Character Health & Fitness: Craig (9-1-1)

I think it's important to be as healthy as we can but I don't think anyone should feel pressure to do extreme things such as working out to the point they injure themselves trying to attain a certain look or weight. I feel like there is this pressure in our society to get "in shape" instead of being healthy. Which at times have some overexerting themselves in order to get "in shape".

Which brings me to my Character Health & Fitness post, in the 9-1-1 fifth season fifth episode Peer Pressure there was this guy Craig who was constantly seeing the commercials and ads for the workout mirror Narcissus. It's supposed to help you become the "more perfect you" and become "a Greek God". So of course he eventually bought one.

(Craig     9-1-1 season 5 episode 5: Peer Pressure)

Wellness Wednesday: Eight Reasons to Exercise

Happy Wellness Wednesday!

I know on days when I feel tired the last thing I feel like doing is exercising. But that's exactly what I will do. Depending on how I feel, I will either do a light workout like going for a walk and stretching afterwards or do a little cardio and strength training or stretching exercises only.

What I like about exercising is that there is no one way to exercise, it's however you want it to be. Whether dancing, walking, surfing, skating, swimming, etc., whatever you're doing can be adapted to your skill level or mobility. There are a lot of good health benefits for exercising and below is a short list of reason for exercising.

A list of eight reasons to exercise:

- Can relieve stress and anxiety
- Keeps you healthy
- Can improve your sleep
- Can have a positive effect on your mental health
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Makes your body stronger
- It can help you reflect and center your thoughts
- Releases feel good endorphins

There are more reasons but these are the ones I thought of right now but the main thing is that exercising or movement is good for you. And it doesn't have to be anything too difficult or complex. And there is no one or perfect way to exercise, the only perfect exercise is whatever works for you.

Wellness Wednesday: Eat Berries for a Healthy Heart

Happy Wednesday!

According to research, cardiovascular disease which includes stroke, hypertension and heart attacks is one of the leading cause of death. Which means keeping our hearts healthy is very important. And one thing that may help is by eating more berries which are rich in antioxidants.

According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, it reports that eating at least three servings of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc. per week may result in fewer heart attacks. So when you're looking for a snack, choose berries for that heart health benefit.

Wellness Wednesday: Drink Water

One of the best things we can do to stay healthy is to drink water. But most of us don't drink enough. However, drinking water increases blood flow, improves our body's absorption of nutrients and helps rid toxins. And added bonus is that it keeps our skin looking good as well. Studies recommend we drink at least eight cups of water per day. And besides drinking water, another way to increase our intake is to eat food that contains water such as: apples, grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, lettuce and celery to name a few.

Being healthy doesn't have to be something overly complicated just a simple act of drinking water can help benefit our bodies and keep us hydrated. And a tip to encourage the reluctant to drink more is to use a colorful glass, mug or reusable water bottle. Maybe seeing your favorite color will help you associate it with drinking more water.

For Heart Health, Eat (or Drink) Beets!

Happy Wednesday or should I say Wellness Wednesday!

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and is responsible for one in three deaths each year according to the American Heart Association. For comparison, one in 26 women die of breast cancer. For some good news, according to a Kansas State University study, red roots such as beets could help keep our hearts healthy. So, researchers have found that eating two to three medium size beets or drinking 16 oz. of beet juice may increase blood flow to our muscles. Which according to their research can lower high blood pressure and improve mobility in someone with heart failure. And according to research, even if you don't have any heart issues, adding beets to your diet may help prevent future issues.

This is good news but since I don't like eating beets, maybe I'll try drinking the juice instead. So before you play your favorite games, read your book or watch shows or movies, make a snack of sliced beets (or you can find different recipes to try) or pour yourself a glass of beet juice. And enjoy all the heart healthy benefits while enjoying your favorite form of fandom.