LiveWell Vermont

The bean is quite the super food: packed with calcium, iron, potassium, B vitamins, plus about a quarter of the protein and half the fiber recommended daily for adults - all in a single serving. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, beans may even lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, which can help boost heart health. Beans also do double duty in the food pyramid as both a vegetable and a protein. Not to mention, beans are easy to cook with, widely available and inexpensive. Beans and legumes (such as soybeans, chickpeas and lentils) have been cultivated and consumed for centuries as a part of many world cuisines: Black beans figure prominently in Central American and Caribbean dishes, chickpeas are a staple of Middle Eastern cooking, lentils are common in Indian and Persian recipes, and white beans are a fixture of French and Italian cookbooks. Even though beans offer a slew of health benefits and culinary flexibility, they aren't a prominent staple of...

Everybody feels stress and knows it intimately, but very few of us think about what stress actually is. Stress is a thought. That’s it. No more, no less. If that’s true, then we have complete control over stress, because it’s not something that happens to us but something that happens in us. Try one of the strategies below to control your stress in a healthy manner. 1. Move.  The best way to burn off the stress hormones without having to change your thinking is to move and sweat. Run, dance, jump, ride, swim, stretch, or skip—do something vigorous and lively. Yoga is also fabulous, as it combines movement and breathing. 2. Breathe.  Most of us hold our breath often or breathe swallow, anxious breaths. Deep, slow, full breaths have a profound affect on resetting the stress response, because the relaxation nerve goes through your diaphragm and is activated with every deep breath. Take five deep breaths now, and observe how differently you feel after. 3. Bathe....

It’s Monday and the start of a beautiful week ahead! But if crashing on the couch starts to become one of your favorite things to do after work , eventually it gets a little old, especially if the sun is shining! Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is put down the remote and try something more healthy and useful. Check out this list of fun things to do after work  you can do with family and friends (or get in some alone time!). 15 Things to Do After Work Today Go for a walk on your favorite trail or park Try a yoga class or yoga DVD Cook a new recipe for your family Go for a bike ride Take a swim at the local community pool Daydream about your next vacation Read a book with your kids Plant a garden Start a blog Go for a romantic sunset walk with your partner Take a bubble bath Get a mani/pedi Take your dog out for a run Go out to dinner See a movie What do you think of this list of fun things to do after work – will one of these activi...

As we age, many of us have a fatal flaw that can lead to a fatal fall — we lose our balance, stability and coordination. Stephen Jepson says he can change that for everyone. And as a bonus, he believes it can help you build brain cells, develop neural pathways and prevent or delay Alzheimer’s and dementia. What is his prescription? Play! Stephen believes the key to never losing your balance — or your mind — is in the games and activities of our youth. Wait until you see his incredible playground! Taken from  www.growingbolder.com .

As much as we are huge advocates of exercise, exercise alone will not get you in shape and healthy. Your diet is a HUGE part of the equation. Some people could literally workout all day long, but then eat in a way that promotes body fat storage, leaving them seeing little or no results. While your dietary intake is probably not terrible, there are a few tips that will help you improve it even more. Tip #1: Don't eat late This is the most simple and effective way to preventing body fat storage and improving your body composition. Instead of eating less food late at night, simply don't eat late at all. Try these tips... Brush your teeth right after dinner. Once your teeth are clean, you've put an end to your consumption for the day. Change things up. If your evening routine revolves around food, find a new routine such as going for a walk, doing a little house cleaning or simply taking advantage of going to bed a little earlier! Let the habit fo...

Next Thursday, May 16th, is the annual Corporate Cup . A  5k race , like most distances, requires a proper understanding of how to distribute your energy and pacing through every mile of the race. It is important to properly train before your first 5k to prepare your body for the distance. The techniques below are great to implement during the race as well as during your training walks or runs.  Practice Breathing and Form :    Unlike lengthier road races, you won't have to spend much of your training building up high endurance, so instead focus on form and pacing. The distance of 3.1 miles is attainable for people of all backgrounds if they just take the time to understand their pace. Go for several very lightly paced runs or walks   of a few miles to develop your breathing technique. Focus on swinging your arms and keeping your balance. As you get comfortable, work up to the full 5k distance, and increase your speed for the middle and final stretches ...

We all know that diet and exercise are important when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, but it is possible that you may be overlooking other critical, yet simple, techniques for improving or maintaining your health. Turn the following 13 simple tips into habits and watch as your energy levels soar and your health improves! 1) Eat a Smart Breakfast. Most people load up on carbohydrates and simple sugars for breakfast. Most cereals, pastries, smoothies and juice are all poor choices when it comes to starting your day off right. Center your breakfast around protein and healthy fat, and you'll have energy for hours. Try one of the following: a protein shake made with your choice of fruit, skim milk (or milk alternative), ice and protein powder; eggs with a cup of mixed fruit; lean breakfast meat, toast and fruit; or a handful of nuts and an apple. 2) Get More Sleep. If you're not getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night it is quite possible you could use more sle...