Simple Ways to Get More Exercise Into Your Life, Lose Weight and Just Feel Better!

Regular exercise is good for your overall health and it also benefit your immune system. You improve your energy levels and your muscle strength and this in turn causes improvements to take place throughout your entire physicality.

 It does not take a lot of exercise to produce positive changes in your body. For example, it only takes 30 minutes of reasonably brisk walking 3 or 4 times a week to strengthen your heart, lungs and all of the major muscle groups. At the same time, exercise helps to optimize your digestive system, meaning that less harmful toxins and bacteria will lodge in your gut as the process of peristalsis (passing the food and then waste materials through your system) gradually becomes more efficient. 

People who walk suffer from much less constipation and are less reliant on laxative drugs which have a way of making your body dependent, sick and acidic

Ways to Fit a Bit More Exercise Into Your Schedule

Even if you don’t have 30 minutes available four times a week to go for a brisk walk, there are plenty of different ways you can find the time in any average day for enough exercise for your immune system to benefit. For example, you can take the stairs whenever possible instead of using an elevator or even an escalator. 

In order to exercise your whole body at the same time, it is generally agreed that one of the most beneficial forms of exercise is swimming. The advantage over this compared to running or even climbing the stairs, swimming places no additional stress on your joints and muscles, as there is no harsh impact on your knees or the balls of your feet. Joint pain or arthritic pain is no excuse as there is always swimming to help you get the exercise you need without hurting your joints.

Cycling is another good low impact exercise alternative that nevertheless brings significant benefits, so you might for example consider cycling to work every so often rather than taking the bus, train or the car. This is an intensely aerobic activity that also helps facilitate the intake of oxygen, which in turn feeds the skin and calms the immune system. The thing to understand about your immune system is that while your gastrointestinal tract is the ‘core’ of it, every other part of your body is also intrinsically involved in protecting you against infection and disease. 

Exercise is As Crucial As Diet

A healthy lifestyle is not just about what you eat it is about you do and exercising every day is crucial as is taking care of ourselves emotionally and not letting our stress levels get out of hand.  Walking, especially, has been known for centuries to be a great stress reducer. It is also the ideal time to meditate, particularly if you are taking a stroll through nature.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at (416)-656- 8100. We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

Foods That Keep You Looking Younger

When it comes to anti-aging there are many foods that can help turn back the hands of time. These wonderful foods should always be in your diet if you want to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle as they have multiple health benefits and eating them can help preserve the effects of any mesotherapy or other anti-aging cosmetic treatment  (such as having cosmetiic fillers injected) that you have done at the Pinewood Health Clinic.

1. Blueberries

Make eating  blueberries part of your
anti-aging regimen

Blueberries contain a significant amount of vitamin K, manganese, vitamin C, and fibre. They also have omega-3 fatty acids. They can help your eyes and can heal ulcers. The antioxidants found in blueberries not only combat aging and stress factors in the body, but also reduce the risk of degenerative diseases and cancers.

One cup of blueberries has only 85 calories, and less than one gram of good fat. The fibre they contain improves bowel function and helps eliminate bowel residue. The phytochemicals they contain aid in weight loss and reduce inflammation.

Blueberries can be eaten raw, blended into smoothies, sprinkled on oatmeal or baked into muffins.

2.   Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts contain selenium that aids in the production glutathione.  This anti-aging substance repairs all cell damage and slows down all aging processes in the body.  They are also high in protein, which helps the body repair the connectivity of skin tissue and the scalp to  grow thick and lustrous hair.

Just eating two nuts a day can help halt the process of aging. Add brazil nuts to any baking that you do.  Soaking the Brazil nuts in water overnight helps make their nutrition more readily bioavailabe to the body.

3.  Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most powerful anti-aging foods known to man. Green tea contains the phytonutrients myricetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and quercetin. They are the phytonutrients that work together in order to help your body burn fat by increasing its metabolism. These nutrients can also fight against the development of tumors and cancers.

The only thing to be careful about when drinking green tea is that it can prevent iron from being absorbed into your bloodstream. The best way to prevent this odd side-effect and ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need from you food is to drink green tea between meals as a pick-me-up or add a little lemon to it.

4.  Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a rich source of a strong antioxidant class known as punicalagins. Punicalagins breakdown into ellagic acid, the potent anti-oxidant found in raspberries, cranberries, and strawberries that also has strong antioxidant activity. The juice and seeds of this exotic tropical fruit are powerful enough to have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Pomegranate fruit is also high in vitamin C. One pomegranate provides about 40% of the daily requirement of this vitamin. Minerals included in pomegranates include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper manganese, selenium and fluoride.

Pomegranate juice, without sugar, is a good substitute for eating the juicy seeds, which can be a time consuming process.

5.  Red Lentils

Red lentils are loaded with fibber and protein. Dietary fibber is found in foods that come from plant sources. It is important to get enough soluble and insoluble fibres each day, so you can have a healthy digestive system. Soluble fibres act as sponges and dissolve in water. They are broken down in the colon and help sweep intestinal debris away.

Diets that are high in fibre have been shown to help people lower their cholesterol and regulate their blood sugar levels.

Lentils are best cooked as a curry, sauce or a stew with other healthy vegetables and plenty of turmeric, which is also another anti-aging substance.

For more information or to book a consultation about our restorative Healthy and Active diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.