We all need to have health insurance, and for anyone who is are self employed, or are unable to obtain insurance from your employer, you will have to check into purchasing individual health insurance. Insurance on your own is normally much more expensive than when you get it from a business, so it pays to shop around and obtain the best coverage for you. Even though they are known as individual policies, they often can cover your spouse and kids as well. However, at the time you apply for a policy, there isn’t a guarantee that says you will end up accepted for an individual policy. If you have got certain health conditions, because the policy is medically underwritten, your insurer could deny your application, or add exclusions to your policy. There are several states that make this practice illegal, and this means that health insurers will have to provide you with a policy, whatever medicals problems there are. Easy To Insure ME has the answers
People who are older or who are in bad health, will have to pay higher premiums than those who are younger and in excellent health.
Knowing how health insurance is priced is among the most confusing elements of buying individual health insurance, so evaluating various companies and their rates might make a big difference in the amount you have to pay for health insurance.
In case you are trying to find individual health insurance, don’t let all of the confusion allow you to shy away from getting a policy. Even for people who are in great health, one accident could land you in economic peril without health insurance. Some questions to think about when buying individual health insurance are:
Do I wish to keep my existing doctor? If there is a doctor that you really like, this might determine whether an HMO or PPO plan is good for you. If you have an HMO, then you must use their doctors, but a PPO plan will allow you to use the physician that you pick.
Just how much will it cost me out of pocket, and just how much will my premiums be every month? Is it intelligent for me to pay more for lower out of pocket expenditures? For a comprehensive health plan that doesn’t have many out of pocket costs, an HMO might be what you are searching for. However, if you’re in your 20′s or 30′s, don’t have children, and have more money saved up, you can save money by only getting insurance for catastrophic illnesses. This will mean that you’ll have to pay out of pocket for virtually any tests or doctor visits.
How much health care will my family members need? Consider any services that may be needed by all your family members on a regular basis. If somebody has asthma in the family, will they need to go to an asthma specialist to regulate their illness?
When you can take some time to assess and consider the health insurance you and your family need, it can make purchasing individual health insurance much less difficult, and offer the health coverage you and your family need for a price that you’ll be able to live with at the same time.
The Importance of Stretching
Among the methods applied in sport training, one that has been used more and more lately is stretching. The word, English in origin, is used as such in many other languages and it comes from the verb to stretch (meaning, in this sense, ‘to make your arms, legs and body as straight as possible so that your muscles become long and tight’). More exactly, we talk about stretching the muscles, the joints, the tendons, the ligaments, etc.
Even before the term itself and the specific methods gained individuality, stretching was used a lot, especially in sports or activities which require a very good mobility of the joints and special muscle suppleness (gymnastics, martial arts, ballet, etc.). The positions specific to hatha yoga were a source of inspiration for the different movements practiced in stretching, but these positions underwent many transformations, adaptations and simplifications.
The most important effect of stretching is suppleness of muscles and joints, which enables increased effectiveness during the training. There are different opinions about the exact time when stretching should be introduced in the training program.
Thus, there are authors who support the idea that stretching is indicated for both warming up and relaxation, and even for the main part of the training. On the other hand, there is the opinion that stretching must be done only in the relaxation faze, because the movements that are specific to it induce a state of relaxation that you do not want at the beginning of the training. This state comes as a result of maintaining the passive faze of the positions.
Anyway, everybody agrees that stretching needs to be anticipated by general warming up, this way the practitioner will avoid tightening of the muscles.
General warming up takes about 5 minutes and it contains aerobic exercises. Stretching muscles that have not been warmed up might be dangerous for the integrity of the muscle fibers, which could rupture easily.
Both weight and resistance training should include stretching; the effectiveness will only increase once this type of movement is done during training.
Another reason for higher effectiveness is the fact that a bigger number of motive units are involved in the movement and they are mobilized faster once the volitional order is transmitted, through the motive impulse, to the muscles. Given the fact that the range of the movements is larger, the sportsman can cover bigger distances, larger scopes, saving, at the same time, energy, which is important especially in very demanding sports (athletics, canoeing, etc.).
You can have a whole training only with stretching exercises. However, this is not advisable: the muscles will quickly get used to only relax, without contracting, which can produce a certain misbalance.
Another possible negative effect of exaggerated stretching movements (over the physiological limit of a joint) is laxity of the joints or even accidents like sprains, dislocations, tightening of ligaments or tendons, etc.). The main joints (knee, shoulder, elbow, etc.) are protected not only by their own mobility, but also by the elasticity of the muscles which surround them (periarticular).
In conclusion, stretching must be accompanied by other forms of training so that the sportsman will have a complete and secure fitness program.
The Five Taboo Things to Women’s Health
Possessing a health body is the capital of human; it is particular that women’s health should not be neglected, because female’ body in general are weak than men’s. This is a question women should pay attention to. In order to keep a healthy body, women should get an acquaintance about the basic healthy knowledge. There are 8 taboo things listed below:
Avoid drinking thick tea. Most professional women have the habit of drinking tea, for tea can remove fatigue, refreshing mind, enhancing working efficiency. Although tea has so many merits, it can also do harm to our body. Too many theophyline can stimulate gastric acid secretion, which is a main factor can cause gastric ulcer. Therefore, when drink tea, you should add small amount of milk and sugar in it.
Avoid smoking. Currently, many women deem smoking as a stylish thing. In fact, smoking does lots of harm to women. The statistics shows that the rate of heart disease smoking women gets are 10 times higher than those women who are not smoking, and young women who are smoking can inhabit the circulation of blood, accelerate the aging.
Avoid drink too much alcohol. Come along with smoking, some women see drinking as a stylish behavior that modern women should have. Actually, drinking too much alcohol will damage the nervous system. It is such a dangerous behavior, we should avoid.
Avoid losing weight blindly. Everyone love to be beautiful especially women. So we can see so many advertisements fill with every media. Some women have tired thousands of methods to lose weight. Those women, who want to lose weight, are on diet desperately. The only results they get are a weak body.
Avoid of working overload. With the increasing competition of work, the pace of some profession women’s work becomes more and more heavy. Therefore, those women would always keep nervous about their career. Their mental and physical states will become very weak, because of the excessive pressure. If they don’t pay attention to this, their central nervous system will keep in a nervous state; this will result in variety of physical and psychological disease. Therefore, profession women should ease their body and soul; arrange their work and life appropriately.
Treating Women’s Health Problems
Women’s health is a growing concern. Whether you are a younger woman coping with menstrual problems or a woman experiencing issues related to menopause, there may be some convenient solution to help solve some of your problems. Shaklee has the best solutions for both problems in GLA Complex, Menopause Balance Complex and Menopause Balance Complex Cooling Lotion.
The two remaining points that we will look at in this article are Nei Guan (pericardium 6) and He Gu (large intestine 4). These two points gain importance as one gets older. Where the other two points are found in the legs, these two points are found in the arms.
Pericardium
While San Yin Jiao and Zu San Li are considered to be the two most important points for women’s health in TCM, we must not forget the others. Nei Guan is used to prevent BREAST CANCER. If you have this in your family history use this point now and use it often along with Zu San Li.
Nei Guan gains in importance as we start getting older. It is of great use for the heart/lung trachea system and prevention or treatment of coronary disease and if you are or were a smoker this has just become VERY important to you. Increase your time and frequency activating this point. It is another way of how you can use the 423 Meridian Qi Gong system to suit your particular situation. It is also very good for those women who suffer from arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat and palpitations. It regulates and normalizes the heartbeat and does so quite quickly. It is also good for a speedy recovery from a strenuous workout or hard run where you have an elevated heart rate.
Large Intestine
Now we have come to He Gu – large intestine 4. This is another point that we start paying more attention to, as we get older. Having made it past all the other health obstacles we now find ourselves happily and healthily on the far side of 50. If you have illness such as STROKE or PARKINSON’S’ disease in your family history you will need to step up your activation of this point. He Gu has a direct positive effect on the health of your brain and its potential problems. So to drastically lower the risk of a brain hemorrhage or STROKE give this point some extra attention. If you were or are a smoker you will definitely need this meridian point on your list of extra must do’s.
Menstrual Issues
Menstrual issues may be solved by using Shaklee’s GLA Complex, which is designed to promote menstrual health with a combination of Borage oil, Sunflower seed oil and Vitamin E to reduce inflammation and provide for healthy hormonal balance.
Menopausal Issues
Menopausal symptoms may be reduced with Shaklee Menopause Balance Complex supplement containing Black Cohosh, Flaxseed, Soy and a proprietary Blend of Dong Quai, Red Clover and Licorice extract all designed to replace waning hormone levels with natural phytosterols which may reduce some of the more troubling symptoms of menopause. Menopause Balance Complex Cooling Lotion may be applied to the skin to naturally protect against temperature fluctuations which contribute to night sweats, hot flashes and difficulty sleeping. The cooling lotion contains a blend of Black Cohosh, Evening Primrose, Flaxseed and Soy in a moisturizing base of highly absorbable Jojoba oil.
Find powerful Female Libido Enhancer to boost your lovemaking performance.
The importance of a strong immune system to aid in the prevention and treatment of health problems of all kinds regardless of age cannot be ignored. If you have deficiencies in your immune system you can use 423 Meridian Qi Gong to treat them, or you can use 423 Meridian Qi Gong to improve your immune system in order to avoid these problems. Your immune system is a major part of your body’s defense system. UTILIZE IT, MAKE IT WORK FOR YOUR BENEFIT.
Make sure you catch the second half of this report on treating WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES so that you can learn where the other 2 pressure points fit in to the 423 Meridian Qi Gong system. It is safe to use this system even if you are on medication or receiving other treatment. The greater the challenge the greater the increase. If you are using the system primarily as a preventive measure, Congratulations! Prevention is better than cure! All you need to do is to follow the times and frequency as they are demonstrated in the DVD. Assess your own health risks – they ARE personal and unique to you. Only you know what they are, and it’s up to you to adjust your 423 Meridian Qi Gong routine to suit.
Live healthy-healthy snack for adults
Healthy snacking for the adults should become part of our lives. Knowing how busy we seem to be, we can’t lack some few minutes to have a snack the problem with us is that we are too busy for everything, too busy to drink water, too busy to go for some exercise, too busy for everything which concerns your body health.
Having idea on how you can make some sacks will never do you any harm if you discover how important you need to keep your body healthy. These ideas are not for just any other snack which has more fat then the snack itself-thus, talking about having ideas on having a healthy sack that will help you in case of hunger strike. You don’t have to necessary make it an option for the hunger strike. In fact, you should incorporate it as part of your diet. Healthy snacks for adults are completely different from those of children, even if your children find themselves taking. The reason is because of the energy content of these snacks. Most of them have a high level of energy and thus it would be advisable if you make them too strictly for the adults and if the kids are to eat than on rare cases.
The good thing with you preparing healthy snacks for adults rather than buying is because those which are meant for commercial purposes at times may contain certain elements that are not good for consumption. Remember that even if they are calling them healthy snacks for adults, they are still in business, you know what I mean, the primary objective it to make profit-right? Thus, of you can make the snacks yourself, you will get the time to incorporate the important ingredients when you are making it. Thus, chances of having fat elements on your snacks are already less.
There are those who may be unlucky to get time to prepare one but then lets look at the alternatives to having the healthy snacks for adults. What are the ingredients in the first place since of you get the ingredients; you will get to know if you can go by the ingredients if you don’t have time to prepare the snacks. These snacks are usually made from small fruits like grapes, blue bellies, cherries and the like. There are others who use the oranges which are in fact the perfect ones. What am I driving to? You can make it simple. One thing that is concluded here are that the snacks combines most of the fruits. Now, of you don’t have enough time to prepare the snacks for adults, you can opt for the ingredients, fruits in specific.
Ensure that you go buy an exact amount of intake if the different fruit components each day. The same way you take the fruits, then the same way the other person which is taking a snack only that he may be few meters way due to some additional ingredients. With this, you are sure to save tome and energy of preparing the snack. However, am not recommending you to opt the fruits of you have been taking healthy snacks for adults, am just creating a way for those who are too ‘busy’ to prepare one. But of you get a chance to prepare your own snack, you are sure you arte few miles off the diet suit.
Compare Health Insurance To Find The Best Florida Individual Health Insurance
Many people today think that getting Florida individual health insurance to cover their insurance needs if they do not get this from their employer is out of the question due to cost. There are a great many people who feel that health insurance is too costly for them to afford and go without it. This can not only be detrimental to the health of any individual, but can also end up costing someone their life savings or their home if they wind up in the hospital and face a mountain of medical bills. For this reason, it is important to have health insurance as well as compare health insurance coverage.
When you compare health insurance coverage, you can see the difference in the coverage that different companies will offer you as well as the rate for the coverage. When you are looking for Florida individual health insurance, it pays to make sure that you compare health insurance by way of coverage that is allowed and the amount of the monthly premiums for the coverage. The more comparisons you do when you are looking for Florida individual health insurance, the more you will see that having health insurance is affordable and usually a lot more affordable than you think.
You want to compare health insurance coverage by way of what they will allow you. Some companies have a network of doctors from which you can choose when you are getting Florida individual health insurance. Other companies allow you to choose your own doctor. The type of coverage that you pick depends upon your own personal preference. There is also a difference between co payments for some companies as well as deductibles. The higher the deductibles, the lower the health insurance quotes, so this is something that an individual might want to take a look at if they are looking for a way to save on monthly premiums. It is much more affordable to have high deductibles when it comes to health insurance than low deductibles as you are basically getting Florida individual health insurance in this way to make sure that you are covered for a hospitalization.
It is important for everyone who lives in the State of Florida to have Florida individual health insurance as this can help them not only prevent massive medical bills in case they have to go to the hospital but will also induce them to seek out medical care if they should need it. Many medical problems can be avoided by seeing the doctor before they become a problem that requires surgery or hospitalization. The more someone sees the doctor for regular checkups, the more they can enjoy good health. Those who are looking for Florida individual health insurance should make sure they compare health insurance that not only allows them to be covered in case of a major illness or accident, but also allows them to a see a doctor for preventative medical care. Both aspects of health insurance should be reviewed by anyone who is seeking to compare health insurance quotes.
Women’s Health::Can Omega3 Fish Oil Boost Women’s Health?
Omega3 fish oil fatty acid supplements may boost women’s health. Fish oil has been shown to be beneficial for many health conditions. PMS, menopausal symptoms, hormonal imbalances, cervical cancer and breast cancer may benefit.
A number of authorities have recently recommended increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids by the general population. Because of this, we are now seeing more products (eggs, yogurt, milk, margarine, etc) that are fortified with omega3s. The question is, how much omega3s are actually in these products and what is the omega6 to omega3 ratio. The individual’s goal should be to increase omega3 consumption while reducing omega6. Since most of the fortified foods contain both, they are not likely to be beneficial. When it comes to men’s and women’s health, regular dietary intake of fatty fish like salmon is probably a good idea, as long as it comes from the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is heavily polluted. Fish from the Atlantic contain high levels of mercury and PCBs. Fish Oil – Best Source of Omega3/DHA The better fish oil supplements are molecularly distilled to remove mercury and other contaminants. Eating a little fish sometimes is okay. But, the best way to insure that you get enough omega-3 fatty acids every day is to take a molecularly distilled supplement. DHA is Very Important Some manufacturers suggest that flax seed oil is better than fish oil. But flax seed contains only ALA. The omega-3 fatty acids that are most important to our health are DHA and EPA. The body can convert ALA to DHA or EPA. But, researchers have shown that ALA supplements do not increase circulating levels of DHA. It is DHA that is most beneficial to women’s health issues, such as PMS and the depression that may accompany menopause. Low levels of DHA are known to accompany depression and have been found in women suffering from moderate to severe PMS. Fish oil is the best and most reliable source of DHA, but you will need to read the label to be sure. Many products contain more EPA than DHA; it should be just the opposite. Fish Oil Benefits Health Conditions
Omega-3 fatty acids have natural anti-inflammatory activity that helps relieve cramping. It’s good for the joints and the heart, painful joints often accompany menopause. Heart disease is more common in postmenopausal women.
Breast cancer is one of the women’s health issues that are most worrisome, particularly in women with a family history of the disease. Fish oil may reduce the risk of breast and cervical cancer. Several studies report that women with these types of cancer have low circulating levels of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, we now know that chronic inflammation plays a significant role in cancer cell production and tumor growth. Researchers have been recommending increased intake of natural anti-inflammatories for several years, but not everyone in the mainstream medical community has paid attention to that advice. Most people don’t want to give up their regular diets in order to reduce their risk of chronic and life threatening diseases. But, taking a good dietary supplement is something that practically anyone is willing to do. In summary: Consume more DHA than EPA. Take in more omega3 than omega6. Omega6 comes from cooking oils. Cut down on frying food. Fish oil is the best source of Omega3/DHA. So, take a good fish oil supplement. It’s good for women’s health and for men’s. For the best fish oil source that I have found in my research please visit my website listed below. Thanks, Margaret Bell
Learn about this new way to recuperate in short time from surgery interventions
Learn about this new way to recuperate in short time from surgery interventions
Experiencing a knee surgery or any kind of surgery involves many care procedures prior to and after the surgical intervention takes place . Indeed, the post surgery care is the most important issue for the eventual success of the surgery and your recovery.
The surgery intervention is just half of the entire recuperative process, and the other half must be accomplished by the patient at home which lacks of the facilities and services that a hospital or a clinic can bring. However, health providers regularly recommend their patients to maintain the legs comfortable, thus, promoting a quicker recovery which can be done by correcting a healthy sleeping position , using medicines, practicing sports and using a special leg or knee wedge pillow. An Effective Way to recover after surgery quickly The most important ways to keep you comfortable and with no pain while convalescing after surgery are elevation, normal circulation , breathiness and consistent support. Restorative sleep lets you to get better successfully in short time . In fact, when your body gets healthy quantities of oxygen, the convalescence time will be smaller and more restorative as you will notice the quality of new tissues and skin your body will make.
If you have suffered a cosmetic leg plastic surgery, spider vein removal, a knee replacement surgery, the Leg Wedge Pillow is what you need . This memory foam pillow will be your comfy bed company through the convalescence days when your body asks to be coddled the most. Thanks to the Leg Wedge Pillow, you will not need to lose sleep about your legs because this contour leg pillow protects them in the correct way so you can get accustomed to your new situation.
Wouldn’t you like to spread your legs freely in bed or to maintain them tenderly closed in a side sleeping position. Well, the Leg Wedge Pillow lets you do both things with only an unfolding move: it’s a dual function leg spacer and leg support pillow. Either way, your legs will feel pampered thanks to the orthopedic support of this memory foam pillow. As a result, you will rest freely and regain you health sooner with the support brought by the orthopedic dual purpose Leg Wedge Pillow. Get recovered with the correct help, all you have to do is to try this excellent memory foam wedge pillow.
Health Insurance Reforms Easy To Insure Me Health Insurance Quotes
President Obama’s Health Insurance Bill
President Obama Releases New Health Care Proposal in Time for Health Summit: On Monday February 22, 2010, White House officials unveiled a new health insurance reform overhaul that builds on the Senate version passed last Christmas Eve, with some changes aimed at pleasing House Democrats who had concerns with the Senate bill. The President’s proposal does not include the public option, despite the hopes of Senate Democrats, due to White House concerns that the provision will hinder passage in the Senate. President Obama ignored requests by Republicans to scratch the Democratic plan and start over. As such, Republican leaders questioned Democratic motives and labeled the bill as a massive government takeover of America’s health care system.
Republicans Insist House Democrats Don’t Have the Votes to Pass Legislation: Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) announced on Wednesday that Democrats don’t have the necessary votes to pass the President’s proposal in the House because of three new House vacancies and lagging support among some moderate Democrats. At issue for some Democrats are weaker abortion provisions in the President’s proposal as well as the ongoing controversy over passing a bill by a simple majority, a process known as reconciliation.
Health Care Summit Preview
On Thursday, the President’s Health Care Summit began at 10:00 a.m. with opening comments from the President, followed by remarks from both Republicans and Democrats. The discussion centered on four themes: controlling health care costs, overhauling the insurance market, reducing the deficit and expanding insurance coverage. Prior to Thursday, several top Republicans and some Democrats stated that expectations were extremely low for the Summit’s success.
House Republicans arrived armed with their own version of a health care bill that encourages small businesses to join together to buy insurance, gives federal money to states to run high-risk pools for those unable to obtain private insurance and limits damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. The Republican plan would cost $61 billion and cover three million people over ten years. In contrast, President Obama contends his plan would cost $950 billion and cover 30 million people over the same time period. However, officials at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicated they would not be able to officially score the President’s proposal with just a summary – that legislative language is needed.
Note: A full summary of the results from the Health Care Summit will be included in next week’s newsletter
Additional Activities
WellPoint Executives Defend Premium Increases: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to examine the proposed health insurance premium increases by Anthem Blue Cross in California. Anthem, a WellPoint subsidiary, recently informed subscribers in California that premiums for individual insurance policies would be raised an average of 25 percent, with some rates going up as much as 39 percent. Angela Braly, president of WellPoint , said the premium increases were justified by soaring medical costs, and that pending legislation could make the problem worse, driving up costs further for young, healthy people.
“Raising our premiums was not something we wanted to do,” Ms. Braly said . “But we believe this was the most prudent choice, given the rising cost of care and the problems caused by many younger and healthier policyholders dropping or reducing their coverage during tough economic times. By law, premiums must be reasonable in relationship to benefits provided, which means they need to reflect the known and anticipated costs they will cover.”
In Sacramento , Leslie Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California, also testified before lawmakers, joined by vice president and general manager James Oatman. The focus of that hearing was also the proposed premium increase for California members in the individual market, with company executives pointing to the current economic climate and rising health care costs as reasons for the rate hikes.
U.S. House of Representatives Repeals Antitrust Exemption from Health Insurance Companies: On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted 406-19 in favor of repealing a 65-year-old antitrust exemption from health insurance companies. Democrats said the repeal would lead to increased scrutiny of the industry. Yet, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said last year that repealing the exemption would not significantly reduce premiums because states already investigate health insurance companies.
In addition, industry executives pointed out that legislation could further hinder competition and the ability to share information to improve health care quality. “Health insurance is one of the most regulated industries in America at both the federal and the state levels,” said Karen Ignani, president and chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). “The real focus should be on addressing the rising cost of medical care, which is putting an unsustainable burden on families, employers and the federal budget,” she said.
Public Opinion
Polling Suggest Health Care Reform is Still Key to Economic Recovery: Recent polling on health care reform shows mixed reaction among the public over the proposed legislation. According to a recent CNN poll, 48 percent of those questioned said lawmakers should work on an entirely new bill and 25 percent felt that Congress should stop work on health care reform altogether.
According to the monthly poll from the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 75 percent of Americans still think it’s important that Obama include health care reform in addressing the nation’s economic crisis, while many still harbor doubts about the legislation.
When asked how health care legislation relates to their economic situation:
* Nearly 31 percent said they thought the Democratic bills would make their personal financial situation worse, compared with 10 percent who said it would improve their family budgets.
* Forty-two percent said the nation’s fiscal condition would suffer because of the legislation, compared with 26 percent who said it would get better.
* Americans were divided on whether the Democrats’ approach would improve overall access to health care around the country, with 35 percent saying it would and nearly that many disagreeing.
Health Insurance Coverage Varies Widely Based on Age: Coming just before the President’s Summit on Health Care Reform, a newly released Gallup Poll reinforces the wide degree of variability in health insurance coverage across U.S. population segments, especially when it comes to age. Eighty-four percent of 18-year-olds have health insurance, most likely because they are still covered under their parents’ policies. By age 22, health insurance coverage reaches its lowest point, with just 66 percent maintaining coverage. From age 22 on, the percentage of Americans with health insurance begins to climb, albeit slowly, reaching the 95 percent level at age 65 when Medicare becomes an option.
Looking Ahead
Legislators need to determine next steps for health care legislation coming out of the President’s Health Care Reform Summit. On Wednesday, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius invited executives from the top five insurance companies to meet at HHS to discuss their companies’ insurance premiums.
At Last… 8 Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time
Winter is upon us, which means that everyone is bundled up in sweatshirts and pajamas sitting in front of the television waiting for the snow outside to melt in 3 months. Getting into that bikini swim suit (and looking good in it) is probably not on the top of your priority list right now. That is OK. You have a little time to get in shape.
The problem with this way of thinking though, is that most people add fuel to the fire by eating junk food. Living a sedentary life, even if it is only for a few months, is bad enough. If you want to relax this winter, go for it! But at least eat properly. Here are 10 tasty and healthy snacks that are great for television downtime.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #1: Popcorn
You are better off skipping it at the movie theater, but at home you can prepare it in a healthy way. A bucket of oil-popped movie theater popcorn can contain as much fat as three to five double cheeseburgers. But air-popped popcorn is a relatively healthy treat. Three cups of popcorn have just 93 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #2: Pistachios
Pistachios are a great heart-healthy snack full of antioxidants, fiber, and good fats. A 1/2-cup serving only has 170 calories, with 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. However, that serving also has 14 grams of fat, so do not stuff yourself on them. They key here are the shells. Since they are difficult to open, more work is involved which will make you eat slower.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #3: Red Grapes
OK, you had to have known that fruits and vegetables would be on this list. As much as people want to avoid them these days, there will never be a processed snack food that will even come close to matching the nutrition and health benefits of fruits and vegetables. At the top of the pile is red grapes. Full of anti-oxidants and vitamins, red grapes are natures answer to sweet candy.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #4: Mini-pizzas
Forget the frozen food section on this one. Anyone with a toaster can make their own healthy version of frozen pizza. All you need is a whole wheat English muffin, tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese. The more vegetables and herbs you add to it, the healthier and tastier it will be.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #5: Pita chips With Hummus
This is another snack you must make on your own if you want it healthy. All you need is a large whole wheat pita. Cut the edge of the pita into chip-size pieces. and then cook them in the oven until crispy before serving with your favorite hummus or dip recipe. In general, when you rely on pre-packaged foods to do the work for you, the price you pay for it is your health.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #6: Relish Tray
Pickled vegetables are extremely low in calories and a great alternative to snacking on high fat, high sugar processed foods. Marinating your vegetables in vinegar or heart-healthy olive oil will control the amount of salt you eat. The reason fruits and vegetables accelerate weight loss is because they are water rich, which means you get a full, satisfied feeling without the calories.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #7: Green Tea
You may not think this is technically a snack, but the health benefits of drinking just one cup of green tea a day can allow you to splurge a little more than usual and still keep your figure in tact. The reason this works is because this beverage has been known to actually stimulate and accelerate a persons metabolism. At the same time it fills you up, so you have a more satisfied, healthy feeling.
Healthy Snacks for TV Couch Time #8: Protein Bars
This is the closest thing you will get to eating a chocolate candy bar that is relatively healthy. The best reason these are great for snacking is because they are not trigger foods like crackers and potato chips, so you will not want want to eat a lot at once. Protein helps build lean muscle mass, which is essential if you plan on being sedentary until the spring.
Not that this needs to be said, but you can enjoy even more snack food if you can work some exercise into your TV watching. Sit-ups and push-ups, or even getting up and moving around during commercials, will at least keep you more active. You can even burn calories just stretching out your body. Anything is better than sitting for hours without moving. You do enough of that at night when you are asleep.
Just because you want to stay in and relax does not mean you have to eat poorly. Replace your junk food cabinet with the foods listed above and when it comes time for the snow to melt, you will find that you will not have to work so hard at looking your best in that swimsuit. The key here is making an attempt to lead a healthy lifestyle all year around.