Track your Wellness Online

There are hundreds of websites that can monitor your workouts and diet, but thecarrot.com goes one step beyond the others to track your wellness online.  This free site lets you track everything that affects your health.  Some examples include:

• what you eat
• your mood
• sleep patterns
• exercise
• supplements

At thecarrot.com you can track all of the details and run reports to see connections between your habits and results.  For example if you gained a few pounds in a week but skipped breakfast and didn’t work out then you will know why.  Use this website to make a big impact on your health and track your total wellness online.

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Breast Cancer Warning Signs

Breast Cancer Warning Signs

October is breast cancer awareness month and in support of the cause, here are a few warning signs that you should be aware of. Self-examination and finding the telltale lumps is the obvious warning to see your physician, however, here are few other warning signs that even the best physicians may miss.  If you have or notice any of the following, be on the safe side and call your doctor for a check-up.

Redness, bruising, or swelling- these may be symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, a rare form of the disease.

Sore armpits- although tenderness in this area is usually caused by infections, muscle strains, or sweat glands that may be blocked, a cancerous lymph node or breast tissue may be the cause.

A change in your nipples- sores, redness, dimples on or around the nipples can be a warning sign that there is a tumor present deep inside of the breast tissue that you may not be able to feel.

Discharge- discharge that persists for several days or appears watery or blood-tinged could be a sign of a tumor.

Source: Shape Magazine, Peter Pressman, the author of Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide

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Say NO to Tobacco

Say NO to all Tobacco

Snuff, chew, and other smokeless tobacco products increase a user’s risk for cancer, just not as much as smoking does.  But why take the risk?  These products contain more than 30 cancer-causing substances, and significantly increase a user’s risk for oral and esophageal cancer.  They may also lead to smoking at a future date.  To reduce your risk and improve your health just say NO to all forms of Tobacco.

Source: The Lancet Oncology, Volume 9, pg. 667, July 2008

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Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease

Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease

Heart Disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.  Lower your risk by following these healthy tips:
Don’t Smoke
Exercise at least 4 hours per week
Consume alcohol only in moderation
Eat a diet that is full of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and unsaturated fats.

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Solution for Hot Flashes

Solution for Hot Flashes

Set the thermostat to 64 degrees at night to help reduce hot flashes.

REM or rapid eye movement wakes up many women in the first half of the night and this REM suppresses hot flashes or they occur less at this time.  A cooler sleeping environment may help this problem.

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Source: North American Menopause Society

Raise Awareness to Handwashing

Raise Awareness to Handwashing

Swine Flu, Cold Season, and Stomach bugs are on the rise in our nation’s schools, hospitals, and work offices.  Do your part to raise awareness to washing your hands as this is the number one way you can fight the spread of disease.

Teach your kids not to put their fingers in their eyes, mouth, or nose and to wash their hands with soap and hot water several times a day and always after using the restroom and before eating.  Regular soap is great for washing hands as antibacterial soaps do not kill the viruses that often cause colds and flu.  These antibacterial soaps may also contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  Also keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you as it is another good form of handwashing and can stop cold and flu germs.  A great website to visit, www.henrythehand.com

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Boost Your Energy Level

Boost Your Energy Level

Do you feel more tired than usual? Is it hard for you to work-out, concentrate, or enjoy social activities because you feel exhausted? You could be suffering from a vitamin B-12 defeciency. When your B-12 gets to low, you end up with anemia, which will make you feel tired. B-12 is avilable only from animal sources, so if your are not eating enough of the right kind of animal protein, you won’t get much naturally. There could also be small issues with your digestive system that will prevent you from absorbing the vitamin. If you can’t take in protein from animal sources, there are two additional ways to get B-12. A lozenge that goes on your tongue and a shot. Check with your physician to decide the best option for you.

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5 Easy Ways to Go Green

 5 Easy Ways to Go Green

Implementing any one of these changes will make a difference for the planet earth and will make you feel a lot better in the process.

1.  Rethink about How you Get to Work-  Do you live in the same neighborhood or down the street from a co-worker?  Do your kids have friends who live in the same neighborhood or does the school bus pass down the street where you live.  Start thinking of green alternatives to your commute whether it be carpooling, riding a bike or taking the bus once a week.

2.  Eat More Plants- Eat less of everything else.  It is just that simple.  The excess energy that goes into producing processed foods, animal goods including meat, butter, and farm raised fish, is a huge contributor to global warming.  Studies suggest that if every American skipped the meat and went with vegetables for a single day per week, it would be equal to each American driving 1,000 miles less per year.  By eating more plants you will also be doing your waistline a favor as well.

3.  Say No to Bottled Water- Replace bottled water with a filtered water pitcher and take your own reusable container with you when on the go to work or the gym.  You will spare up to 350 water bottles per filter.

4.  Reuse your Work-out Sneakers-  Sneaker midsoles can take up to 1000 years to break down so try to purchase shoes with biodegradable midsoles.  Make sure to bring in your old sneakers to a store that participates in a recycling program specifically for shoes and sneakers.  Mother Earth will thank you.

5.  Shop for Better Labels-  Strive to buy Energy Star-rated appliances and household gadgets whenever available for maximum savings and energy reduction.  

For additional health and wellness tips, check out www.brookegriffin.com.

Can You Calm Down Please?

 

5 Easy Way to Keep Your Stress Levels in Check

 

1.  Yoga-  Sign up for a weekly yoga class.  Studies have shown that regular yoga sessions can help improve your mental health and reduce symptoms of stress in as little as a week.  A great place to try Moksha Hot Yoga.

 

2.  Just Breath-  Close your eyes and take a moment to yourself to take ten deep breaths.  Redirecting your attention on your breath relaxes the body and changes the direction of our thoughts that are causing immediate stress.

 

3.  Blow Off Some Steam-  A recent study found that co-workers when stressed out got together with others in similar situations to vent.  After sharing their situations with each other they significantly reduced their levels of work-related stress.  While friends and family may be good for unloading, you may find the best stress relief comes from unloading to others in the same situation.

 

4.  Put On Headphones-  Researchers have repeatedly shown that violent video games increase stress levels in players.  However, recently new studies have shown that when the gamers put on headphones that block out the sound of the violent video games their brains produced significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol proving that the added noise of the games may be to blame for the dramatic increase in stress levels of the players.  If you work in a noisy, loud office, it probably is a good idea to put on a good pair of headphones, listen to music, or turn on your IPOD to block the noise.

 

5.  Hit The Gym-  Countless studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are much less likely to suffer from fatigue, depression, and high levels of stress.  Exercise relaxes tense muscles, helps you sleep, and increases energy levels which will help you feel more prepared to tackle any situation that may be causing you stress.  For great ideas on work-outs, nutrition programs, or fitness tips please visit www.brookegriffin.com.

Health and Wellness To-Dos

 

Summer is just around the corner, so before you hit the beach for family vacations or start spending all of your free time at the lake or poolside, make sure that you have checked off these important personal health to-dos for the year!

1. Go to the dentist for your twice-yearly check-up and cleaning, maybe even schedule a whitening session or pick-up a whitener at your local drugstore.
2. Visit your primary care doc for a physical and or to renew any prescriptions.
3. Go to the optometrist to have your eyes checked and make sure you get your glasses or contacts while you are there.
4. Renew your gym membership and start using it!
5. Make a gynecologist appointment (and encourage your husband, significant other, to go see his doctor too).
6. Head to the salon for a mani and or pedi, clean up those split-ends, and get a bikini wax.
7. Visit your local drugstore and stock up on the SPF, you don’t want to get a sunburn!
8. Schedule your annual dermatologist appointment.

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