TabsMagic

The occurrence of dementia is continuing to rise and so scientists are looking for a way to prevent and treat it. One of the most natural ways of preventing dementia is blueberries according to results from a new study. This Most recent study confirms what was discovered in a study conducted in 2008, that easting Blueberries improves memory and world list recall.

The study involved 9 elderly people whose average age was 76, all recruited by study leader Dr Krikorian. They were administered a daily dose of wild Blueberry juice, the amount depending on their body weight. The average was about half a litre per day. The control group were a demographically matched and were given a placebo to drink.

Researcher Donal O’Mathuna said about the value of Blueberries that, “Because blueberries are high in antioxidants, which have beneficial health effects, they are being examined in many research projects,” adding that Blueberries are a nutritious and safe food… adding blueberries to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is warranted.”
Dr Jeremy Spencer, who conducted the study at the University of Reading in 2008 into the effect of Blueberries, discovered that anthocyanins existing in blueberries were responsible for triggering the section of the brain that is concerned with learning and memory.

He said, “Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time. Our research provides scientific evidence to show that blueberries are good for you and supports the idea that a diet-based approach could potentially be used to increase memory capacity. We will be taking these findings to the next level by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.”

The study entitled ‘Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults‘was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The best thing about blueberries is that generally even avid fruit haters like them- you can bake them in muffins, mix in ice cream and milkshakes to get the fussiest of eaters to enjoy them. An all round super fruit!!

In a move that shocked dieters across the world, Weight Watchers teamed up with McDonalds. The slimmers group, Weight Watchers that is dedicated to helping people lose weight, has a very strong presence in the West. The foundation of its system is to get Weight Watcher members to observe a calorie intake limit amounting to between 18 to 40 points according to their scale.

The agreement is currently restricted to Australia. The McDonalds meals that Weight Watchers has certified amount to 6.5 points and that include a salad and diet soft drink. The deal between the two multinational companies means that McDonald’s will use the Weight Watchers logo on its tray mats and menu boards and tray mats and for their part Weight Watchers will endorse McDonald’s to its weighty loss membership that totals in the millions.

Anti obesity campaign groups are infuriated with the move.

They say it will encourage people to eat more of the fast food instead of more nutritious foods or lead them to eat the more fatty varieties on McDonald’s menu. From the Australian Obesity Policy Coalition, senior advisor, Jane Martin said “It’s all about sales really,” and that “It implies this food is healthy … when often it is high in fat and salt.” Director of business for Weight Watchers in Australia and New Zealand, Chris Stirk, encouragingly said that it is “part of our philosophy that you can enjoy life … while still achieving your weight-loss goals”.

One dieter, Rachel May had this to say: “I can’t imagine that the meals endorsed by Weight Watchers will be very filling but people who miss McDonald’s will give the company a lot of business”, she said.

Motivation is a key issue in the world of a personal trainer….

I think that the most important part of my job is to find what motivates my client to rech their goals- and to work on exploiting that as much as possible so to maximise their gains.

Many people are motivated by a particular date, be it a wedding to lose weight and get in shape for, or a sporting competition to train for…….

Many people are motivated by a certain ‘life awareness’ event that has made them realise that they need to optimise their experience on earth and being fit and healthy will help them do this,……..

Many people gain extra motivation just  out of paying me!! So many clients say to me ‘well, i have paid you to help me do this now so i sure as hell am going to do it!!’

I think that the fact that personal training  is an option above the run of the mill getting fit is what makes it work, i have never yet had a client that i have not got to their goal…..

Its col

Artichokes or more precisely artichoke leaf extract has been found to be great at keeping cholesterol levels down. The artichoke leaf extract is made from the leaves found at the stem of the artichoke plant itself. The majority of people only eat the heart of these vegetables and leave the leaves aside, yet research reveals that they are the best part of it.
 
ALE has been utlised by herbalists as a means to enable the liver to cleanse itself by keeping the bile circulating efficiently. However as a powerful antioxidant, ALE can also be used as a way to detox the body by rejuvenating the diet.
 
Other health areas that ALE has been known to be very beneficial are with gastrointestinal disorders, digestive problems, abdominal pain, indigestion, gas, nausea, acid reflux disease and vomiting. Additionally, ALE keeps the gallbladder in top working order.
 
 
Dr. Rafe Bundy, one of the doctors involved in the study said that reducing cholesterol levels can, “Reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Our research investigated whether ALE could be beneficial to otherwise healthy people who had raised levels of cholesterol but were not yet at a stage where they needed standard medical intervention.”

Anyone got any good recipes?

Yes I know that it is horribly early………

But lets face it, you need to be organising presents!!

I have just been looking for craft fayres and organising my Tabsmagic Christmas Gift packages, The massage is hugely discounted for those buying in the form of a gift package, and you have the option of a personal training session, nutrition analysis or postural analysis to go with it. I am doing pamper packages too for those less included to want a sports massage!!

So start thinking now and you can save yourself a lot of cash and a lot of stress come Christmas eve when you are running around trying to get a present before the shops close!!

Join the forum discussion on this post - (3) Posts

Good Morning?

So my first mistake was to brave taking the puppy (Werm) out when there was a break in the rain- we got soaked – sodden wet through.

We arrive at the back door resembling a pair of drowned rats to find I have managed to lock myself out!!

Soaking, shaking, freezing and a whining puppy at my feet looking at me wondering what she had done to warrant such blatant cruelty…

So donning my best bedraggled and sodden charm I convince some builders working on a local house to let me borrow a large step ladder….

Too embarressed to accept their offers of help, I haul it home- and set to clambering up to the second floor window that I know is unlocked. There was the moment of  no return when the ladder fell away as I danged in the hard place between the last rung and the window sill – but I survived and am now inside, with a hot cup of earl gray, a dog in blankets (still shivering) and feeling much happier.

My point- other than why do these thing only happen to me?!

Had I not been as fit as I am – I ould still be out there shivering…

I would have lacked the strength to carry a heavy ladder, the agility to climb it, the upper body and core strength needed to haul myself up, and the flexibility to maneuver myself through the window and gracefully down the other side without breaking either my neck nor the pot plant….

What tasks have you achieved recently that have been made possible by your fitness level- or indeed what ones would have been a whole lot easier had you been fitter?

Join the forum discussion on this post - (5) Posts

So, not all of us are exercise fanatics….

But a necessary evil that it is, what is it that drives you to get up and do it, obviously for many of my personal training clients I am that push- but the reason that people seek the aid of a personal trainer varies greatly…..

Reasons range from general fitness and weight loss to impending wedding, a bikini holiday, a special dress to get into, a looming marathon, wanting to keep up with the grandchildren,  doctors orders…………..

What is it that gets you off the sofa?

I have many clients who admit that they have put up with pain for a long time, mainly because they were uncomfortable with asking for help.

This happens in all the fields in which I specialise, people who know that they have a dietary issue but carry on regardless, letting the effects worsen and letting their physical and mental health suffer as a result. People suffering back, shoulder, neck or any other muscular pain who are continuing in their daily lives without seeking pain elimination. Not only do they suffer physically for this, but mentally too. Pain can be very tiring and draining and can make sufferers irritable, short tempered and hard to be around. Others who can see themselves getting progressively out of shape but lack the motivation to change their lifestyle, again the obvious physical affects, but also the mental depression and resulting lack of energy effects the social life.

Its usually as simple to solve as asking for help………..so ask!

I attended a Birth and Beyond evening run by LifeDesignslast Thursday as an exhibitor. It was not until I really got to talking to the expecting ladies that I really realised how unsure many of them were feeling about the effect that the pregnancy would have on them both physically and mentally. It also dawned on me just how much I can help in both aspects.

Physically, massage reduces chance of stretch marks, makes the muscles more flexible and able to stretch in labour, thus aiding the recovery process and limiting the muscle damage done. personal training helps limit the loss of muscle tone during the pregnancy and keep the overall health and fitness of the individual to again aid recovery afterwards. Nutritional advice works to optimise the diet during pregnancy to ensure the baby is being provided with the best possible chance of a healthy start, and lessen the problem of gaining ‘baby fat’ for the mother.

Mentally, massage relaxes the body and mind, exercise releases happy hormones and good nutrition helps you stay above stress. All three keep you bodies energy levels high and lower the chance of post natal depression.

Pregnancy must be pretty terrifying for the first time mother, so it must be good to know that there is help put there!!