After a recent trip to Thailand, where coconut is plentiful, I was intrigued when I was offered the chance, to review a few local coconut products. All the products in my article on The Health Benefits of Coconut, are available from Wellness Warehouse stores or their online store. [Read more…]
Boost Your Child’s Immune System with Viral Choice
We all know as moms how difficult it is to keep your children germ free, especially once they start school! Children love to share germs so how do you keep them healthy and their immune systems on high alert? Regular hand washing, adequate rest and a healthy dose of activity is a good place to start, but to put up a good fight their immune systems may need more.
“Germs generally only lead to illness when the body is out of balance and immunity is weakened. Simply put, supplementing your child’s diet with additional natural nutrients play a crucial role in supporting the immune system and are needed as the basis for avoiding nasty flu bugs.” ~ PharmaChoice spokesperson, pharmacist, Liezl van Tonder.
“The fact is that schools are ‘danger zones’ for potentially infectious bacteria and viruses, causing more than 20-million school days lost due to the common cold. When their immune systems are robust and the viral exposure is relatively limited, they shrug off any attacks,” she adds. “But when the viral contact is repeated and the flu is ‘going around’, or when their immune systems are compromised, they succumb, and get a cold or flu.” ~ Liezl van Tonder
As parent we like to belive that our child get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from their diet but in many instances this is not the case! The easiest way to boost your child’s immune system, is by giving them a supplement containing immune boosters like ViralChoice Junior. It contains some of the most highly rated ingredients provided by nature such us; Echinacea extract, green tea, rosehip, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D and E, folic acid, Biotin, Pantothenic acid and Selenium, to help reduce the susceptibility to cold and flu infection.
Superfoods
Discovery Cape Times Big Walk
“The Discovery Cape Times Big Walk is happening this weekend, so I thought I would share this press release with you, in the event that you are participating!” ~ Super Mom Blog
DISCOVERY CAPE TIMES BIG WALK
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TO THE DISCOVERY CAPE TIMES BIG WALK
By Dr Craig Nossel, Discovery Head of Vitality Wellness
With just five days to go till the 2012 Discovery Cape Times Big Walk on the 11th of November 2012, it’s time for the Cape Town community to make sure they are fit and ready to make the most of this active and fun walking experience.
Improve fitness and strength training
Improving your fitness ahead of the Discovery Cape Times Big Walk can include walking up hills, as this is one of the best ways of performing cardio training; it boosts your fitness levels, burns kilojoules and gives your buttock muscles a work out.
Before performing such training, make sure that each session includes a warm up and ends with a cool down and stretching. Structuring your training in this manner will help you avoid injury, improve your performance and get the most benefit from walking.
Warm up exercises are crucial, as they are designed to increase blood supply to your working muscles and to prepare your body for more vigorous activity. Warm up for five minutes before walking briskly. You can do this by starting out at a relaxed, leisurely pace to prepare your muscles for more intense activity, and then pick up the speed.
Suggested hill session
- After warming up, preferably choose a route that includes three to four 300m hills,
- When going uphill, lean forward slightly and pump your arms
- Walk briskly and try not to slow down too much
- Do expect to be a little breathless, but you can recover on the flats or downhills. After finishing your main walk, continue to walk at a very leisurely pace for five minutes to cool down and assist the body in returning to its normal, resting state. Once the body has cooled down, perform stretching exercises. This may help improve your physical performance by increasing your flexibility, lowering your risk of injury and improving your coordination and balance
- If this type of training is new to you, do no more than one hill session a week
The Importance of stretching
Most people make the mistake of stretching before they walk, but by stretching cold muscles you risk straining or tearing them. You should do static stretches after your walk, while your muscles are warm.
“Golden rules” to keep in mind when stretching:
- Always warm up before stretching – It’s best to do static stretches after your walk or any other cardiovascular workout
- Static stretching should be slow and controlled, with no bouncing
- Always hold each stretch at a point of mild tension for 20 to 30 seconds
- Repeat each stretch twice
- Do not greatly extend, flex, twist or lock any joints
- Do not stretch through pain – release the stretch if you feel any pain
- Try to stretch four to five times a week
It is extremely important to prepare correctly for any exercise-focused events, such as the upcoming Discovery Cape Times Big Walk. Doing so will go a long way to prevent injury and will also afford you the best chance of a strong finish.
Free health screenings will be offered from Wednesday, 07 November until Saturday, 10 November at the Good Hope Centre, leading up to the actual walk which takes place at Rhodes High School on Sunday, 11 November 2012. Vitality members will be able to earn up 26 000 Vitality points, with bonus points rewarded for results that are in a healthy range.
To find out more about the Big Walk and visit their website click here.
Image: My Cape Town Stay
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with 1 in 29 women in South Africa having the potential to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer, it is definitely something we need to be more aware of! Many breast lumps are harmless, but they should all be checked. Many people adopt the attitude of rather not knowing and think that Cancer is something that will never happen to them. Well think again – ignorance is no way to live your life! It is important to be informed and educated, ensure that you examine your breasts regularly and if you are over 40, to go for regular check-ups to detect any abnormalities before they become life-threatening.
Having lost my own mom to cancer when she was the age I am now, health and well-being is something I am very passionate about and I want to ensure that my girls are informed and understand how lifestyle can affect your health. I thought I would include tips from the CANSA website on living cancer free:
CANSA’s Top Tips on living Cancer- Free
- Eat smart and healthy – Be cancer-smart when choosing, preparing and enjoying food. Avoid processed foods and include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet.
- Exercise and manage stress – Live a balanced, active lifestyle. Exercise is essential for building immunity and strength. If you’re fit, managing your day-to-day responsibilities will be less stressful.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco – Limit the use of alcohol or avoid it completely and avoid the use of tobacco products.
- Go for regular screening – Take time to go for regular medical check-ups and screening. Do monthly breast examinations and go for regular Pap smears, every two to three years. Pap smears and breast examinations are important as they help to detect cancer early. The earlier cancer is detected, the higher your chance of surviving cancer. See Women’s Health Infographic and download Leaflets: Breast Cancer| Cervical Cancer.
- Establish a support system – Seek the company of those who inspire you, whether family or friends and spend quality time with them.
- Find daily inspiration – Feed your mind and soul with daily reflections that uplift you and give purpose and meaning to your life. Prayer and positive meditation can enhance your spiritual well-being.
- Nurture a positive attitude and sense of humour – Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to keep you focussed on the positive. Laughter is nature’s medicine and strengthens your immunity. So have some fun!
- Complete treatment – Complete the treatment prescribed by medical and care teams if you are ill.
- Go for regular follow-ups – To avoid the recurrence of cancer, you should practice a balanced lifestyle and go for regular medical check-ups even after remission.
There are various campaigns running at the moment where you can show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness, so get your pink on and help support this most worthy cause! Buy a pink ribbon in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Super Mom Blog is going pink for the duration of October!
Source: CANSA
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