The Infonian

Health and fitness are topics that everyone is talking about these days. But, only a few will actually adhere to a healthy and physically fit lifestyle. People who eat healthy and work out will have the benefits of a great bodies and are more physically attractive. They are more likely to have a better sex life and more romantic involvements, which in turn can make them more satisfied with life.

Often, people who eat right are more capable in performing their tasks at the office and are more able to get advancements in their careers. These people do not take leaves of absence and when they do, they use it to have fun and unwind and not to recover from a bad illness.

But despite the numerous benefits that you get from living a healthy lifestyle, why do people still stick to their old habits. One of the reasons is of course the unwillingness. After all, who would want to quit something that you enjoy doing or eating? Most people will not be willing to part ways with what they have been so used to doing. Just imagine saying goodbye to a comfort food or a hobby that makes you happy,will you do it?

Another reason is perhaps the difficulty. Most people attempt to change their ways for various reasons, health problems, relationship woes,even financial but most of the time they don’t see their plans through. They will try for a week and perhaps continue for a couple of weeks and then go back to their old habits after some time. They do not continue with their plans. One of the main reasons why is the lack of desire.

To be successful in combating a bad habit, you need to really want it bad enough. Sometimes, will power is not enough for this. You also need the support of the people around you. This is why a lot of the programs right now that are created to help people change have a network of support system that will help their members.

Starting a healthy lifestyle is not really as impossible as you might think it is. In fact, with commitment and discipline, you can actually start walking the road to health and fitness. It will be hard but just imagine the rewards that you will get in return. There are a lot of benefits to it. You just need to fully commit to it and create your own support system.

The food crisis: limp lifeless foods = dull lifeless people, you need the nutrition from natural foods, no pill or potion can replace these. Get hold of the freshest fruit and veg you can and eat it raw. Cooking is a heat treatment that kills off the more fragile nutrients. Make juices and smoothies as these are fun, easy to digest and leave the nutrients intact. Avoid sugar: of all the innovations of the food industry refined sugar, when eaten sets you up for hours of blood sugar peaks and troughs. It’s a high calorie stimulant, not a nourishing food. Avoid it!

Water: invest in a water filter for the home, they are simple and cheap, some need no installation. It will save you a fortune in bottled water and get you in the habit of keeping hydrated.

Movement: you have two major fluid systems in your body, your blood and your lymph systems. Your blood supply has a pump, your heart which circulates the blood delivering oxygen and nutrients all round the body. The lymph system, which we hear less about, is just as important, this system has no pump and relies on muscular movement and deep breathing to be activated. Lymph fluid runs round every cell in the body washing away the toxic by products of your cells working. Without movement your cells are effectively swimming in their own toxins. Work up a sweat doing some activity everyday and understand why you instantly feel better!

Your path in life: be honest with yourself, it’s your life, it’s not just happening to you it’s something you can control and steer. But if you don’t know what you want you’ll drift aimlessly. Take 20 minutes and a piece of paper and write down what you want. With a physical reminder you can then ask yourself what you did day by day to make it happen. If it’s a mayor goal then work out a path and a timeline to get there. Life is a journey, plan yours and get what you want from it. Don’t just follow the herd or bob about in the river. Addiction: Weather its cigarettes, sugar, or caffeine. Understand the nature of it and educate yourself on the topic. I thought nothing of loading everything with sugar, thinking it was a natural food. On learning all I could about nutrition it took me I week to eliminate sugar from my diet completely. Why? Because I understood it and that motivated me to make the change. Knowledge is power to beat harmful habits.

Author: Mark Snare

We like to keep things imaginative here, so we are always pushing the juicing envelope and finding new natural things to throw in the blender and learn about, here are a few of our favorites in a quick guide to fortifying your juices for even more radiant health! As a golden rule, leafy ones can be put in the blender or juicer, root ones need to be juiced for max digestibility!

Basil: a nice herb, just a few leaves put through the juicer or thrown into the blender will add a slight peppery taste.

Mint: excellent for the digestive tract, not to mention the breath, only use a small amount or the taste will be over powering in your juice.

Rosemary: another herb with active benefits traditionally used for poor circulation try a pinch of this in your next juice.

Parsley: is a favorite of ours at juiceproducer, a good source of Vit C and calcium, this tasty herb finds its way into a good few of our juices.

Some Spicy additions

It’s nice to spice things up once in a while, and juices are just the same

Chilies: are a favorite of ours BUT! Due to their potent nature we DO NOT put them in the juicer! They can take over for a while and give everything a chili overtone, not good if you are after a nice fruit juice in the morning.

Garlic: now considered a super food for it’s legendary effects on the circulation and immune system you can throw a little in the juice as its quite oily and doesn’t hang around. Takes some getting used to as a raw juice but the health effects are very potent. Do not take before a first date or job interview though.

Ginger: this is a very popular addition to juices, it seems to go equally well in fruit or vegetable juice adding a nice warming spicy feel to your juice. Ginger has anti inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.

Nutmeg: a lovely smelling spice a pinch of nutmeg will have a lovely warming effect.

Cinnamon: a very distinctive taste, goes better with some things than others, try a little in a banana based smoothie.

Author: Mark Snare

As important as a fitness routine is to your physical health, it’s just as vital to have a “well-being routine” that focuses on your mental health. Being well-rounded physically and mentally can foster balance between your work and personal lives, and help reduce everyday stress.

Stress is a major and growing health concern in America, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). In fact, a third of all Americans say they are extremely stressed, and 77 percent report experiencing physical symptoms associated with stress, according to an APA study.

“Stress is a normal part of life, and small amounts can actually make you stronger physically and mentally,” says Martica Heaner, a health, fitness and wellness expert. “But when stress builds up and becomes overwhelming, it’s time to take action to manage its impact on your life. Looking after yourself by focusing on your wellness is one of the very best ways to take care of what’s on the inside as well as the outside.”

Americans are more focused on overall wellness than ever before, a fact that has not escaped the notice of companies like The Body Shop, Heaner notes. The Body Shop, long recognized as leaders in the naturally inspired beauty industry, recently launched a line of wellbeing products that fit into four key aspects of a wellness regimen – Divine Calm, Total Energy, Deep Sleep and Pure Detox.

Your well-being routine should help you create calm, get adequate rest, re-energize and purify your body, Heiner says.

Creating Calm

* Manage small stressors. Try not to over schedule yourself or constantly react to every demand on your time. For example, rather than constantly checking e-mail throughout the day, schedule a few regular times to do so.

* Give yourself time to do nothing at all. Turn off the TV. Don’t answer the phone. Or soak in a hot bath seasoned with a calm-inspiring bath product. Look for products, like The Body Shop’s Divine Calm line, that incorporate naturally calming ingredients such as French lavender essential oil, camomile and soya milk.

Reaping the Rewards of Rest

* Sleep deprivation can leave you feeling “hung over,” impair you as much as several alcoholic drinks, shorten your attention span, make you feel sluggish and even cause you to overeat.

* Follow a calming routine prior to bedtime. Incorporate some pampering in your routine, such as a relaxing shower, soothing moisturizer and a spritz of calming scent in the room, on your pillow or bed sheets. The Body Shop’s new Wellbeing line includes five products designed to enhance rest, like the Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow and Body Mist.

* Get extra sleep whenever possible. Set the alarm to go off at the last possible minute, instead of setting it earlier and hitting the snooze button a few times. Your body will benefit more from those extra 20 minutes if they’re uninterrupted.

Re-energize Your Body

From improper nutrition, to lack of sleep or exercise and dehydration, there are many reasons why you might feel fatigued.

* Never skip breakfast. Even a small bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit can help you energize for the day ahead. Eat more if you exercise in the morning and will be expending energy.

* Put nutrition first, and worry less about calories, carbs or fat. Add some colourful vegetable or fruit to every meal – spinach or red peppers on your sandwich or pizza, beans in your salad or pasta.

Purify Your Body

You can minimize your exposure to environmental toxins with a few simple steps:

* Choosing organic foods can help you reduce the amount of toxins you ingest.

* Eat more walnuts and walnut oil, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids that help quench free radicals in our bodies.

* Drink more water. To function at their best, every cell in your body needs to be properly hydrated. Getting enough water can help you feel less tired and flush toxins from your body.

Choose all-natural products in every aspect of your life, from the cleaning products you use in your home to your beauty products. The Body Shop’s Wellbeing products are made from all-natural ingredients like guarana, wasabi, lavender, camomile, eucalyptus and jujube date. Plus, every product contains ingredients sourced through the company’s Community Trade program, so while you’re taking care of your own well-being, you’re also helping communities around the world in places like Ghana, Brazil, Zambia, Namibia and Nicaragua.

* Have a plan and post your goals.

Whether it’s losing weight, increasing endurance or just feeling healthier overall, having a plan makes it easier to stay on track. Posting your goals gives you something to work toward. Print out your goals and hang them on the wall above your treadmill or start a personal fitness blog and put your goals out there for everyone to see. Do some research online and talk with your doctor to make sure your goals are healthy and realistic. Unrealistic goals mean certain frustration.

* Reward yourself when you reach your goals.

Did you manage to exercise 30 minutes a day for an entire week? Reward yourself by getting a relaxing massage. Did you lose a few pounds? Take a night off, relax and watch television or read a book. Have you reached your weight loss goal? Splurge on a new MP3 player to listen to during your continued workouts. Try not to use food as a reward, especially if your goal is to lose weight.

* Work out with a friend.

Exercising with a friend can make your workout time fly. They may have new ideas and you can help keep each other on track.

* Try something new.

Working out can be fun with a new piece of equipment like a Sports Hoop — a weighted hoop you swivel for just 10 to 15 minutes to provide cardiovascular benefits, tone muscles and burn calories and fat. Spend time each day working out with the Sports Hoop Workout DVD and you can trim your waist 2 inches and lose up to 4 pounds every month. For more information the workout that feels like child’s play visit www.Sports-Hoop.com or call toll free (866) 700-5668.

* Change the order of your exercises.

If you’re in a routine you could be in a rut. Simply changing the order you exercise in can help shake things up. If you walk three days a week and do cardio on Tuesdays, try walking at a different time of day or doing cardio two days in a row.

* Take it outside.

A change of venue can add great motivation, especially when you’re out in the fresh air and sunshine. Even inclement weather can provide an extra push — you’ll run faster when you want to get out of the rain!

* Subscribe to a fitness magazine.

Magazines offer new plans and inspiration. Plus the photos of fit people can be great motivation when you picture yourself fitting into those new workout clothes.