Healthy Pantry

Most Americans go grocery shopping without a list, with just a few necessities in mind. Only a few people go into a store knowing what they want. They just pick up the easiest things, like pre-made frozen foods. With easily accessible foods it makes it harder for people to go to the store and buy healthier ingredients. Here is a website that give you a good list to bring along with you while shopping for groceries next time...
"The Healthy Pantry"

Healthy Living

Living a healthier life is a lot easier than many people make it out to be. It can be a lot easier then you may think. Keeping your body hydrated is one of the easiest steps to a healthier lifestyle. Many people do not drink as much water as they should everyday. You are suppose to drink 9 cups of fluids (women), 13 cups (men) each day. Surprisingly not only water. Water is obviously the best, but other drinks like juices, milk, sports drinks, and sodas will do. Getting a sufficient amount of sleep will also help your body. Many people do not get a good enough amount of sleep and you can not catch up on sleep, affecting peoples everyday lives. For more tips on how to make your lifestyle healthier click here.

Carbon Footprint

Whether you believe in global warming or not, for centuries now we have added thousands of pollutants into the atmosphere. Little by little we are eating away at the ozone layer that protects the earth. This is one of the biggest years for the emphasis on going green to save out planet. Not only by reusing, reducing, and recycling can we cut back on our carbon footprints, but also by eating locally grown fruits and vegetables along with meats. Meat is one of the most polluting products because of all the energy that goes into your final product, what you buy at a local supermarket. I have been told that it is better to drive a Hummer (not an ecologically friendly car) and eat vegetables rather then drive a Mini Cooper (an environmentally friendly car) and eat meat. For example, a cow has to be fed so much grain and needs land to live on, and water to drink for many years before it is big enough to sell for meat. One it is slaughtered it has to be produced and cut to what we buy at the store, which has to be shipped to the store. It would almost make sense for everyone in the world to stop eating meat and just eat the corn we feed the cows because it would be emitting less pollution into the atmosphere. Think about it and try to make changes in your life that will help out the people of the future.

Vegetarians

More and more people today are becoming a variety of different kinds of vegetarians. Pescatarians do not eat any kind of animal meat or flesh, but they do eat fish. Vegans however do not eat any kind of meat or anything that comes from an animal such as milk or eggs. After watching clips from "Food Inc." the other day in AP environmental, it made me realize the harsh treatment animals go through because of the high demands of meat. The hormones that are injected into animals in order for them to grow to a "good size" in 48 days, rather then to a small less meaty size in 98 days. The cruelty of animals for human consumption is not acceptable and something needs to be changed otherwise it can only get worse. Companies get too greedy and try to mass produce and do not put the animals life into consideration. I do not think everyone has to be a vegetarian because like myself I almost only eat chicken, but there are better ways to raise and product animals. Eating meat is a part of the circle of life and if you chose to be a vegetarian then go for it, but it not meant for everyone. For more information about vegetarianism click here.

Gaining Weight

It is not very often that you hear about people trying to gain weight, but when you do there are certain things that you should eat in order to increase your body weight. Adding unhealthy greasy and fatty foods to your diet are not a good way to put on a few pounds. Healthy fats include omega-3 which can be found in a variety of foods such as tuna, salmon, flax, and walnuts. Rather then eating three big meals during the day, eating several fat-filled meals throughout the day is always a good idea. Nutritional supplement drinks can also be consumed during the day for additional calories. For more information click here.

Energy Drinks

Living in a society that never stops, people are starting to rely on energy drinks for their daily energy. Students that take several advanced placement classes and other rigorous classes stay up almost all night, sleep for two or three hours, and then drink energy drinks throughout the day. Energy drinks are loaded with caffeine. "Most energy drinks contain at least as much caffeine as a standard eight-ounce cup of coffee (~80mg). To put it into perspective, a 12oz. soda contains 18-48mg of caffeine. In addition to large doses of caffeine, energy drinks contain excessive amounts of sugar & legal herbal stimulants," says Dr. Edward Group. If only teenagers knew what was in these drinks and the effects they can have on their body. There are better ways to get energy such as healthy eating and a healthy amount of sleep. Here are a few ingredients in most energy drinks:
Ginseng – A root that is believed to help reduce stress and increase energy levels.
Carnitine – An amino acid that helps to metabolize fatty acids.
Gingko Biloba – Created from the seeds of the gingko biloba tree, it has been shown to enhance memory.
Taurine – A natural amino acid produced by the human body. Taurine helps to regulate normal heart-beats and muscle contractions. Its effects on people when consumed as a drink additive remain unclear.
Inositol – A member of the B-complex Vitamin that assists in the relaying of messages between cells. Inositol is not a vitamin itself.
Guarana Seed – A stimulant that grows in Brazil & Venezuela which contains high levels of caffeine.
(Dr. Edward Group)
For more information click here.

Everything Adds Up

Ever since I was little I have been sitting on my knees. I find it comfortable and often sit on my leg. It never occurred to me that sitting this way could affect my legs. After my foot had been bothering me for a few days my mom brought me to a foot and ankle specialists. My sister often has problems with her ankle, recently tearing ligaments and currently in a cast, so being friendly with the doctor he took a look at my foot and realized my knees turn inwards. After explaining to me the danger of continuing to sit this way, my options are to stop sitting this way or possibly having surgery because every time I sit on my knees I am wearing away my knee caps and the bones associated with them. So next time you decide to sit on your knees continuously, you may want to sit in a different position.

Injury

Being a kid many of us play sports and live very active lives. Sometimes we step wrong, twist an ankle, or simple scratch our arm on a sharp object. Most people do not rush to the hospital over every little scrap. However, if your foot hits the ground wrong and your foot continues to bother you for more then three or four days you should definitely take a trip to your local doctor or specialist.

Local Specialists:

Foot Ankle & Leg Specialists: De Simone Alfred A MD

WINDMILL HEALTH CENTER

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