MediaCorp Overland Park, Kansas Way Of Life

By Barbara Haynes

Eating Healthy on a Budget

With Climate Change, Credit crunches, and drought, food prices are increasing day by day all over the world. We can make our food budget stretch further by choosing frugally at the supermarket. Before leaving for your weekly or fortnightly trips to the supermarket make sure your list is ready and stick to it purposely, you are in charge of your destiny at the supermarket. You can save money and still have quality.

Set aside time to prepare a meal planner for a week or fortnight, while preparing your shopping list, include healthy snack ideas as well as your main meal ideas. Think about the time you shop, day of the week, early in the morning is the best time to shop in the quiet.

Here a few tips for a guide to healthy eating:-

Limit your intake of junk food and Alcohol.
Drink lots of water. At least eight cups, of water cups per day.
Limit salty and sugary foods.
Avoid eating many foods that are high in saturated fats.
Make a variety of foods, which is the key to eating healthy.

Stock your fridge and cupboards with items that are quick, easy, and healthy to cook, (yet kind to your purse).

Fresh vegetables and fruits bought in season, to ensure optimal taste and nutrition, should be bought into the home once or twice a week. Veggies make great stir-fries and vegetable patties, while fruit is good for a nutritional snack. Canned or frozen varieties of fruit and vegetables are quick and easy additions to last minute meals or deserts.

Meat and fish can be kept on hand for last minute meals, shop for inexpensive cuts of meats that work extremely well in stews and casseroles. When buying meat, look for your local butcher, lay your cards on the table with the butcher, and tell him what you require. You will get the freshest cuts, and do not forget to ask the butcher to remove excess fat from your meat. Sometimes cooking a huge meal is ideal for freezing leftovers for later use in the week for lunches and quick suppers. The best ideas double the recipe then freeze half. Do not forget vegetable trimmings to make your own vegetable stock. Saving your money and vegetable stock is a nutritious base for casseroles, soups, and Crockpot cooking.

The best and cheapest way to shop is bulk buying, freezing perishables, such as meat, milk, and bread in smaller portions to use as required. Buying non-perishables in bulk is a good for example, canned foods, dried beans, and grains. Searching the supermarket to find less expensive foods (generic or store brand goods), on the shelves.

Comparing cost per unit is the best cost saver to come to supermarkets; you will be able to figure the most cost effective purchase. Take advantage of specials on staple foods-soups, pasta, rice, canned veggies, even bread and meat. Many of these groceries have a long shelf life, and can be frozen for short periods of time.

Cooking on a budget like anything else in life takes planning, involving new challenges and work. However, the product is always worth the work. Think of the rewards, better health and more money, all the work will become an adventure and you will be pleased with your accomplishments.

Author: Anne Tide

Like with any other good thing, there are people who do not like the Lifestyle Lift or just try to find problems and negative thing about it. The question that arises then is how many of the so called Lifestyle Lift problems are real and how many are invented. Most of the problems people invoke already have solutions or at least have answers even if they are not what everybody wants to hear. The enumerated problems on different forums are the Lifestyle Lift cost, the scheduling, the after care and even the procedure itself. There are also problems because the locations where the procedure is available.

Most of these problems can be solved when one schedules a free consultation with the Lifestyle Lift experts. The problem now is that the procedure is so successful and affordable that a lot of people want to see if they can do it. Just imagine being wrinkle free in about an hour and walking out of the office with a younger face. The Lifestyle Lift cost is determined by the amount of work that needs to be done around your eyes and neck area. These areas require the most work. The price is around $4,000, but should not go over $5,000. Because the procedure is relatively short, it should not take more than an hour, and the anesthesia is local, there are no hospital costs, nurses to be paid or other services that occur when one is admitted to the hospital. Thus Lifestyle Lift cost should not be considered one of the Lifestyle Lift problems.

Another problem raised was the scheduling. Because of the affordable price, the success of the procedure and the quickly visible results, more and more people make an appointment for the free consultation. If one knows the procedure usually takes an hour, this is not valid for the free consultation. This is the phase of the process where one can ask questions about the actual Lifestyle Lift, about the procedure, the anesthesia, the estimated cost, the after care, the advantages and disadvantages of such a procedure if any, and so on. The cost of the procedure can be estimated because when the Lifestyle Lift expert explains the procedure he or she can do it on the face and neck of the person, thus assessing if he or she is a possible patient for such a procedure. Because of all the free consultations offered and the large amount of schedules procedure, new patients might have to wait several weeks to get the actual procedure done.

The procedure and the after care are also problems that can be solved during the free consultation. The goal of the Lifestyle Lift staff is to make sure you understand everything about the procedure, that they answer all your questions and that if the case, they schedule a date for you to get the procedure. You are encouraged to ask questions, before, during and after a procedure. As a patient you will also receive after care advice and medication for preventing infection and to reduce soreness. The usual recovery time after such a procedure is 4 to 7 days. This means that most of the people who had the procedure done were able to return to their daily activities in less than a week.

Author: Paul Rodgers

Building a healthy lifestyle is a cornerstone to living a full life. Living a healthy lifestyle is more than just cutting calories to lose weight or taking the stairs. A healthy lifestyle is one based on maintaining physical, social and spiritual well being. Remember, a healthy lifestyle is about balance, calculated choices and motivation. A key component to living a healthy lifestyle is exercising on a regular basis.

Exercise

Over the years, research has shown us that diet and exercise play an important role in the prevention of heart disease. Before developing an exercise plan, discuss with your health care team what exercises, if any, would be good for you. Exercise can be fun and the best way to make sure it’s habitual is to incorporate an activity you enjoy into your lifestyle, such as a favorite sport or a nice walk. Regular exercise that makes you sweat is important for detoxification and improving general health.

Physical aerobic exercise is critically important, because it gets oxygen, sugar (as glucose), and nutrients to the brain. Eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups Drink plenty of water Exercise 30 minutes or more most days of the week. Whatever kind of exercise and nutrition plans you opt for, do not become discouraged if the pounds refuse to drop off right away.

Work On Your Fitness

If you have come to the decision that living a healthy lifestyle is what you want, then you will need to work on your fitness. Fitness gives your body the conditioning it needs and works hand in hand with a healthy diet. Fitness keeps your weight in check, helps you sleep better at night, prevents heart attacks and strokes and generally prolongs your life. If you can work up a good sweat for 30 minutes, and hold a conversation during that time without being out of breath, you are giving your body a proper workout for cardiovascular fitness and weight loss. Those who have experienced the good health effects of being fit, however, seldom allow themselves to loose too much fitness.

Healthy Diet And Exercise

Healthy diet and exercise are the cornerstones of proper weight management. Healthy food should be eaten as close to the way nature made it as possible; and in this author’s eyes that means RAW. At the farmer’s market or vegetable stand, watch for tomatoes, green beans, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries and watermelon as all are high in anti-oxidants to keep you healthy. Cooking method is extremely important if you are eating healthily because what’s the use of choosing healthy foods then unwisely cooking them by adding excessive oil and fats.

By making healthy nutrition and exercise choices early in life, you may be able to avoid serious health problems when you are older, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Cut down on the amount of meat you eat, or consider switching to healthy vegetarian eating. Eating small snacks between meals can be a healthy way to add good nutrition and keep your energy up during the day. The key with snacks is to have healthy stuff on hand.

The Mediterranean Diet

If you’re looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating - plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine - among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Multivitamins

As you age multivitamins become especially important because multivitamins can help you maintain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Multivitamins are the safest things that anyone can take and are even safer than drinking coffee, an expert panel has discovered. Multivitamins are an easy way for Americans to garner the vitamins and minerals they need every day to better their health, and general well being. While multivitamins can be a valuable tool to correct dietary imbalances, it is worth exercising basic caution before taking them, especially if any medical conditions exist. Liquid multivitamins don’t have to be digested so they are absorbed within the system a lot quicker than pills. Liquid multivitamins naturally go down easy and are available in a variety of flavors (children enjoy this aspect).

Author: Joe Goertz

For years medical professionals have been claiming that what a person eats directly affects how long they will live. Those who incorporate natural foods that are low in fat into their diet are leading a much healthier lifestyle than someone who frequents a fast food restaurant.

People who live a healthy lifestyle sometimes need to give up convenience for the sake of eating healthier. This seems to be changing in recent years. Many fast food restaurants are recognizing this trend towards a healthy lifestyle and are now adding alternative food choices to their menus.

One of the drawbacks of many of the fast food chains is that the items are very high in fat. For a person struggling with their weight or watching their heart health it can be a challenge to find menu items that they can eat.

In recognition of the healthier lifestyle their customers want companies are now offering items like salads, yogurt and low fat muffins. For a parent taking their child to a burger and fries joint this now means that they won’t have to forego their healthy lifestyle while they eat there. They can enjoy a salad with low calorie dressing while their youngsters enjoy what they like.

Diet is only one ingredient in living a healthy lifestyle. Another important component is exercise. Exercise plays an integral part in reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Adding an exercise regime to your life is a great step towards a healthier lifestyle. Using this time to burn calories and build your muscles will ensure that your body is getting the movement it needs.

In today’s busy world many people don’t feel that they can live a healthy lifestyle. They complain that it takes too much time and energy. Another common complaint is that pursuing a healthy lifestyle is expensive. Adding fresh fruits, vegetables and fish to their lifestyle diet plan adds a cost that many people don’t see the value in.

You don’t have to join a gym to get exercise. If you tend to drive to the store and it’s close enough to walk to, than choose the walk. This is an example of changing your lifestyle in a small way that actually will lead to big results.

Everyone can make some change in their lifestyle that will lead to healthier choices. Instead of picking up a bag of potato chips, eat an apple. When you are craving a candy bar, put on your walking shoes and take a stroll.

By: Trish Powell

In a perfect world we would all be eating the right food, exercising, sleeping well and just generally enjoying life.

In the real world most of us manage a percentage of the healthy lifestyle and muddle through as best we can with the rest of it. Part of the problem is we are encouraged to think, mostly by the media, that we should be doing everything possible towards a healthy lifestyle, all of the time. For most of us this is just not possible.

Constant concern about what we should or shouldn’t be doing causes our stress levels to go up and that negates any good work that we’ve done. Yes, we should certainly try for a healthy lifestyle, but the two key words are “moderation” and “balance” By applying these criteria to achieving a healthy lifestyle we won’t be beating ourselves up for failing another diet or dropping out of the latest exercise regime.

A common mistake that many people make when they decide to adopt a healthy lifestyle is to try to do too much too soon. They then give themselves a guilt complex when it all falls apart. It is also easy to be influenced by others, when we should only be adopting a healthy lifestyle plan to suit ourselves.

Ah! Did I say lifestyle plan? Do you have one, or do you just try the next thing that is in your magazine or Sunday supplement? By all means read these articles and take them into account as you plan how you want your healthy lifestyle to take shape.

Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you have got to run a mile before breakfast, eat seeds and think pure thoughts. Great if that’s what you want, but for most of us “healthy” means being in reasonable shape, eating our fruit and vegetables and generally having a feeling of vitality.

Decide on your definition of a healthy lifestyle, and then plan a strategy that works for you.

As part of my health plan I decided I wanted to walk in the mornings before breakfast, but there was no way I wanted to get up at the crack of dawn to do it. So I planned a ten minute circuit that includes a short flight of steps and a not too steep incline. I power walked that route every day and felt really good. Sure l wouldn’t make the City to Surf marathon, but I compromised and made it work for me.

Today, much is made of organic foods, but the reality is that organic food is generally more expensive and well out of the range for most budgets. Yes organic is probably the best option, but it doesn’t mean that if you’re not eating all organic you are not eating right. If you’re concerned about general produce, be a bit discerning when you shop. Look for fruit and vegetables that are fresh and unblemished. You should also buy product brands that you can trust. If you shop wisely, you can have a well-balanced healthy diet that won’t break the bank.

Basically living a healthy life means looking at your lifestyle as a whole, it is not just about diet and exercise. It is not always necessary to make major changes. Most people know their weak spots, and are happy if they can make a few changes that show results.

A friend of mine was drinking several cans of soft drink a day. She was feeling tired and generally under the weather. When I read an article about the health risk of soft drink I copied it and gave it to her, whereupon she decided to give up the soft drink there and then. A week later she got back to me and said she couldn’t believe the difference, her energy levels were up and she was feeling great. Just that one change was able to make a difference and she feels good about the healthy choice.

Sleep and leisure time play a big part in a healthy lifestyle, and for the most part people underestimate the value of good sleep. Our bodies aren’t designed to operate at peak performance twenty four hours a day. Anyone in industry knows that machines that have to work continuously need a lot of maintenance. When we are sleeping our body is healing and regenerating itself and we should wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized.

We can go without sleep for extended periods, but we can’t do it indefinitely. The amount of sleep an individual needs varies a great deal, and there is no such thing as the right time to sleep. Obviously most people sleep at night, but if you are one of those folk that comes alive in the small hours, you might need to catch up with your sleep during the day.

A big part of healthy living is being comfortable with yourself. Don’t be pressured into trying to attain a certain look, or push yourself down a career path you are not suited to. Constant worry about what you are doing will only have the opposite effect on your health. Don’t get paranoid about your diet, about what toothpaste you should use or about expensive exercise equipment you need to buy.

Author: Peter Hutch

The term lifestyle was originally coined by Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler in 1929. The current broader sense of the word dates from 1961. In sociology, a lifestyle is the way a person lives. A lifestyle is a characteristic bundle of behaviors that makes sense to both others and oneself in a given time and place, including social relations,consumption, entertainment, and dress. The behaviors and practices within lifestyles are a mixture of habits, conventional ways of doing things, and reasoned actions. A lifestyle typically also reflects an individual’s attitudes, values or worldview.

Having a specific “lifestyle” means engaging in a characteristic bundle of behaviors that makes sense to both others and the self in different times and places. Therefore, a lifestyle can be used to forge a sense of self identity and to create cultural symbols for the way a person is. The behaviors and practices within lifestyles are a mixture of habits, conventional ways of doing things, and reasoned actions.

At Lifestyles, our exercise specialists are certified by the American Council on Exercise as Personal Trainers. They provide professional supervision of all fitness activities and services, and design individualized programs for people of all ages with diverse fitness goals: healthy adults, post-cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation patients, deconditioned and unconditioned adults, and adolescents desiring high-intensity sports conditioning programs. Lifestyles is dedicated to health, nutrition and the betterment of your life. We research, develop and manufacture the highest quality natural health, nutrition and body care products and make them available through thousands of Independent Distributors worldwide.

Lifestyles keeps you informed about the latest in health and nutrition, encourages personal and family growth, community contribution, and can even provide financial security for those interested in their own part-time or full-time business. As a Lifestyles Independent Distributor, you are a self-employed businessperson, working with Lifestyles but not for Lifestyles. Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography. The food, clothing and habits of an Indian differ in accordance to the place of origin.

In public health, “lifestyle” generally means a pattern of individual practices and personal behavioral choices that are related to elevated or reduced health risk. Since the mid-1970s, there has been a growing recognition of the significant contribution of personal behavior choices to health risk—in the United States thirty-eight percent of deaths in 1990 were attributed to tobacco, diet and activity patterns, and alcohol. Equally important, illnesses attributable to lifestyle choices play a role in reducing health-related quality of life and in creating health disparities among different segments of the population.