Improve your well-being with the latest health and fitness news.
Sweet Swap
Swapping just one can of pop (artificially sweetened or not) per day with a non-sweetened beverage such as water, coffee, or tea, could lower your risk of developing diabetes by 10 percent.
Source: Diabetes Care
Dog Ownership Linked to a Longer Life
Seeing your four-legged friend at the end of a long workday brings a smile to your face, but research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found that dog ownership might also lead to a longer life. In this study, dog owners enjoyed better longevity than those who didn’t own dogs, likely due to the increase in physical activity and decrease in depression and loneliness that comes with sharing your home with Fido.
Increase Your Balance with Three Exercises
Better stability is an important way to ensure fewer falls as you age. Here are some simple exercises you can start today—and you don’t even need a gym! The following exercises can all be done while holding the back of a chair for support.
1. Single-Leg Stand: Lift the right foot and hold for 10 seconds, then place back on the ground. Repeat 10 times. Switch to lift the left foot, repeating 10 times.
- Sumo Squat with Lift: Stand with feet wider than hip-distance apart, toes turned out to 45 degrees. Bend slightly through the knees, then as you straighten, lift the right leg out to the side before placing it back on the ground. Repeat the squat, lifting the left leg this time. Repeat for a total of 12 lifts.
- Toe Taps: Stand with feet parallel and bend your knees slightly. Using your right foot to begin, tap your toe on the floor in front of you, then to the side, then to the back, then place it back beside the other foot. Repeat 10 times, then use the left foot.
Consult your healthcare practitioner before starting a new exercise program.
Amazing Oats
Your morning oatmeal has loads of benefits aside from being a deliciously warming breakfast. Oats contain fiber, which is linked to healthier cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of diabetes and heart disease, phytochemicals that reduce inflammation, and are an excellent source of vitamins B and E, as well as the mineral magnesium.
About the author: Chelsea Clarke relocated from Toronto to the Madawaska Valley in 2016 in search of a slower pace. In 2017, she opened Madawaska Valley Dance, a dance and fitness studio for children and adults, which has found a permanent home in Wilno. She’s also the assistant editor for STRONG Fitness Magazine.
Photo: Daniel Frank on Pexels
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Great first article! This lifestyle with its view to health is something that this area should promote in it’s townships strategic plan.