Health

12 Jul 2010

Beauty Bubble: Foods for a Flatter Tummy

It is still practically the beginning of summer and you still have time to get that body bikini ready. While I was on glamour the other day, I found this great article about foods that flatter the tummy. Even though I have a small frame, I have a little belly and I am working really hard to minimize it. Here are two lists of foods that are either belly friendly or bloat causing. I am sure you know which list to stay away from. Check them out:

Belly Friendly

Blueberries-linked to less fat
Asparagus- Natural diuretic that helps get rid of water weight.
Salmon-Foods high in omega-3 fats promote digestion.
Watermelon- one of nature’s water-weight nixers
Citrus fruit- add lemon in your water to aid with digestion

Bloat Causing

Alcohol-heavier drinks add more belly fat
Soy sauce-salt increases water weight
Canned soups-high in sodium
Popcorn-airy foods pooch out the stomach
Dried fruit-high in fiber, but loaded with sugar

Source

Categories: Beauty Bubble, The Munchies Tags: Food, Glamour Magazine, Health, Life

31 May 2010

Summer, Summer, Summer Time

By Jai Leave a Comment

So Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Yes I know that my favorite season starts in June, but when the beaches are open its pretty much summer. With Summer we know we will have extremely hot, humid, and hazy days (I dread these days), but we must make sure we are ALWAYS protected from the sun. We are supposed to wear sunblock all year round, but sun rays are most harmful during the summer.

Many African-Americans feel they do not need to protect their skin from the sun because of melanin. It is true we do have an advantage over people with fair skin, but with the depletion of the ozone layer the UVA and UVB rays are extremely harmful. So it does not matter how dark your skin is, you still need to be protected.

Remember to purchase sunblock rather than sunscreen. Sunblock protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays while sunscreen just protects you from UVA. With sunblock you get the most protection.

Also do not use SPF (Sun Protection Factor) less than 30. Global Warming is serious! So back in the day SPF 15 was fine for some people but not today. I use SPF 60! The spf lets you know how long you can be in the sun before you start burning. So SPF 30 means 30 minutes before you start to burn and 60 means an hour. So you can determine how long you will be outdoors when purchasing your sunblock

If you want to get a summer glow, try using a self-tanner or even a bronzer to achieve that effect.

Apply the sunblock about 15-20 minutes prior to sun exposure. If you are a heavy perspirer, participate in outdoor activities, or a beach or pool goer, you should invest in waterproof or water resistant sunblock.

Remember to also wear a hat and sunglasses. You need to protect your head because it can get sunburned too and your eyes need to be protected to maintain your vision.

Categories: Beauty Bubble Tags: Health, summer

31 Mar 2010

Summer 101: Beach Body

By Jai 5 Comments

As I was making my daily rounds on the web last night I came across this article on Glamour. I started working out in January but stopped because of my work and school load, but since summer is literally around the corner (Thank God, but can spring officially stay?) we need to make sure we are ready. With only 2 months to before summer hits we need to GET MOVING!

Cardio should be a part of everyone’s routine, but some may not need as much cardio as others. Most of the time when it comes to our bodies most women say “I just want to lose my stomach” lol. I’m not judging anyone because I am the same way. Once we have the cardio in order we need to work on toning. I recently started (this morning actually lol) doing about 200 crunches and 100 lunges and squats since I don’t have the time to go to the gym. I will post various exercises that can be done at home to get you beach ready in no time.

Here is the first video the “Touch and Go Squat”

Via Glamour

Categories: Beauty Bubble Tags: Health

05 Jan 2010

Pt. 2- 16 Healthy Tips For Feeling Better In 2010

By Jai Leave a Comment

Here is Pt. 2 of Dr. Oz’s article in USA Weekend “16 Healthy Tips For Feeling Better In 2010”

9. Skip a shampoo. Dr. Oz says give your scalp a break and leave the shampooing alone. It should not be done every day. He suggests you rinse with water every other day unless your job is being a mechanic lol

10. Stop rushing to work.If you are not early, you are late, and you lose your feeling of control. Starting this year, arrive early at every appointment. You’ll regain control of the agenda and feel less disheveled and more confident. And because you’ll be getting up a bit earlier, add yoga or meditating to your routine. (Read your bible)

11. Get your ZZZs.Your ability to sleep is a barometer of how well you are coping with life. In the long term, inadequate sleep increase the chance of heart disease and diabetes, and in the short term, it can lead to accidents and interfere with work performance. Try to get at least 7.5hrs of sleep every night.

12. Pump some iron. Building muscle is an investment that pays off all day long: muscles burns significantly more calories than fat, and the difference is still great even when we are at rest.

13. Brush and floss daily. Inflammation causes more health problems than you’d imagine. In fact, your body becomes dangerous when it is inflamed. Gingivitis is a leading cause of immune civil war that stimulates inflammation, a major cause of heart attacks.

14. Kick up your feet. After a long of running around soak your feet in a tub of hot water with Epsom salts. The magnesium helps to relax sore muscles.

15. Help someone else.For life to be truly fulfilling, it has to be about more than ourselves. If you’ve picked up something- an activity, a hobby, maybe a philosophy- that has improved your life, then share it with others. Dedicate at least a few hours every week to helping those who need it.

16. Be fearless. The new year allows you to challenge the invisible assumptions that can stall progress and meaningful change in your life. You can’t appreciate the limitations of your current life until you have challenged and moved past them. per persistent and keep going. There’s no better time than now.

Ladies (and gents) let us get going now! This is perfect time to start.

Categories: Beauty Bubble Tags: Health, Motivation

04 Jan 2010

Pt. 1- 16 Healthy Tips For Feeling Better in 2010

By Jai Leave a Comment

In USA Weekly, Dr. Oz (Oprah’s health guru) has given great advice on how to feel better in 2010. He has outlined 16 things that we need to start doing now. The year just started so let us get motivated and get going!

1. Don’t skip meals– let the meals you eat be healthy and filling so you can get the proper nutrients and feel satisfied longer.

2. Ditch extreme diets. People almost always fail to lose weight because they try diets that are too radical to stick with. For a lifestyle change to succeed, it must be sustainable.

3. Savor every bite.Dr. Oz says, so many of us agonize over what to eat, then don’t spend any time actually enjoying our meal. Do not eat infront of the TV or computer. Have a leisurely chat, and chew at least 20 times before swallowing. Not only will you savor and appreciate each bite, but you’ll also eat a lot less.

4. Become a pill popper. Nooooo not ecstasy or illegal prescription drugs but vitamins. Dr. Oz says Vitamin D and Omega-3 fats are crucial. We need to take 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily to decrease our risk of vitamin deficiency, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and immune disorders. Omega-3 fats are crucial for our brain. We need 400mg daily. One option is to take a tablespoon of lemon-flavored cod liver oil every morning before you brush your teeth.

5. Throw out your scale.Dr. Oz says as a nation, we are obsessed with weight. But our waist circumference is actually a more informative measurement than the number of pounds on the scale. The size of your waist indicates how much dangerous “omental” fat you have-that’s the fatty layer of tissue beneath your belly muscles that pumps inflammatory chemicals throughout your body driving up blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

6. Eat well, then eat what you like. Check nutrition labels and make sure you follow the recommended daily servings, then you can have what you like (almost…don’t get carried away).

7. Go for a walk. Get a pedometer and stick it in your pocket. If, by the end of the day, the number of steps is under 10,000 walk around the block until you reach that goal. Walking strengthens your core muscles, promotes endurance and blasts fat.

8. Take control of your health.Chronic disease afflict hundreds of millions, but staggering numbers of people are completely unaware that they’re even affected. See your doctor about screening for heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes, no matter how old you are.