This season, consider adding an already festive spice to foods and drinks. According to a study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, cinnamon lowered LDL cholesterol (that's the bad one) in patients with type 2 diabetes. In healthy patients, the study found that the addition of 6g of cinnamon to rice pudding lowered the glucose response in the body and slowed the rate at which food left the stomach, meaning subjects felt fuller for a longer period of time.
And chances are, you've already got some sitting in your spice rack right now! Mix ground cinnamon in your oatmeal, include it in your next stir-fry, or add a stick to a cup of eggnog. I mean, tea.
Warm up your wellness routine by bringing classes right to you!
US Workers put in the longest hours on the job in industrialized nations, clocking up nearly 2,000 hours per capita in 1997, the equivalent of almost two working weeks more than their counterparts in Japan, where annual hours worked have been declining since 1980.
One of the core beliefs at Recess is that life-long wellness is affordable and accessible to everyone. Between the tough economy and pressure to find holiday gifts for others, you may be way down the line on your own shopping list. But when the time comes to splurge, and you're thinking about buying something health-related, a little research can go a long way.
Take for instance, the unassuming pedometer. The Journal of American Medicinal Association recently pooled the results of 26 studies that measured the effectiveness of pedometers in motivating physical activity. Among the observational studies, pedometer users significantly increased their physical activity by 2183 steps per day (!) over the baseline. An important predictor of increased physical activity was having a goal such as 10,000 steps per day. Pedometer users also decreased their body mass index and lowered their systolic blood pressure.
Pedometers come in many affordable varieties and can be a great way to kick off a new wellness routine by keeping track of a daily, tangible goal. Stocking stuffers anyone?
But maybe a pedometer just doesn't ooze the charm or high fashion appeal you're going for. What about those shoes that promise to tone your legs and backside? Several varieties exist, and maybe you've seen the ads for the new EasyTone shoes. In the commercial, the camera continually drifts to well, the model's best asset. Do they work? Well, the jury's still out, but according to a recent New York Times article, trials done on the shoes and their toning efficiency involved a whopping five subjects walking on a treadmill.
Furthermore, "The shoes are designed only for walking, and because of the instability design, wearers are discouraged from running, jumping and engaging in other athletic activities while wearing them."
Wait, a sec, are these walking shoes or high heels we're talking about? Oh, they're walking shoes that promise to tone your booty, even though you can't participate in any naturally bootylicious-building activities while wearing them. Got it.
Hold on. Where have we heard this before? Something else that promises to burn more calories while you're doing something you do everyday, but ends up being a hindrance to just about everything. Oh yes, the Hawaii Chair.
Click the pic to see Ellen putting it to the test.
That's not to say the shoes don't make a difference for some people. But perhaps, like the increased awareness brought on by wearing a pedometer, you walk more in your souped up shoes because you're conscious that they're supposed to be making you look better. The only difference is about $80. That, and you can still jump while wearing a pedometer.
There's a lot out there you can buy for your health, but anything with the claim, "you just do what you normally do and you'll get thinner/faster/smarter/stronger" should be taken with a grain of salt (or cinnamon?).
Real change requires some kind, well, actual change, an awakening of mindfulness. If you can integrate wellness into your life in a meaningful, purposeful way, and the effects will deeper and longer lasting, rather than the by-product of a new health gimmick.
And you don't have to go it alone! You can even incorporate your holiday giving into bringing wellness to you and sharing it with others. Pack a picnic for you and a friend and head out on a hiking or snowshoeing adventure. Take your kids ice skating (but you've got to lace up your skates too!). Sign up you and your sweetie for a healthy cooking class. This way, you're sharing the goodness and creating memories--and those will last longer than even the most high-tech sneakers.
A fresh, innovative, personalized approach to wellness.
Here, having fun is the key to being healthy. Life's too short for diets, gyms and one-size-fits-all programs. It's time for more exciting and realistic possibilities. It's time for Recess.
ather, for I have cinned.
