Author: Kristy Lowery

23 Nov

Posted at 18:20h in News by
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Nutritious, easy to grow, and with an exceptionally long life span (if stored properly, some can last months), root vegetables are packed with healthy carbs and starches that provide energy. Research on sweet potatoes suggests that this root veggie may contribute to preventing diabetes, obesity, cancer, and other health conditions thanks to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial properties. As a bonus, root veggies including sweet potatoes are also gluten-free, making a great dietary alternative for those with celiac disease, or other gluten intolerances.The sweet potato is a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, and fiber-rich food. Many nutritionists value their high beta carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), vitamin C, and potassium content. The food is also a decent source of vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and manganese. Although starchy, the sweet potato has the potential to improve the regulation of blood sugar. This is because they contain high amounts of fiber. Sweet potatoes usually have orange flesh, but you can also encounter purple sweet potatoes as well. These potatoes are a special cross-breed which contain high levels of anthocyanins (which give the potatoes their distinctive purple color). These anthocyanins are thought to be powerful antioxidants and may have a number of other...

30 Oct

Posted at 16:48h in News by
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BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! Okay actually it’s kind of perfect now, but it’s about to be rough for the ole’ outdoor activity. So how do we cope with staying in shape while we are confined indoors? Below I have outlined three exercises you can do indoors daily to keep up your strength and stamina this winter:Squat/ Wall Sit – probably one of my all-time favorites the squat works literally ALL the muscles in the body. You want to make sure that you set your hips back from your midline when you sit down! If a full or free squat is initially to challenging try a wall sit first with your back up against a wall in a 90 degree seated position. Work up to one minute then move off the wall and try a squat holding onto a stable chair or table for balance. Lessen the use of the balance support as you improve! As this becomes easier you can work up to holding a weight in front of you. A weight can be anything from a dumbbell, kettlebell, sandbag, baby, puppy, bag full of books, case of water…. Anything works! Your body just recognizes the resistance. You could also...

06 Oct

Posted at 17:40h in News by
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Obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) is linked with a higher risk of developing 13 different types of cancer. There is evidence to support a strong relationship between weight loss and cancer risk reduction. Obese individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery to aid in weight loss appear to have a lower risk of obesity-related cancers when compared to obese individuals who have not had bariatric surgeryEndometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus): Obese/overweight women are 2 to 4 times as likely to develop endometrial cancer. Extremelyobese women are about 7 times as likely to develop this cancer. The risk increases with weight gain in adulthood, particularly among women who have never used menopausal hormone therapy.Esophageal adenocarcinoma (cancer of the esophagus): People who are overweight/obese are 2 times as likely to develop this cancer and people who are extremely obese are more than four times as likely.Gastric cardia cancer (cancer of the upper part of the stomach): People who are obese are nearly 2 times as likely as a person with a normal weight to develop cancer in the part of the stomach that is closest to the esophagus.Liver cancer: People who are overweight or obese are up to...

21 Sep

Posted at 13:48h in News by
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Most of us have heard a flight attendant give their spiel about giving yourself oxygen first, before supplying it to your children. The basic premise makes sense: we are not capable of taking care of others if we don’t first take good care of ourselves.So what exactly is self-care? It essentially means paying attention to our own physical and emotional needs and taking positive steps to care for ourselves. The problem is when life gets stressful and we get busy taking care of other people’s needs, we often stop taking care of ourselves. If we start making self-care a daily habit, however, we are more likely to continue taking care of ourselves when life gets hectic and we most need it.Some of the most important areas of self-care practice include:Nutrition: As you most likely already know, good nutrition is vital for weight loss after surgery. In addition, eating healthy foods helps you feel better and be more energetic. Much like an Olympic athlete only puts the cleanest, most nutritious foods in their body, you need good nutritional intake in order to be your best. Avoid all processed foods and be sure to fuel your body with plenty of fruits, vegetables,...