LiveWell Vermont

We all know exercise is good for us, but there are more than just cardiovascular benefits to moving your body on a regular basis. Perhaps these reasons will help you to get up and go! GROWS CARTILAGE Ignore the naysayers who say exercise such as running is bad for your knees - this isn't necessarily true. Australia's Monash University conducted research that suggests that the impact of running can increase cartilage production, which can safeguard your joints from arthritis. SHARPENS HEARING Exercise improves circulation to the ear, which provides a greater supply of nutrients to help preserve hearing. Recent research at Bellarmine University found that very fit women were six percent more likely to have better hearing than less-fit women. BEATS MIGRAINES A study conducted at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that migraine sufferers experiences fewer headaches when they worked out for 40 minutes three times a week over three months. To prevent that migraine...

A little history... During the Civil War in Greece (1946-49), which followed on directly from WWII, Ikaria became home to around 13,000 communist exiles, among them many prodigious Greek poets, writers, composers and academics - who resided on the island for several years. The communist presence gave Ikaria the name “red rock” (as the island is pretty much like a mountain emerging from the sea), and is said to have bequeathed its people a free-thinking, individualistic and humbly creative local identity. In many parts of the island the nature is gorgeously unruly and vibrant! Ikariotes are an impressively self-sufficient bunch. By trade many of them work as shepherds who own goats in the tens and a few in the hundreds. Most men and women farm their own land — with most households tending a private garden of organic fruit, vegetables and herbs — or work as fishermen in the coastal villages, run shops, accommodations or tavernas. The demanding work that Ikarian people engage in dail...

Have you signed up for the Mile-Per-Day Wellness Challenge yet?  No? Not to worry. Registration has been extended until Tuesday, August 27th at 4:30 pm!  Participate solo or as a team. Challenge yourself September 2nd-29th to "go the extra mile"...you can do it! Register HERE

The Wellness Program is excited to announce our upcoming Wellness Challenge: Mile-Per-Day!  This Challenge is sure to motivate you to get up and get moving! This simple challenge focuses on performing heart-healthy aerobic exercise - choos e from 25 different activities! The goal is to do a mile of activity each day, or as often as possible! Receive a Certificate of Achievement at the end of the Challenge for Alpha, Delta and Omega levels of performance! Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wip0AMHmudR3--8UhYiqQns_gIaWH4d6Vi856igisEI/viewform

We all know that a healthy diet consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables. You may not be aware, however, that choosing just any "fruit" may not be the best way to meet your fruit quota for the day. Below is a list of foods that you may want to limit or avoid: Fruity, sweet cereals. Fruity, colorful cereals that leave your milk pink, orange or blue are definitely void of nutrition. But what about the cereals that contain dried fruit? Sure, they may taste good, but most are also filled with added sugars and unneeded calories - even if they supposedly have real fruit flavors. Begin weaning yourself from the "fruity" cereals by chopping some real, fresh fruit into a bowl of healthy, non sugar-containing, cereal. Fruity Desserts. Strawberry ice cream. Raspberry cheesecake. Cherry Pie. Yum! We know they have fruit in the name, but it doesn't mean they're healthy for us. Opt for healthy fruit-based desserts such as fruit parfaits and fruit sorbet. If you mu...

Are you living with a chronic condition such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease?   NCOA and the Vermont Blueprint for Health are offering a FREE online chronic disease workshop for Vermont residents! Hurry ... seats are limited! Register now. Participants log into the workshop from their own computers for just 2 hours a week over 6 weeks. All participants received a FREE workbook plus online resources to help them live healthier.  Better Choices, Better Health was developed by Stanford University and has been proven to help people with chronic conditions: - Find practical ways to deal with pain, fatigues, and stress -Discover helpful nutrition and exercise tips Make informed treatment decisions Better communicate with doctors and family members

Exercise is a key contributor to health and happiness. Beyond those endorphins, it is associated with a higher quality of life, improved health, and a better mood . But missing a few workout sessions doesn’t mean staying active has to fall by the wayside. Sneaking cardio into your daily life can save time and improve fitness. Sometimes on par with the benefits of a scheduled sweat session and   more time being active in our daily lives means less time sitting, which can lower the risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and early death . While intense exercise is good for us, it doesn't completely erase  the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, so making an effort to get moving throughout the day can have some serious long-term benefits . Check out the following  12 simple ways to get more active for even the busiest person , whether at home, work, or play . 1. Be a stair master: But consider taking them one at a time, not two . Researchers found  that while th...

1) To Build Muscle and Gain Strength: For the women out there, don't worry. This does NOT mean that you're going to ‘bulk up' or look too masculine. What WILL happen is that your arms, tummy and legs will become tighter, leaner and more defined. 2) To Lose Fat: When it comes to losing size, all that you want to see go is fat, not muscle. Strength training ensures that you maintain and grow those muscles and only lose fat. More muscle = a stronger and faster metabolism. 3) To Build Strong Bones: The older we get, the more important it is to maintain our bone density. A good strength training program is one of your best defenses when it comes to preventing osteoporosis. 4) To Alleviate Anxiety, Stress and Depression: Yes, we all know there are medications we can take to combat all of these symptoms, but the truth is that the pill are only covering up the symptoms - not fixing them. Strength training is more wholesome and effective way to work towards correc...

Cycling season is in full swing in Vermont with many weeks of great riding ahead. Many of us are participating in the  National Bike Challenge and some are even training for a century ride. A century ride is a milestone many cyclists strive to reach. The roadblock for most is finding the time to prepare. With only so many hours in the day, most of which we spend working and sleeping, ride time is limited. This following plan will have any determined cyclist ready to hit 100 with just three rides per week: one long, one steady and one speedy. On rest days, remember to do something to keep your body moving. Long Ride: The Meat:  In your first week, you'll want to ride 1.5 to 2 hours, or about 20 miles, and build from there. (If you're already comfortable with a longer ride than week 1 prescribes, start with 2.5 to 3 hours and follow the same guidelines for mileage building, topping off at about 85 miles.) More:  Do your long rides at a steady, but not taxing,...

The flight attendants instruct you to put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others. Why? Because you can’t help others if you can’t breathe yourself! One of the most common ways we neglect our bodies is through our diet! Eating is one of the core physical components to self-care, because it literally is the fuel our bodies use to survive! Food affects our performance and energy levels. If you go long periods of time without eating during your waking hours (i.e. greater than 5-6 hours), your body is unable to function at its' best. You may not be able to think clearly as your brain is starved of glucose (aka, carbohydrates), and may also experience fatigue, low energy levels or headaches. If you were planning on exercising or you have a particularly strenuous day....good luck! Depleting your body of necessary nutrients makes every task significantly more difficult! Food is what gives your cells the energy they need accomplish their tasks. Include a balance of car...