LiveWell Vermont

It's hard to deny that more people than ever are turning to the Internet for instant access to information on any topic. From surfing the net to downloading an app, the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding out information about how to manage your health. According to recent research, approximately eighty percent of Americans have, at some point in their life, searched for health information online. This statistic makes it the 3rd most popular web-based activity of Internet users! The problem, however, is that only fifteen percent of those individuals actually check whether or not the information they are reading is from a credible source or if it is current, up-to-date information. Why is checking your source a big deal? Because anyone - even your next door neighbor who knows nothing about health and wellness - could post health information on the Internet. Just because you find health information on the Internet does NOT mean it's factual information. How...

Looking for another reason to enjoy a glass of wine?? The men and women of Sardinia, Italy enjoy moderate consumption of locally made Cannonau wine and they have the world's highest concentration of male centenarians and are a designated Blue Zone!  Blue Zones were identified in 2004 as places where people consistently have longer lifespans. Over a decade or so of research has identified a list of 9 factors that prolong life in theses established regions. Among these factors was drinking some form of alcohol. Sardinians are famous for their daily consumption of the robust, regional red wine called Cannonau aka "Garnacha" (Spain), "Garnatxa" (Spain). Cannonau wine has   TWO TO THREE TIMES  the level of artery-scrubbing flavonoids  as other wines. Another reason Sardinians may experience these wine health benefits is the way they consume it – always surrounded by good friends and good food! Good company makes everything better!  ...

The National Bike Challenge is off to a great start and we are in store with some beautiful weather coming up this weekend. Take the time to get outside and enjoy it. For those who enjoy cycling the National Bike Challenge is a great way to get motivated, track your progress and help Vermont represent it's cycling dominance nationwide. We are currently 1st place in the country. It's not to late too join the challenge and anyone who tracks their days before May 31st will be eligible for this month's raffle. Check out the site: http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/national Have a wonderful, spring weekend!

Sardinians follow a their own version of a Mediterranean diet! That may seem like a drastic change to your current lifestyle. Wiping the slate entirely clean may not be necessary. Instead, take steps toward eating more in the Mediterranean-style. Choose one of these strategies below, and make it a habit. When you're ready, move onto the next strategy. The Mediterranean Diet is abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil. It features fish and poultry—lean sources of protein—over red meat. Red wine is consumed regularly but in moderate amounts. 1. Switch Up Your Oil If you've been cooking with vegetable oil or coconut oil, make the switch to extra-virgin olive oil. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids which may improve HDL cholesterol, the "good" type of cholesterol. HDL cholesterol ferries "bad" LDL particles out of arteries, according to a 2017 study in Circulation. Use olive oil in homemad...

Feeling kind of stressed? You're not alone. Stress is an inevitable part of our modern existence. Whether you're the president of a Fortune 500 company, a Kindergarten teacher, a construction worker, or a stay at home mom, you have stress to deal with. But you don't have to let it get the best of you. By battling stress in your day-to-day routine, you can stop pulling your hair out and get back to living a more relaxed life. How can you turn your stress-filled life on its head? With one of the best weapons against stress: EXERCISE. Working Out Works: When stress is getting you down, you need something to kick you out of your funk. You need something that makes you feel good. Did you know? Every time you exercise, you increase your body's production of endorphins. In case you didn't get the memo, endorphins are responsible for those good moods you get in after a race or the euphoria you feel while chomping down on a piece of chocolate. Before you gra...

With only 95 calories per 1/2 cup and an abundance of disease-fighting antioxidants, sweet potatoes are an extremely healthy choice.  Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant which studies have shown can help to protect against certain cancers and heart disease, as well as, improve the texture and appearance of our skin. While there’s no official recommendation on how much beta-carotene we need each day, recent research suggests that 3 to 6 milligrams per day is sufficient to help lower the risk of chronic disease.  Just one half-cup (125 ml) serving of cooked sweet potato has a whopping 12 milligrams of beta-carotene!  That’s twice the beta-carotene found in one ½ cup of cooked carrots. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of alpha-carotene, fiber, niacin, carbohydrates and vitamin B6. While a small amount of beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A, plant foods, despite what you read, DO NOT contain vitamin A. Vitamin...