The Fitness Maven

It’s a fact that the temperature of your food matters. Of course you can get great nutrition from whole grains and vegetables, and sparing meat and dairy products, regardless of temperature. But there are additional benefits to consuming hot foods and, especially, drinks.

The human preference for hot food is universal. Hot foods smell better to us, and taste better too. This is our bodies’ way of letting us know we should prefer them. In addition to their nutritional value, they cleanse the body of impurities and relax our organs and muscles. We all know that pleasure of a nice hot drink, the way it soothes and calms the body.

So be sure to have a hot drink every day, and you’ll feel the difference!

Are you experiencing knee pain when you jog? Before you look at surgery or rehab, check your athletic footwear.

When we run, our knees absorb a substantial amount of the shock from the impact of every step. There is a very big difference between running on a soft surface like dirt or grass (for which we have evolved for millions of years) and running on concrete or pavement, which our bodies are not designed to tolerate.

In order to keep our knees working properly, we need to cushion our stride with good athletic shoes. They don’t need to be fancy or expensive, they just neeed a good shock-absorbing rubber sole. Just like your car’s tires, you want to replace your sneakers every year or so, especially if you run a lot. This ensures that you aren’t running on a cushion that has been compressed and lost its shock absorbent properties.

Your core - the muscles around your stomach, back and chest, is essential to good posture, good looks, and overall good health. It is worked when you move your body in sports and daily activities.

By sitting on an exercise ball, you can wiggle your middle in a way that works all the different core muscle groups in a pleasant, fun motion. It is possible to do this while working or reading, so you can fit it into your busy schedule.

A healthy core means a healthy life, so get on that exercise ball and wiggle it, if only a little bit!