Healthy for Life

Hi Everyone and Happy Summertime! There are not too many aromas out there that are better than the sweet smell of freshly mown lawn. It brings back wonderful childhood memories of having the summer off from school, hot weather, and not having too many choices of what in the world to do. As I was driving down an avenue, I noticed a young boy rolling in the grass so freely with the biggest smile on his face. I thought, what a simple pleasure and when was the last time I did that without a care in the world? It is so gratifying for our souls to connect with nature; it is alive just as we are. We are exchanging our presences with each other. If we take care of nature, it takes care of us. By the time you read this, I will have since rolled in the grass and you may want to give it a try yourself if you haven’t already. And be sure to thank mother earth while you’re out there!

If you have any health topics, health success stories or a family recipe for a health cure, please email me at juls11@peoplepc. com or drop it off at Hometown Focus. Thanks for your support!

Ingredient Awareness

One of the most common things people ask about is ingredients in products. If you are not reading labels, you should start. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, or there are too many to remember, then you probably shouldn’t be eating or using it. Many of my articles deal with product ingredients, and I am more than happy to let you know what I may know or find out. So keep on asking!

High Fructose Corn Syrup

There have been on-going studies on this product. It was introduced because it is much cheaper than sugar. This obsession with production cost-savings is wreaking havoc on our health and our lives in general! Anyways, back to corn syrup. Studies have shown that it can cause higher obesity rates than sugar. And people consume too much processed sweeteners and sugar in general. It creates overall health risks beside obesity. It will wear down our defenses against fighting off diseases and to help our bodies heal properly. So, try to limit your servingsof sugar and go for the natural sweet things like fruit.

Magnesium Stearate

This is a metal derivative mixture of magnesium and stearic acid and used as a filler in many supplements. It can be found in naturally fatty acids such as cocoa, coconut, milk, eggs, fish and poultry.

Magnesium Stearate is used as a stabilizing agent in multivitamins, and as a binding and emulsifying component found in baby formulas, cosmetics and hard candies. It is most commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Palm oil and hydrogenated cottonseed oil are used in the production of magnesium stearate. It is used for lubing the machinery in manufacturing dietary supplements. Studies have shown that the magnesium stearate decreases the absorption level of nutrients up to 65%. Small doses may be okay, but large doses over a period of time can damage skin and cause liver toxicity. It can also suppress the immune system, cause gastroenteritis, nausea, vomiting, and cramps. Inhalation can cause inflammation to the respiratory system, especially to people who are hypersensitive to allergies. So, every time you are ingesting a pill with magnesium stearate you are receiving higher amounts. Be sure to read ingredient labels and purchase products that are a reliable brand. Listen to your body and make sure what you’re putting on it or in it is agreeing with you!

Sources: LIVESTRONG.com,buzzle.com/ articles/magnesium-strearate-side-effects

Exercise at Home, Work or Gym

Side Twists

These are great for trimming that waist line. Helps to promote mobility in the neck, shoulders and abdominal area. It can be done in a chair, bench, stool, or stability ball.

How to:

Sit with back straight up, stomach in, legs at 90-degree angle with feet flat. Place hands on your shoulders. Twist head, neck, and abdominal from side to side as far as possible until you feel the stretch in your stomach muscles. Repeat up to 10 to twenty times.