In some of my previous Christmas articles I have provided advice on how you can maximise your Christmas fitness. However, Christmas is not just about keeping fit. It is also a time where you can relax, recharge after a long hard year and spend some quality time with family and friends. Films are a great way to do this and the good news is there are plenty of great sports and fitness films out there. So grab a beer, get yourself comfortable and take a look at my top 10 fitness films that you can watch this Christmas: 1) BLOODSPORT Storyline: There’s a secret underground fighting tournament … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Astaxanthin Explained
WHAT IS ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that is mainly found in red fish such as crab, shrimp and salmon. In this article I will be providing a full breakdown of astaxanthin and its potential health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin was discovered by the British chemist Basil Weedon in 1970 along with a selection of other carotenoids. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ASTAXANTHIN? Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant which can keep your … [Read more...]
5 Impressive Health Benefits Of Cycling
Hello everyone. Today’s guest post comes from Jade Evans. ----- It may not seem like it for those who have not exercised in a long time, but cycling is one of the easier ways to exercise . As the Huffington Post notes: "A recent Harvard university study found that biking -- even for as little as five minute each day -- can stave off weight gain for middle aged women, according to Health.com. The researchers followed more than 19,000 women and found that those who started a five-minute-a-day bike ride routine gained 1.5 fewer pounds than their non-cycling peers over a 16-year period. … [Read more...]
Alcohol & Fitness – Can The 2 Go Hand In Hand?
Over the last couple of years I have wrote quite a few alcohol themed articles during the festive period. After looking back at a few of these articles I realised that they could be quite misleading to new readers. After all this is a fitness site but in these articles I appear to be promoting the consumption of alcohol. Today I want to set the record straight and give you my take on alcohol and whether I believe you can still drink alcohol and live a healthy lifestyle. ALCOHOL IS NOT HEALTHY I want to begin by saying alcohol is not healthy. It has been suggested that alcohol can protect … [Read more...]
Echinacea And Its Many Benefits
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Holland & Barrett. ----- Echinacea is a well-know health food remedy that has been used by many people across the world for years. It offers an assortment of immune advancing properties, which in turn allows it to fight infections effectively. It is sourced from the Midwestern United States and is not only popular for its beneficial health qualities but also for its looks. As well as housing an assortment of herbal ingredients, it also has a beautiful purple hue! This is why it is often seen in many gardens. It works by … [Read more...]
Zeaxanthin Explained
WHAT IS ZEAXANTHIN? Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid and phytonutrient (health boosting, plant based chemical compounds which are not classed as essential nutrients) that can be found in green leafy vegetables. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at zeaxanthin and its potential health benefits in the human body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ZEAXANTHIN? Apart from being found in plant based foods, zeaxanthin can be found in the macula lutea (an oval shaped, highly pigmented yellow spot close to the centre of the retina of the human eye). The macula lutea was first described in 1782 but … [Read more...]
Exercises for Seniors: What to Try?
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Karien Jones who writes for DIY Health. ----- Exercises can contribute to health and well being when done on a regular basis. When it comes to the elderly, exercise can bring several benefits like reducing the risk of falls, improvement in the cardiovascular health, functional independence, psychological enhancement and much more. Exercise can contribute significantly in driving your metabolism, boosting immunity, and being energetic. It is important to have a slow pace, considering the ageing body and reduced stamina. Start slowly … [Read more...]
16 Potential Carotenes Health Benefits
The carotenes are a group of phytonutrients (non-essential, plant based nutrients that have a number of health benefits in humans). There are 3 main carotenes which are: - Beta Carotene. - Lycopene. - Phytofluene. The carotenes are mainly found in orange and red fruits and vegetables. Carrots, grapefruits, oranges and tomatoes are some of the best sources. Although these plant based nutrients are not believed to be essential in humans, studies have shown that they have a number of promising health benefits. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at these and providing you with 16 … [Read more...]
Alcohol Explained
WHAT IS ALCOHOL? Alcohol (also known as ethanol) is a compound that gets produced when glucose is fermented by yeast. It is not an essential nutrient but it does contain calories and so can be used by your body for energy. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at alcohol and the impact it has on your body. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ALCOHOL? Alcohol is believed to have been around since the stone ages with beer jugs from as early as 10,000 B.C. being discovered. It was identified as a separate compound by the Iranian alchemist Muhammad bin Zakaria Razi (also known as “Razes”) … [Read more...]
3 Easy Ways to Escape the “Fall” of Fall Comfort Food
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Jocelyn who writes for Heater Home. ----- While summer actually tends to make our dieting plans easier by naturally drawing us to things like fresh fruit, vegetables and big hearty salads, fall tends to have the exact opposite effect. Grilled chicken suddenly loses all appeal in the face of a hearty warm platter full of chicken fettucini alfredo. Instead of salad we crave a cream based vegetable soup and instead of fresh fruit we want a slice of warm apple pie with ice cream. Cooler weather and shorter days somehow manages to … [Read more...]