That's Fit

We all know broccoli is good for you, right? Not only does it have anti-cancer compounds, and anti-oxidant containing vitamins (vitamin-C and bets-carotene) but it's loaded with fiber. But which way is the best way of cooking broccoli and other vegetables, to preserve the most nutrients?

Believe it or not a recent study done at Cornell University said microwaving (behind steaming) is one of the best ways to cook vegetables and retain the nutrients inside. The study found that cooking vegetables on a grill, which exposes them to higher temperatures, is actually more destructive.

But be careful not to add too much water when cooking your veggies in the microwave. Researchers suggest that in order to keep the nutrients undamaged when microwaving you should only use a couple of tablespoons of water to cook raw vegetables and no extra water to cook frozen ones. That's because vegetables lose water-soluble nutrients like folic acid and vitamin-C when they are immersed in cooking liquid.

What tips do you have for steaming or microwaving your veggies?

You don't have to be huffing and puffing for hours at a time to get benefits from exercise. A recent study followed 430 women who exercised for various amounts of time each week. The women were all overweight and postmenopausal and some exercised as little as 10 minutes a day. They either joined organized fitness classes or wore pedometers to track their walking.

The women -- even those who exercised the least amount of time -- reported benefits such as being able to perform everyday tasks like climbing stairs more easily. Some of the women did lose weight during the 6 month study, but even those who didn't said that the exercise improved their quality of life.

Did you know that citrus beverages damage enamel faster than colas? That's why, if you're going to sip a beverage all day, cola is preferred over citrus drinks like lemonade. Of course, water won't damage your teeth at all, which makes it the best choice, but that's not the point of this article. Instead, Real Simple tries to guide you through every day health dilemmas and make the healthiest choice.

For instance, if you aren't sleep-deprived, waking early to work out is probably a better choice that getting an extra hour of sleep. And though experts didn't want to admit it, eating a doughnut for breakfast is likely better than eating nothing at all. Of course, if you find yourself needing to eat a doughnut every day for breakfast, it might be time to look at your lifestyle choices! But who hasn't wondered when faced with dinner after a long, impossible day whether pizza or Chinese is the better choice for takeout? Now, you'll know.

Have you had your heart checked recently? While ultrasound is becoming more popular for arterial scans (no radiation), speaking with your doctor about possibly heart disease -- and exact specifics -- may help you form a battle plan for winning.

In other words, detail and more detail. A recent study suggested that those at risk for developing coronary heart disease do better with treatment when doctors give exact information on risk and overcoming that risk. Not "eat better" or some generality, but specific suggestions related to the exact type of coronary risk you may have.

never underestimate the way patients take in information and incorporate that into their daily lifestyles, no matter how averse they may seem to detailed information. At least, that is what this study is saying to me. How about you?

Life Fit ... Mind. Body. And More.

Being Life Fit is about your total health, including the health of all of your relationships. Life Fit is a journey, not a destination. It is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Check in each Tuesday to Life Fit with Laura Lewis, author of 52 Ways To A Healthy You, as we explore our total life fitness. Then, weigh in with your own thoughts over at Laura's "Life Fit Chat" each Wednesday through Friday for further discussion on the week's topic. For more information visit Laura at www.LauraLewis.com.

Did you know: It really is okay to break the rules every now and then. As a matter of fact, if you take all the pleasure out of life, what is left to enjoy? Therefore, the solution is to become a moderate extremist!

A moderate extremist is an individual who steps outside the normal realm of average effort and takes life to the fringe of extreme without going overboard. If you desire to have optimal health and longevity, the best approach is gradual versus full-throttle. Making one healthy and positive change per week will prove to be more effective than total immersion.

During the first phase of your journey toward optimal health, you may want to work on reducing fat intake. The next week, focus on substituting "good" fats for bad "fats" in your diet. Relaxation and stretching might be your next step, and so on.

The Balancing Act: Improve your health by eating a diet that is low in trans fats yet includes "good" fats , whole grains, a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables along with moderate lean protein intake. Exercise regularly, practice stress reduction techniques and maintain a positive attitude to maximize the physical, emotional and mental impact of a proper diet. As a reminder, check out the USDA's Food Pyramid website!

The Treat Plan: Many people are eating way too many "feel good" foods. To make a significant impact on your life, you have to commit to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, this lifestyle commitment should include "treat days." There is something to be said about the benefits of enjoying life's little pleasures -- just not every day.

Watch Out For Triggers: Some people literally cannot have a high sugar snack on occasion in the beginning stages of a new program. The sugar might trigger them to go on an eating rampage. There is a biochemical connection to cravings that effect some more than others. Genetic predisposition, lack of exercise, depression, or poor nutritional status might also increase cravings. You will find that has you get your health moving in an optimal direction that your appetite will become more normal.

The Bottom Line: Make your best effort. Focus upon how great you will look and feel, not just in a few weeks, but also ten years from now. Being a moderate extremist, along with eating well, staying active and maintaining a positive attitude, might just put the fountain of youth within your grasp.

Action Tips

• Be a moderate extremist. Still experience the fun in life without being indulgent in the "feel good" realm ... of eating that is.
  
• Affirm to yourself daily, "I am a healthy eater! Being fit and healthy comes easy to me."
  
• Know that you can do this and feel it in your heart. You deserve the best. To feel the best, to look the best, and to be happy!
  

After reviewing this blogger's take on living a healthy lifestyle, many of the points made make great sense. The modern lifestyle of the western culture is the start of the formula for so much sedentary lifestyle choices and, in turn, the prevalence of obesity.

I often ask friends over dinner this question and wait for the discussion to start: "do you think that people in general are better off today -- health-wise -- than they were in the 1850s?" The answers to that question have ranged all over the map, but they seem to coincide with the suggestions from this blog entry -- much of which I agree with.

Some points to live a healthy lifestyle would include:

• Try to cook more often and more creatively.
• Walk. It's not hard. I
• Have fun how you used to.
• Be old fashioned. Don't always take the technologically assisted easy way out.

It depends on how you look at the new research. On the one hand, researchers found a very strong link that would indicate it is very difficult to outgrow baby fat. Eighty percent of kids who were overweight as toddlers were still overweight by age twelve.

Add to that the fact that the overweight kids had at least one overweight parent, which can be viewed in two ways. Nature versus nurture: are the kids overweight because they have overweight genes, or are their parents passing on unhealthy lifestyle choices?

Sounds like it would be tough to fight destiny, doesn't it? But researchers didn't take into account how active these children were or how well they ate. Those two factors right there give parents an incredible amount of control in helping their children adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Welcome to That's Fit, Weblogs Inc.'s newest blog devoted to all things that allow us to stay well and live well in today's world. To us, living fit is more than just physical fitness. It is more than "flavor of the month" diets or grueling workouts. Instead, it's an intentional mindset, a holistic way of life, a gentler choice to live in such a way that reflects the extraordinariness of our lives.

Lofty goal? Maybe, but it's certainly not impossible. Doing just one small thing each day or week to improve fitness in any area of our lives -- physically, mentally, or spiritually -- can make a huge impact.

To us, living fit encompasses the mind, body and soul.

Our team is here to cover topics that are fit for the planet, fit for our emotional well-being, fit for living a healthy lifestyle. As we bring you information to bolster our minds and bodies, we also look to nurture our relationships with each other and with the planet. The sky's the limit! If something fits within the wide spectrum of healthy living, we'll talk about it -- from exercise and diet, to alternative therapies, organic living, inner growth, natural beauty, even eco-travel.

We look to you to share your thoughts as well. After all, the subject of living in a fit manner is broad and deep, and we can all benefit from each other's insights. The beauty of blogging is that it's not a one-way street. Let's inform, inspire and energize each other as we all strive to live our best life. To be fit for this amazing life -- together.

Healthfully yours,
The That's Fit Team

P.S. -- To catch up on our health-related topics, check out our weekly Namaste review of each week's posts listed by category (found in center column of this page under "Features.")