In todays ultra-hectic world, figuring out how to forget the daily rush and find a way to relax can be something of a challenge, especially during the dreary end-of-winter months.

Not to worry: Weve compiled a few tips and ideas from some local folks doing their best to calm down, go with the flow and relax.

Mom and daughter Kathy and Emily Doherty are both in the midst of more than average stress. Kathy is getting divorced and Emily is a single mom of a 3-year old. Toss in that Emilys son is about to go to daycare for the first time and its apparent why finding time to relax is a top priority for both mom and daughter.

Kathy, an avid reader, has changed her reading list to help her soothe her worries.

One thing I have done to help me relax is switch from reading non-fiction to fiction, Kathy said. Reading a beautiful or silly story instead of the stark truth of non-fiction takes me out of my own head and helps put everything into perspective.

Emily ventures into the great outdoors to do some stargazing when shes feeling overwhelmed.

Theres something about looking up at a starlit sky that helps remind me how small and fleeting and not permanent our troubles are, Emily said. It doesnt always calm me down, but it usually helps.

Both Doherty women enjoy wandering around bookstores to relax. Neither are fond of malls, but thrift stores are another source of relaxation. One final relaxation tip that works for both women can be found in the comfort of their own living room.

The one thing that does seem to calm both of us down is binge watching Charmed on Netflix, Kathy said. Works every time.

Relationship troubles

Shelly Holts day job is a mental health therapist for the Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota where she sees people who are facing all kinds of different stress inducing situations.

Clients come in with all sorts of issues theyd like to address and almost all create stress responses, Holt said. Relationship problems are the No. 1 concern of most of my clients whether they are 6 or 70.

Holt works with her clients to learn about the mind and body connection and what is within their control.

I help them uncover what the triggers are, what their personal stress reactions are and how they currently cope with stress. So many people dont realize that there is a connection between their mind and body, Holt said. Many people use unhealthy coping such as overeating, overuse of alcohol or other substances thinking that will help them to relax, but more often than not these things are excessive and counterproductive. I teach them what I know and practice myself. They can then try different methods and determine what works for them.

What works for Holt are a variety of techniques including mindful activities such as focused breathing, visualization, yoga and prayer. Holt also meditates and listens to relaxing music, takes Epsom salt baths and uses aromatherapy.

I get a weekly massage and I love to read, Holt said. In the summer I garden, take long walks and sit by the bonfire because those activities help ground me. I work hard to put a lot of margin around and am choosy with what and who Im involved with because my occupation can be stressful.

Holt also suggests staying away from sensory stimulating activities like watching too much television, spending too much time on the computer, fluorescent lights and loud music.

No more 80s rock bands, Holt said. They cause stressful responses in me.

Holt said that the most important thing she has learned is when to use the word no.

We often add or even create our own stress by overextending ourselves, Holt said. Some people relax by being with other or engaging in activities. I need solitude. It just depends on how one is wired.

Brittany Bushaw has been a massage therapist for 10 years and a yoga instructor for eight. She currently works at Indigo Organic where, following a massage, she provides clients with yoga stretches and postures for them to do to help sustain the relaxation and tension relief achieved in the massage session.

I have seen people have amazing transitions in pain relief by doing a few simple yoga stretches between massages, Bushaw said.

Yoga is an intentional practice of moving the body in correlation with the breath. By focusing on deep breathing along with specific body movements, the mind becomes present in the moment and the outside world drops away naturally.

Now that the mind is getting a break from thinking and is relaxed and still, the body then begins to feel the effects of the relaxed mind and follows suit, Bushaw said.

Bushaw had a few suggestions for someone trying to relax.

If you are tense I would suggest moving to a comfortable sitting or lying down position. Close your eyes and turn your attention to your breathing. Is it shallow? Short? Choppy? Try to breath in slow, deep, smooth breaths. Then turn your attention to where your tension lies. Breath into that space of tension or pain. Listen to your body and move slowly.

Bushaw said that if pain is in the neck, lower the chin to the chest and the ear to the shoulder. If its upper back pain, begin to relax the shoulders away from the ears and roll the shoulders out. Hip pain can be alleviated by standing and swaying hips side to side with bent knees.

Enter the tense places in your body with curiosity, Bushaw said. What in your daily life is causing the tension? What movement feels good and what movement creates discomfort? Yoga means union, and if you are breathing while focusing on mindful movement then you are doing yoga.

Bushaw also said the most valuable relaxation tool is one that is with everyone at all times: our breath.

By focusing on deepening our breath, our mind lets go and our heart rate slows down. Most people believe they need to set special time aside to relax or have their environment perfectly set up. While those are helpful, your mind and body dont need all of that. They just need you to be aware of your breath and slow it down to relax, Bushaw said.

Continued here:

Just relax! Feeling stressed? It's OK, we've got tips to help you get through the worst of it - Mankato Free Press

Feb 6, 2017 1:01 PM

When not accompanied by judges, time constraints, or raging grease fires, cooking is actually quite relaxing. Theres the rhythm of chopping, the soul-warming smells, and the simple joy of creation. Blame Emeril and his signature BAM! for that feeling failing to translate on TV, where chefs tend to prattle and crack catchphrases against saucy guitar licks or otherwise oppressive soundtracks.

But then theres Peaceful Kitchen, a YouTube channel out of Japan that strips away the excess. In lieu of hosts and dialogue, the videos emphasize the cooking process with close-ups and relevant text. Whats also pronounced are the organic sounds, such as the crinkle of chopped lettuce or whirr of nuts being pulverized in a blender. Some videos have accompanying music, but theres also a subsection devoted to ones without it. In both instances, the effect is both soothing and mouthwatering.

The channel is vegan, though it encompasses a multitude of dishes, from homemade kimchi to boiled dumplings and even ice cream. Theres even a DIY series showing how founder Ryoya Takashima built his own kitchen. Those videos, as you might imagine are, well, less peaceful.

Submit your Great Job, Internet tips here.

Previous Great Job, Internet! Someone turned Tim Allens grunts into beautiful music

Next Great Job, Internet! Read This: A taxonomy of Twitter meltdowns and online rage

Original post:

This quiet YouTube cooking channel is the diametric opposite of Guy Fieri - A.V. Club (blog)

Stressed out, high-strung dogsprobably just need to chill out and lounge to some tunes, especially reggae and soft rock according to a new study from the University of Glasgow.

Working with theScottish SPCA, researcher Amy Bowman sought to discover which genres of music proved to be the most calming for dogs in kennels, which are high-stress environments.

Previously, SPCAstaff could play the radio or any sort of music they wanted in their offices, but when the Scottish government implemented music licensing fees for public spaces, the organization wanted to ensure that the cost would be worth it to play music for animals in their care.

READ MORE: Dogs understand what we say, study shows just like we thought

Earlier studies had shown positive responses to classical music from kennelled dogs, but the dogs were only exposed to the music for an hour or so. Bowman wanted to test the response for longer-term exposure to classical music.

We found out that they got a little bored towards the end [of seven days], said Bowman. So we thought lets try playing them different genres of music!

They settled on what Bowman called broad, popular genres of music: pop, Motown, reggae and soft rock.

What the researchers found was that the dogs exhibited calmer behaviour such as lying down, sleeping, less barking and not jumping up on the bars. This was especially true for when they listened to reggae and soft rock; Motown proved to have a lesser effect on the dogs.

They believe it was the variety of music that kept the pups interested and engaged, so that the music had a positive effect on them.

READ MORE: Dogs have a better memory than you think, new study says

Although different dogs had different responses to the various genres, Bowman found that the dogs were 142 times more likely to start barking again once the music was turned off.

Bowman also said that she couldnt conclusively say whether different breeds of dogs preferred Bob Marley over Celine Dion, but could say for sure that playing music did help them as a whole.

With these results, the Scottish SPCA said they are installing speaker systems into their dog kennels to help soothe the dogs in their care and give them a better chance of being adopted out.

For dogs in a kennelled environment to improve and make that stress less for them thats beneficial, said Gilly Mendes Ferreira, head of research and policy at the Scottish SPCA. The less stress, the less they show undesirable behaviours.

Bowman believes her research could also apply to dogs that are already in a comfortable home environment, especially for those stressful moments such as when their owner leaves the house for the day.

Just chucking on the radio or putting on a CD or something that you might listen to when youre there, I think that can help, because it gives them something to listen to and it also might mask sounds that frighten them, she said.

The next step for Bowmans research is breaking down which elements of the music really affected the dogs in the kennel. She is analyzing data to see whether it was a specific instrument, tone, rhythm or tempo that gave the most positive impact on the dogs stress levels.

2017Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Continued here:

Reggae, soft rock best at relaxing stressed out dogs: study - Globalnews.ca

An ongoing debate focuses on whether or not music belongs in your workspace. From studying to working in an office to exercising, many different researchers have considered what effect music has on our brains, and how we should as a society embrace or shun music in spaces that require a certain amount of concentration.

Let's take a look at the available research so that we can understand how music supports the brain and the places where it serves as a distraction.

When we are talking about how to encourage children to be more creative, thoughtful, empathetic, and have better fine-motor skills, researchers have long since known that playing an instrument is a crucial tool.

Most of us have brains that are larger on either the right or left side; this roughly correlates to our skills with logic and creativity, although the processes are much more complicated than that explanation indicates. Musicians, however, have brains that are much more likely to be symmetrical.

They show higher scores on traditional intelligence tests, indicating that the two sides of their brain work better together. Researchers have also found that musicians have improved spatial relationship skills, showing a correlation between music and visual skills that we don't fully understand yet.

While it does seem to be playing music that causes the biggest improvements in brain function, it's still important to understand the dramatic effects that music can have on our brains.

When you ask researchers "Will music help me complete this task," the first question they tend to ask in response is "What is the task?"

When you need to complete a repetitive task that doesn't require a great deal of attention once it is learned, music is a critical way to reduce task fatigue. Task fatigue refers to how completing a task over and over can start to feel boring and frustrating.

By having music to distract your brain from the repetitiveness of tasks, workers can generally continue to work for longer without needing a break to recharge. This can increase productivity.

With more awareness of autism and ADHD in the public sphere, it's likely that employers may start to have employees explaining that they will do better at work if they can put on headphones playing their own music. Research supports the idea that simple noise suppression is uncomfortable, but that in busy environments, having some music to focus on can make sensory input bearable.

In situations like these, having adults choose their own music can be a crucial accommodation.

We have long since known that music increase dopamine production, so much so that music therapy is a valid technique in some situations. Dopamine is the brain chemical that is released during rewards, so having music boosting dopamine levels while completing tasks can help us feel rewarded and powerful while completing tasks that otherwise can feel very frustrating.

One of the ways that music is particularly helpful is that it marks the passage of time. Especially when you're working on something repetitive and not particularly engaging, time can seem to dilate. This makes you feel like ages must have passed, while very little time has actually gone by.

Since music creates a more deliberate demarcation in time, it's easier to keep your perception of time accurate, and not get discouraged by feeling like you've been doing the job forever.

If you've ever been a fan of a band, music, or song, you know that community can be created around music. Many people think of "What type of music do you listen to" or "Who are your favorite artists" to be great icebreaker conversations. Talking about music gives us a chance to get to know another person without delving too deeply into personal particulars.

In a work environment, where supporting work friendships helps to create a positive work environment, the community can be a valuable benefit.

Many offices are moving towards open office spaces. These areas are believed to be good for collaboration, good for morale, and easier to afford and maintain. But they can also be loud, distracting, and frustrating.

Allowing employees to bring in their own music to listen to on headphones can greatly help employees to focus and avoid distractions. Even if they only put one headphone on or earbud in, so that they can hear someone trying to catch their attention, their ability to focus and concentrate will probably be dramatically improved.

When we are less bored by tasks and less frustrated at needing to complete a particular assignment, we are more motivated to get our work done. This has benefits for employees who need to do many highly repetitive tasks as well as those who have many roles they love to play, and one they dread.

When employees aren't dragged down by one task after another, they are happier at work overall and have more energy for all of their work. Even the things they normally enjoyed can be approached with more joy and innovation.

Overall, music can have an important role to play in modern work environments. Researchers have found that some types of music are better for workplaces than others; music without lyrics and music that incorporates the sounds of the natural world are more relaxing than music with lyrics. Familiar music is more relaxing than new music.

Letting employees choose their own musical options is likely to give you the best results. Requiring headphones, so that other employees get their own choices without interference, is probably the most customizable solution.

Have you incorporated music into your workspace or study space? What results have you seen?

View post:

8 Ways Music Affects Your Brain and Enhances Productivity - Inc.com

We'll help you decide if you should buy organic.

KUSA , KUSA 10:50 PM. CST February 05, 2017

(Photo: KUSA)

KUSA - Walk into a grocery store and youre faced with a choice: do you buy costly organic food or cheaper traditional food?

Its easy to join the skeptics and wonder if the health boost is worth it. After all, organic food can cost you 30 to 60 percent more.

Theres not much difference in terms of quality, safety and nutrition between conventional and organic foods, registered dietician Malena Perdomo said.

The main difference between traditional and organic food? How its produced.

Its made without synthetic fertilizers, synthetic chemicals, and its also not being used with radiation, and not genetically engineered, Perdomo said.

Just because you might not have a full bank account doesnt mean you have to skimp on organic food.

Perdomo says there are lists that contain the foods with the most pesticide residue, and you can decide which foods you think are most worth getting organic.

Is buying organic worth it? It depends.

If you have money to spend on organic foods and vegetables, go for it, Perdomo said.

But if youre trying to be healthy, just eat more fruits and vegetables period. And even though somethings organic like a package of cookies that doesnt mean its healthy.

( 2017 KUSA)

View post:

Organic food: Is it worth it? - WFAA.com

The management shake-up at SunOpta Inc. continued Monday, with the global organic food company revealing the name of its new president and CEO.

David Colo, a former executive at Diamond Foods who helped engineer the $1.9 billion sale of the snack foods company last year, started as SunOpta's chief executive on Monday. He will also become a member of the company's board of directors.

Meanwhile, Katrina Houde, who had served as interim CEO since Rik Jacobs stepped down from the position Nov. 11, will continue as a member of the company's board of directors, a position she has held since 2000.

Among the employees Colo will lead are 114 people who work at the company's manufacturing facility on Daniels Drive in Upper Macungie Township. Ontario-based SunOpta opened a consumer foods plant there in 2012 and, in 2015, completed a $25 million expansion of the facility to include aseptic processing capabilities.

"I'm honored and grateful to the board for the opportunity to lead SunOpta," Colo said in a news release. "Having worked in the industry for many years, I have long respected SunOpta's business and talented employees. The company has tremendous potential and I look forward to continuing the value creation plan set forth by the board."

It's been a busy last several months at SunOpta, starting in late June when the company announced it had hired financial and legal advisers to support a review of the company's operating plan and evaluate a range of strategic actions that could maximize shareholder value. That announcement came about a month after Tourbillon Capital Partners, then SunOpta's largest shareholder, urged SunOpta to sell itself after becoming frustrated with the company's performance.

Then, in early October, SunOpta announced a partnership with Oaktree Capital Management, a global investment management firm based in Los Angeles. Oaktree invested $85 million in SunOpta, which was used to reduce debt and boost financial flexibility.

In a news release, SunOpta Chairman Dean Hollis said Colo was "intimately involved" with Oaktree during his time at Diamond Foods, so the company expects an "extremely efficient integration into his role of leading the company and its value creation plan."

More details on that plan were disclosed in the company's third-quarter earnings release. In addition to Jacobs leaving, the changes included a swap atop the board of directors Chairman Alan Murray stepping down, with Hollis being appointed and the closure of the company's juice processing and packaging facility in San Bernardino, Calif.

Also disclosed was a third-quarter net loss of $3.4 million.

jon.harris@mcall.com

Twitter @ByJonHarris

610-820-6779

Get the inside scoop on the Lehigh Valley's business scene on The Business Cycle, themorningcall.com/business

Like on Facebook: facebook.com/LVBizCycle

Follow on Twitter: @LVBizCycle

See the original post here:

Organic food company with Upper Macungie plant names new CEO - Allentown Morning Call

[Amrit] Pradhan is one of 66,000 farmers from Sikkim [a state in northeast India] who are part of a far-reaching experiment. Since last year, the states farmers have become 100% organic their produce is free of [synthetic] chemical pesticides or genetic modification [Editors note: there are no approved genetically modified fruits or vegetables approved or grown in India, anywhere].

It also means their fruit and vegetables are smaller, less colourful, and more expensive than the imported, non-organic produce from the city of Siliguri in the neighbouring state of West Bengal.

Last year, prime minister Narendra Modi lauded Sikkim for its organic farming, a programme that had gradually been rolled out across the state since 2003.

The farming techniques [in Indias Green Revolution] produced dramatic increases in yield, and new prosperity for farmers, especially in northern states such as Punjab and Haryana. India went from being a food-deficient country to a leading agricultural power.Food prices fell, but the farming methods took their toll on the environment increased water use, soil degradation and chemical run-off raising questions about the sustainability of such practices.

Amrit Pradhan

In 2016, Sikkims state government made the use of chemical pesticides a criminal offence, carrying a heavy penalty of 100,000 rupees (1,170) and up to three months in jail.

In India, where at least half of the countrys 1.25 billion population rely on farming as a primary source of income, and more than 15% of inhabitants are undernourished,according to the global hunger index, experiments with organic farming could come at a huge human cost.

In Sikkim, years of failed crops could affect tens of thousands of families while the land adjusts to the new methods.

[Farmer Amrit] Pradhan says the organic crop he produces does not sell well in Sikkim.Pradhan supports the governments organic initiatives, but fears the project will fail unless Sikkims residents start buying into the idea.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Sikkims organic revolution at risk as local consumers fail to buy into project

Read more from the original source:

India's consumers rejecting state's experiment to produce 100% organic: Food too expensive, less appetizing - Genetic Literacy Project

By News Desk | February 5, 2017

Loblaw Companies Ltd. is recalling one flavor of PC Organics baby food from retailers nationwide in Canada after a consumer complaint triggered an inspection that revealed the product could contain the toxin that causes botulism poisoning.

The recall includes only one lot of Presidents Choice (PC) Organics branded apple, blueberry and green pea strained baby food sold in pouches with twist-off caps, according to the recall notice on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled product should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased, the government recall notice states.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Consumers can identify the recalled baby food pouches by looking for the following codes on the product packages:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is investigating the situation and will post public recall warnings for additional products if necessary. The CFIA did not provide details about the nature of the consumer complaint or its investigation thus far in the recall notice posted Friday.

Consumers with questions can contact Loblaw Companies Ltd. toll-free by calling 888-495-5111 or by sending email to customerservice@presidentschoice.ca.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

More Headlines from Food Recalls

Read this article:

Organic baby food pouches recalled for botulism risk - Food Safety News

Organic or not?

Its a question that many people from those fighting cancer to folks simply looking to eat right or prevent disease might ask themselves in the grocery aisle.

An answer, however, isnt definite.

Both types of food have key health benefits, though making the decision (perhaps driven by cost and availability) can leave consumers at an impasse.

Consider the following, then, when shopping for organic and conventional foods and, in choosing either option, what you can do to maximize the health benefits of your diet.

Are organic foods better for me?

There have been no direct studies on humans to show that organic foods can prevent cancer or other diseases more effectively than conventionally grown foods.

So far, there is alsono consistent evidencethat organic food is any more nutritious (higher in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients).

Do only organic fruits and vegetables reduce my cancer risk?

No. Whatsimportant, however, is to eat fruits, vegetables and other plant foods regardless of whether they are grown conventionally or organically.

Aim for at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Plant foods offer vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals with real cancer-fighting abilities. Those plus whole grains should form the central part of a persons diet.

Also, replacing higher-calorie foods with healthful plant foods can help with weight control which, as a result, can help protect against some cancers.

Are the terms organic and natural the same?

Natural does not mean organic.

Naturalapplies broadly to foods free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and ingredients that do not occur naturally in the foods.

Meat and poultry must be minimally processed in a method that does not fundamentally change the raw product.

Organicrefers not only to the food itself but also to how it was produced. Organic foods are crops and livestock raised at organic farms without synthetic chemicals, hormones, antibiotic agents, genetic engineering or irradiation.

How can I minimize exposure to fertilizers and pesticides in non-organic foods?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that all fresh produce be thoroughly rinsed under running water (rather than soaking or dunking). This removes most surface residue along with dirt and any bacteria.

Discard the outer layers of leafy vegetables. Peeling fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, potatoes and carrots will help to remove the surface residue.

Eat a colorful variety of fresh produceto ensure a better mix of nutrients and reduce potential exposure to a single pesticide.

Follow Knowridge Science Report onFacebook.

News source:Michigan Health. The content is edited for length and style purposes. Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is credited to Michigan Health.

Read the original:

Do you really need to eat organic food? - Knowridge Science Report

Do you remember years ago when Snackwell's "fat-free" cookies first hit the market and everyone was like "OH MY GOD! Fat-Free cookies!" So they ate them by the boxful and were SHOCKED when they...gained weight! Thankfully, we've become a little more knowledgeable over the years and better understand that labels that read "fat-free" or "sugar-free" really mean ingredients that are a chemical shit-storm.

But, there are plenty of nutritional myths still lingering...

especially when it comes to organic foods.

I am just as excited as you thatNic's Organic Fast-Foodwill soon hit the Chicago area. While I'm thrilled to have an organic, non-GMO drive-thru option, a daily diet of bacon double cheeseburgers and fries isn't exactly waist-friendly...

even if it's antibiotic-free, grass-fed beef.

Organic junk food is still junk food. Choosing organic foods doesn't increase the product's nutrients, but it will decrease your exposure to dangerous/questionable ingredients, stabilizers, glyphosate, and genetic modifications. While synthetic sugars have been linked to weight gain, even organic sugar sweets aren't always doing your body any favors either.

That said, a healthier diet doesn't mean giving up all junk food favorites...moderation is key, right?

By choosing foods that are organic, non-GMO, or contain no synthetic colors, flavors, or sugars...you're making a safer choice...but not automatically the healthiest choice...

but sometimes a damn tasty one!

You need protein supplements. Can we chill out on the protein, please? Pick up any magazine or step into any gym... protein is the buzz. And it is important. Protein is essential for muscle repair, growth, and virtually all body functions.

But...

how much protein does your body really need?

For most of the population, the daily protein recommendation is .8-1.2 g/kg. What does that mean?

150 lbs/2.2 = @ 68 kg. 68 kg x .8 = 54.4 g protein or 68 kg x 1.2 = 81.6 g.

So, on average, a person who weighs 150 lbs. would need approximately 54-82 g. of protein per day.

A 3 oz chicken breast has approximately 28 g. of protein. Add an egg or some black beans and maybe some shrimp to your day...you're already close to 54 g.

But the supplements are so convenient though...

and expensive....and unregulated.

In many cases, you'd pay the same amount per serving for organic chicken breasts as you do for the protein powder mixes...but you'd receive more Vitamin B-6, iron, magnesium, and potassium with real food...not to mention other nutrients from side dishes (because strawberry flavoring doesn't count as a serving of fruit).

Do supplements have their place? Of course. They're convenient when traveling, during extended storm emergencies, specific medical conditions, and for some athletes-

sorry- wish it did, but an hour at the gym doesn't meet athlete status.

But, supplements may- or may not- contain the ingredients listed on the label. And, they may also contain ingredients NOT listed on the label. Supplements are a 30 billion dollar unregulated industry...choose wisely.

Water is the best choice for hydration. Ok, this one was a tough learn for me. Not that I only drink water, but I mostly assumed that it was the better choice for me and my kids when playing outside or sports. Which is sort of true...

until it isn't.

Just like a bout of vomiting, diarrhea...or a bad hangover can necessitate more than water for hydration, a vigorous workout or exercise lasting over an hour creates greater hydration and replenishing needs too.Of course profuse sweating, humidity, and altitude all play a role in re-hydration needs as well.

Physiologically, after an hour of exercise, the body needs carbohydrates: glucose and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride).

Replacing lost nutrients with artificial colors and copious amounts of sugar, however, is counterproductive to the benefits of the activity.

While oranges can be a great option, they aren't always feasible depending on the workout. Unsweetened sports beverages are also good, but not always palatable during exercise...and re-hydration and restoring energy levels is more important than trying to avoid a little natural sugar.

In general, look for sports drinks, coconut water, or cactus water that contain about 5-8% carbohydrates per serving to help replenish carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Odds are good that your grandparents didn't choose foods based on convenience or label their meals "clean eating." They ate REAL FOOD...made by real people.

But that was then.

Today life is more complicated...busier...more chaotic.

Are we prioritizing our schedules over our health, though? Convenience certainly has its place....there's that moderation idea again...but it won't provide the greatest source of nutrients for best health.

How can you meet nutrient requirements? For the most part...eat REAL food. Choose snacks that provide a nutritional boost, and consume a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables.

*Ready to learn more simple ways to live a healthier lifestyle? Excited to hear about cool small shops & see if my weekly Pinterest task was a success or fail?

Add your email to the "Subscribe By Email" box on the right and you'll be notified every time there's a new post!

More changes are coming to the Favor the Earth/Conveniently Green Facebookpage; "Like" my page so you don't miss any news.

Link:

Organic food will make you thin: and other nutrition myths ... - ChicagoNow (blog)