most people think that skinny people are in shape. Well that is a huge misconception. It is a MAJOR difference between looking healthy and being healthy. Did you know that skinny people are just as much at risk of diseases as obese people? That's something to think about! Just because you "look" the part, doesn't mean you are at your healthiest stage. Your weight doesn't determine if you are overweight, but your BMI (body mass index) does. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. My BMI is 24.1, so I fit right in the healthy bracket. What's yours? Here's a link on how to calculate your BMI, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm. You can also check your body fat percentage. A high body fat (between 25%-35% is healthy for women and 8%-25% for men) is also linked to certain diseases like diabetes and heart disease. 

So you ask, how can you truly be healthy? Follow these easy tips:

* Cut out processed foods and eat fresh
* Exercise (cardio, weight lifting, running, etc) at least 30 minutes a day
* Eat more natural fats and proteins 
* Drink water, water, water

-Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Foods You Should Avoid Before Going to Bed

                                                      

Do you indulge in your favorite foods right before you go to sleep? Well, consuming certain foods before hitting the sack can interfere with your sleep pattern and keep you up all night. Over 40 million Americans already sleep for six hours or less, which greatly affects your health and well being, so it is important to realize that even the foods you eat can influence your sleep patterns. 

Before drifting off into another world, leave these foods out of your stomach:

Alcohol. Sure, you may think that since if you consume enough, you will feel that super drowsy feeling and be knocked out in no time, but I bet you didn't realize that in your second half of sleep, the sleep disruptions increase. It can also have you feeling restless in the morning.

Ice cream. I am guilty of this one tremendously. However, I am lowering my intake before bed. That cold melody is filled with fats, and your body can't burn much before going to bed. Also, it's filled with sugar, which spikes your energy level and you should be resting. 

Pizza/Pasta. All those ingredients can cause your digestive system to put in some overtime. The high acidic levels in the tomato sauce can trigger acid reflux and heartburn. So that means you would have to interrupt your sleep and pop a TUMS. 

Celery. A healthy food is on here? Yes indeed. Of course it's filled with nutrients, but it is a natural diuretic. You will make quite a few trips to the restroom due to the increase in the rate of urination.  

Fried Foods. Consuming fried foods before going to bed can cause acid reflux and abdominal cramps. So, pain interruptions and dealing with your stomach talking to you will surely leave you awake all night.

Pay attention to what goes in your stomach before bed and be sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep!!

-Stay Healthy. Stay Happy