Fitness & Wellness

Calming Herb And Spices To Fight Anxiety

Published by superadmin on May 3, 2020 | Leave a response

Anxiety, being uptight and suffering from stress occurs everywhere, not just Louisville, KY. You don’t have to run to a physician to get a prescription or take an over the counter medication to help you relax. There are lots of natural ways to get rid of that anxious feeling. Exercise is one of those ways to burn off stress hormones. A good night’s sleep is another. For those occasional times, using calming herb and spices can also help to fight anxiety.

Try a cup of chamomile tea.

Since ancient Greece, chamomile has been a source of help for relaxation. It has a calming effect and studies show that it’s the phenolics, like flavonoids, phenolic acids, quinones and several other phytochemical antioxidants that not only help you sleep and relax, but also aid in anxiety relief. Studies of chamomile also found that it can reduce stress related headaches and loss of appetite. One study showed that chamomile demonstrated a reduction of cortisol, a marker of stress. Use the flowers of chamomile to make the tea.

That delicious scent of lavender is what you need for a relaxing moment.

This is another herb that’s been used for its calming effects for centuries. While you can make lavender, using it as part of aromatherapy, or as a massage oil brings the best results. It does more than just calm you and relieve your anxiety. It can make you feel more positive, too. Some people put a drop or two of the oil on a small cloth and lay it on their pillow when they sleep. It reduces the level of cortisol. In fact, when compared in a drug study to an anti-anxiety drug, lorazepam, it was as effective for persistent anxiety.

Ginger is yummy, makes a great tea and also helps you become more mellow.

If you’ve ever consumed ginger tea for stomach problems, you may have also experienced how relaxed it made you feel. The Gingerol, which is an antioxidant, lowers the stress hormones in the body. It’s one reason it’s often just what you need when your stomach is in knots or upset. If you’re under stress, your digestive system slows. There’s less stomach acid and movement of food through the stomach and the intestines. Ginger helps that by boosting the production of stomach acid that’s slowed by stress. Add fresh ginger to your cooking or chop it up and pour water over it for tea. You can also buy ginger tea bags.

Sprinkle on some turmeric for not only stress reduction and improved mood, but improved heart and brain health. It just takes ¼ teaspoon a day to make a difference.
That heavenly smelling basil may help you improve your brain and overall cognitive functioning, but it’s also good for stress. There are a number of different types of basil, which include a variety of flavors from lemon to cinnamon. Holy basil is usually considered the most medicinal.
Lemon balm is an easy to grow herb that adds the flavor of lemon. You can use it in cooking, and it goes well with pork and fish. To get the relaxing effect, create a tea or use it in aromatherapy.
Nutmeg is another relaxing spice that’s mentioned frequently in folk medicine for its ability to help you relax. It contains myricetin and elemicin to do that, while also boosting the creation of mood improving serotonin and dopamine. In the case of nutmeg, adding just a pinch to your food can help.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

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What Is The Paleo Diet?

Published by superadmin on April 26, 2020 | Leave a response

No matter where you live, Louisville, KY, or other city, you probably have heard of a variety of different diets, including the Paleo Diet. If you don’t know what it is, it’s a diet based on what man probably ate during the Paleolithic era. It’s also called the caveman diet for the same reason. Why would you go back to that type of menu? Those who practice it and follow the diet say it’s more like eating what the body is matched to genetically, before the era of farming.

What food is in the Paleo diet?

Most Paleo diets consist of fish, fruit, vegetables, lean meat, nuts and seeds. That would have been the menu of the hunter/gatherer before farming developed and dairy, legumes and grains were added to the diet. The foods allowed that proponents say we’re genetically programmed to eat are listed and those that aren’t healthy, besides dairy, legumes and grains, include salt, vegetable oil, processed food and refined sugar.

Some of the choices are commendable and a top priority for healthy eating.

Laying off added sugar and extra salt definitely won’t hurt anyone in normal circumstance, with the added exception of someone that has sweat to the point of depletion of electrolytes from salt. Here, we’re talking about the tons of extra salt added to each meal. Giving up processed food is also part of eating healthy and will get no objection on my part.

Where a Paleolithic diet might be bad.

The Paleo diet includes consuming a higher amount of fatty meat and red meat. That can lead to a higher level of LDL—the bad cholesterol. It also increases the risk for bowel cancer and can be as much as four times more saturated fat than recommended by the American Heart Association. If your diet is too low in carbs, it can also cause quicker exhaustion if you’re participating in rigorous and long duration aerobic workouts. Finally, the exclusion of both grains and dairy can lead to less fiber, calcium, B-vitamins, iron, selenium and magnesium.

In the short term clinical trials, a Paleo diet proved superior over other dieting styles, such as the Mediterranean diet when it came to controlling blood pressure, glucose tolerance, lowering triglycerides, weight loss and appetite management.
While you might lose more weight in six months with a Paleolithic diet, studies on obese women show that the benefits weren’t the same at the two-year mark, where weight loss was about the same.
Even though weight loss was approximately the same at 24 months, the study also showed the Paleo group lost more fat, had a reduced circumference, indicating less visceral fat and improvement to triglyceride levels.
The best way to lose weight and remain healthy is still through a balanced diet of healthy food. We can help you with a diet that includes meal plans, recipes and even grocery lists to help make weight loss easier.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

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Ways To Increase Your Energy Levels

Published by superadmin on April 13, 2020 | Leave a response

In today’s busy world, it’s easy to run on empty, many Americans do. That’s not healthy. It’s better to increase your energy levels naturally by making lifestyle changes. Not only will you get a boost to your energy levels, you’ll also improve your overall health, so it’s a win-win situation. When your energy level is low, you get less done because you’re moving slower, both physically and mentally. Making changes may take time from your schedule, but with that extra energy, you’re creating even more time than it took.

You can start by getting more sleep, especially if you’re burning the candle at both ends.

Not only is getting adequate sleep necessary for good health, it also helps you get more done while you’re awake. Most people skip sleep when they’re super busy and hope to push through to finish a project before deadline or complete the extra hours at work. Lack of sleep not only makes you tired and often grumpy, it also can take a toll on your heart and overall health. There are estimates that about a third of the population may be sleep deprived by either missing hours of sleep or getting poor quality sleep. If lack of sleep occurs because of poor sleep hygiene, it’s time to make some changes. Turn off all television and computers at bedtime and make your room dark. Find ways to eliminate stress, such as meditation or exercise.

Getting regular exercise can help you boost your energy level.

Not only do you sleep better when you exercise regularly, you also increase your energy level. It’s amazing, but true. The longer you work out and expend energy, the more energy you have. While you might think napping is the best way to overcome feeling tired, getting up and moving might be just what you need. It boosts circulation and gets blood flowing to all parts of the body. One study showed that couch potatoes w65% ho suffered from fatigue, reduced that fatigue by appropriately with low intensity cycling. Just imagine what a regular workout would do for your energy. You’ll build strength and stamina when you workout on a regular basis.

Maybe you need a healthier diet.

Diet makes a difference when it comes to your energy level. If you’re always feeling like you’re about to drop, grabbing sweet snacks to give you the lift you need, it may be the sweet snacks that are doing it. Any food that increases your blood sugar levels quickly, also result in those levels dropping just as quickly, causing you to feel exhausted and in need of another sugar fix. Eating a healthy diet can eliminate the problem. Just like a car, you can’t run without food, so getting adequate calories from healthy food is important.

Even mild dehydration can cause you to feel exhausted. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. The next time you feel a dip in your energy level, grab a bottle of water instead of a cola or coffee. You’ll probably find you have more energy almost instantly.
Cut back on alcohol levels. Not only does alcohol act like a sedative, it also dehydrates you. Just like coffee, alcohol acts like a diuretic, which can also cause dehydration. That diuretic action can cause you to lose sleep if you have to get up at night to eliminate.
Maybe you light up a cigarette to increase your energy, but there’s a double-edged sword from that stimulant. While heavy smoking releases adrenaline to give you the boost, lower doses act as a depressant. After years of smoking, compromised lungs produce an energy sucking effect. If you smoke, quit.
Find ways to reduce stress in your life. Stress can drain you of energy and leave you feeling exhausted even if you did nothing. Whether it’s by working out, meditation or simply letting go, learning and using a technique to relieve stress.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

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How Fitness Directly Affects Serotonin Levels In The Brain

Published by superadmin on April 3, 2020 | Leave a response

There’s a lot of reasons to focus on fitness, one of those is to help your body function at its peak performance, which includes biochemical actions. Serotonin one of the products created. It’s a neurotransmitter, which means relays messages between neurons and are part of the central nervous system, influencing the nervous system and brain cells both directly and indirectly. The only way for the brain to get it and have proper serotonin levels in the brain is for the brain to produce it, since it can’t cross the blood-brain barrier and has to be produced in the brain.

By sending messages, serotonin affects a number of processes.

You might think that most of the serotonin is found in the brain, but that’s not true. It’s found in the gastrointestinal tract where it helps regulate the functioning of the bowels. It also plays an important role in controlling your appetite when you eat. Serotonin also affects the formation of blood clots by narrowing blood vessels and slowing the flow of blood from the wound. Serotonin stimulates nausea areas in the brain and increases the amount of time toxic or irritating food takes to get through your system. It also plays a big role in your mood. It affects your happiness and anxiety, based on the amount you have or don’t have.

Serotonin deficiencies produce symptoms, one of which is depression.

While there’s no clearly defined cause for depression, scientists link it to an imbalance of neurotransmitters—hormones. Low levels of serotonin, for example are linked to depression. Some of the signs of potentially low serotonin levels include mild depression and poor memory. In more severe cases, it can include cravings for starches or sweets, problems sleeping, anxiety, aggression and low self-esteem.

You’ll get more than a runners high from working out.

When you get that great mood altering feeling from working out, it often comes from endorphins, another neurotransmitter. However, exercise also encourages the body to produce other neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. They also play a role in your overall mood. It takes a program of regular exercise to boost the serotonin levels in the brain and improve your mood.

Serotonin is produced in both the intestines and the brain. Regular exercise increases the levels of serotonin in the brain.
Regular exercise helps balance hormone levels by burning off stress hormones, such as cortisol or adrenaline. Those hormones are key to the fight-or-flight and unless burnt off through exercise affect your mood negatively and often by inducing depression.
Serotonin also affects your sleep. It improves your sleep cycle. That improvement can also positively benefit your mood.
Eating a healthy diet with the amino acid tryptophan, such as dark green leafy vegetables, chicken, eggs, cheese and beans, also helps the body produce serotonin. A healthy diet provides all the raw materials to keep the body functioning at its best.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

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Zero Calorie Energy Drinks

Published by superadmin on March 25, 2020 | Leave a response

If you come to Body Sculptors in Louisville, KY, you’ll probably see a number of people touting energy drinks, including zero calorie energy drinks. One of my clients asked me which was healthiest and frankly, there are positives and negatives to both types of drinks. Let me first address the zero calorie drinks. These drinks have no added sugar, so they’re lower in calories. That gives them a lead immediately if you’re trying to lose weight.

What zero calorie drinks do have are artificial sweeteners.

There’s a lot of talk about the negative health benefits of artificial sweeteners. In some research, it even suggests they actually may lead to weight gain. There’s a host of research on the safety of artificial sweeteners and a group of people who shouldn’t use them, due to sensitivity and side effects. Some research actually shows that sweeteners like Aspartame can cause headaches and even depression in people with those sensitivities. They also may cause dental erosion, due to a higher acidity.

Choose occasional use, not consistent use.

If you’re using energy drinks to replace good sleep, you’re putting a strain on your body. While occasional use won’t hurt, it’s the repeated daily use that causes problems. Most of these drinks contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee and can lead to digestive issue, heartburn and jitters. Read the label carefully.

Whether its zero calorie or full calorie, always read the label to see benefits and drawbacks.

Some energy drinks tout other ingredients that are supposed to help mental focus, like CoQ10 or super creatine. Normally this is just a marketing ploy, since the amounts in the drink are too low to create any improvement. The nutritional content should also be compared. Some will have higher amounts of vitamin B3, B6, B12 or vitamin C and minerals. The amount of sodium is particularly important, so compare those also.

If you’re working out to help your health, including lowering your blood pressure, be aware that some energy drinks are extremely high in sodium. One can may contain as much as 150 mg.
Getting adequate sleep is the best option for energy, but if you’re drinking an energy drink to make your workout better, consider a cup of coffee instead. If you drink it for more energy, try water. You’ll be surprised at what a good pick-me-up it is.
Be aware that over consumption of anything isn’t healthy, including energy drinks. Limit yourself and use both regular and zero calorie drinks only occasionally.
At Body Sculptors, we can help you boost your energy with both a healthy diet and a program of regular exercise. You’ll feel the difference in no time and won’t feel the need for energy drinks.

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Changing Your Oil Habits

Published by superadmin on March 16, 2020 | Leave a response

Everyone that cooks has oil habits. That means everyone has a go-to oil they use all the time, regardless of the heat used to cook or even the recipe used. For some people, it’s corn oil, for others, olive oil or even clarified butter. If your grandparents are alive, they may tell you that their grandmother saved bacon grease and pork fat to cook with and called it lard. Is there a single type of oil that’s best for all types of cooking?

The amount of heat you’re using should make a difference.

Not all oil has the same smoke point. A smoke point is the amount of heat you can use with the oil, before it breaks down and burns. Not only going beyond the smoke point alter the taste, it affects the nutritional value of the oil. Low smoke point oil is butter and should only be used at low heat—300 to 350 degrees. Between 375 and 450 degrees are oils like extra virgin olive oil. Vegetable oil, canola oil, corn oil, grapeseed, safflower oil and sunflower oil are varieties to use with high heat—higher than 450 degrees, since they don’t lose flavor or burn.

While lard may not be your oil option, it’s far better than consuming the trans fats of shortening.

Partially hydrogenated oil is called vegetable shortening may still contain trans fats depending on the manufacturer. It’s always best to avoid any type of oil that lists partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and trans fats. Instead, opt for olive oil, coconut oil, butter or even lard—which has no trans fats. While some of the oil options contain saturated fat—like lard—others do not. These include canola, corn olive, peanut, safflower, soybean and sunflower.

Not all oil produces the same flavor or has the same benefits.

If you love how sesame oil changes the flavor of your favorite homemade dressing, you’ll appreciate the health benefits of it too. It is high in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, helps arthritis, aids in blood sugar control, heart healthy and speeds healing of wounds and burns. Olive oil is extremely healthy which includes high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, is heart healthy and helps prevent strokes, among other things. Coconut oil is another super oil known for its healthy fatty acids.

Choosing the right type of oil doesn’t have to be distressing. Find the flavor you love for each smoke point and stick with it.
Do you want more flavorful oil. Try herbal flavored oil, like olive oil thyme infused olive oil. There’s a whole world of flavor created by infusing various oils.
The qualities of some oil makes them best for baking, sautéing, frying or salad dressing. Coconut or canola oil is good for baking, while sautéing is best with peanut oil, and sesame oil. If you’re making dressing, the go-to is normally extra-virgin olive oil or flaxseed.
One of the newer oils being used is avocado oil. It’s got many of the same virtues as coconut oil, but not as much saturated fat. It has a high smoke point, but also a high price range. If you’re on a budget, opt for a different oil.

Posted in Fitness & Wellness

Is There Anything Wrong With Canned Veggies?

Published by superadmin on March 3, 2020 | Leave a response

If you think that eating healthy can be too expensive, since fresh fruit and vegetables can cost a lot, reconsider. Healthy options don’t always have to be fresh. Both frozen and canned veggies can be nutritious, but you have to read the label and see all the ingredients, particularly on the canned vegetables. Some canned vegetables contain high amounts of sodium and it’s a known fact that too much sodium can cause hypertension, which leads to stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.

Canned fruits and vegetables have just as many nutrients as fresh.

The canning process today is quite different than years ago. Today, canned vegetables are picked at their ripest and canned within a few hours. That means they not only have peak flavor, they are also more nutritious than some of the fresh alternatives at the grocery. The same is true of frozen. Fresh options may be picked early to extend shelf life and allowed to ripen on the way to the grocery. By the time the consumer buys them and then finally prepares them, they’re days, not hours off the vine, losing many nutrients.

The heat from canning does destroy some nutrients.

Besides the added salt in some canned vegetables or added sugar in some fruit, the heat from the canning process does decrease vitamins B and C. Not all vegetables retain their texture after processing, such as asparagus. That can lead to passing on them at the supper table. When it comes to safety, that heat does eliminate the possibility of E.Coli and other bacteria. Modern canning techniques eliminate almost all potential for botulism.

You’ll save money by using frozen or canned vegetables.

Frozen options are slightly less expensive than their fresh counterparts, but more economical since they don’t spoil quickly like their fresh counterparts. They help eliminate waste. Canned food is a lot less expensive than fresh options. They too have a long shelf life and are a great way to save money, while eating healthier.

BPA lining on cans holding fruits and vegetables have come into question, so many manufacturers have switched to a different type of lining that has no potential health issues.
If you want to lower the sodium content of canned vegetables even more, drain the juice and rinse with water. It will cut it substantially.
Only use canned fruit packed in its own juice. It’s a healthy option as long as there’s no added sugar. You can add canned fruit and nuts to Greek yogurt for a healthy dessert or snack.
If you want a quick dip, keep canned garbanzo beans or northern beans in the can in the cupboard. Just put them in the blender, add some garlic and lemon juice and you’ll have a healthy, low cost dip.

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365 New Chances To Start

Published by superadmin on February 25, 2020 | Leave a response

People in Louisville, KY, are special, but like people all over the world, often wait until the new year starts to make those resolutions to get fit. In fact, the first month of the year is often the busiest. If you meant to start getting fit, but life made it impossible for you to begin that first week, that doesn’t mean you can’t start now. In fact, you have 365 new chances to start. Instead of calling it a resolution, make it a goal that you’re determined to achieve.

There’s no better time to start than today.

Every day you wake up, it’s a new day and you’re capable of doing something different from every day that came before it. Maybe you’ve never considered getting fit or tried before and failed. Your past does not dictate your future. You can change anything, but you have to make that decision and then take action. Anything that’s accomplished begins with the decision to do it and followed through with effort to get it done. Weight loss is no different.

It’s the little things that count.

If you aren’t ready for a full blown fitness program, start by making small changes. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. If you are really out of shape, just take a few floors of steps and use the elevator the rest of the way or start by taking the stairs down, which most people find easier than running up stairs. Move more frequently. Start taking walks and carry manageable bags from the grocery rather than using a cart. When commercials are on TV, get up and do a few exercises. You’ll start to feel better and be ready for a complete program quickly.

Start a healthier way of eating.

Eating health is not dieting. In fact, it’s far from it. Healthy eating simply means making smarter choices when it comes to food. When you diet, it always ends, whether in success or failure. Healthy eating never ends. Dieting means sacrifice by eating less and feeling deprived. You won’t feel deprived when you choose the path of healthy eating. In fact, you might find you eat even more. It’s making small changes that boost your nutrition, while also lowering your caloric intake.

You can start a program of healthy eating by simply giving up food with added sugar. It might seem simple, but once your realize almost everything has added sugar, you’ll realize it all gets back to eating whole foods and fewer processed food.
You don’t have to leave your house to get fit. Try our online workout program. You can get started immediately in the privacy of your home.
If you aren’t sure what healthy eating is all about, we provide aps that let you download a weekly menu and all you have to do is shop. We even have an online workout ready for you to start and it costs less than $10 a week for both.
Fitness also depends on simple things, like adequate intake of water and plenty of sleep. Make sure you drink eight 8-oz glasses of water a day and get eight hours of sleep each night.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

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Believe You Can Do It And You’re Halfway There

Published by superadmin on February 16, 2020 | Leave a response

One of the biggest deterrents people face when they want to achieve any goal is lack of belief that they can do it. The power of belief is important, whether you’re developing a business, focusing on fitness or simply want to feel better. Belief in a doctor or medicine is half the cure and so is belief in yourself when you want to accomplish a goal. If you believe you can do it, you’re halfway there to conquering your goal.

Are you afraid to try?

One of the reasons people fail to believe in themselves is that they’re afraid of the results. Sometimes, they’re afraid they’ll fail again and failure certainly doesn’t feel good. If that’s you, think of Thomas Edison’s quotes, two of which are my favorites. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” The only failure is lack of trying. Don’t let fear get in your way.

You need to believe that change is good if it makes you healthier.

People often sabotage themselves or people they love if they think something will change the dynamics in their life. If you’re worried what will happen if you look and feel better, change your focus to having a higher energy level. Focus on what won’t scare you or face it with the knowledge that you actually control how you feel and looking better won’t change a thing except your energy and health. Find out what stops you from believing in yourself and address it.

The power of belief can help you achieve fitness or block you.

Everyone has a belief system that guides the through life. If you’re a mom, you may think that doing something for yourself is selfish and all your free time should be devoted to your family. If that’s part of your belief system, stop right there. YOU OWE IT TO YOUR FAMILY TO BE FIT AND HEALTHY. Staying fit means you have more energy and time to devote to them. It also means you’ll be a better role model.

Do you have family members that put you down when you tell them about your fitness program? Don’t tell them. Our apps let you change your eating habits and workout in the privacy of your home. Only you have to know.
Are you worried that you might injure yourself because you’re so out of shape? It’s one reason we create a workout that’s personalized. Take it easier when you start and you won’t suffer from sore muscles that make you quit.
Schedule your workout at the same time every day and make it an appointment. If you’re changing your eating habits, get rid of food that’s sabotaging your efforts and stock up on healthy snacks.
Become the role model for your children and family. If you’re the family cook, don’t tell everyone it’s healthy, just cook and serve healthy meals. Get the kids involved when you exercise and get them in the habit of moving more.

For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training

Posted in Fitness & Wellness