Kids Get Sports Injuries From Specializing Too Soon

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At one time there was a school of thought that the best way to ensure your child excelled in a sport was to push them to play that particular sport as early – and as often – as possible. That is how we ended up in a world of traveling baseball and volleyball teams all year round. It is why we still see kids in Canada playing in different regional hockey leagues every three or four months, staying with host families to do so. This is just how sports are supposed to be at the elite youth level.

Recently, though, this concept has come in for plenty of criticism. Ideas that were once thought to be a healthy way of pushing your kids forward in a sport have become old fashioned as more and more research has come out saying that this early specialization does nothing but physically hurt kids. The only real surprise here is just how long it took someone to say that abusing developing bodies with the same physical motions day after day and month after month was doing far more harm than good.

Using the same motion over and over is simply bad for the body. Overuse injuries are seeing kids as young as 12 or 13 in operating rooms needing surgeries on worn-out shoulders and ACL tears. Intense training in this way leads to these apparent injuries, but it can also lead to mental burnout. A sport that was fun at seven or eight can become something a child has no interest in pursuing by 11 or 12 if that is the only sport that they are allowed to participate in.

The answer here is quite obvious – diversification.

Sports should be fun. So let your child have fun. While some see specialization as the only route to a college scholarship, the truth is that by playing different sports you are giving your child the right guidance to succeed both on the field, and in life.

In 1993 professor Andres Ericsson wrote a paper that suggested to become an expert you had to put 10,000 hours of deliberate practice into it. This is a theory that was aimed at musicians, not at athletes. Unfortunately, the method has become the cry of parents who look to specialize their kids in a sport, no matter what more recent research has advised.

“We know pretty definitively that early specialization in sports is not good. It does predispose younger athletes to what we call overuse injury,” said Jonathan Shook, a sports medicine physician with OrthoIndy a sports medicine facility in Indianapolis. “We highly discourage it.”

Playing different sports work different muscle groups. Shooting a ball in soccer is different from a single-leg takedown in wrestling which is different from a tackle in football. To help child become a better athlete, it is vital to train all their muscles to function and work together. Overworking one muscle group to the detriment of others doesn’t do that.

One muscle that especially needs work is the brain. Throwing a fastball over and over and over is mentally taxing. However, if that pitcher also has to think about making a bounce pass as a basketball point guard and his footwork as a quarterback, then he or she will have a much more rounded ability to problem solve in any life situation.

Specialization can hurt young athletes. Given the right guidance, however, a diversified bank of sports will allow youngsters to compete for a college scholarship in their chosen sport when the right time to specialize crops up.

Article by Vital Guidance

Encouraging Children’s Creativity To Help Them Succeed

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Narrowing down a focus on how your child should grow up is usually not a good idea. Giving vital guidance in all aspects of their early life, but not stifling any spirit or purpose, however, is something that should undoubtedly be encouraged.

Some people think that creativity is a birth trait and that you either have it or you don’t. This just isn’t true, with creativity being a learned skill more than something that is decided on genetically. Knowing this means that creativity, like any skill, can be fostered, encouraged, and developed. Given the many paths in life that involve a creative, problem-solving brain in this digital age, it is a good idea to help your children learn how to be creative and show how creativity can be a huge part of their upbringing.

Here a few ideas on how to spike the creativity level of your children:

Don’t always be an alpha

This is a tricky idea to work with at first. We live in a world where fear and the concept of Big Brother watching affect our decision making daily. That fear can certainly lead to decisions and rules that stifle a child’s creativity.

This isn’t saying that we should give three-year-old junior a pair of scissors and see where it goes. It is merely saying that sometimes, when playing or introducing concepts, it is an excellent idea to let the child take the lead. For example, when playing with Lego or working on some other model, don’t just immediately pull out the instructions and go for it. Let the kids work with what they have for a little bit first. Their creativity might surprise you.

Find a creative space

This is a very Zen and New Age sounding proposal, but it is one that makes sense as you provide your child with the vital guidance to be creative.

Creativity is most likely and most often found in areas where there is room to express. This can be as simple as making sure that the playroom is set up to allow for creative play – not having every toy or set of things in a specific place that should never be moved – or as in-depth as allowing spots in certain parts of the garage as dedicated for painting.

Emphasize the arts

Video games are not a bad place to learn how to use creative thoughts and lateral thinking, as long as the game is in the right genre. No child, though, should be relying only on video games and TV for their entertainment.

It is all too easy in 2019 to let the iPad be the be-all and end-all when it comes to playing. Instead, go a little old school. Reading on a kindle is fun, but no e-reader has yet been able to replicate the actual feeling of reading a book. Drawing is essential for creativity too, and it is much more fun when done the way we used to do it, instead of using a finger on a screen as a paintbrush.

Stop caring about achievement

This is probably the most significant single way to allow your child to be creative with your vital guidance. We live in an accomplishment and winning-based society. Your child will undoubtedly learn that soon enough. For now though, who cares if a painting gets finished or if the product isn’t as good as the one put together by the kid across the street. Instead, make sure your child enjoyed any activity as much as possible. Eventually, the results will pay off when your child’s creativity allows him or her to solve a problem that a straight-line thinker would miss.

Article by Vital Guidance

Cats: The Ideal Pet For 9 Great Reasons

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Cat owners sometimes get a bad rap. The mere mention of owning a feline friend can conjure up images of the crazy lady down the street with a one-bedroom condo and 82 strays hanging around all day. Cats, however, actually make ideal pets that can turn into vital relationships over time. Here are nine reasons – just like their nine lives – that make cats a pet worth owning:

1 – Cats are low maintenance

Some people see the independence of cats as a bad thing. They compare the way a cat lives to the way a dog lives and decide that dogs must be better. In truth, the low maintenance of owning a cat can be an amazing thing. Anyone with a full-time job will be better off with a cat, knowing that their pet can self-entertain and be happy without a need for constant attention.

2 – Cats reduce stress

It is scientifically proven that petting a cat will release endorphins into the brain which make you happier. That ability to reduce tension and the stresses of the day by running your hand through Whiskers soft fur is enough of a reason to go out and buy a cat immediately. This reduction in stress will also help you build that vital relationship with your pet.

3 – Cats are eco-friendly

A 2009 study suggested that gathering the resources needed to feed and take care of a dog over its lifetime equal out to that of owning a Land Cruiser. Cats, by comparison, equate to a small hatchback. That is because dogs tend to be feed products based around corn, beef, and lamb, while cats are much more likely to be found eating products based around fish.

4 – Cats bathe themselves

Just ask any dog owner how time-consuming and stressful it can be to bathe their pet. While hounds seem to enjoy finding mud puddles to play in even in the middle of the desert, cats take a much more laissez-faire approach to play. Cats want to be clean and, as such, they will both avoid dirt and clean themselves. This is a much better arrangement than washing your dog or taking it to an expensive pet spa.

5 – Cats kill pests

While they don’t take out all pests, there are a number of household intruders that cats will take down with the precision of the Terminator. Rodents have no chance against cats. Neither do the bugs and spiders that they takedown. The only issue here is that sometimes your pet is so proud of the work that he wants to leave you a present, kind of like the Yakuza, but it feels like that is a small price to pay compared to the cost (and environmental damage) of most extermination services.

6 – Cats help you sleep

A recent study by the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine shows that 41-percent of people surveyed said they sleep better with their pet. This contrasts to just 20-percent who say that sleeping with a cat leads to disturbances in the night. This is a much better percentage of positive responses than any sleep study focused on human partners, with issues such as snoring and tossing around in the night something cats do not do.

7 – Cats are litter trained

Sure, litter boxes aren’t the most fun things in the world to clean. The plus side here though is that having a cat that is litter trained means that there are no accidents in the house to walk in on when you return from a 10-hour shift at the office. Dogs are great, but in the puppy stage, working around them and their bathroom schedule is a nightmare. Cats are just so much more self-sufficient in when and where they decide to do their business.

8 – Cats bring companionship

An Austrian study conducted in 2003 showed that having a cat in the house was the equivalent of having a romantic partner in terms of the affection given and received. Cats remember kindness, and they have the desire and genetic makeup to then return that kindness at a later date. If you are looking for a vital relationship with a pet, then it is simply a stereotype that dogs are more affectionate and therefore better pets.

9 – Cats are entertaining

One of the most important reasons to build a vital relationship with a pet is that they are able to keep you entertained. While having one cat is great, having a pair is so much better as their personalities will shine when they have an interacting playmate. If you add a pocket laser to this equation then you literally have all you need to have fun and hurt yourself laughing for hours.

Article by Vital Guidance

Relationships In Your Community Are Still Vital

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When we think of the vital relationships that we nurture in our lives, we default to a few different things.  Family relationships, romantic relationships, and friend relationships will top that list, with connections in the workplace and with teammates coming in soon after.  One area we may not think to consider, however, are the relationships in our community.

Community relationships are a vital part of society, providing essential connections and tying together a group of individuals who may have nothing in common other than their location.  The U.S. is a country that was founded on such community relationships.  Over time, though, with advances in transport and technology, it has almost become taboo to invest time and care into building relationships in our community.  By doing so, we have cut away an element of society and daily living that can, and should, be enjoyable and worthwhile.

Here are a few reasons why community relationships and community bonding is still essential even in the digital age:

1 – Meeting community leaders
Trusting community leaders and feeling like you matter as an individual is critical.  Good relationships need to be formed by community leaders – be they HOA leaders or government officials – and the people who they represent.  A day or night out meeting local police and other emergency services personnel is a great way to strengthen community relationships and show everyone within a space that they matter and are respected.

2 – Activity organization
Right now the only kickball league in your area is on the far West side of town. As you live on the far East side of the city, this is a problem. The solution is to build your league through the community and have something right on your doorstep that will open up a whole new friend group of people who share the same passion. This will not be an overnight thing, but by starting a game in your community, it is incredible to see what can be achieved over time.

3 – Meeting the neighbors
One of the problems with the world being such a busy place is that the time to build vital relationships with neighbors has kind of fallen away. Most people are likely to have their friends in other parts of the city, often driving a long distance to get to hang out and enjoy the bonding of friendship. While it’s unlikely that Bill across the street will become your best friend, it’s still a good idea to meet Bill and at least know enough about him for small talk.

4 – Better for your health
This is a weird one, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that having a close-knit, walkable local neighborhood and community results in better health for the people involved. A research review from Active Living Research showed that physical activity is associated with a risk reduction from premature death and risk reductions for chronic diseases. Areas that promote walking and other events – with sidewalks, bike lanes, and paths – see much less risk for early death than those that don’t. Taking steps towards building an active local community, or jumping in if it is already there, has long-term benefits that go beyond building good relationships.

5 – Everyone loves a party
Community meetings in a town hall or other such venue might be a tough sell. What is not a tough sell is making the event that builds good relationships much more of a party. A party at the end of the pool season is always a good idea, perhaps one that involves bringing a small donation to eat from the grill. Fancier events could even have local food trucks swing by so people are investing back into the community at large and meeting small business owners at the same time. Just get creative to ensure your community push is well received.

By Steve Wright
Independent writer

Three Ways to Play Defense in Your Stock Portfolio

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Defensive investment strategies share a common goal — to help a portfolio better weather an economic downturn and/or bouts of market volatility. But there are some key differences, including the specific criteria by which particular stocks are selected. If you are nearing retirement or just have a more conservative risk tolerance, one of these defensive strategies may help you manage risk while maintaining a robust equity portfolio.

Tilt toward value

Growth and value are opposite investment styles that tend to perform differently under different market conditions. Value stocks are associated with companies that appear to be undervalued by the market or are in an out-of-favor industry. These stocks may be priced lower than might be expected in relation to their earnings, assets, or growth potential, but the broader market is expected to eventually recognize the company’s full potential.

Established companies are more likely than younger companies to be considered value stocks. These firms may be more conservative with spending and emphasize paying dividends over reinvesting profits. Unlike value stocks, growth stocks may be priced higher in relation to current earnings or assets, so investors are essentially paying a premium for growth potential. This is one reason why growth stocks are typically considered to carry higher risk than value stocks.

Seek dividends

Whereas stock prices are often unpredictable and may be influenced by factors that do not reflect a company’s fiscal strength (or weakness), dividend payments tend to be steadier and more directly reflect a company’s financial position. Comparing current dividend yields, and a company’s history of dividend increases, can be helpful in deciding whether to invest in a stock or stock fund.

The flip side is that dividend-paying stocks may not have as much growth potential as non-dividend payers, and there are times when dividend stocks may drag down, not boost, portfolio performance. For example, dividend stocks can be sensitive to interest rate changes. When rates rise, the higher yields of lower risk fixed-income investments may become more appealing, placing downward pressure on dividend stocks.

Temper volatility

All stocks are volatile to some degree, but some have been less volatile historically than others. Certain mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) labeled “minimum volatility” or “low volatility” are constructed with an eye toward reducing risk during periods of market turbulence.

One commonly used measure of a stock or stock fund’s volatility is its beta, which is typically published with other information about an investment. The U.S. stock market as a whole is generally considered to have a beta of 1.0. In theory, an investment with a beta of 0.8 might experience only 80% of losses during a downswing — and thus would have less ground to regain when the market turns upward again.

The return and principal value of all investments fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Investing in dividends is a long-term commitment. The amount of a company’s dividend can fluctuate with earnings, which are influenced by economic, market, and political events. Dividends are typically not guaranteed and could be changed or eliminated. Low-volatility funds vary widely in their objectives and strategies. There is no guarantee that they will maintain a more conservative level of risk, especially during extreme market conditions.

Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

Pineapple Is The Go-To Fruit For Staying Healthy

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When thinking of foods that are high in nutrients and can help fight off disease, the deliciously tropical pineapple may not be the first fruit to spring to mind. While they are a favorite of juicers looking to add a sweet kick to their smoothies, the pineapple is generally only thought of when relaxing on a tropical beach or debated about online and in memes about its value (or lack of value) on a pizza.

What many don’t consider is that pineapples are a fantastic fruit to enjoy when looking to boost your daily intake of vital nutrients.

One of the most significant nutritional values of pineapple is that it is the only fruit that contains bromelain. While all fruits are stuffed full of vitamins and enzymes that are good for you, pineapple stands alone in its ability to provide this flu-fighting substance. Bromelain is an enzyme that boosts immunity, reduces inflammation, and its ability to break down complex proteins makes it ideal for promoting a healthy digestive system.

Bromelain also has a long term health benefit, which is why the vital nutrients from pineapples should immediately become part of your diet. It is an enzyme which has been shown to treat osteoarthritis and to keep down the excessive inflammation that is associated with cancer. Bromelain has been shown to increase the survival rates of various animals with tumors according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

It may not be the first option you think of when starting to get sick, but the vital nutrients in pineapple – add in high levels of vitamin C and manganese to what is mentioned above – means that the pineapple should be your go-to fruit when starting to get sick according to Australian fitness instructor and nutrition expert Ali Cavill.

“Now, if I get issues with speaking [Ali uses her outdoor voice a lot] or a lot of people around me come down with a cold or flu, I’m diving into chunks of pineapple,” she said.

The barrier to entry for many to pineapple is simply that cutting and preparing it takes far more time than biting into an apple. The truth, though, is that with corers and other tools being available, this is a feeble excuse when pineapples are both delicious and healthy.

Their antioxidant properties are up there with the best fruits available, while pineapples also help build strong bones and boost the immune system in multiple ways. While people with diabetes should be aware that pineapples contain about 14 grams of sugar per cup, they are low in sodium, fat-free, and cholesterol-free.

Pineapples are also a fantastic snack for fliers – especially frequent fliers – as they help reduce blood coagulation. This means they reduce the risk of developing deadly blood clots while in the air, with DVT still being a real risk for business people who are in the air on a daily basis.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly now that their health benefits have been laid out, pineapples always belong on a pizza.

By Steve Wright
Independent Writer

Is It Time to Declare Your Financial Independence?

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No matter how much money you have or which life stage you’re in, becoming financially independent starts with a dream. Your dream might be to finally pay off the mountain of debt you’ve accumulated, or to stop relying on someone else for financial support. Or perhaps your dream is to retire early so you can spend more time with your family, travel the world, or open your own business. Financial independence, however you define it, is freedom from the financial obstacles that are keeping you from living life on your own terms.

Envision the future

If you were to become financially independent, what would change? Would you spend your time differently? Live in another place? What would you own? Would you work part-time? Ultimately, you want to define how you choose to live your life. It’s your dream, so there’s no wrong answer.

Work at it

Unless you’re already wealthy, you may have had moments when winning the lottery seemed like the only way to become financially secure. But your path to financial independence isn’t likely to start at your local convenience store’s lottery counter.

Though there are many ways to become financially independent, most of them require hard work. And retaining wealth isn’t necessarily easy, because wealth may not last if spending isn’t kept in check. As income rises, lifestyle inflation is a real concern. Becoming — and remaining — financially independent requires diligently balancing earning, spending, and saving.

Earn more, spend wisely, and save aggressively

Earn more. The bigger the gap between your income and expenses, the quicker it will be to become financially independent, no matter what your goal is. The more you can earn, the more you can potentially save. This might mean finding a job with a higher salary, working an extra job, or working part-time in retirement. And a job is just one source of income. If you’re resourceful and able to put in extra hours, you may also be able to generate regular income in other ways — for example, renting out a garage apartment or starting a side business.

Spend wisely. Look for opportunities to reduce your spending without affecting your quality of life. For the biggest impact, focus on reducing your largest expenses — for example, housing, food, and transportation. Practicing mindful spending can also help you free up more money to save. Before you buy something nonessential, think about how important it is to you and what value it brings to your life so that you don’t end up with a garage or attic filled with regrettable purchases.

Save aggressively. Set a wealth accumulation goal and then prioritize saving. Of course, if you have a substantial amount of debt, saving may be somewhat curtailed until that debt is paid off. Take simple steps such as choosing investments that match your goals and time frame, and paying yourself first by automatically investing as much as possible in a retirement savings plan. Time is an important ally in the quest for financial independence, so start saving as early as possible and build your nest egg over time. (Note that all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful.)

Keep going

Make adjustments. Life changes. Unexpected bills come up. Some years will be tougher financially than others. Expect to make some adjustments to your plan along the way, especially if you have a long-term time frame, but keep going.

Track your progress. Celebrate both small milestones and big victories. Seeing the progress you’re making will help you stay motivated as you pursue your dream of financial independence.

Video Games & Parenting: Doesn’t Have To Be A Scary Thing

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It can be argued that there has never been a more difficult time to be a parent. The way that technology has moved on in the last 20 years is breathtaking, and it has opened new opportunities and new horizons for people all around the globe.

While it is impressive to be able to browse the internet from your phone, to have shows and movies on demand through Hulu and Netflix, or to merely banking in your PJs, this new world does not come without risk. Specifically, that risk extends to children who are also finding themselves in an ever-changing digital world, but who don’t have the risk assessment necessary to know when something is good, and something is potentially dangerous.

Children learn their world by watching adult behavior. As we spend more and more time online or in the middle of digital anything, they want to do the same. They need necessary guidance and vital mentors from their parents to make the right decisions, the safe decisions, and the decisions that will let them explore in a way that you as parents can be comfortable with.

Here are four steps that you can take to ensure that your children playing Fortnite are chatting with friends safely and responsibly.

1.    Know who they are talking to – This is the most natural step to take, but it is one that often gets overlooked. There is a fine line between letting your child develop their sense of privacy and being too oblivious to whom they interact with daily. A good rule of thumb is to encourage your child to only communicate and talk with people they have met, never adding strangers or friends of their buddies.

2.    Encourage communication – Being a vital mentor means that your child is open to talking with you. All too often in the world today, we see parents and children that known nothing about each other’s life. You don’t have to be your teenager’s best friend, but you should certainly be able to talk to them enough to know what they are planning on doing on a Friday night.

3.    Keep personal information safe – Anyone can hide behind a screen name; this is both a good and a bad thing. The wrong side is focused on often, with people preying on others or bullying them with no recourse. The flip side though is that your child is also anonymous. Make sure they understand that this is important, never sharing photos, real names, addresses, etc.

4.    Set reasonable internet usage limits – Nothing is going to make a child act out more than being told what to do in a way that seems unfair to them. Workaround this by setting an internet limit, then offering incentives to increase it through insight into their world.

As with many topics concerning children, the key here is communication. Be open and honest about what you expect and be reasonable with what you want from them. The digital world CAN be a scary place, but it only doesn’t have to be that way.

Story by Steve Wright
Independent writer

Vital Guidance to The Incredible Benefits of Juicing

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We are all familiar with juice. We begin our mornings with orange juice or grapefruit juice. We give our children apple juice at snack time. And now manufacturers have offered us a variety of juice blends and juice cocktails to drink day or night.

And of course, we all know that juice is far healthier than soft drinks, sweet teas, creamy coffee, and alcohol. However, for those of us in search of an even healthier alternative, juicing is the key. Naturally derived vitamins and vital enzymes abound in fresh fruits and vegetables, and by juicing daily, you can significantly increase your vegetable and fruit intake.

According to the CDC, just 1 out of 10 people are getting the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. The federal guidelines recommend that adults eat 1 ½ to 2 cups of fruits and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day. Consuming fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, some cancers, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Joe Cross, from the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, states, “I believe that juicing is a great way to supercharge your body with the incredible nutrients found in whole plant foods – and the volume you’re able to take in when juicing is far more than you would be able to eat.” Joe lost nearly 100 pounds and healed his autoimmune disease by juicing across America.

So, What is Juicing?

Basically, juicing is the method of extracting juice from raw fruit and vegetables and drinking it. And the results are incredible for your health.

What are The Benefits of Juicing?

In this article, the focus is not on a 60-day body cleanse or a temporary diet. In this case, the emphasis is using juicing as a supplement to your daily diet, increasing the number of nutrients from fruits and vegetables that you otherwise wouldn’t get.

If you are interested in juicing to detox or cleanse your body for more than a few days, there are many books and articles available online for guidance.

Here are some of the incredible benefits of juicing to help you obtain a healthier lifestyle:

  • Juicing Ups Your Nutrient Intake

Juicing lets you absorb more nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Because of the fiber found in fruits and vegetables, consuming the recommended daily amount is difficult. By juicing, it is easier to incorporate them into your diet.

Two to three cups of fresh juice contain the same number of enzymes and vitamins as 14 apples, 2.5 pounds of carrots, and 9 pounds of spinach. Because the fiber is cut out, the body can focus more on the absorption of these vital vitamins and minerals.

  • Juicing Gives Your Digestive System a Break

Toxic foods and medications can impair the digestive systems ability to function at its best. It takes a lot of work to break them down. It is estimated that 65% of your body’s energy is used in the digestion process after eating. Possibly more if there are processed foods involved.

By juicing, you can give your digestive system a break so your body can heal and repair itself. Juicing is “pre-digested,” giving your system a much-needed rest. Drinking a phytonutrient dense juice allows pure nutrition into your digestive tract that your body can absorb rapidly.

  • It is Loaded with Antioxidants

Fruits and vegetables are packed of antioxidants that protect against disease. Antioxidants aid in preventing oxidation of molecules and fight against free radicals within the body which contribute to a range of diseases and illnesses. There are loads of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that offer different benefits to different parts of your body.

Therefore, it’s vital to get a wide variety of these antioxidants in your diet. By juicing, you can combine several different types of fruits with vegetables to obtain a great combination of antioxidants.

  • Juicing Can Help You Lose Weight

As you juice, you will begin to feel better and have more energy. Juicing increases your metabolism while removing toxins from your cells. Having a glass of fresh juice as opposed to snacking on empty calories or right before a meal is a great way to reduce cravings while increasing your nutritional intake.

  • It Can Give You Better Skin

Fruits and vegetables are loaded with plant ingredients that can balance hormones, strengthen collagen, stimulate circulation, and reduce wrinkles. Vitamins A, C, and E are particularly beneficial for protecting your skin against harmful UV rays.  

  • Juicing Can Improve Athletic Performance

The nitrates and potassium found naturally in fruits and vegetables can help your body recover after a workout, helping repair damaged tissue faster. Other nutrients such as vitamin A, C, and E, and minerals such magnesium play a role in maintaining the immune system, easy muscle contraction, and increasing strength. They destroy free radicals that can increase the destruction of healthy tissues and muscle cells, thus decreasing the athlete’s performance, strength, and endurance.

Juicing before and after allows the body to absorb vital nutrients and minerals needed to maintain or increase overall athletic performance.

Final Thought:

Juicing is a wonderful complement to living a healthy lifestyle. It should not be considered a diet or long-term detox but should be incorporated into your daily or weekly diet. It is about adding more fruits, vegetables, and plant-based ingredients, so you look and feel your very best.

 

Article by Ellen Carleton
Independent writer

Pets Can Help You Live A Happier & Healthier Life

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We have known for a long time that vital relationships are a key to a happy, healthy, and long life. The joy that we as humans get by interacting with each other, through friendship and fellowship, is something that picks us up when we are down and that can keep us motivated and focused when times are hard.

What, though, if you are just not a people person? What if you find social interaction hard, be it for physical or mental reasons, and that desire to put yourself out there and meet other people just doesn’t exist?

According to new research published in May 2019, the answer is as simple as getting a pet and treating it like a human.

According to research conducted by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University, loneliness is as dangerous to human health as if you were to smoke 15 cigarettes a day. This puts loneliness up there with more talked about issues such as obesity in its risk to human health and quality of life.

Human-animal interaction research manager at Mars’ Waltham Centre of Pet Nutrition, Nancy Gee, had this to say about interactions between humans and their pets.

“When we think about loneliness, we need attachment figures and pets meet that need,” says Gee. “You don’t have to worry about confidentiality or judgment. It just is what it is.”

It is that lack of judgment that can make pets so important when looking for vital relationships to fill your life with. One of the major reasons that people suffer from social anxiety or struggle in social situations is that feeling of being judged for what they are saying or doing. With a pet that judgment just doesn’t come as they love unconditionally in their own way.

“The greatest gift of animals is they remind us we can love and be loved unconditionally,” says former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Murthy, according to his testimony on the subject, would sometimes be teased by other staff members about the pictures he would post on various social media sites of his cats. Those cats, though, would open up avenues for him to have vital relationships with other people as they immediately had something in common they could talk about or bond over.

An online survey of just over 2,000 people, which included pet owners, found that one-in-four owners got a pet because they knew that it would help their mental health. Interestingly, this number increased to over 50% when just taking into account people over the age of 55.

Research still needs to be conducted into if pets make people healthier or if it is just generally healthier people getting pets. Either way, it seems clear that having a pet, be it a dog, a bird, or something a little more unique, is a great way to live a happier and more fulfilled life.

Article by Steve Wright
 Independent Writer