Smoothies that combat stress

Stress is inevitable. Unfortunately we face stressful situations on a daily basis. It can be brought about by a variety of scenarios such as work, relationship issues, the death of a loved one, loss of a job and many others. Some of these factors may be unavoidable however, there are foods that can easily help restrain the consequences of high stress levels.

When a person becomes stressed, the body secretes hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol that can lead to sleeping problems, weight gain, depression and even extreme illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. Once the perceived threat is gone, the hormone levels begin to normalize and these effects die down.
If you are often stressed out, there are foods that contain vital ingredients that will help combat and minimalize stress.

A great way to consume these foods is in the form of a smoothie. They taste incredible, easy to make and take you no time at all.
Here are examples of smoothies that help minimize stress levels

  • Bee pollen, nutmeg, cinnamon, Greek yogurt, avocado, carrot, walnut, and almond milk smoothie.
  • Banana, walnut, spinach, coconut oil, almond milk, and almond smoothie.
  • Fig, banana, walnut and water smoothie. This is ideal for someone who prefers fewer ingredients.
  • Pumpkin purée, coconut water, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, ice, banana, Greek yogurt, and walnut.
  • A great day starter is the banana, flaxseed, walnut, granola, and raspberry drink.
  • Avocado, orange, pineapple, and walnut smoothie; the ideal remedy to minimizing stress.

All these smoothies contain important foods that help you to overcome high stress level for instance walnuts; they have omega-3 essential fatty acids that are reported to boost one’s mood, and are highly related to minimizing depression rates.

Also, fruit containing high levels of vitamin C such as berries, kiwi and oranges are scientifically proven to reduce stress.
Bananas minimize stress in a natural manner. It contains a chemical compound (vitamin B6) that increases serotonin levels, soothes the nervous system, and makes you feel more relaxed and less frustrated. Fresh apple juice is great for the body and should be on the menu daily.

Ginger and vanilla bean are also great stress relievers. Ginger helps to boost your current mood and prevents negative energy. Gingerol, which is the main element in ginger, helps clear out malign chemicals secreted by the body that leads to psychological stress when a person is worried. Vanilla beans help soothe, calm and relax the body. Its very smell activates feel-good sensations in the body.
Life has several stressful situations and we will constantly be exposed to them. Having a fruit smoothie rich in vitamin C on a daily basis will help reduce, or even prevent the effects of stress hormones.

Sometimes these stressful situations are unavoidable. But the good thing is that smoothies provide way in which the stress levels can be minimized or even completely eradicated as well as tasting so good! Something as simple as a glass of smoothie daily is all it takes to make the difference.

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Exercise -The best remedy for strengthening your body and relationship altogether

We’ve all seen the smitten couples in the gym getting their sweat on together. Taking part in a 5km race, a yoga session, or working out in the gym may not seem as the ideal romantic outing, but couples who workout together not only avoid gaining the extra pound usually associated with marriage, but they also grow their relationship bond, improve their sex life, and perhaps have a bright happy future.

It is easy to ignore regular stretching sessions because you feel fit from the workouts. But the realization that you are not as perfectly fit as you thought sets in when you reach down for an object and are unable to get up again.

Once you start experiencing muscle twinges and knee aches, those are definite signs that something is clearly amiss. Flexibility exercises especially in preparation for the summer are a great way to prevent muscle constriction and pains. Summer is usually a fun time to explore various activities such as water-board skating, dancing, hiking and various other summer activities.

Regular flexibility exercises aids improve mobility and a variety of body movements. The more flexible the body is, the lesser the chances of acquiring an injury from summer activities as well as normal daily routines. Regardless of whether it’s dancing, mountain climbing or simply just swimming in the pool, these activities require great amount of force and flexibility for optimum body movement.
Here are a few common stretching exercises that are done to improve flexibility

1.Butterfly stretch
The butterfly stretch broadens muscles in the inner thigh and groin. One is required to sit on the floor with the feet flat to the ground. Let the knees drop to the ground and squeeze the soles of your feet together. Bring your heels close to your groin without causing pain. Your back should remain straight as you gently bounce your knees up and down repeatedly to loosen the muscles. The stretch should take about 8-10 seconds. Next, gently thrust your knees towards the ground using your elbows for another 8-10 seconds.

2.Kneeling quadriceps stretch
This enhances flexibility along the hamstrings and inner thigh as well as averts injury on the whole upper leg. It starts from a kneeling position. Bring the right foot forward and position it flat on the ground. The knee of your right leg should create 90 degrees angle. With your back still straight, slowly push your hips towards your right leg. You’ll be able to feel a stretch on your left quadriceps and right hamstring. Hold that position for about 10-15 seconds before doing a repeat with the left leg.

3.Arm and shoulder stretch
Flexibility doesn’t only apply to the back, waist and legs; arm and shoulder flexibility is also important for any activity. To start the shoulder stretch, connect your fingers and rotate your wrist in a manner that your palms are facing away from your body. Slowly lift your arms over your head and retain the stretch for approximately 10-15 seconds. Go back to the starting position and place your right hand behind your head. Grasp your right elbow with your right hand and carefully squeeze it down your back as far as you can without feeling a discomfort. Hold for 8-10 seconds then repeat the whole process with the left elbow.

There are various other flexibility stretches to aid one in preparation for the summer activities. It is important however to remember that in all exercises and stretches, safety comes first. Don’t over-do it to the point where you suffer an injury. Do smaller, simpler stretches, then with time progress to the more difficult ones after your body has gotten used to it.

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Improve Your Flexibility For Everyday Health

Most people tend to mainly focus on heavy weight lifting or things that involve running and jogging for either muscle toning or losing weight. What people do not realize or tend to ignore, is that flexibility is also important.

It is easy to ignore regular stretching sessions because you feel fit from the workouts. But the realization that you are not as perfectly fit as you thought sets in when you reach down for an object and are unable to get up again.

Once you start experiencing muscle twinges and knee aches, those are definite signs that something is clearly amiss. Flexibility exercises especially in preparation for the summer are a great way to prevent muscle constriction and pains. Summer is usually a fun time to explore various activities such as water-board skating, dancing, hiking and various other summer activities.

Regular flexibility exercises aids improve mobility and a variety of body movements. The more flexible the body is, the lesser the chances of acquiring an injury from summer activities as well as normal daily routines. Regardless of whether it’s dancing, mountain climbing or simply just swimming in the pool, these activities require great amount of force and flexibility for optimum body movement.
Here are a few common stretching exercises that are done to improve flexibility

1.Butterfly stretch
The butterfly stretch broadens muscles in the inner thigh and groin. One is required to sit on the floor with the feet flat to the ground. Let the knees drop to the ground and squeeze the soles of your feet together. Bring your heels close to your groin without causing pain. Your back should remain straight as you gently bounce your knees up and down repeatedly to loosen the muscles. The stretch should take about 8-10 seconds. Next, gently thrust your knees towards the ground using your elbows for another 8-10 seconds.

2.Kneeling quadriceps stretch
This enhances flexibility along the hamstrings and inner thigh as well as averts injury on the whole upper leg. It starts from a kneeling position. Bring the right foot forward and position it flat on the ground. The knee of your right leg should create 90 degrees angle. With your back still straight, slowly push your hips towards your right leg. You’ll be able to feel a stretch on your left quadriceps and right hamstring. Hold that position for about 10-15 seconds before doing a repeat with the left leg.

3.Arm and shoulder stretch
Flexibility doesn’t only apply to the back, waist and legs; arm and shoulder flexibility is also important for any activity. To start the shoulder stretch, connect your fingers and rotate your wrist in a manner that your palms are facing away from your body. Slowly lift your arms over your head and retain the stretch for approximately 10-15 seconds. Go back to the starting position and place your right hand behind your head. Grasp your right elbow with your right hand and carefully squeeze it down your back as far as you can without feeling a discomfort. Hold for 8-10 seconds then repeat the whole process with the left elbow.

There are various other flexibility stretches to aid one in preparation for the summer activities. It is important however to remember that in all exercises and stretches, safety comes first. Don’t over-do it to the point where you suffer an injury. Do smaller, simpler stretches, then with time progress to the more difficult ones after your body has gotten used to it.

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The Link Between Obesity and Cancer

We are living in the ‘age’ of obesity. Within the last century, there hasn’t been as much people obesity as now. Due to the huge rise of this disease, there has also been a sharp rise in the number of cancer cases directly linked to obesity. Annually, hundreds of thousands of cancer cases are associated with obesity, as claimed by National Cancer Institute. In fact, Obesity is fast overtaking tobacco as the number one, avoidable cause of cancer. But still, most people fail to see the how obesity increases the chances of being diagnosed with cancer.

Moreover, it is believed that obesity also affects the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
With the growing numbers in obesity cases especially in children, it’s vital to know how the two are linked in order to minimize your risk.

A major steering factor contributing to the obesity pandemic is the large sugar consumption, Obesity and cancer occurs when the body is unable to burn fat as fuel (insulin resistance). Moreover, sugar also brings about persistent inflammation, thereby raising cancer risk. Fat tissue produces hormones known as adipokines, which inhabits or stimulates cell growth. When these hormones are imbalanced, the body is unable to efficiently prevent cell damage.

One of the most fruitful ways of reversing insulin resistance is by sporadic fasting. Also, making some principal diet alterations such as limiting fructose and sugar intake, and opting for healthy fats instead of carbs will decrease your risk of becoming obese and getting cancer.

Several studies have linked obesity to escalating risk of various cancers such as colon cancer, kidney cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreas cancer and breast cancer.
In a research conducted in 2003, it was reported that over 900,000 obese Americans had a greater chance of dying from cancer, in contrast to those who weighed normally.
The death percentage from cancer is likely to increase in the next decade, mostly because of the increase in obesity rates. Another recent research study that involved 80,000 breast cancer patients revealed that pre-menopausal women with BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 30 had a 21% chance of dying, whereas women with average body mass index had a 16.6% chance of expiry from the cancer.

Most people obtain their calories from added sugar every day. This is definitely a recipe for persistent poor health. Excessive sugar intake fuels cancer. The main issue with processed fructose and sugar is the fact that the liver has very limited volume to metabolize it. All the extra sugar is normally transformed into fat, which results in long-term metabolic diseases, one of them being cancer.

Another thing that contributes to obesity is lack of exercise in both children and adults. Exercise is essential for optimal health. However, no-one can exercise their way out of a poor diet. The two work hand in hand.

In order to minimize or even do away with cancer risk as well as other persistent diseases, limit sugar and fructose intake daily. The less processed sugar you eat the less chance you have of becoming obese. Also, give sporadic fasting a shot and exercise regularly. Remember that exercise does not make amends for a high sugar diet. A healthy lifestyle is the way to go.

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Why Women Should Lift Weights

In today’s society, lifting weights often comes with attached with a ‘stigma’. People tend to think lifting weights equals huge muscle gains, giving the person a bulkier and massive frame. For women, this type of appearance is deemed unattractive. Due to this stereotype, the majority of women avoid lifting weights at all costs.

It is true that Weightlifting helps for muscle increase. But there are many other benefits of lifting weights. So ladies, don’t run just yet!

Contrary to most people’s perception about weightlifting, it can in fact help build a person’s self-esteem and confidence, while offering an attractive toned, strong body.

Weightlifting is a type of resistance training that goes along well with other cardio exercises. Working the treadmill and doing some yoga are great exercises; but usually they are just not enough to get the body you want.

Here are a few reasons why women should include strength training into their fitness regimen.

1. More potent fat loss

Weightlifting is not only effective in generating tones arms and thighs. When compared to cardiovascular workouts, weight training is the most effective in burning calories. The greatest benefit of this is the body’s ability to burn fat during and after a workout.

2. More calorie dissipating, more muscle
As you build lean muscle and strength, your body utilizes calories more productively. Wright lifting encourages a lot of muscle contraction. The more muscle contractions performed, the more calories you burn. The amount of calories you burn during a workout does depend on the intensity,

3. Sufficient sleep

Weightlifting extensively boosts the quality of sleep. It helps an individual to fall asleep faster, sleep soundly and have minimal wake interruptions in the night. Having quality sleep is crucial for recovery as well as decreasing stress which leads to the next point of…

4. Stress eradication

One of the best ways of managing stress is through exercise. Those who lift weights tend to manage stress compared to someone who doesn’t exercise. In addition, minimal resistance training in older adults tends to improve their cognitive function and memory.

5. Escalated strength
Weight lifting increases energy use after training. Some studies show that the persistent increase in energy use, even after minimum resistance training session positively affects fat oxidation and energy balance.

6.Heart health
Lifting weights minimizes risk of contracting heart diseases such as high triglycerides, large waist circumference, high blood pressure, and high glucose levels.

7.Bone health
The risk of losing bone and muscle mass increases with aging, especially postmenopausal women who are at a higher risk for osteoporosis since the body doesn’t secrete estrogen anymore. Weightlifting is a great way to fight against body mass loss and minimize osteoporosis risk. The earlier one begins the resistance training, the higher the chances of maintaining bone health in future.

Everyone wants to feel confident, strong and determined in everything. Weightlifting benefits all aspects of an individual’s life. Weight lifting is definitely not just for men; the benefits are unisex. All women should include weightlifting into their fitness training to experience all the benefits of weightlifting. So next time ladies, when you’re in the gym, pick up a set of dumbbells and try it out. You will see how weight lifting can benefit your life.

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Clean Up – Self Myofacial Release

Working out is essential to staying healthy and having a longer livelihood. But exercise alone tends to constrict muscles, create soreness and body aches.

What’s not to love about spring? Flower blossom and crisp fresh fragrance in the air offering a perfect serene and ambience during morning workouts. A morning run in the spring is a very delightful way to start the day.

Working out is essential to staying healthy and having a longer livelihood. But exercise alone tends to constrict muscles, create soreness and body aches. Not everyone can afford a personal athletic trainer or masseuse to massage the soreness, kinks, and our muscles’ tight spots. Nonetheless, there is a way one can massage him/herself with the advantage of controlling precisely the place and amount of pressure to register.

Self myofascial release has gained popularity over the years and is a form of exercise that focuses on specific muscle areas with the aim of releasing the tension. Such exercises employ the use of massage balls and foam rollers among others. Fascia is a layer that covers every body structure such as the blood vessels, nerves, muscles and organs. Trauma or overuse of the muscles causes an overstress that result in tearing of the fascia layers. Improper healing of those tears then leads to the formation of adhesions (spots) that cause discomfort and pain.

These adhesions prevent the muscles from functioning as they should, hence barring the body from exploiting its full potential for fit, natural action. This is where self myofascial release applies. When pressure is enforced on these adhesions, it releases them thus restoring the body back to its optimum physical performance. Aside from relieving these adhesions, self myofascial release also helps prevent injuries, enhance flexibility, release stress from the body, eradicates tightness and knots in the muscles, minimizes soreness from exercises and improves blood flow which aids in quick recovery from a workout session.

Foam roller, ball and yoga block are commonly used for the self myofascial release routine. There are several types of foam rollers on the market for example high density foam roller, PVC piped roller and grids foam rollers. Although the high density roller is the most affordable, it tends to lose shape over a short period of time. The PVC piped roller offers a deeper and more profound intense massage.
Lacrosse ball is the most recommended by mobility trainers and physical therapists for self myofascial release. Things like mismatched socks and yoga block are not really a necessity for self myofascial release but depend on an individual’s preference.

Self myofascial release has become extremely prominent especially amongst fitness enthusiasts and athletes. It is a technique to minimize persistent pain and reintegrate a variety of injuries. However, it is important to know what to do and how to do it because performing it wrong can lead to discomfort and pain if you end up applying pressure on joints and bones instead of the muscle.
Just like performing any other workout, it is important to remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water after an extreme self myofascial release session. The good thing about self myofascial release is that it can be combined with the usual warm-ups during workouts.

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Walk Fit

Walking is a great addition to your current workout routine. It has a plethora of benefits and is a universal exercise. You can do it anywhere, and mostly anyone can do it, it’s free, it doesn’t require special equipment, and you can do it any time of day. By just adding 30 minutes of walking into your daily workout routine, you can change you! The benefits are countless.

It lowers blood pressure that can also be good for your cholesterol levels, and in turn reduces the risk of obesity. Walking is not only one of the best activities for your health and mental well-being, it can help you lose weight and keep it off. It will help your heart become more efficient and every day activities will become easier. You’ll sleep better, have more energy, and benefit from a little Vitamin D from getting outside.

Benefits of Walking:

  • It strengthens your heart. Regular walking reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • It lowers disease risk. It slashes your risks of type 2 diabetes, asthma and some cancers.
  • It keeps weight in check. It helps you lose weight and keep it off.
  • It can help prevent dementia.
  • It can help prevent osteoporosis. As a weight-bearing activity, it helps strengthen bones.
  • It tones. A good walk help shape and tone your legs, giving definition to calves, hamstrings and lifting your glutes.
  • It tones your arms. All the regular movement you experience in your arms while walking will help tone your arms, shoulders and even upper back.
  • It boosts your vitamin D levels. A little bit of sunshine outside each day will put you in a great mood and help your bone health and immunity.
  • It gives you energy. A brisk walk with help boost your circulation and increase oxygen supply to every cell in your body.
  • It makes you happy. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is a great antidepressant. It helps reduce stress and anxiety. It can also be done with friends while enjoying a nice chat.

Even though you are already in a regular workout routine at the gym several times a week, doesn’t mean walking isn’t for you. The key to overall fitness is cross training, or participating in various activities, and walking is the perfect complement to any training regimen. By adding walking to your routine, you end up training opposing muscle groups and end up balancing out your strength and reducing the chance of injury. Also, if you are used to high impact activities, your body could benefit from taking it down a notch once in awhile and walking. You’ll get all the benefits of exercise without the wear and tear and giving your muscles time to recoup.

Add a walk to your daily workout routine. You’ll be able to cash in on all the additional benefits it has. Speak with your trainer and see when the best time for you would be to work that walk into your schedule. Sometimes, to get you moving during the day, first thing in the morning may be best for you. Or, if you feel a little sluggish and tired by mid-day, head out for a walk on your lunch. Start walking towards a healthier you!

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Moving Day

Moving day can be a time-consuming and stressful experience. There are ways to keep the stress levels down and for you to not feel so overwhelmed. There are many steps and items of the move that have to be taken care of. Arranging the steps and organizing them accordingly can make the process quite manageable. A well organized move will make for an easier one.

Here are some key tips to help:

  • Move Less. Get rid of any old items you don’t need any more. Specifically if you are down-sizing. Get rid of the items that will no longer fit in your new home. Have a garage sale or sell items online. The extra cash will also help with moving expenses.
  • Pack things up room by room. Use some recycled material as well like newspapers, grocery bags and even dishtowels to protect your items. LABEL the outside of the boxes too. Mark down the room they go to and what is it in.
  • Arrange your utility hookup prior to move in day. Call the cable, phone, electricity, internet, water, gas, etc. services to arrange hookup for your new place. To make it easier bundle your services with one company when you can.
  • Hire Professionals. Hire a professional moving company to move your items. They have the insurance to protect your stuff if it gets damaged during the move. They also are reliable and dependable and have the proper equipment needed to move large items. It also saves your friend’s and family’s backs from helping you lift those big pieces of furniture.

It is a great idea to keep things organized and arrange tasks into categories. From these categories you can check off the items as they are completed.

  1. Household
    • Have your mail forwarded to the new address
    • Forward or stop any deliveries (newspapers, magazines)
    • Discontinue or transfer utilities.
    • Schedule utility appointments for new address.

  2. Packing
    • Plan your packing beforehand. Purchase suitable containers for what you are packing. Wardrobe boxes, plastic bins, etc. are great for moving and can be used for storage at your new place.
    • Start collecting packing materials such as, boxes of all sizes, newspaper, tissue paper, packing tape, scissors, labels, markers, etc.
    • Use a notebook to record what boxes go where and what they have in them.
    • Set some goals and deadlines, for example, pack a room each week.
    • Clean and roll up any rugs that are moving.
    • Make arrangements for moving pets and plants.

  3. Community
    • Return library books.
    • Transfer children to new schools, if required.
    • Returned all borrowed items (less to pack).
    • Mail or email out a change of address notice to family members, friends, and business contacts.

  4. Records
    • Transfer any medical records and prescriptions if needed.
    • Change the address on your driver’s license.
    • Change the billing address for credit cards.
    • Change the mailing address on any bank statements.
    • Leave a record of security code for new owners/tenants if needed.

  5. Insurance and Legal Matters
    • Visit your lawyer and ensure all documents are signed.
    • Notify your insurance company well in advance of the move and review your policy for the new home. Transfer insurance over to the new address.
    • Review the moving company’s insurance policy. Purchase additional insurance if the company’s does not cover as much as you desire.
    • Give written notice to the landlord if you are currently renting.
    • Have all keys to your old home delivered to your lawyer or realtor.

Even though you have a lot of tasks and work to do, staying organized will help you feel a little more in control and less stressed about this big event. Plan ahead, write things down and stay organized and you will be on track for an easier move.

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Strong Foundation

The ankle is a physically active part of the body. The ankle consists of several ligaments that connect the bones and are required for proper function. There are also many muscles that also help support the ankle during activity. Building strength and proprioception, or special awareness, in these muscles helps to prevent injury and improve performance. Often, the most neglected body part in exercise is the ankle. There is no single sport that doesn’t involve the ankle in some way. It is important that we don’t forget about this joint and make sure we do what we can to make it strong and sturdy. A major benefit with strong ankles is that you can help reduce the risk of injury.

It is important to keep the ankle strong. When an athlete performs any type of movement, running, jumping, etc., the ankle and surrounding muscles are put under a great deal of stress. If the ankle musculature is strong, the athlete can withstand greater force – limiting the chance of injury. It will also help strengthen the lower leg muscles and aid in preventing chronic conditions such as shin splints and Achilles tendonitis. Proprioception is the body’s ability to realize its place in space. For example, if an athlete is moving into a position that could sprain his or her ankle, increased proprioception can decrease the risk by alerting the athlete to the danger. Proprioception can also increase an athlete’s performance by giving the athlete better balance and awareness and giving them the ability to control their body more effectively. Proprioception training is done with balance exercises.

Try some of these exercises to increase the balance and strength in your ankles:

  1. Standing on one leg. Hold for 30 seconds, working up to one minute per leg.
  2. Balance and catch. Standing on one leg, catch and throw a ball with a partner. Make sure you throw the ball to all directions, left, right, high and low. Do 3 sets of 30.
  3. One leg mini squats. On one leg do a half squat with the opposite leg out front for 10 reps, out to the side for 10 reps and behind for 10 reps. Repeat 3 times.
  4. Standing on unstable surface and balancing. You can use a pile of towels or clothing, sand, air mattresses to give you the uneven/unstable surface. Stand and balance on one leg and hold for as long as you can.

The ankle can be strengthened in several ways. The best way is to use a thera-band (ask your trainer or visit a medical supply store). The thera- band will give the resistance needed to strengthen your ankle. By placing the thera-band around the bottom of your foot, near the balls of your foot, you can pull on the band for resistance with your foot in the flexed position. From here, stretch your toes to a point and then slowly return it to the starting flex position. It is important to work the ankle in all four directions. To work the ligaments and muscles in the other directions, affix the band to a stationary object and then loop the other end over your toes. You can move your body in different directions to allow you to flex your foot, turn your ankle in, or turn your ankle out. Use the thera-band to feel the pull. Make sure you do about 20 reps of each of these exercises on each foot.

These exercises may look and be simple to do, but they are so important to maintain or even build strong, sturdy ankle while also preventing injury from occurring. Ankles are often not at the forefront of our mind when exercising, but they are extremely important in everything we do from walking, running, jumping to sports. Take care of them and strengthen them, you’ll see and feel the benefit.

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Greens Are Good

Eating well is key to a healthy lifestyle. Adding greens to your diet can help you pack some powerhouse nutrients into your meals. Leafy greens like kale, collard greens, chard, bok choy, arugula, and spinach just to name a few, are great greens to introduce to your daily diet. Green vegetables are loaded with protein and contain a ton of micronutrients, including folate, carotenoids, such as lutein and zeazanthin (promoting healthy vision), calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. These leafy greens have the potential of warding off many types of cancers and are very good for your heart health.

Eating a huge salad everyday does not sound like a fun way to get greens into your diet. There are many ways to include these important greens in your meals, without having to endure a large salad every day. Try some of these tips to enjoy the nutrients of green vegetables in your every day.

Puree
This is an easy way to include leafy greens into your dishes. Simply lightly steam the green you’re using then puree it with a bit of stock water until it is smooth. Once it is smooth, simply add it to the recipe. At this point, you can also freeze some in ice cube trays to use in recipes down the road. Add the leafy green puree to your soup, chili, pasta sauces, stew or even scrambled eggs.

Juice
Another easy way to get a serving of greens into your diet is to drink it. Just toss a few fresh leaves of silverbeet or arugula into your juicer.

Blend
Mix in some greens with your fruit smoothie. Adding some leafy greens with the blended fruit will give you the nutrients you need in a delicious morning drink.

Steam
Steaming is a great way to get greens from counter to table with little time required. Don’t overcook them or most of the nutrients disappear into the water below. When they are done, top them with a bit of garlicky olive oil and sea salt.

Saute
Toss the greens into a hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil and some additional spices or ingredients. Saute the greens and add to your dish. If greens are tough, like kale, you may have to steam them a bit before transferring them to the pan.

By using these tips to add greens into your daily routine, you’ll end up flooding your body with the beneficial disease fighting nutrients, sometimes without even knowing you’re eating them.

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