“Cool” Tips for the Summer

Although Fall is approaching, it’s important that we stay cool during these summer months, right?

So here’s a couple of things to keep in mind as you try to enjoy outdoor activities with these hot summer days we’re having:

• Pull out those cool sunglasses- it’ll protect your eyes from the sun’s rays… but it still allows enough light to pass through for us to enjoy it!
• Bring out your best sunscreen- EVERYONE needs to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from getting damaged.  So before you go out, remember to lather it up!
• Wear hats when possible.  It’ll keep the sun from directly glaring onto your face.
• When engaging in outside activities, try to go either early morning or late afternoon when it’s a little cooler.

What do you do to protect yourself from the sun?

Image via Wikipedia

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• Cool, Easy Summer (lifescript.com)

Doughnuts CAN Be Good For An Office Snack

I can feel the pounds creeping up on me at work… and why is that? It’s because we’re always having doughnuts during meetings! And although they’re so delicious, I have to slow down on them. So then I started thinking of some other alternative snacks that we could possibly have during meetings, and guess what? Doughnuts are included! Here’s a few items that are considered best choice snacks while at work:

Banana Bread: 190 calories. It will take 53 minutes to walk it off.
Half-bagel: 120 calories. It will take 33 minutes to walk off.
Doughnut holes: 100 calories and will take 28 minutes to walk off.
Grapes: 58 calories and will take 16 minutes to walk off.

This was refreshing compared to some of the worst choices:

Cinnamon roll: 760 calories along with 211 minutes to walk it off.
Frosted cupcake: 360 calories and 100 minutes to walk it off.
Croissant: 272 calories and 75 minutes to walk it off.
Crème doughnut: 307 calories and 85 minutes to walk off.

So when the next meeting adjourns, recommend doughnut holes instead of a whole doughnut for snacks.

Don’t Be So Hard On Your Knees!

Sometimes a weeks worth of bending and floor exercises can take a toll on your knees. One time last month, I had to come home and apply heating pads and Icy Hot to my knees because they ached so bad. Then I finally realized that my workout regimens were focusing too much on things that were working my legs more than any other body part.

If you’re looking for other ways to workout that don’t put too much stress on the knees, try switching a couple of exercises for these:

Stationary bikes
Boxing
Elliptical trainer
Ergometers
Swimming

Also, to help protect your knees against injuries, try exercises like knee circles, hamstring curls, leg lifts, and wall sits to help strengthen their knees.

Keep Yourself Energized During the Day

Because you don’t run off batteries like the Energizer Bunny, it’s only natural that doing too much work at one time can put you in a burn-out stage fast. In order to avoid this, how about trying these three tips:

1. Take a Nap
If you work too much during the day and you’re unable to take naps, try finding another way to relax your mind. For example, on your lunch break, try massaging your temples for 5 minutes. This can relax the tense muscles in that head of yours and prepare you for the next segment of the day.

2. Meditation
Take at least 15 to 20 minutes a day to meditate by yourself. It doesn’t matter what you do during this time, just make sure you do it. For example, you can listen to a guided CD or a stress release meditation CD.
3. Schisandra
There is a berry that has been used for years to rejuvenate the senses; it contains vitamins and flavanoids that can help boost your immune system. It boosts physical and mental abilities.
So this week, take this time out for you, and when you feel you’re overdoing things, try some of these three remedies.

What do you do to rejuvenate your body?

Baby Training

Do you agree with weight training for babies? The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) contends that strength training for kids is both safe and beneficial and does not cause any bone-plate (growth) disturbances, provided that the program is properly designed and competently supervised. There is this article that gives you seven tips for weight training your toddler.

Here are some tip:
Safety is your first priority. Invest in some expert advice.
Work in small groups as partner exercises are fun for kids.
All exercises should be completed in a slow and controlled manner until perfect technique is established.
Workout yourself. Kids learn best by example.

Click here to read more.

The Low-Down On Hybrid Cars

If you’re in the market for a new car, now is a good time to consider getting a hybrid vehicle instead of the traditional gas combustion rig. PlanetGreen.com has an entire section devoted to hybrid cars, from how they work to choosing the best one. Save on gas while lowering your carbon emissions. There are tips on how to drive greener, too, until you can afford that fancy hybrid.

Do you have or want a hybrid car?

Worth Your Salt

While it serves a role for seasoning food, salt is also one of those substances important to the body’s health.

Besides being a chemical needed by the body, the generic table salt bought at the store is typically fortified with iodine, another needed component. It quite literally makes everything taste different.

Salt has a long history as a preservative, because of its ability to kill mold and bacteria. Salt water can be used to clean minor wounds as well for this same reason. It stings to get in the ocean with a stubbed toe, but know you are aiding in the healing process.

There are also thousands of household uses for salt.

Like baking soda, salt is an abrasive and absorbent – use it to scour a stainless steel sink, or pour it down the disposal. You can even pour it over a stain on the carpet and blot it up later.

Salt’s long history in both culinary and household uses should serve as a reminder that using it is much safer than many of today’s cleaners. You might throw up after drinking a mouthful of salt, but the effects are much more benign than a mouthful of bleach to a child!

Do you have any uses or recipes where salt is featured?