"Things That Kill You From A-Z"

I came across this video on Facebook today and I couldn't help but share. Enjoy!

Degree of Health Indicators on Face

I recently read an article called "What Your Face Says About Your Health." This article was very interesting because it addresses health signs that appear on the face that I feel are often overlooked by our society. The most interesting one I  read was that bad breath can be an indicator of liver disease and digestive disorders. Take a look at the article and comment which one of the signs is most interesting to you!

Local Gyms

Here in Topeka there is a plethora of fitness gyms. Many of these gyms are open later in the evening, allowing those who work late to still be able to make it to the gym for their workouts. My favorite is of course the SRWC here at Washburn. The SRWC offers a large area filled with workout equipment, an indoor track, a rock wall or rock climbing, a studio room, and a basketball gym. But other than the SRWC, Topeka has gyms such as Genesis Health Club, Anytime Fitness, and Iron Outcasts Gym. Here is a map to locate these gyms and all of the others located in Topeka.

Blender Bottles

So, let me tell you about my obsession with Blender Bottles. I have 7 different Blender Bottles as of right now, and I have my  eye on 3 others. If you don't know what a Blender Bottle is, it is a plastic bottle that is popular in the fitness world. Blender Bottles come with a wire ball inside that acts like a whisk. We use them to blend protein skies, pre workout and post workout drinks, and more. You simply pour in your powder, add the recommended amount of liquid and shake. Make sure the lid is snapped completely shut before you start shaking or you will have a big mess to clean up!

Blender bottles are relatively cheap, ranging from $5-$12, and can be purchased from nutrition stores such as GNC and also places like Walmart. There are two different sizes and some also come with a detachable container to store extra powder and pills in. I don't go anywhere without one of my blender bottles, even if I'm just drinking water from it. It also comes in handy to mix drink mixes into your water as well!

All 5 photos taken by Lauren Pierce

 

 

Fiber

Fiber is a very interesting nutrient in the average diet. Fiber has many different health benefits including aid in weight loss, weight management, regulation of or lowering blood sugar levels, and heart health.

The typical daily diet is supposed to include 20-30 grams of fiber, but, the average American doesn't consume even half of that. This could be one of the many reasons that the obesity percentage is so high in the United States.

A diet high in fiber is rather beneficial. There are two different types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.
Insoluble fiber helps to move waste through your digestive tract more quickly whereas soluble fiber helps to slow digestion and make you feel fuller longer. Many foods such as fruits and vegetables contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Making sure you get enough fiber on a daily basis will help increase your daily health and may make you feel ten times better than you already do! Click here to read 9 benefits of consuming fiber.



Foods containing high amounts of insoluble fiber (All pictures found on Google Images)

onion

Tomato

Grapes

Foods containing high amounts of soluble fiber (All pictures found on Google Images)

Geocaching

If you are a person who hates to go to the gym and lift weights or do cardio, then you should try outdoor activities. Outdoor activities such as intramural sports, hiking, biking, etc, are a fantastic way to get exercise while having fun. One of my personal favorites is geocaching. For those of you who do not know what geocaching is, I will run you through the basics.

Geocaching is pretty much a scavenger hunt for people of all ages. You start by downloading the Geocaching app off of Google Play or the App Store. This application will teach you everything you need to know to get started.

While on this scavenger hunt you are searching for a cache. A cache can be thought of as a "treasure chest." Caches are placed all around the world by fellow geocachers. They are placed in random areas  as a way to attract people to the area and expose others to things such as beautiful views, new restaurants, local shops, and landmarks. Caches range from micro-sized (think as big as a penny) to large-sized (think a shoe box.)

Inside the cache is a variety of things; no cache is the same. Geocachers may leave behind fun trinkets and items called "trackables" for the new cachers to find. Also inside is a paper to log your visit. Just make sure to always BYOP (Bring Your Own Pen.)

Muggles are any person who doesn't know about or doesn't engage in geocaching. Yes, just like the muggles in Harry Potter. I bet you feel awesome now being able to use that term in this world.

Now, when geocaching you want to be stealthy. You don't want the muggles to see you looking for or writing in a cache. Most importantly, you don't want them to see you putting it back in it's hiding spot. They may get curious and pick it up or move it to a different location, ruining it for future cachers.

I absolutely love geocaching. I have found caches in many different states while on vacation. My family and I usually get together about once a month and spend an entire day looking for caches. If you have never geocached, I highly recommend checking it out. This is a very fun way to get exercise without even realizing it.

Click here to visit the official geocaching website to learn more and get started!

Happy Caching! (:

H2O!

I cannot express enough how important water is in a healthy lifestyle. Actually, I can't express how important it is in daily living, period. Our bodies need an adequate amount of water daily to function properly. In all reality, without water we would die.

Click here to learn 7 reasons that we should drink water.

Photo taken by Lauren Pierce