Well, it’s something new for our blog. The team decided that everyone should at least get a chance to be honored with a special award.

So, here we are, starting this week, choosing a blogger with a great healthy effort in his or her life to be awarded “HEALTHY BLOGGER THIS WEEK!“

Health is not always something you take for granted. You do something, sometimes such a huge effort that you thought you wouldn’t have been able to do, so that you become healthy inside out.

This man, Ben Sutherland, is chosen. Why? What did he do to deserve such an award?

He let go something very valuable in his life for a more peaceful life. Yet, he knew what he was doing and he was certain that that would be the best decision he could make.

Only healthy people can make a decision to improve their life. Healthy, physically and mentally.

And, Ben Sutherland is the one.

Congratulations, Ben. Hope this healthy decision of yours can lead you to a more peaceful life.

Summer means vacation! I believe there are many of you who travel across a number of time zones now. I also believe that you are experiencing jet-lag afterwards.What makes you have such condition, anyway?

It happens to you because your body clock goes out of sync with the destination time, and so it experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms it has grown accustomed to. The body’s natural pattern therefore becomes upset as the rhythms which dictate when you should eat and sleep no longer correspond to the environment of your destination. [wikipedia]

Just a warning, it can end you up in sleeping disorder.
So, what should you do to reduce it? As mentioned in www.bbc.co.uk, these are the things you need to do:

• change your watch as soon as you get on the flight: the quicker you adapt to the time zone the lower level of jet lag is likely to be
• when you arrive in the new time zone, spend some time outside during daylight hours as natural light can help align your body clock
• try to adjust your bedtime and mealtimes to the local timetable as soon as possible
• schedule commitments at times when you are likely to have maximum energy: in the evenings after flying east, or in the mornings after flying west
• the impact of alcohol on the body can be two to three times more potent when you’re flying, so one glass of wine during the flight has the effect of two to three glasses on the ground. Avoid feeling even worse with a hangover by reducing alcohol intake before and during your flight
• get as much exercise as you can: walking up and down the aisle, rotating your ankles and doing gentle stretching exercises in your seat can help to reduce discomfort and allow you to have a more relaxed flight
• during extended stopovers on a long-haul flight, try to grab a shower: it can wake up your circulation and get things moving

I decided to write this post after reading Jeffrey Friedl’s blog, a blog of Calypso Island Chronicles, and outsidestory.com. I hope I can help them out.

By the way, it seems that Calypso has found the cure, too! And, this lovely lady, Elizabeth Albrycht is finally recovered from the jet-lag.

Now it’s time for you to try.

Scrivener, a lovely father, is learning to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with the guitar for his daughter who promises to sing along with him later.

Not only joy Scrivener will bring to his daughter but also health, because singing:

• protects the upper respiratory system from getting infected
• stimulates the production of antibodies
• is similar to meditation and walking in terms of its positive effects on health
• improves breathing
• increases supply of oxygen
• stimulates circulation
• gets your bodies energized
• keeps the voice young, which can be a benefit to women when they enter menopause, a time when a woman’s voice loses some of its smoothness

The details above are based on a study conducted by the University of Frankfurt.

So, why don’t you sing along with me now?

Traditionally, yoga was taught one-on-one. If you have tried yoga by yourself and you like it, why don’t you take your own private yoga lessons so that you can get the most out of it?

With a private lesson you can:

• selectively choose and develop the yoga postures and breathing exercises that meet your specific needs
• get specific therapeutic benefits for injury, illness, stress and emotional difficulties
• decide the timing in between your tight schedule

Emily is starting next week. Good for you, Emily!

Can’t it be less than three hours?

Well, the best thing is after three hours. Why?

Because tea can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb a whole range of minerals. If you drink it three hours after meal, your mineral absorption won’t be hindered.

Gretchen just hurt her knee and now it’s swollen.

What should she do? What should you do with such condition?

• Take a rest. Don’t do too many activities using your knee.
• No exercise for it might make it worse
• Get some ice, put them in a pack, apply to your knee.
• Avoid hot bath or shower, don’t consume alcohol.
• After 2 days, if your knee’s not swelling anymore, apply heat and do light exercises
• Yet, avoid high-impact exercise until you’re definite that you don’t feel pain anymore.
• If it doesn’t improve after two or three days, better check with your doctor.

Get well, soon!

Exercise Essential for the Health of Your Arteries

“Arterial diseases are responsible for heart attacks and strokes, the first and third leading causes of death in American men. The culprit is atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol-laden plaques build up in the arteries.”

To Your Enduring Health: Do Chores, Live Longer

“A new study of healthy older people found that the more active a person is, the longer he or she is likely to live. That alone is not terribly surprising. What’s new is that it apparently doesn’t matter what form the activity takes.”

Take charge of your health through Choose to Move

“Statistics show that walking is the most popular form of cardiovascular activity as it can be done by almost anyone. The American Heart Association’s signature event across the nation is the Heart Walk, a national walking event held in communities across the country.”

Healthy Lifestyle Cuts Women’s Stroke Risk

“A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and a healthy diet can help cut a woman’s stroke risk, a new U.S. study confirms.”

You can try these recipes using garlic to:

• lower cholesterol
• avoid heart attack
• avoid cancer

They are:

• No Wheat No Eggs No Dairy No Nuts Mashed Potatoe
• Mint & Cannellini Bean Dip
• Spaghetti and Broccoli
• Stars and Striped Tuna with Avocado-Corn Salsa
• Pasta with Kale and Sausage

Yet don’t eat too much garlic since it might cause irritation of or even damage to the digestive tract.

Just like Candee, she was enjoying wonderful time at the beach. Yet, she didn’t froget to keep doing what it took to be healthy.

Yesterday she managed to walk 9,643 steps/4.41 miles! Good for you, Candee!
She could it, so could you!