Wouldn’t your day seem so much easier if you didn’t have to deal with fatigue?! Here are some tips from Mens Health to energy that will last all day long!
7 a.m.: The Morning Fog
Fill it up. Make your morning meal a bowl of instant oatmeal prepared with skim milk. Tufts University researchers recently found that people who ate one packet of instant oatmeal spiked with 1/2 cup of skim milk received a steady glucose infusion, which increased their alertness all morning and improved their ability to process information. And if you aren’t already jolting yourself with java, start; a University of Pennsylvania study shows that a dose of caffeine can combat sleep inertia.
1 p.m.: The Lunchtime Letdown
Order a combo meal. If you can’t (or won’t) limit your lunchtime carbohydrate consumption, work in extra fiber to slow your digestion and the release of insulin, says Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., R.D., owner of the consulting firm High Performance Nutrition. For example, if your noon nosh includes a baked potato, make sure you eat the skin, which is dense with a type of fiber called pectin. “Pectin slows everything down in the gastrointestinal tract,” says Kleiner.
3 p.m.: The Afternoon Slump
Expose yourself. As in, give yourself a shot of sunlight. The sun’s rays will provide a boost to your circadian clock that should solve your afternoon slump—if you time things right. “The key is adequate exposure to sunlight very quickly after you wake up in the morning,” says Michael Terman, Ph.D., a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University medical center. “As you move into the middle of the day, the same amount of light exposure doesn’t affect the circadian clock at all.”
6 p.m.: The Preworkout Conk-Out
Snack before you sweat. Schedule a small snack roughly an hour and a half before your postwork workout. The ideal mini meal totals 250 calories and consists of 25 to 35 grams (g) carbohydrates, 10 to 15 g protein, and up to 5 g fat, says Kleiner. Two handfuls of pretzels and two slices of cheese fits the nutritional bill, as does a Myoplex Lite bar.
8 p.m.: The Prime-Time Torpor
Rock yourself awake. First, do not stretch out on the couch or recline in your easy chair. “Underlying sleepiness becomes more apparent when we put ourselves in sleep-conducive positions, such as lying down,” says Wright. And instead of turning on the TV, power up your iPod. “To increase the perception of energy, listen to a piece of music that is upbeat and familiar, and use that song to get you going,” says Andrea Scheve, director of the University of Pittsburgh medical center music-therapy program.
Shut It Off
It would be funny if it weren’t so frustrating: You spend the entire day fighting fatigue, only to slip into bed, shut your eyes, and suddenly realize that you now have too much energy. This is due to doing too many other activities, other than sleeping, in your bed. Which means the fix is what sleep researchers have recommended all along: no books, no Leno, and definitely no laptop when you’re under the covers. Sex is fine—it is, after all, nature’s perfect sleep aid.
According to Mens Health
They’re our choice of drink to wake us up or to keep us up when we’re planning for all nighters- but are energy drinks safe?
Here’s what Shape found out:
Common Ingredients
1. Taurine
This naturally found amino acid is typically offered as a dietary supplement, but it’s also found in fish and meat. Some sources suggest that you can take up to 3,000 milligrams of this supplement a day, however you should always be weary of consuming high doses. So far, the attitudes towards this acid are inconclusive, yet positive. “Taurine’s effective role in energy drinks alone requires more study, as it’s usually one of several ingredients that commonly tout a variety of claims, from decreasing sleepiness to improving concentration, mood and memory,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
2. Caffeine
This stimulant has been at the center of heated debates for years. The results are always mixed: Caffeine may protect against ovarian cancer, but it also raises the risk of a miscarriage. A study of energy drinks conducted at the University of Vienna, Austria, found that combining caffeine and taurine improves mental performance of drinkers. That being said, caffeine can become addictive when taken regularly and should be consumed cautiously.
Are They Safe?
Energy drinks contain so many different herbs and supplements that they create a murky broth with unknown effects. Ginseng and ginkgo biloba, which are also common ingredients, can affect other medications you’re taking. “Gingko biloba may increase the risk of bleeding, which is a real caution for those who take blood thinners or who have a surgery or dental procedure scheduled,” says Moore.
The best thing to do is limit your consumption of these drinks, or even better, go au naturel. “If you feel the need for energy to fuel a workout or something during snack time, try a banana, granola bar or other whole grain energy bar,” adds Moore.
Bad breath is embarrassing and not pleasurable for you or those around you. The good news is that there are some things you can do to getting that fresh breath at home!
1-Spice things up
Carry a tiny plastic bag of cloves, fennel, or anise seeds to chew after odoriferous meals.
2-Brush your tongue
While brushing, gently sweep the top of your tongue, too, so that you don’t leave food and bacteria behind to breed bad breath.
3-Ban certain beverages
Coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey are at the top of the list of liquid offenders.
4- Carry a toothbrush
Some odors can be eliminated—permanently or temporarily—if you brush immediately after a meal
5- Create your own gargle
Mix extracts of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum (all available at health food stores) in equal proportions and gargle with the mixture four times a day
6- Eat your parsley
Parsley adds more than green to your lunch plate; it’s also a breath-saver, because it contains chlorophyll, a known breath deodorizer.
7- Chew a mint or some gum
Like mouthwash, a breath mint or minty gum is just a cover-up, good for a short interview, a short ride in a compact car, or a very short date.
8-Ease up on cheese
Camembert, Roquefort, and blue cheese are called strong for good reason—they get a hold on your breath and don’t let go. Other dairy products may have the same effect.
According to MSN Heath and Fitness
According to a recent study, women who were beer drinkers were less likely to suffer from osteoporosis.
“It is thought that the high level of silicon in beer slows down the thinning that leads to fractures and boosts the formation of new bone, the journal Nutrition reports.
Beer is also rich in phytoestrogens, plant versions of oestrogen, which keep bones healthy.”
Women in the study who were considered light drinkers (less than a pint a day) did just as well as those who were moderate drinkers.
This means that you can drink enough for strong bones, but not enough for a beer gut!
and they’re still growing!
According to the latest study 26% of Americans are considered obese. Despite warnings to slim down, Americans continue to add on the pounds.
There is a whole lot going on with your body- repairing tissues, food being digested and your brain is working away. To make sure that everything is running smoothly and to the best of its abilities you need to make sure you’re eating properly!
Here are 5 nutrients that, according to SympaticoMSN.com, are essential for your health and happiness.
1. Essential fats: Your body can’t make essential fats on its own so you need to get these fats from your diet
2. Calcium: Calcium is your body’s most abundant mineral and is responsible for developing strong bones and teeth
3. Iron: The most common nutrient deficiency worldwide is iron deficiency (also known as anemia).
4. Protein: Your body needs protein for overall health, for muscle repair, hormonal balance, immune system function and for weight loss.
5. Antioxidants: Anti-oxidants such as vitamins E, C, selenium and lycopene (found in tomatoes) bind to free oxygen radicals and prevent these radicals from damaging healthy cells
Hey, all you smug skinny people, guess what? A new study has found that the people who are most likely to live longest are… drum roll please… People who are carrying a few extra pounds.As we know, extreme obesity or being underweight is unhealthy. This study is the first to realize that people of a “normal” weight are not the luckiest. This does not mean that people of a normal weight should add extra weight.
It was found that underweight people are 70 per cent more likely to die than normal weight, extremely obese people 36 per cent more likely. Overweight individuals, however, are 17 per cent LESS likely to die. Read more…
We’re always told that mother knows best, and when it comes to eating our vegetables and getting enough sleep she was right.
But some of her other medical advice — such as waiting an hour after eating before swimming — just doesn’t hold water, according to the authors of two new books about health myths.
Here are some medical wive’s tales unveiled:
Sugar makes kids hyper. Parents insist this one is true, even though 12 studies have shown no effect between children’s behavior and the sugar in their foods.
You should wait an hour after eating before you go swimming. Scientists have labeled that advice “questionable” since 1961. Exercising after eating a big meal may make people feel uncomfortable, but it won’t cause life-threatening cramps.
You need to stay awake if you have a concussion. Most people with concussions will not fall into comas if they go to sleep. If a doctor says the concussion needs no treatment, there’s no reason not to sleep.
According to USAToday.com
So you thought those smog days your city was suffering through were bad? Go to Spain, where their smog has been found to be filled with… Drumroll please… Cocaine, among other drugs.
A study has found that the air in both Madrid and Barcelona has trace amounts of cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, cannabinoids and lysergic acid (which is a relative of LSD). However, officials say this is no cause for alarm, and that the levels should not be considered representative of the air quality of the two cities. The country claims the test sites were close to areas that might be frequented by drug users, for example near a university or near a building thought to be used by drug dealers. Read more…
It looks like there’s a way to give up drinking without having to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Medical professional could give problem drinkers or alcoholics a drug to take away your urge to drink—but you are still permitted to continue drinking?
“Advocates of this treatment approach, called the Sinclair method, claim you’d likely experience no withdrawal symptoms. According to proponents, after three or four months on the medication, all while still being able to continue to drink, you’d experience diminished cravings or even find that your urge to imbibe goes away.”
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