Herbal Medicines

I think that everyone should have that great get away vacation at least once a year. Time to get away from your job and the worries and stresses of daily life. If you do not get away on a nice vacation then you could really hurt your overall health. Too much stress [...]

This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!

Well, I just went outside for 2 hours today and I am just burnt - it is horrible! I mean I really forgot to put on the sun block and that was just not good at all! I should have had a hat and I should have had sunblock on. Do not [...]

This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!

Before you jump into reading this post I’d like to encourage you to drop by yesterday’s with a comment or two. MDA is getting a renovation and we are looking for reader suggestions on how to continue to make this the best health and fitness blog on the net. We look forward to hearing from you!

______________________________________________________________

Your idea of a good weekend morning is to kick off with a brisk run (or a spin class or hike or other invigorating exercise), rustle up a healthy – and hearty – breakfast, and then get on with the rest of your day. Your friend, on the other hand, sleeps till noon, wakes up and drives to the bagel store and wastes the rest of the day watching re-runs of America’s Next Top Model. But then they come to you and ask for help…ask to turn their lifestyle around and become…well…more like you.

And, while imitation is certainly the most sincere form of flattery, why is it so darn hard to motivate a friend? The following are our top 10 ways to set a friend on the path to a fit and healthy lifestyle without compromising your friendship – or your sanity!

1. No! No! No!

When it comes to leading others, sometimes it’s important to first address the long list of things to do. What won’t work when it comes to motivating a friend? Prying, nagging, begging, bartering, manipulating, criticizing and shaming. If you can’t remember all of these, at the very least remember this one: Don’t offer advice unless you are asked. Trust us!

2. Model Behavior

If your friend has asked for help, chances are they have already recognized that you know what’s what when it comes to all things health and fitness related. Your next move? Prolong this perspective by serving as a wellness model and advocate. For example, if you hit a restaurant, order sensibly – show your friend that eating well doesn’t have to mean being chained to your own kitchen. Or, if your friend is a sucker for happy hour, suggest that you get together for an après work walk. The point? Monkey see, monkey do works just as well for friends!

3. Listen Up

Life would be so much easier if people said what they actually meant, but unfortunately a friend isn’t likely to directly ask for help with their health. Instead, they are more likely to inquire about your eating patterns, where you have a gym membership or exactly what it is you do to stay in such good shape. Rather than just give them a run down of your preferred treadmill settings or talk about the hotties in your spin class, take cues from their inquiries to offer suggestions for how they could step up their own health game.

4. Strugglin’

Chances are you weren’t born a fitness buff, but rather became one across a period of time. At some point – or even points – it would have been easy to ditch your healthy lifestyle and resort back to your old couch potato ways, but you powered through. Perhaps it required finding a new exercise you loved, experimenting more in the kitchen or simply just setting a new goal. Whatever it was, pretending that the road to wellness has been easy isn’t realistic. Instead share your struggles. Not only will it create bonds (because who doesn’t love a story about overcoming a struggle!) but it will also help your friend to realize that while you might not have all of the answers, your journey is theirs too – only you’re just a little further down the road.

5. Care Bear

Change is never easy, and when your friend is kicking off a whole new lifestyle, it’s bound to be a bump in the road. The best way to help out? Listen to their stories, let them complain and be their shoulder to cry on – quite simply, position yourself as someone who cares.

6. Structural Support

You might not be able to be there in the morning to get them out of bed for that early CrossFit session or be allowed – at least in some social circles – to slap the bagel out of their hand, but sometimes just lending a little support can go a long way. Be there when they need help, have them over for a healthy dinner (and be sure to offer up the recipe!) or set up a gym date – whatever it takes to show them your unfailing support!

7. School’s In

Once your friend has shown an interest in health and fitness, it’s time for you to subtly give advice. But rather than just serve as their fountain of knowledge, steer them to resources (such as Mark’s Daily Apple) that they can access on their own. There are plenty of health and fitness blogs and resources out there, some more helpful than others, but try to help guide them towards those that will help them understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and how to best approach the task.

8. Can Do!

Perhaps they’ve started on this wellness kick because a doctor told them that they’re at risk for a heart attack, diabetes or another debilitating disease. Yes, the threat of sickness – or worse, death – can be a strong motivator, but when it comes to friends, it’s better to keep the outlook positive. Rather than focus on reducing risk, focus on the positive aspects of exercise – the high you get once you’ve run your first full mile, the sense of achievement you feel when your kids finally tell you that stir fry was delicious or the sheer excitement of slipping into a pair of jeans you haven’t worn in years. The point here? Positive always prevails when it comes to motivating friends!

9. The Onus Brothers

While you can certainly do your part to help your friend become a fitness aficionado, the reality is, you can’t do it alone. Instead, the onus is on them to make the decision to be healthy, to decide how to implement a fitness and diet regimen that works for them. In this case, while your support and advice is certainly welcome, this one, quite simply, just isn’t about you!

10. Let’s Celebrate

Your friend did it – they turned their life around, met a fitness goal, or mastered a new activity. Whatever the measure, be sure to celebrate the success. It doesn’t have to mean a big gift, a blow-out-bash or some other material token – you’ll find that a true friend can celebrate just by providing a few words of encouragement. Especially when those words are coming from the very fitness guru who has been there since day one.

Claudecf, somargraphics, *Rob*, Chris Seufert, flinchbaughj, justmakeit, Andy Brooks, Marion Doss, Swamibu, squishyray Flickr Photos (CC)

Further Reading:

Health Suicide in 10 Easy Steps

The Social Dimension of Eating: How to Eat with Unhealthy Eaters

Diet Change and Partner Dynamics

If you like this post please share it with StumbleUpon.

Subscribe to Mark’s Daily Apple for FREE updates via RSS or email.

We live in a society of nibblers. Long gone are the traditional three square meals per day. Today, people eat at their desks, catch a snack in the afternoon and eat late night goodies. Most, if not all, of these snacks are carbohydrate based and full of sugar.

If you’ve been a snack food junkie you’ve become used to eating carbohydrates of the worst kind. Snack foods are made from highly refined carbohydrates like white flour, white sugar, corn meal and corn syrup. They are high in trans-fats (which is a contributor to clogged arteries). All in all, they are probably one of the worst food choices you could be making.

I believe many athletes, body builders and fitness enthusiasts munch on natural energy bars before or after a workout to replenish their energy levels. These high protein bars are said to be healthier than others that tend to be sugary in content. These are also available in small protein bars for those who prefer to pop them in their gym bags for a quick bite.

to solution to solution Online. Save 10% - 20% at Target.com Dizziness or lightheadedness is the feeling that one is going to lose consciousness or pass out. Dizziness usually goes away after sitting or lying down. The most probable causes of dizziness or lightheadedness are: sudden drop in blood pressure and blood [...]

That is how herbal remedy took place as your choice. Though herbal remedy had already been known thousands of years ago, you cannot deny the fact that these kinds of herbal remedies are already proven and all you have to do is to follow ...

Next to water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. It is no wonder since tea has a history that spans centuries. Tea is widely consumed in many Asian countries. These countries also have enjoyed the great health benefits without any concern about the caffeine content in green tea. Today, tea is gradually gaining popularity in western countries where people are searching for a healthy alternative to all of the caffeine that is found in coffee.

What is the Caffeine Content In Green Tea?

The caffeine content in green tea is approximately 30mg per 8oz. cup. However, a cup of coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine. So, it is no wonder that research has shown that between 80 and 90% of North Americans are consuming around 280mg of caffeine per day. This caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate products.

It is important to understand that consuming too many of these products can cause you to become nervousness, anxious or to have an upset stomach. Therefore, you should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine each day. This equates to 2 cups of coffee or 1 cup of coffee and a few cans of soda.

However, you can safely consume between 5 and 6 cups of green tea per day because there is a low caffeine content in green tea. However, if you have an anxiety disorder, suffer from or you are pregnant, you should reduce your intake or stop drinking green tea altogether. Of course, there is decaffeinated green tea available.

When it comes to decaffeinated green tea, you will find that the flavor has been altered whenever the caffeine is removed from the green tea. This is why most Japanese people will not drink this type of tea. It is also believed that by removing the caffeine content in green tea, you are also removing a lot of the health benefits that come from this tea's polyphenolic content.

So, it is important to look for other ways in which to reduce the caffeine content in green tea. One way is to brew the leaves or tea bag for only 1 minute instead of the normal 2 minutes. Another way is to simply discard the first brewing and only drink the second and third brewing.

Of course, moderation is the key to anything in life. This can also be said about green tea. There are so many healthful properties found in green tea and yet the caffeine content in green tea is still of the right balance. So, now you can refresh and energize yourself without experiencing the irritability and anxiety that oftentimes occurs whenever you drink a cup of coffee.

These days, I try, as much as I can, to use non-toxic household cleaning products in our home. I must admit that all these practices started ever since our little boy came along. If you have little ones at home, you tend to be careful in what you use in and around the house, starting from household cleaning detergents to the paint on your walls to the air quality in your house.

Whether it’s cleaning the kitchen tabletops, kitchen sinks or your toilet, there are many natural products for home care available in the web. Perhaps you are suffering health problems from headaches, allergies, eczema and other skin disorders, asthma and other respiratory problems, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of co-ordination, liver damage, suppressed immune system, parasites and/or other diseases. Many of the chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis are carcinogens and can have both acute and long term health affects. There can also be significant stress and anxiety in dealing not only with health problems but also with trying to fix the house’s problems.

Is Your Home or Office Making You Sick? Click Here to see products and information to help you create a HEALTHY HOME TODAY!!