Local Pork Leads to Healthier Lifestyle

Earlier this morning I read an article that concerned me regarding pork and the future of bacon.  Supposedly a company in Australia has patented a chemically engineered soybean loaded with omega-3 to feed pigs.  According to their research, they can feed them the altered soybean, there by making our bacon healthier and packed with Omega-3 that’s found in salmon.

I personally love bacon but I’m not sure I want to get my daily dose of Omega-3 from it.  Another reason why I’m a big believer in purchasing local meat from farmers who raise meat that’s chemical and additive free.  Residents of Ashbrooke Apartments have a variety of butcher shops in the local area, as well as a few outstanding markets in Des Moines.  One butcher shop I highly recommend is South American Beef on Linden Street in Des Moines.   In Ankeny check the butcher shops at Dahls Foods, Hy-Vee Foods and Casey’s General Store for quality bacon.

Residents of Des Moines and Ankeny have so many options so if you know of local farmers who provide chemical free bacon let me know.  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about getting your Omega-3 from bacon.  Do you prefer traditional or modern healthier bacon?

Get Biking with the Des Moines Cycle Club

Summer time is filled with outdoor activities such as trail and leisure biking.   In fact, there are several great trails around Des Moines for cycling adventures, including Jordan Creek Trail.     The 15.5 miles of paved trails give you the opportunity to ride through the park, enjoying the beauty around you. There’s a picnic areas, so be sure to pack a hearty lunch to keep you energized.

If you’re interested in joining a bike club, check out Des Moines Cycle Club.   They do events for all levels of riders including an upcoming ride today, July 15th.  It’s a leisurely trip from Ankeny to Slater, where dinner is scheduled before completing the 28 mile adventure.

For more information on the club or the ride schedule, visit Des Moines Cycle Club.  And here’s a video to inspire your trip through Jordan Creek Trail.

Don’t Get Wrinkled By The Sun

Many of you will be heading out into the sun now that summer has arrived! And if you are going to be out in it, then it’s important that you considering using the right sunscreen for protection.

Keeping your skin healthy now will prevent you from having wrinkled skin later on in life! Research shows 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by the sun’s UVA light and sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in women and men.

Dermatologists recommend using La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF – considered some of the best in the world by top doctors. It works well because of the chemical “Mexoryl,” well-known all over the world to protect skin from wrinkle-causing UVA rays. With an SPF of 50+ available, you are guaranteeing yourself real protection from the sun.

Are you staying covered?

Nighttime Routines

Have you ever thought about starting a nighttime routine and unwinding at least 1-2 hours before heading to bed?

So many people watch the news in bed, or take work-related reading into bed with them, and then wonder why they can’t sleep.

Choose activities that won’t get your adrenaline going or stress you out. Start by preparing for the next day. Make tomorrow’s To Do list, pick out clothes, gather things you need to take with you, brush your teeth, hair, etc. Then relax.

Create your own list of relaxing bedtime activities such as light household chores like picking up, read easy-on-the-mind books and magazines, watch light TV, listen to relaxing music or whatever relaxes you. Then when you feel sleepy, roll into bed!

If you try to sleep before you feel a little sleepy, you’ll just toss and turn. Has this ever happened to you?

5 Tips to Better Sleep

Do you need tips for better sleep?

Do you have trouble sleeping?

Do you wake up several times during the night?

Having a terrible night’s sleep leads to waking up feeling tired, your concentration is off and often it will lead to irritability.   There are solutions to getting a better nights rest.

1. Create a better environment for you to sleep in

• Make sure that your bed is big enough and comfortable to include the mattress and your pillows.
• The temperature and noise level in your bedroom should be at acceptable levels.
• Make your room dark, this is so your body clock does not get confused. If your body thinks that it is light, then it will think that it is daytime.

2. Create a bedtime routine for yourself.

• Listen to soft music.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages, as they will always keep you awake at night.
• Reading is a relaxing way to end the day.

3. One of the biggest culprits associated with the lack of sleep, is stress.

• Try and reduce your level of stress.  This may be hard to do depending on your lifestyle, work, school and home life.
• Try to manage the level of stress in your life, keep a positive attitude.

4. Implement a regular exercise routine.

• 20-30 minutes of exercise every day or every other day will help.  Don’t go crazy the first few times you try, and always consult your doctor before starting any type of exercise program.

5. Improve your daily diet.

• It’s always important to look at your diet when making changes to your lifestyle.  Having a bad diet can seriously impact the way you live. Drinking caffeinated beverages, such as colas and tea will not help you in your quest for a good nights rest.  Try herbal teas or a warm glass of milk.

Getting a good nights sleep aids in your overall health and well-being. If you’re a person who suffers from sleep deprivation, try these tips and help yourself to a better snooze.

photo credit: Perfecto Insecto

The Fitbit

For the exercise guru in you, there is now a way to keep track of the calories you burn.  As I get older, I have become more humble about what I eat and the amount of time I spend exercising each week.

As the weather warms up, I am finding that I would much rather spend time walking outside than on the undesirable treadmill inside.  I have discovered that walking outside is also good for my mental health.  Breathing in the fresh air seems to keep my stress levels down.

As I begin to exercise more and more, I’m finding that I want to keep track of how many calories I burn.  A friend of mine has turned me on to the Fitbit.

According to Fitbit.com, the Fitbit will keep track of the calories you burn, steps taken, and monitor the distance traveled and even your sleep quality. With a 3D motion sensor, the Fitbit tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities.

You can wear the Fitbit on your waist, in your pocket or on undergarments. At night, you can wear the Fitbit clipped to the included wristband in order to track your sleep. Anytime you walk by the included wireless base station, data from your Fitbit is silently uploaded in the background to Fitbit.com.

The Fitbit will run you around $100.00.  But the expense seems worth it for all that you get.  Plus, how can you put a price on your health?  What do you think?  Is it worth the money?

Late Night Snacks

It’s late at night and all the sudden you’ve got a craving for something in the fridge. What do you grab the pizza or the apple? If you’re like me it’s probably a pudding cup instead. Those late night snacks, while tasty, can hurt your metabolism and even cause health issues like heartburn. If you feel the need to munch on something, try a glass of water first and if that doesn’t work eat some fruit.

What do you think of late night snacks?

To read more on the topic click here.

Do you watch Americas Funniest Home Videos?

If so I’m sure you’ve seen the videos where the guy falls off the roof hanging the holiday lights or how about the one where the tree falls on the kid? No one is hurt in those videos (that’s why they can show them) and they are funny. But when it happens to you it may not be that that funny.  Avoid a not-so comedic trip to the ER by following these helpful hints.

What’s your holiday horror story?

So Long to Holiday Stress

The holidays can be a stressful time. I think everyone can relate to the running around and having to add even more into your packed day. This can lead to feeling stressed out, but you don’t have to spend your holidays stressed.

You should enjoy the holidays. Spending time with your family and friends shouldn’t be a chore. You can make it through this time and do everything you want to do and need to do – just without the stress.

Here are a few tips that you can try to help you relax over the holidays. My favorite is to only do holiday celebrations that aren’t so demanding. I think we all can overextend ourselves this time of year, but we don’t have to. So here’s to a happier, stress free holiday.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?