Tuesday, February 12, 2019

9 Phenomenal Health Benefits of Shinrin-Yoku aka Forest Bathing


When you go hiking, do you sense that taking a walk through the trees is good for you? You're right! Back in 1982, the Japanese government issued public service announcements encouraging people to walk in forests to relieve stress and improve health. They called it shinrin-yoku, which translates to "forest bathing." I wish we Americans would’ve had a Public Service Announcement on forest bathing. The only PSAs I remember on health during the 1980s were “exercise your choppers” and “hanker for a hunk-of-cheese.” ;)


Studies show that both exercising in forests and just sitting and looking at trees reduces blood pressure and reduces the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Looking at pictures of trees has a similar, but less dramatic effect. Studies have compared walking in forests to walking in urban, unplanted areas, and the urban walkers showed no reduction of stress-related hormones. Forest bathing also significantly decreases scores on a standardized inventory for anxiety, depression, anger, confusion and fatigue.


Another interesting effect of shinrin-yoku is that it boosts our immune system. When we breathe in fresh air, we breathe in phytoncides, which are airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects. Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities which help plants fight disease. When people breathe in these chemicals, our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a type of white blood cell called natural killer cells. These cells kill tumor- and virus-infected cells in our bodies. In one study, people who spent three days and two nights on a forest bathing trip increased their natural killer cell activity for more than 30 days following the trip. Japanese researchers are currently exploring whether exposure to forests can help prevent certain kinds of cancer.


Yet another awesome benefit:  shinrin-yoku may help you focus better. Our lives are busier than ever, and attempting to focus on many activities can mentally drain us. Even maintaining focus on a single thing for a long period of time can deplete us mentally. This is a phenomenon called “Directed Attention Fatigue.” Spending time in nature, looking at trees, plants, water, birds and other aspects of nature gives the cognitive portion of our brain a break, which allows us to focus better and renews our ability to be patient.

Here are nine of the research-based health benefits of shinrin-yoku.

1.     Lowers blood pressure
2.     Reduces stress
3.     Boosts the immune system
4.     Increases ability to focus
5.     Enhances patience
6.     Improves mood and sense of well-being
7.     Increases energy level
8.     Improves sleep
9.     Accelerates recovery after surgery or illness

Research shows that visiting a forest has real, quantifiable health benefits. Even spending just five minutes around trees or in green spaces has the power to improve your health. Think of shinrin-yoku like a prescription with no negative side effects…and it’s free!
 

References:

Saturday, February 2, 2019

7 Safe Steps to Starting a Weight Lifting Routine with Arthritis


As an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and RN, I get lots of questions from people with arthritis about how they should approach exercise. Their doctors tell them to include weight training in their workout routine, but they’re not sure how to do it without making their arthritis worse or getting injured.

Do me a favor before you get started. Run this by your doctor to ensure it’s safe for your particular medical condition. Just because this workout plan has been generally accepted as safe and beneficial for most people with arthritis does *not* mean that it’s safe for you.

So you’ve seen your doctor, and s/he gave you the green light. Here's how to get started lifting weights at home or in the gym.

1. How often should I lift weights?
  • 2 to 3 times per week
  • 20 to 30 minutes per session
  • You’ll get visible benefits in 4-12 weeks!
  • In 6 months, most people increase strength 40% or more!
2. How much time do I need to recover between sessions?
  • If you’re training one muscle group hard, wait 48 hours to train that muscle group again (that said…some people may need more recovery time, especially if you’re new to the type of exercise you’re doing)
  • If you’re not really hammering a muscle group, rest at least 1 day between sessions (again…some people may need more recovery time)
  • Remember:  exercise is the architect, recovery is the builder
3. How much weight should I lift?
  • Start with a pair of light dumbbells (2 to 3 pounds for women and 5 to 8 pounds for men)
  • If you can’t do 12 repetitions, the weight is too heavy
  • If you don’t feel tired after 12 reps, it’s too light
  • Adjustable weights that can be strapped to wrists or ankles may be helpful if you have arthritis in your hands
  • You can also use weight machines, cable machines and resistance bands
4. How many reps and sets?
  • The American College of Rheumatology and American Council on Exercise recommend completing one set of 8 to 12 reps
  • Work the muscle to the point of fatigue by the last few reps of each set
5. How should I organize my workout?
  • Work all major muscle groups, starting with larger muscles
  • Always include exercises for opposing muscles…work the biceps and triceps of your arms…work the quadriceps and hamstrings of your thighs
6. How should I lift the weight?
  • Lift slowly and smoothly, counting 4 counts up and 4 counts down
  • Don’t lock (fully straighten) knees or elbows...this puts stress on the joints and can permanently damage joints
  • Deliberately exhale when lifting, and inhale when lowering
7. Which exercises should I avoid?
  • Avoid above-the-shoulder exercises if you have arthritis in your upper body
  • Talk to your doctor before using leg press machines if you have arthritis in your knees or hips
References:

Monday, January 14, 2019

Cinnamon Supplements Are Potentially Dangerous



Are you adding extra cinnamon to your food or taking it as a supplement? In addition to yummy-fying your oatmeal or smoothies, here's what cinnamon does for you:
  • Slows stomach emptying rate so blood sugar is more stable
  • Some studies report it lowers blood sugar, but there is not enough evidence that it is reliable and effective for controlling blood sugar in type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-clotting effect on blood platelets 
When I discovered cinnamon's health benefits, I went to the market, bought the biggest container they had, and started supplementing with liberal amounts every day. Do NOT do this. Here's why:
  • Most cinnamon found in your local supermarket is a variety called Cassia cinnamon
  • Cassia cinnamon contains a naturally occurring compound called coumarin
  • Coumarin tastes good, so until 1954 it was added to food products such as vanilla extract
  • In 1954 the FDA banned coumarin after researchers found it causes liver damage in animals
  • A 2006 meta-analysis published in the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology" concluded that while a clear link exists between coumarin and liver cancer in animals, it's safe for human use in dietary quantities BUT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC WHEN TAKEN AS A SUPPLEMENT
So what happens if you eat a spoonful of cinnamon? Will you die if you eat too much? A spoonful on occasion probably won't have adverse effects. Eating too much at one time isn’t going to kill you, but it might be unpleasant! It's the repeated use, eating too much on a frequent basis, that has the potential to harm your health. What's the solution?
  • There is another variety of cinnamon called Ceylon, which is native to Sri Lanka and also grown in Madagascar and the Seychelles
  • Ceylon cinnamon contains only a trace, about 0.004% coumarin
  • Check not only the front label, but the ingredient list on the back. Make sure it's 100% Ceylon.
  • You probably won't find Ceylon in the supermarket
  • I buy Ceylon in bulk from Amazon. When I open the sealed bag it comes in, I transfer it to glass pyrex containers and keep in my kitchen cupboard.
  • You'll find organic cinnamon in health food stores, but don't confuse this for Ceylon. For example, the following bottles are Cassia cinnamon, not Ceylon:



References:   http://www.accessdata.fda.gov
                     http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes
                     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22671971
                     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3385612