Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
After water, green tea is the most consumed beverage in the world; and there’s good reason for it! The tea plant is rich in valuable antioxidants that tout numerous health benefits from immunity to oral health to weight management. And the evidence is very impressive. …
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, a natural substance that is released by plants to protect them from fungus and other microbes, from extreme temperatures, and from excessive dampness or drought. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes, red wine, and peanuts. As a supplement, …
When the temperature drops, you need something hot to warm you up. What’s better than snuggling up with a blanket and a good movie? A pumpkin spice hot chocolate – with a healthy kick!
Pumpkin spice is the quintessential fall ingredient; from Starbucks™ to Dunkin Donuts™, you can pretty much find pumpkin spice anywhere. But pumpkins are more than just great decorations or pie fillings. Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and minerals and low in calories. Studies have shown that the potassium contained within pumpkin have positive effects on blood pressure and its antioxidants help to protect your eyes.
Chocolate is one of nature’s most powerful super foods. But the benefits of chocolate are generally reversed when milk, cholesterol from milk solids, and/or an enormous amount of refined sugar are added. Cocoa is naturally bitter in flavor so chocolate bars require a lot of sweetening. When cocoa is cooked, it becomes even more bitter. It its natural form, it contains a wide variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidant flavonoids that offer great health benefits. InVite’s® Cocoa Hx® is an uncooked super food within a vegetable fruit supplement.
Cocoa Hx® contains all the nutritional components that occur naturally in pure dark chocolate, without the saturated fat, sugar and calories found in chocolate bars. It also includes powdered kiwi fruit and freeze-dried black raspberry fruit, to support respiratory health, and protect your genes and DNA while throughout the aging process. Freeze-dried black raspberry helps protect the entire digestive tract, including the mouth, stomach and colon.*
Chocolate in its natural form (without additives) includes essential minerals and has polyphenols similar to those found in wine that offer excellent antioxidant protection that have been shown to increase circulation to the brain and heart, improving healthy blood flow. Together, these agents help improve various areas of health such as circulation, energy and mood. Flavonols are the substances in cocoa that have been shown to be responsible for boosting heart health and keeping blood pressure in the normal range.*
Cocoa may increase blood flow to the brain, according to new research published in the Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment journal. Researchers suggest that long-term improvements in brain blood flow could impact cognitive behavior, offering future potential research into a healthy aging brain, increased memory and lowering risk for debilitating events. In a scientific study of healthy, older adults ages 59 to 83, Harvard medical scientists found that participants who regularly drank a cocoa flavonol-rich beverage had an 8% increase in brain blood flow after one week and 10 percent increase after two weeks. In this first-of-its-kind study, the researchers found both short and long-term benefits of cocoa flavonols for brain blood flow, offering future potential for one in seven older Americans. Scientists speculate that maintaining an increased blood flow to the brain could slow this cognitive decline.*
So instead of buying another pumpkin spice latte or hot chocolate, head to the nearest InVite® retail location to pick up Cocoa Hx®. It tastes great in your hot chocolate and adds a healthy-boost!
The benefits of meditation are becoming increasingly well-known in the field of alternative healthcare. This natural relaxation method is known to ease depression and anxiety, alleviate sleep problems, and boost overall mood. According to a report in Frontiers in Psychology, people who meditated on a …
If you’re like many others, you need coffee to start your day. Of course, a healthier alternative is a cup of green tea or a glass of water to kick-start your body. But, if you’re not giving up that coffee (and we aren’t either!), here’s …
Just because the leaves are changing color and the temperature is dropping, doesn’t mean your motivation should follow suit! If the colder weather and lack of motivation is keeping you from your fitness goals, these 10 fall-inspired fitness tips may help.
Many of us are visual individuals. It might be easier for you to see yourself reaching your goals if you have visuals to turn to and remind yourself of why you started and what your short/long term goals are. Is there a body type you are reaching for? Print out a photo and add it to your motivation board. Is there a specific food you want to remind yourself to incorporate into your diet? Pin it! Is there a quote that reminds you why you started down your fitness journey in the first place? You guessed it – pin it!
The Best “Whey” to Recover from Exercise & Build Muscle is with Whey Protein!
Whether you’re working out at home, the gym, or outside, you should plan your daily workouts in order to keep a schedule and to keep yourself motivated. Daily workouts could be a gym session, a jog around the park, or even tennis lessons. As long as you’re moving, it counts! One hour of cardio each day will probably get boring by the time Wednesday hits. Instead, speak to a trainer at your local gym or research workouts online to start planning ahead. For example, if Monday you are focusing on cardio, make Tuesday an arm day and Wednesday an outdoor biking day.
If that pile of leaves on your lawn has been sitting there for days but you don’t have time to tidy up before you hit the gym, why not merge the task? According to Harvard Health, a 155-pould person can burn 149 calories by raking leaves for 30 minutes. If you have kids, head outside for some fun in the leaves and get them involved in the clean up too! They won’t even realize that you’re using it as a fitness activity, either.
How to Improve Your Energy and Endurance
If working out alone is killing your motivation, grab a friend who has the same goals as you in terms of workout consistency. You don’t want to bring a friend to the gym or head outside for a run with a friend who isn’t motivated; this can bring you down and allow you to give in to your lazy cheat days much easier! Someone with the same or a bit more aggressive goals as you will continue to push you as they push themselves to reach their fitness goals. Just remember that everyone works at their own pace and you should not be discouraged if you need to take a quick break on your run while they look like they aren’t breaking a sweat!
The saying, “Moderation is key” is popular for a reason – it’s the truth! It’s okay to give in to those sugar cravings every once in a while (you don’t have to beat yourself up about it!) but be sure you are keeping your goals in mind. You may want to try the 80-20 rule when it comes to moderation – aim to eat healthy 80% of the time and allow yourself to be more lenient for the other 20%.
Unlike heading out for a quick summer run, a thin pair of shorts and a tank top doesn’t cut it in 50-60 degree fall weather. But there’s an easy fix! You can either layer up with a comfy sweater and leggings or get yourself wind-shielding jackets that help keep the chill away. Wear proper attire like hats and gloves if needed, that won’t add too much weight and bulkiness but still allow for the warmth you need. But even with all that prepared, many people still forget about footwear.
Winter is coming! Can L-Carnitine Keep You Warm?
You may think that your fitness goals revolve around eating the right foods and exercising, but your quality of sleep plays a major role, especially if you are trying to lose weight. According to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, not enough sleep – less than seven hours per night – can reduce and even undo the benefits of dieting. For the study, dieters were put on different sleep schedules. When their bodies received adequate rest, half of the weight they lost was from fat. When they cut back on sleep, the amount of fat loss was cut in half – even though they were on the same diet. The participants reported being significantly hungrier, less satisfied after meals and lacked the energy to exercise. Overall, those on a sleep deprived diet experiences a 55% reduction in fat loss, compared to their well-rested counterparts.
Not only does fall bring colder weather, but it also brings shorter days. Prepare your outdoor workouts by wearing the correct fitness gear in order to stay warm. You may also want to exercise earlier in the day, rather than waiting until dark. With the time change and sun setting earlier, more it’s common to feel more tired than usual. Working out earlier may help guarantee that your workout will get done and allows you to be able to relax in the evening.
Common fall activities include apple and pumpkin picking and maybe even pie baking. Use fall produce like apples, figs, pears, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, beets and squash into your diet in order to mix things up!
“Beet” Your Fatigue & Supercharge Your Muscles with Beetroot!
The cold weather may have you craving hot chocolate and pumpkin spice lattes, but don’t forget that hydration is key to fitness no matter the season! Green and black teas contain powerful antioxidants that may help keep you healthy throughout the cold and flu season. It can also help to warm your body up on those cold, windy days. Water is essential for healthy metabolism and detoxification. Don’t forget to drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated!