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5 Benefits of Following a Mediterranean Diet

What exactly is the Mediterranean diet? When thinking of what Mediterranean people eat things that come to mind are gyros, pasta, pizza and hummus. But the Mediterranean diet is actually Salerno On Amalfi Coast South Of Naples, Italyquite the opposite. This diet is rich in oils, fresh caught fish and vibrant vegetables. Mediterranean’s eat mostly fruits and vegetables, seafood fresh from the sea, nuts and healthy fats. Not the typical food you get when you order “Mediterranean” take out.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen first hand the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. I traveled to Greece last summer and was in awe of the way that people look. Their slender figures, shiny hair and glowing skin is eye catching. Clearly, this way of eating and living is healthy for your outside as well as your inside. Today we’re sharing 5 benefits of following a Mediterranean Diet.

It’s heart healthy
Olive oil is the key here. Studies have shown that eating foods cooked in high quality olive oil can significantly lower ones blood pressure. Also foods rich in omega-3’s have been found to increase inflammation which prevents arteries from clogging and helps to reduce the risk of strokes.

Lowers your risk of cancer
The Mediterranean diet avoids processed foods and refined sugar. Majority of the food they eat is locally sourced and void of all of the junk that’s found in our food here in America. This plays a major factor in reducing your cancer risk. But these diets are also rich in fruits and vegetables, which means they’re rich in fiber. We all know that diets high in fiber can cut your risk of certain cancers, particularly colon cancer.

Shampoo commercial shine
Do you want locks that shine like those in hair commercials? Eat your healthy fats! Again, this goes back to all of that olive oil. It helps to hydrate your hair from within. Giving it lasting shine!

Clear, glowing skin
Again, olive oil! This stuff is so powerful! It has the same effect on your skin as it does on your hair. Many Mediterranean women even use olive oil on their face as a moisturizer! But another, even more important benefit for your skin, is protection from ultraviolet rays. The sun is always blazing on the island of Ibiza. And even though these people have olive toned skin it doesn’t mean they’re exempt from burning from the suns rays. But the foods they eat helps to protect them from burns, as well as Melanoma. Omega 3’s found in fish build up the skins elasticity. Also leafy greens are rich in antioxidants that slow cell growth, thus making it difficult for cancer to thrive.

Little around the middle
A Mediterranean diet helps to keep your waistline tight. Once again this goes back to diets high in healthy fats, lean proteins and vegetables.  When you eat foods that are nutrient dense it won’t leave you hungry, you will be satisfied up until your next meal. Also, diets low in sugar prevent blood glucose levels from dipping causing insulin spikes.

Living longer, feeling good and looking amazing? I don’t know about you, but I’m in! Clearly, there are many benefits to following a Mediterranean diet.

 

To learn more about women’s health check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin Founder Lori-Ann Rickard.

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Jimmy Kimmel’s Healthcare Scare: What You Should Know

As you may know, on May 1, 2017, Jimmy Kimmel spoke about the birth of his baby boy, Billy.

If you haven’t seen the clip, click here to watch.

Unfortunately, several hours after the birth of his baby, Jimmy and his wife Molly learned that Billy had a heart defect and needed surgery to save his life.

Jimmy thanked Cedars-Sinai Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for providing Billy with amazing care. Because of the attentive staff and great care, his newborn son is home and doing well.

Jimmy’s message was extremely important and shows how far we have come in healthcare, and how far we have to go.

Friends, family, and readers have asked me some questions about what Jimmy had to say. Here’s my take:

Jimmy spoke about “pre-existing conditions.”

Question: What are pre-existing conditions and how do they affect healthcare coverage?

Answer: Pre-existing conditions are health problems that occur prior to the date new health coverage starts.

Jimmy is correct that prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), pre-existing conditions, such as birth defects, could prevent someone like baby Billy from getting coverage. They also enabled insurance companies to charge individuals more. The ACA now prevents health insurance companies from refusing coverage or charging more for pre-existing conditions.

Question: What is the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”)?

Answer: NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the nation’s medical research agency. Jimmy is correct that, despite initial plans to cut the budget for NIH, Congress increased its funding by $2 billion.

As a mother of two and a parent of a daughter born with a serious disease, I was touched by Jimmy’s message. It’s important to stay in the know about healthcare and healthcare policies, in case you or a loved one is impacted.

Congratulations to Jimmy Kimmel and his family on their baby boy!

To learn more about health care for your family, check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin founder Lori-Ann Rickard.

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How to Celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week at Home

Exercise Activity Family Outdoors Vitality HealthyEvery Kid Healthy Week is something adopted by the school systems to promote health and wellness in the educational setting. Most schools organize a field day and devote the whole week to fun outdoor activities, nutritious meals and keeping the kids moving! But why not continue the fun at home? It’s important that kids are brought up following a healthy lifestyle. Today, we’re sharing fun family activities you can do to get everyone up and off the couch!

Register for a 5k together
Sign up for a local 5k and get the whole family in on it. You can even start training for it to get the kids motivated. It will be something for them to look forward to and training will help them to track their physical progress.

Go to the grocery store
Have the kid’s help you pick out healthy meals. Here’s something to try: everyone pick out a new vegetable you’ve never had before. Take them home and try a different one each night of the week. When the week is over everyone votes on which is the best. The competition factor will be fun for the kids, plus it will help you to learn which veggies they like.

Go for a walk
Every night after dinner, head out for a walk with the whole family, including Fido. Walking is a great way to de-stress and to reverse all of the sitting the kids did at school. Plus, it turns a chore like walking the dog into a fun family activity.

Plan healthy recipes
Have the kids help you pick out healthy recipes for the week, and include them in the meal prep. They may be more willing to try something that they know they’ve helped to make.

Make a recipe book
Let the kids pick out their favorite healthy recipes and put it into a book. This will be perfect for when you need some healthy dinner inspirations!

Watch documentaries
If your child is old enough, show them documentaries, such as “Supersize Me” or “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.” It will show them firsthand the dangers of eating fast and prepackaged foods. It may even make them want to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Establish the one bite rule
This is a great rule to have with kids. They must try one bite of everything on their plate. If they like it, they can continue to eat it; if they don’t that’s okay, too. Some parents force children to eat foods they don’t like, which can be a tough approach. This will cause an aversion to foods, and the last thing you want is kids to refuse to eat vegetables. So, make sure they try it, but don’t force them to finish it if they don’t like it.

Set the vegetables out first
Are the kids starving once they’re home from school before dinner? Set the vegetables out first. If they’re that hungry they will eat those to hold them over for dinner. Win-win.

Have fun celebrating! And continue the traditions all year long!

 

To learn more about women’s health check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin Founder Lori-Ann Rickard.