Infographic: The importance of a good night’s sleep

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?”
― Ernest Hemingway

I like this quote.

I love sleep too and the same as Ernest Hemingway, sometimes I feel that everything is falling apart once I am up. But this isn’t really true is it?

Sleep gives us strength, it gives is the ability to battle through the day so we can actually “make it”. Sleep is an essential part of our daily circle and without it we simply cannot function properly.

So the simple solution to making our life better is getting more sleep, more good quality sleep. Apparently most adult humans need eight hours of sleep a night to be fully rested and functional. That’s a lot of hours spent sleeping… but as it is needed we should really make the most of it.

Oldrids & Downtown commissioned this great infographic to show the importance of a good night’s sleep. It illustrates the basic rules for a good night sleep, stages of sleep, effects of sleep deprivation and my favourite part: relaxation techniques for a better sleep.

Do you sleep peacefully through the night?

I personally struggle with sleep. I have problems falling to sleep, most likely because I can’t switch off. I can lie there for hours thinking about mundane stuff which will have to be done the next day or about any problems I have at the time, trying to find a solution to fix it. I wish my sleep was deeper so that every little squeak in the house wouldn’t wake me up. I wish my sleep was longer… once I finally get to sleep I have troubles with waking up… probably even more than with going to sleep. Waking up for me is the worst part of the day; most days I just want to pull the quilt over my head, hide in my cocoon and go back to sleep but I can’t…

So any tips on how to improve my sleep or the quality of it are very welcome.

Please share with me if you know something that could help me sleep better.

* This infographic has been designed on behalf of Oldrids & Downtown.

Review – multiVAPE by multiCIG – Hope for all the smokers out there

*by Mark

There comes a time when you start to question aspects of your life and wonder if what you are doing is really in your best interest. For me it was the other day whilst standing in the wind and rain having a cigarette. I had been fighting off a cold for a couple of days so my chest was already tight and uncomfortable, and here I was in abject misery, cold and wet, compounding the situation.

Time for a different approach I think to myself!

Now followers of Bark Time will already know that this is not the first time we have been at this crossroads and that we both have played at various solutions to our addiction. From patches to white plastic tubes with cartridges in them to even dabbling in the new e-cig vapping craze, but as we have already established I was standing in the wind and rain smoking so obviously nothing has worked so far.

Then in a wonderful case of synchronicity we were offered to try a multiVAPE by multiCIG. Yes it is another type of e-cig but this one has a presence that begs you to pay attention, so I did.

The package arrived and the first thing that struck me was the weight, it had some. I was expecting a fly weight box but this one felt though it has some substance, eagerly I opened it. Inside all nicely boxed in individual compartments was the highly polished silver e-cig, a charger, a small bottle of the liquid in natural tobacco flavour and the ubiquitous user manual.

The e-cig itself is a solid well engineered item that splits into three parts. You have the mouthpiece, the chamber where the atomizer is surrounded by clear glass or plastic (hard to tell which) were you pour the liquid and can easily see how much is left and then finally is the base where the rechargeable battery is. The instructions state that you must fully charge the battery before using so I dutifully plugged it in to discover it had come fully charged already, a nice touch. The next step was a little fiddly as you have to fill the liquid reservoir without getting any into the atomizer, a task for a steady hand. Then simply screw the pieces together, easy.

Depressing the tiny button on the side 5 times powers up the e-cig and a comforting blue light lets you know you’re good to go. Then it’s a simple case of using like a regular cigarette except when you go to inhale you have to press the button to activate the atomizer.

First impressions where very good for me as the smoke actually had some substance. I had taken a big drag expecting the sensation to be very mild and ended up coughing just like I did when I first had a proper cigarette; the second go was much more restrained. If you have ever tried to smoke a shisha pipe it is a remarkably similar experience, the smoke is cool with texture and flavour. Now don’t expect the taste to be anything like your go to packet you smoke every day, you do need to look at this as a new brand. It was very good at satisfying the cravings and had the additional benefit that you only need a couple of drags and your done, no more smoking the second half of a cigarette even though you don’t really want it just because they are too expensive to throw away!

In the true nature of showbiz my e-cig saved its biggest plus till last and it came a couple of days later. My chest relaxed and my mouth stopped feeling like a parrot’s cage in the mornings. I could breathe much easier and taste my food better; this is awesome as far as I am concerned.

I have been using my multiVAPE for a couple of weeks now and the love affair is well and strong, yes I have had a couple of regular cigarettes but I now found that they actually taste awful so that desire is going away.

The other thing I would mention is that the liquid you buy comes in a variety of flavours such as menthol, coffee, cherry with more planned in the future, happy me. The bottles are rather small when you first see one and I wondered how long they would last. I put around 1/3rd into the chamber of me e-cig and it took me almost 4 days to empty it, and I am not a casual smoker, so the savings over £9 a pack cigarettes is HUGE!

Though, all is not perfect in the e-cig world. The one and only complaint I have against the system is if you leave it lying around for the night for example in the morning when you take your first drag it gurgles as if some of the liquid has leaked out or the atomizer has flooded. On one occasion it did actually deliver some unvaporised liquid into my mouth which was not tasty at all, it has only happened once to be fair so may have been my handling as opposed to a design fault. I have since discovered that if you prop it up when not using so the mouth-piece is elevated then the problem is completely eradicated.

In conclusion I think this system is the future, it works for me and I would happily recommend it to my friends. It will save you money, save your lungs, restore your taste buds and bring you into the 21st century.

Go forth and Vap!

Do you Vap? Did you try or are you one of the rare none-smoking healthy types?

New Discoveries – Migrastick

I haven’t shared with you any of my new discoveries in a while… this is not because I have forgotten but simply because I haven’t discovered anything particularly amazing… until now.

A few weeks ago I was introduced to Migrastick – a tiny roll-on device which helps to relieve the pain caused by headaches and migraines.

I don’t know how you are dealing with a headache but for me it is a nightmare. I hate taking pills, so when the pain comes my first consideration is not take the painkillers, which most of the time leads to even more pain, consequently my stress levels go through the roof and I end up having no choice but to eat some pills. This in itself makes my uneasy, grumpy and simply unhappy.

Migrastick works from the outside; it gives a lovely cold, almost freezing sensation to your temples. It smells like peppermint chewing gum and best of all it works.

Migrastick contains NO preservatives, parabens, colourings or alcohol. It is made from 100% pure and natural essential oils; it contains: peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita), lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia); Isopropyl myristate (a fatty acid of vegetable origin).

So how does it work?

You simply apply it to your temples and it will ease your pain. The cold feeling and the aroma from the oils work on your senses soothing them and then taking the pain away.

I don’t get migraines, I get just headaches, though some can be quite bad so I am not able to tell you if it works for migraines but it for sure works on headaches.

As I have very dry skin I was a bit worried at the beginning that the menthol component will irritate my skin and make it even more dry, but to my surprise this is not the case. Not sure why… maybe because these are actual oils inside the stick.

This is a really fabulous product and well worth sharing.

I only wish it had a slightly different style of packaging so you could actually see inside of it. As it is now, I have no idea how much I still have left, so I find myself wondering “is it time to buy a new one yet?”

If you want to read in more details about Migrastick please visit their website  and if you want to buy some you can purchase it from Healthy2u.

Do you think Migrstick is a good idea?

Or do you prefer a traditional painkiller?

Why snoring can put your health at risk

Snoring is a very common problem in the UK and it has been recognised as a social problem for many of years; the actual problems of which Snorers complain centre around disturbing others ‘sleep, poor sleep quality, lethargy and sore throat. Some of the predisposing factors are well-known and include obesity, alcohol and sleeping position. From a English suburban community 1,075 men and women were invited to provide information about their snoring in a ‘snore survey’ questionnaire carried out in 2004 by Sunderland Royal Hospital. From the results it was estimated that 43.75% of the middle aged (30 – 69 years) UK population snore and 41.5% of the UK adult population snore. In another survey by Tom Ford in Detroit, snorers were found to have significantly greater intima-media thickness, thought to be a precursor to atherosclerosis, thickening of the arteries, which can lead to brain haemorrhages, heart attacks and strokes.

It’s not laughing matter

American researchers have found that snoring can lead to a deterioration of your sleep quality leaving you exhausted the next day and increasing the risk of stroke. According to the American Heart Association the evidence is very strong for the relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

A quarter of British couples say snoring is ruining their sex lives and it’s cited as the third most common reason for divorce after financial problems and adultery. With 38% of couples saying that their partner’s sleep disorder has caused problems in their relationship it’s many times the reason couples seek relationship counselling.

Understanding Snoring

To understand the problem it’s important to know what snoring actually is. Expert snoring advisor, Richard Tyrell of Snorewizard explains that snoring is the production of sound from the upper aerodigestive tract during sleep. ‘When we sleep, the airways in the head and neck relax and narrow. The resulting restriction in the size of the air passages affects our breathing rate and changes the air pressure, which results in vibrations of soft tissue. The nasal passages, soft palate, tongue, tonsils and uvula have all been found to play a part in creating the sound we call snoring. Evidence suggests that snoring will get worse over time if left untreated as it can cause irreparable damage blood vessels supplying the muscles in the throat.’

Risk factors

Obesity – Extra weight is a risk factor for snoring, although those of us at a healthy weight aren’t immune. Extra weight around the neck can exacerbate the narrowing of the air passages that occurs when we sleep.

Alcohol/tranquilisers – Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it causes the body’s systems to slow down and relax. It causes the muscles involved in snoring to relax more than usual when you sleep, further narrowing the airways and increasing the chances of snoring.

Age – We snore more as we get older. This is perhaps due to a decrease in muscle tone of the soft tissue involved in snoring. Middle-aged men have been found to be the biggest snorers. 60% of men and 40% of women over the age of 60 have been found to snore.

Smoking – Smoking has been found to be a major contributing factor when it comes to snoring, even amongst ex-smokers. Passive smoking could also be linked to snoring. Smoke irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and throat, which leads to swelling, catarrh and therefore, narrowed airways, much the same as when you have a cold.

Medication – Some medications like sedatives or anti-depressants which cause you to relax more than usual have been found to increase the likelihood of snoring.

Nasal or sinus problems – Some of these issues can cause your airways to narrow more than usual.

Eating a large meal or eating near bedtime – Both of these things can cause you to relax more than usual or, with a full stomach you can affect how open your airways are.

What can you do?

Exercise and weight loss are a good start point; sleeping on your side will take pressure off your throat and clearing your nasal passages before bed will minimise obstruction of your air passages. Always seek expert medical advice and try to find out more about some alternative devices available that can help you get a better night’s sleep.

Do you snore?

How do you cope with you snoring partner?

*Post brought to you by Snorewizard.

Giveaway – #win 1 of 10 formoline L112

It is becoming a little bit of a tradition – this will be the third time I have for you a giveaway for formoline L112 – Germany’s No.1 Slimming Supplement.

Same as the last two times, there will be 10 winners and each winner will receive one box of formoline L112.

If you are new to formoline L112, here is some basic information about it…

formoline L112 contains a naturally sourced fibre that binds to dietary fats passing through the digestive tract, significantly reducing the calories that your body absorbs. The bound fat and fibre are excreted in the normal way.

formoline L112 works specifically on fats (not sugar-based foods or carbohydrates) and so is most effective when calories are derived from a diet rich in processed foods that contain large amounts of saturated and trans fats.

Results show a possible weight loss of 7kg over a 4-week period.

formoline L112 can be used as part of a systematic weight loss programme or as an occasional use product when it isn’t possible to count calories, such as when on holiday or when dining with friends, and will help you to manage your overall intake of fat and fat-derived calories.

It also promotes a feeling of fullness, so users may naturally consume fewer calories. It does not act on the body’s metabolism and is very well tolerated. It is suitable for people with diabetes as there is no carbohydrate exchange value and it can help to lower cholesterol intake.

If you want to lose weight you have to remember that there are no magic pills. Slimming supplements like formoline L112 can help you to achieve your goal but they aren’t going to do the hard work for you.

As stated above formoline L112 works on fat, so if you are having a virtually fat free diet, they aren’t going to help.

I personally would recommend formoline L112 as a supplement when needed – I treat it a little bit like a guilt killer… I have a very rich and fatty meal or a pile of chocolate and then pop a few pills to counter act what I just ate… it seems to be working for me 😉

Anyway if you are in need of dropping a few pounds this might be just the thing for you.

In order to stand a chance of winning one of my 10 formoline L112 boxes please follow me on Twitter and RT:

Follow and RT @AgataPokutycka to win 1 of 10 boxes of formoline L112 thanks to http://www.healthstuff.co.uk/ Full T&C at: http://wp.me/p3l2gI-1k8

Follow and RT @AgataPokutycka to win 1 of 10 boxes of formoline L112 thanks to http://t.co/2Q0EWFqAlQ Full T&C at: http://t.co/ZVMIWgTpU5

— Agata @ BarkTime (@AgataPokutycka) October 28, 2014

T&C:
1. Open Worldwide.
2. One obligatory entry per reader – follow me and RT as stated above. Extra RT will count as additional entries.
3. There will be 10 winners in total.
4. Each winner will receive 1 box of formoline L112 – 48tab. The prize will be provided by HealthStuff.
5. Winners will be picked at random and informed within 7 working days via Twitter.
6. Winners will have 7 working days to claim the prize, after this time, a new winner will be selected.
7. Closing date is Monday 10-11-2014 at 23:59pm, any entry made after this time will not be counted.

Good Luck!

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions
Loquax – Home of The Lucky Duck
SuperLucky Blog Giveaways Linky

***

19/11 WINNERS UPDATE

Well done to 10 lucky winners:
@avelte2000
@K34L4
@eca81uk
@laurenceamason
@jodieh1131
@porkpackerpete
@WendyWendyp22
@lfcvicki
@Oddney
@ChelseaMamma

Dyson helping you to battle allergens #NoHiddenDust

There are a lot of things in the world to get excited about; I had no idea that a vacuum cleaner could be one of them until I “met” Dyson Cinetic.

First of all it is a stunning looking machine; build on a ball technology it looks like no other vacuum cleaner. Its design reminds me of a high end sports car engine. It is something you really don’t want to hide in your under stair cupboard.

Secondly and this is the more important part it can help you battle the allergens from your home… you know all the nasty dust mites, pollen and mould… Did you ever imagine that a vacuum cleaner will help you with your allergies?

Dyson is the only vacuum cleaner manufactures which has a fully-equipped in house microbiology lab, which enables them to develop healthier and more hygienic appliances. This means that they are better equipped to deal with the nasties that lurk in our carpets and furniture.

Did you know that an average bed has up to 3 million dust mites? But they live not only in your bed mattress… they live in your carpet, pillows, soft furnishing and all the soft toys your child loves so much, oh and let’s not forget about all the makeup brushes and eyes shadow applicators… We can follow a few easy steps to reduce the dust mite population:

• Vacuum your mattress regularly in order to pick up dry skin cells and dust mite faeces (Dyson’s vacuum cleaners are all approved by the Allergy Foundation so you know they will “eat” it up).
• Replace your pillows at least once a year.
• Do not make your bed straight after you get up; let it cool down a bit.
• Wash all bedding on 60 degree cycle (or higher) as dust mites can’t survive extreme temperatures.
• Freeze your child soft toys and your beloved makeup brushes. Again extreme temperatures will kill dust mites and freezing instead of washing will help you to preserve the original shape of the toy.

Another allergen which is very common is pollen. This is the one which is making me cry like a baby sometimes… sometimes my morning walk with the dogs suddenly becomes a nightmare: red puffy eyes, tears everywhere and all I can do is sneeze… and then sneeze some more… You would think that the pollen problem is restricted to the outside, but it is not. We bring it indoors on our clothing and shoes or it simply gets in once you open the window. Again there are some tips we can follow in order to minimize pollen impact on our everyday life:

• Keep your lawn short; it will prevent any grass from flowering, which means reducing pollen count.
• Try not to dry your clothes outside when the pollen count is high especially in the morning and early evening.
• Airing the house is very important but again let’s try to avoid high pollen times.

Last but not least there is the problem of pets. Did you know that is it actually the dog or cat saliva which makes you sneeze rather than the fur itself? This explains a few things… normally I have no problems with pets as you would expect from someone who owns four of them but every now and then after a cuddling session especially with Bunk I get a huge rash on my hands. I had already noticed that this is happening after he licks me but I never put these two things together… the rash goes away within 30 minutes or so, but it is very itchy and it doesn’t look good at all. Just like with the nasties above, when it comes to pet allergies there are certain things that we can do to help reduce any occurrences:

• Groom your pet regularly. You can try a vacuum grooming tool to make this job easier.
• Wash any dog bedding on 60 degree cycle.
• Vacuum your house as often as possible, to remove all the loose hair containing pet saliva.

These three allergens as stated above are causing a lot of problems, but as much as we would like to we are not able to get rid of them… we can only reduce them. Mould is the one which we can and should try to eliminate completely. Mould can lead to watery and itchy eyes and runny noses, this is one kind type of mould, but some of them can be toxic and are really harmful so we should get rid of mould as soon as we spot any… or even better do not allow any mould to grow in our house in the first place. Keeping your house clean and dry will help you battle mould.

So now that you know what is lurking in your house, how do you feel about it? My reaction was:

Scary stuff isn’t it?

Anyway, Dyson can help you fight all of these.

I do not own one but I would love to. I had a chance to see it in action and experience its full power.

We tested how Dyson and other vacuum cleaner will perform when picking up some baking powder from a high gloss shiny surface… have a look at the final effect…

Dyson ate it all, leaving a clean surface behind whilst the competitor vacuum smudged the baking powder all over the floor… I can assume a similar effect whilst dealing with dust mites for example.

I have a short video I took while we were testing the Dyson Cinetic abilities over and over again… it is a bit wobbly at times but it shows you clearly that there is no safe place for the dust (or baking powder in this case) to hide.

If you are in need of a new vacuum you might want to consider the Dyson Cinetic. Its technology is like no other and I am sure it will serve you well… after all Dyson made 2000 prototypes whilst creating this stunning machine.

It is not cheap but you will get 5 years parts and labour guarantee and no need for bags, no loss of suction and no filter fuss! I am adding one to my Wish List. With all the pets in the house I could really do with a vacuum cleaner which doesn’t get blocked by dog hairs every 2 minutes.

Do you have any experience with a Dyson vacuum?

Did you know that they can help to battle allergens?

* Pictures in this post were taken by A. Sherratt and they all belong to Dyson Ltd.
The wobbly video is my own 🙂
I was invited by Dyson to attend bloggers event in London.
I was not paid to write this post but I received a goodie bag.

Giveaway – formoline L112 – weight loss tablets – 10 winners

If you’re looking to lose a few lbs
for the bikini season,
formoline L112 can lend a helping hand…

It is, and has been since 2007, Germany’s number one slimming supplement and works by reducing the overall calorie intake from food – specifically from dietary fats – removing them safely from your body before they are digested. Results show a possible weight loss of up to 7kg over a 4-week period.

formoline L112 usually costs £24.95 for 48 tablets (currently on sale for £2.99 – best before date 05/14).

You can buy formoline L112 online at www.healthstuff.co.uk or you can try your luck and win one of ten boxes I am giving away in my giveaway (your formoline L112 will not be from the short date batch, so no need to worry).

Tempted?

Of course you are… after all who of us doesn’t dream about losing a few lbs…

So, how do you enter my giveaway?
The rules are simple, as always 🙂

Please follow my blog and leave a comment: I would like to know the main reason you wish to lose weight

Daily additional entry: Follow me on Twitter and RT the competition message as stated below, and then please leave a comment telling me that you have done so.

Need to lose a few lbs for the bikini season? formoline L112 can help – 10 winners – enter at http://wp.me/p3l2gI-Qd via @AgataPokutycka

Good Luck!

T&C
1. Open worldwide.
2. One obligatory entry per reader + 1 additional entry per day allowed.
3. There will be 10 winners in total. Each winner will receive 1 box of formoline L112 – 48 tablets.
4. HealthStuff.co.uk will be responsible for the delivery of the prizes.
5. Winners will be picked at random and informed within 7 working days from the close of the competition via email or Twitter.
6. Winners will then have 7 working days to claim their prize, after this time, a new winner will be automatically selected.
7. Closing day is 13-04-2014 at 23:59pm, an entry made after this time will not be counted.

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions
SuperLucky Blog Giveaways Linky

***

WINNERS UPDATE! 08/05/2014

It took sometime but finally all winners accepted and confirm their prize.

And the lucky winners are:

• Jodie H.
• Emily K.
• Rebecca S.
• Sairz E.
• Sarah G.
• Laura C.
• Becci C.
• Teresa M.
• Hayley T.
• Elaine W.

Well done to all winners!

 

Review – Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

What is blood pressure?*

When your heart beats, it pumps blood round your body to give it the energy and oxygen it needs. As the blood moves, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels. The strength of this pushing is your blood pressure.

Why it is important to monitor blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries (and your heart) and this may lead to heart attacks and strokes.

The problem is that having high blood pressure is not usually something that you feel or even notice, so if you have a high blood pressure it is advised that you monitor it on a regular basic… even if you don’t have high blood pressure as standard, monitoring it will not hurt.

Some people think that blood pressure problems are connected with old age, too much drinking, being overweight, eating too much salt and yes, in part they would be correct but this list is not all inclusive and we all might suffer from it, despite being extra healthy, on a good diet or following an exercise routine.

With technology going forward at the “speed of light” today, we do not have to rely on the doctors to check our blood pressure; we can do it ourselves in the quietness of our own home.

So which blood pressure monitor should you choose? I think something which would be fully automatic, accurate, clinically validated and at a good price! The Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor ticks all these boxes for me and more.

The good points of Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor:

Packaging

It comes with a carry case, which in my eyes is a huge plus. You have something to store it in but also it makes it easier to move around and of course keep your blood pressure monitor clean and dust free.

Size

It is small, therefore extremely portable. Pair it with a carry case and you have a perfect travel size blood pressure monitor, which will fit in most handbags if you chose so.

Ease of use

If you follow a set of easy instructions you will have no problems what so ever with using it. It is kind of fool proof. Also, as it is a wrist monitor, there is no need for undressing which speeds the whole process up.

Accurate

As long as you sit still your measurements will be accurate. No talking, eating, reading while using it. Focus on what you are doing – measuring your blood pressure –and you will get an accurate result every time.

Clinically validated

So you have the peace of mind that it will give you a correct and accurate result… as long as you measure it right.

Price

With the current price set at £19.95 I think it is a real bargain.

The bad points of Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

We found none. We couldn’t find anything which we didn’t like or would want correcting.

So what do you get in the box:

• The box, of course
• An Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
• A carry case
• The user Manual
• Warranty – 5 years
• 2 x AAA batteries

Comparing the Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor to our old one is like comparing apples to oranges. No more hand pumping to the point that your whole hand feels like it is about to fall off, no more obviously inaccurate measurements and therefore endless retakes and no more taking notes whilst doing it. The Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor will store the last 180 readings for you all date and time stamped – it is split for 90 readings for 2 users.

With so many people having heart attacks and strokes every year, a blood pressure monitor should be part of any first aid kit in every household. It doesn’t take much and it could save a life!

Do you own a blood pressure monitor?

*source

Why walking is better than running

Last week I read a funny post by Slummy Single Mummy with the title “9 good(ish) reasons to give up running”. I clocked this post via my email subscription and I simply couldn’t resist clicking on the link and reading it… I just had to know what these reasons might be…

And you know what? It really made me feel better to know that I am not the only one who feels like this about running. I hate running too! It always makes me feel bad when I see all those promo spots with runners… it looks so easy and it looks almost totally effortless… I know from experience that it is not! So stop showing all the clips that make it look so easy… All this pretty looking runners… bah… they do not exist in the real world… I know, I have looked for them…

Anyhow… this has got my thinking… there must be an easier alternative to running… surprise, surprise… yes there is… it is called WALKING!

So I set myself a challenge to find out if walking can out benefit running…

To my huge surprise they do offer more or less the same benefits.

Walking apparently is better for:

Your immune system – running can stress it out, especially long distance running

Your heart – again long distance running can lead to elevated serum markers for cardiac stress

Your joints – running is stressing out our joints too much, which might lead to an increased risk of injuries and osteoarthritis in later life.

Running wins hands down when it comes to fat burning… but to help offset this difference we can simply walk a bit faster for longer 🙂

I also found out a few other interesting facts about walking:

Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes per week and losing just 7% of your body weight (12-15 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%.*

Walking is good for your brain. In a study on walking and cognitive function, researchers found that women who walked the equivalent of an easy pace at least 1.5 hours per week had significantly better cognitive function and less cognitive decline than women who walked less than 40 minutes per week.*

Walking helps alleviate symptoms of depression. Walking for 30 minutes, three to five times per week for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of depression as measured with a standard depression questionnaire by 47%.*

So for me walking is the winner!

It doesn’t make me sweat like a horse, at least most of the time; is doesn’t cost so much and I can do it without any huge preparations or long notice…

All you need for walking is time and willingness… that’s it!

Yes, you can get a nice pair of walking shoes so you are more comfortable; you can get a walking pole if you want to try so called Nordic Walking and yes, you can get a pedometer… the last one I would actually recommend if for nothing else it can provide you with interesting data about your walking habits.

Lately I have been using a 4×3 motion digital 3D pedometer from Ozeri. Truly it is an incredible tool. It measures my steps (after setting it to my stride), distance covered, time spent and calories burned (yes, you have to share your weight with it). This is not the first pedometer in our household but it is the first we feel that actually works and does the job it is supposed to do. And to make things easier you are not required to keep it on your hip / waist / belt at all times. It has a clever 3D sensor which works in any position, so attach the lanyard as provided and simply wear it around your neck. Great little tool if you like to keep the score of things.

So what do you think? Walking or running?

While you think about that I will share with you some non-health related walking facts.

Given that the world is about 25,000 miles in circumference and that the average walking rate is 3 miles per hour, it would take a person walking nonstop approximately 347 days to walk around the world.**

The average human walking speed is about 3.1 miles per hour, or 5.0 kilometres per hour.**

And, one more for you; this one is scary when you think about it…

It would take, on average, 1 hour and 43 minutes of walking to burn off a 540-calorie Big Mac.**

.

I received an Ozeri pedometer for free for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.

Source:

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/5-ways-walking-is-better-than-running

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/six-surprising-scientific-facts-about-walking

http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/WalkingFactsBenefits.pdf

*http://www.medicinenet.com/walking/article.htm#what_are_the_top_10_reasons_to_walk

**http://facts.randomhistory.com/walking-facts.html

You are what you drink…

The human body contains anywhere from 50-75% water! The average adult human body is around 50-65% water, when an infant the body has a much higher level, typically around 75%. Amazing isn’t it?

We often hear how important hydration is. It takes only 1% dehydration to already effect our mental and physical coordination, this is happening even before we feel thirsty (this feeling usually kicks in after we have already lost 2-3% of water content). The common sign of dehydration is of course feeling thirsty but there are also other signs like headache, lack of energy or feeling lightheaded… are you experiencing any of them? Go and get a drink before you read any further 🙂

We are told that we should drink a lot of water / fluids to keep our body functions in perfect order. The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women should drink about 1.6 litres of fluid and men should drink about 2.0 litres of fluid per day. That’s about eight 200ml glasses for a woman and 10 200ml glasses for a man. That’s a lot! I must admit I do not drink enough most days and every so often I will promise myself to change… then life takes over and I simply forget… until thirst really kicks in…

So we all know that we have to drink, but what to drink is the other real question.

With 1000s of different drink options on the market these days sometimes it is hard to pick what is really good for us or even which drink can you benefit from the most. There are drinks manufactured especially to target specific needs, drinks without any real benefits but taste good and there is of course the humble water…

Lately I was thinking a lot about drinks and the different options available to us out there. I would like to share with you some of my picks that we have tried and now use.

So, what to drink?

WATER

This is always the best option for replenishing lost fluids in our body. Question is do I drink tap or bottled water? I do not have any strong feelings against bottled water, we do drink tap water in our home. We use bottled water when out and about and there is always some kept in the car… you know, just in case.

FLAVORED WATER – as in water + squash

This is Marks favourite drink – water and usually orange squash. We try to buy squash with no added sugar to reduce sugar intake.

JUICES

We buy quite a lot of juices, but we always read the labels first. 100% real juice with no added sugar is the best option out there. Yes, they do cost more, but our thinking is… better buy less but good quality than more of a poor quality. The same with fruit smoothies, always check the labels… you will be really surprised what is inside some of them.

MILK BASED DRINKS

There is a whole range of milk based drinks out there. We like Frijj 🙂 They do a great selection of flavours and when on special offer I think they represent a good value for money. Their milkshakes are made from skimmed milk which is a plus in my eyes, Mark doesn’t agree being a “proper” milk fan. Other milk based drink I would like to mention is an Activia drinking / pouring yogurt from Danone. They were very helpful, especially in the few last months when Mark was on a soft food / liquid diet.

PROBIOTIC DRINKS

Last year, I believe, there was a lot of talk about probiotic drinks… why? because some companies were claiming benefits which were actually never proven. Probiotic drinks are tiny and cost a lot, but they can be helpful; they can help with gut disorders and inflammatory diseases. We do not buy them very often but when we do we always go for Yakult.

BEAUTY DRINKS

This is something new. I’ve just discovered it and it was actually just launched. The Protein Drinks Co. created Collagen+ Beauty Milk 🙂

Collagen+ Beauty Milk has been synergistically formulated to provide health and beauty conscious women (and men) with a convenient way of consuming essential proteins, vitamins and minerals in strawberry milkshake format. Not only does Collagen+ Beauty Milk offer an impressive nutritional profile but it is also enhanced with Hydrolysed Collagen, extensively known for its skin and ‘anti-aging’ effects through acting internally on the dermis, to support skin elasticity, firmness and hydration in order to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Furthermore, Collagen+ Beauty Milk also includes natural Green Tea extract, known for its antioxidant and metabolism boosting properties along with 100% of your RDA of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin D3 and Vitamins B3, B6 and B12.*

I received just a few bottles to try it out, so I am unable to say if it works or will provide visible benefits, but it taste great! Again, not the cheapest option (£2 per 200ml bottle) but hey… when it comes to beauty in so many cases, money is no object.

I have also had the chance to try the new drink by Taj called Aloe Vera. It comes in a range of flavours. I tried the original and the strawberry. I mention these for the reasons that they are again being specifically targeted at a market segment who are interested in healthy drinks. They serve the function of aiding detox routines as well as boosting your general immunity and as if that is not enough they also give you a boost to energy. Made from 40%+ Aloe Vera juice and pulp they of course interested me as you regular blog readers are well aware I am a big fan of Aloe Vera. Please note that Aloe Vera drinks are not suitable if pregnant, lactating or for children under 3.

FIZZY DRINKS

We all drink them and most of us love it! They come in 100s of different flavour combinations and everyone can find something for themselves. But are they good for us? … most likely not. They are full of sugar and contain very few nutrients if any. So what? We will still buy them and drink them… if not an everyday basic, on holidays, when it is hot out there, when we are out and about etc… They are part of our lives, there is no question about it. Worth remembering is that they are not a part of a healthy diet (even the zero sugar versions), so we try to keep them as a treat for odd occasions…

ENERGY DRINKS

Oh, gosh – Red Bull, Tiger, Burn etc – they are a blessing sometimes; full of caffeine which will help you wake up right here, right now. Again, this is something most of us drink from time to time and I do not see anything wrong with it. They are created to help us and as long as they are used in moderation you will be fine. There is also a healthier option if you need a pick me up – Healthspan’s Multivitality Boost, which I featured on my blog earlier on.

SPORT DRINKS

This group is similar to energy drinks but they do serve a slightly different purpose. Sport drinks are supposed to help us quickly replace lost fluids. They are usually rich in carbohydrates – the most efficient long term source of energy. Sports drinks also contain electrolytes (minerals such as chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium), which, along with body fluid, diminish as you exercise and sweat. So, I guess if you exercise a lot you will need some of those.

WEIGHT LOSS AID DRINKS

Ok, this is group of drinks I may have made-up but I wanted to tell you about Skinny Water and I wasn’t sure where to put it. Last year I’ve won a lot of Skinny Water… and when I say a lot… I really mean it. I was drinking it for months and months and I felt good… Bio Synergy Skinny Water is a low calorie flavoured water soft drink. Each bottle contains chromium which plays a role in reducing sugar cravings and L-carnitine, which has been the subject of numerous studies regarding speeding up the way the body goes about fat metabolism.

TEA AND COFFEE

……

So what are your drinking habits, and no I don’t mean alcohol 🙂

Have you found a good healthy drink out there you can recommend we try out?

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I received PR samples of TAJ and Collagen+ Beauty Milk drinks for free for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.

Source:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/waterchemistry/f/How-Much-Of-Your-Body-Is-Water.htm

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx

http://www.saga.co.uk/health/medicines/probiotics.aspx

*http://www.healthgauge.com/read/collagen-beauty-milk/

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/sports-drinks.html