Supernatural Botanicals

It’s the second week in January….are you still keeping your fitness goals?  Keep yourself inspired and motivated with magazine subscriptions to fitness magazines.   Fitness magazines, such as Oxygen, Self, or Shape magazines keep you learning and yearning for more.  It’s literally the gift that keeps on giving.  Each month you’ll learn about new techniques and exercises to help you achieve a lean, strong, and healthy body.  And if you subscribe to a fitness magazine, you’ll get a new dose of inspiration every 30  days.  Without a doubt, you’ll see a body in those magazines that inspire you to work out harder, eat better, and push yourself to achieve your fitness goals.  From rookies to advanced gym rats, you’ll find something inspirational every single month.  *Frugal tip:  Borrow magazines from the library and have access to all the fitness magazines on the newsstands.

For decades we’ve heard we should avoid feeding our children sugar, fearing that it will make them hyper.  But according to new studies, scientists no longer believe that to be true.

Scientists have found no connection between sugar and hyperactivity.  The theory is…sugar is a carbohydrate that our bodies use for energy.  It shouldn’t make you more hyper than if you ate any other carbohydrate. 

Sugar, of course, can lead to tooth decay and obesity, but as far as it being linked to hyperactivity, there’s no concrete evidence to prove such a theory.

Vitamin C  keeps skin well-toned. A deficiency can cause wrinkles and skin discoloration. As skin ages, more vitamin C is essential to maintain elasticity. Broccoli, kale, cabbage, strawberries and cantaloupe are all full of Vitamin C.  Beef up on your vitamin C intake for great skin.

The holidays are almost upon us and that means holiday parties.  Holiday parties mean excess calories and more drinking than usual.

If Champagne is your chosen poison for the evening, first know this…Champagne has the same alcohol content as a glass of wine or basic cocktail, but the bubbles in Champagne cause it to get absorbed faster into your bloodstream, so you become intoxicated more quickly.

There’s nothing more embarrassing than being at the company Christmas party after having two glasses of Champagne, and realizing that you are suddenly sloshed!  Remember, Champagne gets you there quicker, so adjust accordingly.

Shape magazine features the adorbs, LeAnn Rimes this month.  Want to know how LeAnn gets those killer abs?  It’s all about boxing for her.  Check out her step by step workout here.

LeAnn and her trainer box for about 20 minutes—after doing 40 minutes of resistance training interspersed with cardio intervals.  The result is an intense hour-long workout.

Her body is the result of hour long intense workouts.  It can be achieved with that simple addition to your life, hour long intense cardio workouts.  …how bad do you want it?

Did you know that some apples are better for you than others?  The Red Delicious variety gets five stars.  All apples are loaded with vitamin C and other nutrients, but the Red Delicious has the highest level of flavonoids, and as much as five times as many antioxidants. 

Don’t peel the skin.  The beautiful red skin contains the highest concentration of the flavonaoids and antioxidants, so be sure you are eating the peel as well. 

Wow, talk about a workout, check out the ElliptiGo bike.  It’s a cross between a bicycle and an elliptical machine.  It’s a great alternative for runners because it’s far more knee-friendly than hitting the pavement.  A good workout will burn 600+ calories an hour.  

Bike demos are available in the following cities (see website www.ellipitgo.com for more details)

• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Boulder, CO
• New York City, NY
• Seattle, WA
• Spokane, WA

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67i6d9Hxjgg

Eating baked potatoes is actually great for your skin.  Did you know that one baked potato (with the skin) provides 75 percent of your daily copper needs? Copper, when combined with vitamin C and zinc, produce elastin fibers that support skin structure, therefore elasticity. Copper deficiency in your diet can reduce skin’s ability to heal and cause it to become rigid and lifeless.  So if you are feeling bad about carbs, don’t sweat it.  The bright side is… it’s making your skin look beautiful.

If you exchange bleu cheese for feta in your salad, and skip the dried cranberries and candied walnuts altogether, you’ll save 275 calories!  Simple changes on your plate can mean huge changes to your abs! 

Researchers at Tufts University found that even a 1% to 2% dip in hydration, the point at which you feel thirsty, can make you sluggish.  Your cells rely on water to make and use energy.  It is recommended to drink at least half a cup every hour, or 8 cups throughout the day.