Cheerleading Is NOT A Sport

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition of a sport is: a physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.  So why are cheerleaders still fighting for respect?

Recent developments from Quinnipiac University, located in Connecticut have brought this debate to the forefront of public opinion.  U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill ruled that cheerleading was too “underdeveloped” to be considered a college sport.  This court case came about when the university wanted to scrap their volleyball program, and institute a cheerleading squad to take its place.  The whole purpose was to fit under Title IX rules.

Even though cheerleading won’t be considered a varsity sport anytime soon, it is however one of the most dangerous sports.  High School cheerleading has accounted for 65% of all major female sports injuries over the past 25 years.  But even though those statistics seem grim, technology has improved over the past 25 years to help the injured recover faster.

No matter what side of the debate you fall on, cheerleading has produced some pretty famous celebrities and athletes.  So even if it’s not considered a true sport, it can be a launching pad for greater things.

Good Health Starts with the Seed

According to WebMD, you can make a smoothie even healthier by adding flaxseeds to the mix. You can even do this with muffins or cookies.

Apparently the antioxidant and omega-3 essential fatty acid qualities have a protective effect against health risks such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.

Did you know that the flaxseed has been known to man since around 3000 BC? Flaxseed is actually found in the ingredients of many of your favorite foods and you probably never knew it. And in the last 4 years, 75 new products were introduced onto the consumer market that listed flax or flaxseed as an ingredient.

Read the WebMD article!

Check your kitchen cabinets! What do you have with flaxseed in it?

Get the Rolling Kind

Do you have back, neck, or shoulder problems? Do you carry a laptop or heavy briefcase? Is carrying a heavy backpack to school or work causing you health problems?

This issue is a bit controversial, as there is no specific proof as to whether backpacks are a direct cause of back problems. But ever since I switched to a rolling briefcase I sure have noticed a decrease in my lower back pain.

Have you ever considered purchasing a bag with wheels? Lower back problems such as herniated disks and sciatica can be avoided by taking the weight off your shoulders and putting it on the ground where it belongs.

Here is a snapshot of mine. It has been worth the investment and really helping with my back pain.

What kind of briefcase are you using?

Snacking Helps You to Eat Less at Mealtime

“You’re much better off having two snacks between the hours of two and seven, then having a light dinner,” says Sara Ryba, a registered dietitian in Scarsdale, New York. “If you wait until you’re so ravenous that you would eat the kitchen table, you’ll wind up eating way more calories when you do finally sit down for supper.”

Experts suggest choosing a snack that has roughly 100 to 200 calories (a meal should start at about 300). Make sure it fills you up (to stop you from decimating the bread basket when dinnertime arrives) with a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. “Together they stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you feeling satisfied,” Ryba says. “If a snack is high in refined carbs or sugar, your blood sugar will jump, then crash, leaving you feeling tired and even more hungry.”

Another way to ensure that a snack tides you over: Make it feel like a small meal, with multiple components. Experts suggest that if a dieter is given a 100-calorie snack that mimics a meal, such as shrimp cocktail or soup and a bran cracker, versus an apple, she is more likely to feel much more satisfied and less hungry. One good choice that covers all these bases is low-fat cottage cheese and berries. The cheese contains fat and protein, and the berries have carbohydrates. Or you could opt for a single food that contains all three elements, such as low-fat yogurt. (It’s best to buy your yogurt plain and sweeten it yourself, using a little honey, some fruit, fruit preserves, or a dab of apple butter.)

Are you still eating 3 meals a day and not snacking?

Google Map Your Bike Ride

Dear cycling enthusiasts everywhere! It is with great excitement that I share with you Google Maps Bike Routes.

Much thanks goes to the efforts of googlemapsbikethere.org, who collected over 51,000 signatures asking Google to add biking directions to its maps.

This massive outpouring from cycling lovers prompted Google to take note, and now offers biking routes in 150 American cities in Google Maps.

The new service for cyclists selects a route and calculates estimated cycling times once a user provides the start and end points. Its routing algorithm attempts to select routes that avoid freeways and busy roads, and takes into account bike paths, lanes and bike-friendly streets.

Google Maps will also offer a “view” geared for cyclists that will display bike-friendly routes. A mobile version of the site is likely to follow soon.

Happy Cycling!

Where will you plan to go on your next bike ride adventure?

A Healthy Choice for Breakfast

Do you or your kids like oatmeal? If you don’t, it might be time to consider the health benefits.

Did you know?
Although oatmeal isn’t particularly low on the glycemic index, it outranks almost every other breakfast cereal and most whole-grain breakfast products. Oatmeal is also regarded as a super food when it comes to supporting digestive health.

For those reasons, many medical practitioners and nutritionists not only allow their diabetic patients to eat oatmeal but actually encourage it, especially since oatmeal helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and get the benefits of both oats and dairy by serving hot oatmeal. It is better to avoid flavored oatmeal because flavored oatmeal is full of sugars that suppress the health benefits of oatmeal.

What do you eat for breakfast?

The Fitbit

For the exercise guru in you, there is now a way to keep track of the calories you burn. As I get older, I have become more humble about what I eat and the amount of time I spend exercising each week.

As the weather warms up, I am finding that I would much rather spend time walking outside than on the undesirable treadmill inside. I have discovered that walking outside is also good for my mental health. Breathing in the fresh air seems to keep my stress levels down.

As I begin to exercise more and more, I’m finding that I want to keep track of how many calories I burn. A friend of mine has turned me on to the Fitbit.

According to Fitbit.com, the Fitbit will keep track of the calories you burn, steps taken, and monitor the distance traveled and even your sleep quality. With a 3D motion sensor, the Fitbit tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities.

You can wear the Fitbit on your waist, in your pocket or on undergarments. At night, you can wear the Fitbit clipped to the included wristband in order to track your sleep. Anytime you walk by the included wireless base station, data from your Fitbit is silently uploaded in the background to Fitbit.com.

The Fitbit will run you around $100.00. But the expense seems worth it for all that you get. Plus, how can you put a price on your health? What do you think? Is it worth the money?

Addicted to Fat

Did you know that you could be addicted to junk food? I mean, I know it tastes good and you may want it a few nights a week but some people would rather starve themselves than live without it. Seriously. Scientists recently conducted tests on the effects of junk food on rats. They found that rats who ate a lot of junk food before it was taken away go trough withdrawal and refuse to eat. The conclusion is that there are chemical elements in junk food that satisfy our brain. That’s pretty scary…right?

Remedy Bad Breath

Bad breath can be embarrassing, and you don’t want that to be your reputation around friends, family and colleagues. Do something about your bad breath with home remedies. There are spices and herbs that can clear up bad breath, you can cut coffee and wine from your diet, eat parsley, or chew gum. These remedies are simple and will spare you from embarrassment.

Recover From Your Workout

Are there some days after a strenuous workout that you feel like you just can’t go on? You’re aching and the pain just seems unbearable? There is something you can do about it.

There are certain foods like cottage cheese, ginger and kale that will help you get back to normal and regain your pace back. Ginger is perfect because of its anti-inflammatory properties and Kale is filled with Vitamin C that is perfect for easing away pain.

What do you do to soothe aching muscles?

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