Align Pilates Minneapolis » :: Health Nut

Things that make you go hmmm…..

KTK — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:08:23 +0000

Sleep more, eat less

KTK — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:38:50 +0000

I know most of us probably don’t need an excuse to sleep more. But you’ve got one anyway — Sleep: Good for the Brain and the Belly. Turns out that getting the right amount of shuteye every night not only ensures that we dot all of our I’s and cross all of our T’s with a coherent brain each day, but it also safeguards us against packing on the extra pounds. It’s true. Did you know that the body continues to burn calories while you are asleep? Did you know that people who get six hours of sleep per night are 23% more at risk for obesity than those who get a solid 7 or 8 hours? AND did you know that the two hormones associated with sleep deprivation are leptin and ghrelin? Looks like someone’s got some other things to catch up on besides a nap. Just sayin’.

No more blind dating

KTK — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:22:58 +0000

You know what’s great? Expiration dates. I mean, wouldn’t life be grand if more than just dairy products could tell you when they’ve passed their prime, say a questionable boy friend or your skinny jeans? While you can’t, unfortunately, flip over Mr. Maybe and look for an end date like a tub of yogurt in your fridge, the show must go on. So thank goodness life provides smart things like these: Beauty Alerts. It’s kind of like using a grown up (and less repulsed looking) version of Mr. Yuk. Slap one on a new beauty product and pencil in the date of first use. Now you’ll know when it’s time to ditch it like last month’s sour cream, or blind date, as the case may be.

Pretty little pills

KTK — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:00:39 +0000

Vitamins. There’s always a different story. Today, a supplement is good for something, and tomorrow it’s out like last year’s jeans. I give you Exhibit A: yesterday’s CNN post on fish oil. Despite recent popular opinion, fish oil (among other vitamins) apparently does nothing for mental clarity. Okay, so I always knew that the omega 3’s in fish oil are good for the ol’ heart (or so I have been told). But admittedly, I was never aware that it maybe, sort of, almost potentially had the powers to cure what our mother refers to as senior moments. Confused? Well, maybe this will help: Information is Beautiful. This site not only paints a pretty picture, but it sheds some light on the vitamin debacle, illustrating the “tangible health benefits of dietary supplements when taken orally by an adult with a healthy diet.” The hierarchy of bubbles is continually updated based on the latest research for or against a vitamin. The higher the bubble, the greater the sway is toward its effectiveness. Still confused? That’s okay. It’s still nice to look at.

Break the cycle

KTK — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:41:48 +0000

It takes approximately 450-1000 years for the average plastic bottle to biodegrade.

Whoa. Think of that next time you reach for your favorite laundry detergent, soda or cleaning product in the Target aisle. And just to make matters a little worse, the timeliness of plastic biodegradability is also affected by the type of bottle (the reusable hard kind, or the non-reusable soft type) as well as the actual size of bottle.

But none of this matters if you turn to New Soap, Old Bottle. Just as the name suggests, the smarty pants behind this company sell new soap in old plastic soda and water bottles as well as glass beer bottles. Each bottle is cleansed, sanitized and devoid of all cooties, allowing you to cleanse, sanitize and de-cootie your body, home AND environment. You can even go a step further by selling your own old bottles for soap-filling. After all, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Open up and say “moo”

KTK — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:55:28 +0000

Chocolate is good. But the unattractive side effects of a steady consumption of chocolate? Not so much. But hang on, choco-lovers. We’ve got good news. Say goodbye to the unsightly relatives of chocolate: overindulgence, stomach ache and the ever-popular, back fat. Dean & Deluca, the “purveyors of fine food, wine & kitchenware,” have introduced a healthy brand of chocolate: Moo Kids Chocolate Bars. Okay, so they may have been made for children. But these yummy morsels are created from nutritious Swiss milk chocolate, natural grains and other all-natural, absolutely scrumdiddlyumptious ingredients. And there’s nothing childish about a wholesome snack, now is there?

We hereby give you permission to unleash the kind in moo. I mean you.

Spring cleaning

KTK — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:00:15 +0000

So long, February! At long last, we have reached March. So far, it has arrived like a docile lamb. Although we know that winter’s lion will have at least one last roar before we enter into full-on spring, we have absolutely no complaints about the upper 40 degree temps we are reveling here in the Twin Cities. (Could we reach 50 degrees by Friday?!) And even though Ms. Nature is probably being a horrible tease right now, this does not mean we can’t start planning for spring. To that end, here is a helpful list of timely March to-do’s.

‘Tis the season to whip out your mops and brooms, start driving away the dust and grime that Old Man Winter tracked in under his boots and prepare to let a little sunshine in. It’s also a good time to not only prepare your home, but prepare your body and mind for the upcoming season: start stocking up on spring foods, get those pesky finances in order and ditch a day at the gym to work out in the fresh air.

After all, there is a time for all things—a time for work, a time for play and a time to clean your dryer vents.

Wash up

KTK — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:19:45 +0000

The shower. Most of us have one every day, maybe even twice a day. Heck, why not? Besides keeping you squeaky clean, it’s often the only time during your day that you can actually have a moment to clear the head, wash the grime away and belt out that favorite Gloria Gaynor song. So I bet you think you’ve got this cleaning thing down, huh? Well you might want to think again. Turns out what you do between the tiles and loofah could use some improvement.

So here are some shower tips to make the most out of your cleansing experience. My personal favorite: “Just like the sponge in your kitchen sink, your washcloth can attract unsavory characters faster than Cancun during spring break.”

So tart showering wisely and who knows? Maybe you’ll have a little more fun while you are at it. And remember, what happens in the shower stays in the shower.

An avocado a day

KTK — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:18:09 +0000

Has the avocado stolen the apple’s job as the daily warden of health, the guardian of the body, the friendly protector against Mr. or Ms. Doctor? Perhaps. At least according to yesterday’s Star Tribune.

Despite its reputation as the misunderstood fruit, the avocado is a good guy, not a bad guy. For starters, avocados are high in MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids), which lower the naughty cholesterol and increase the goody-goody cholesterol. MUFA’s are also key component of the Flat Belly Diet.

Our pal the avocado is also very versatile. Whether it’s a healthy sandwich spread you crave, or a tasty dip (who doesn’t like guacamole?) to go with your low cal snack of choice, the avocado is the man (or woman) for the job. Apparently, avocado can even double as a face moisturizer. Can your Granny Smith do that?

Hit the road, apple. A new fruit is in town.

Bonus: Check out these tips and tasty recipes and catch the avocados while they are in season.

Snack attack- Take the quiz!

KTK — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:42:30 +0000

When it comes to snack calories, 100 is the magic number. You name the snack, there’s probably a 100 calorie pack for it. (My current favorite is the Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almond 100 Calorie Pack.) But when it’s not tied up in a neat and convenient package, it’s hard to eyeball how much of your favorite treat adds up to 100 cals. Well, my mother always said when in doubt, take a quiz. Ergo, I give you the 100 Calorie Quiz. It tests your snack savvy by presenting two different amounts of the same kind of food. Your job is to decide which quantity adds up to 100 calories. Are you a Master Snacker, or just a Smart Snacker? Who knows? So choose wisely, my friends, and you may even learn something along the way. You can thank my mother later.