The Fittest Fuel

How to Make a Child Interested to Softball?

In today’s digital age, more and more kids are being accustomed to using gadgets that playing outdoor sports no longer interest them. Many parents are finding it hard to convince their kids that playing outside is more fun and beneficial to them. On the other hand, other parents are also afraid of letting their children go outside thinking of the dangers it can bring to their child, but if the mentality is like this, how can you improve your child’s well-being?

Physical activity plays an important role in a child’s development and sports is one way to keep children healthy and happy at the same time. Here are some of the ways to make your kids interested in playing softball:

Lead by Example

This is the perfect example of practicing what you preach. A child would know if the parents are true to their words by looking at their actions, do not just tell your kids the benefits of playing the game, instead show them how it’s done and play together, this way they will surely get interested because they can see you doing it. A child also loves playing with their parents so it is also a good bonding moments for all of you.

Keep It Fun

No child wants to feel that something is a chore that needs to be done and if you will make them feel that playing softball is a responsibility, they will immediately avoid doing that. Kids learn the importance of sports by watching their parents participate in them and if you are having fun doing it, your kids will know that you are having fun. When teaching the game to your children, avoid putting too much pressure and instead keep it light by adding humour to keep their interest.

Watch the Game Together

Watching a game is one good way to bond as parent and child, it will not only capture their interest to the game but they will also look forward to spending time with you. Take your child to a softball game and show support to your favourite team, bring sports banners to make the child feel the excitement of cheering up to your team and sooner or later they will keep asking you to watch the game or even participate in the game. (more…)

7 Ways to Naturally Improve your Heart Health

In honor of National Heart Health month, and Valentines Day, here are 7 ways to naturally protect your heart, reduce overall inflammation and live a longer, healthier life!

1) Eat more fruits and veggies

Instead of eating processed carbohydrates, add some healthy fruits and vegetables into your diet (did someone say antioxidants?)

2) Embrace healthy fats

This may seem counter intuitive, but you need to eat fat to lower cholesterol, body inflammation and help your heart! Healthy fats nourish, lubricate, and coat the little cuts to repair blood vessels and decrease internal inflammation. Aim for a healthy fat source at each meal! Steer clear of “fat-free” products!

Healthy fat ideas: nuts, seeds, avocado, coconut oil, butter, olive oil

3) Ditch body inflammation

Keep your gut healthy, get checked for food allergies, prevent chronic infections, and reduce toxins in home products as much as possible. Your gut holds 60-70% of your immune system..so keeping this healthy is a good idea! Read this post for more info

Reduce inflammation with this great supplement and order here (registration code:HF636)

4) Eat balanced meals (protein, fats and carbohydrates)

Aim for a healthy protein, carb and fat at each meal. This will not only balance your brain to prevent cravings, but will also help your metabolism (and heart) to keep pumping!

5) Take a chill pill

Remove stress from your life as much as you can. Did you know stress increases your blood pressure, causes damage to your arteries, causes irregular heart rhthms and weakens your immune system? YIKES! Be kind to your heart by taking a few min each day to practice stress management.

Some things that may work for you: yoga, journaling, deep breathing, prayer, meditation, walking, walking to a friend, stepping outside for a few minutes…

6) Supplement your heart

– Probiotics (at least 15 billion live organisms)

– L-Glutamine

-Fish Oil

-Vitamin D

-Magnesium

-Multivitamin

-CoQ10: a heart protective antioxidant that produces energy for every cell in our body. The heart contains the highest amount of CoQ10, and statin drugs deplete your body of this important antioxidant. If you’re taking  a statin–at minimum supplement with [email protected]

All of these will help heal any existing inflammation. All of these supplements heal inflammation by healing your gut first.

Order Pharmaceutical grade supplements here

7) Get your heart pumpin’!

This doesn’t mean running a marathon or participating in an Ironman training program. However, doing something each day to stay active is great for your heart, metabolism, mood, and even stress level. Research shows it may even be better for your heart to do shorter, more efficient workouts such as interval training, HIIT training, Crossfit, or bootcamp.

Kombucha- How to Brew

If you havent read my post on why you should drink kombucha…start here! Do you love Kombucha, but yet do not want to spend $4 a bottle at the store? Read below for Kombucha- How to Brew right in the comfort of your own home! I have been brewing my own Kombucha at home for a few months now, and not only is it more cost effective…its actually easy! Kombucha is a fermented tea that has actually been around for centuries. Kombucha is high in B-vitamins, antioxidants, probiotics, and glucaric acid. Kombucha also helps with:

• liver detoxification
• improved pancreas function (say no to diabetes!)
• increased energy (who doesn’t need more energy?)
• better digestion (everyone needs this too!)
• alleviation of anxiety and depression (Wahoo!)
• kills yeast overgrowth
• helps nutrient absorption and transportation

I thought Kombucha had sugar added to it, should I avoid it?

No! Although Kombucha is brewed from sweetened tea, most of the sugar ferments out, so it has minimal effect on blood sugar. It can be made with caffeinated or decaf tea, and even with green tea or herbal teas (I usually use black tea). The Kombucha is brewed with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Yeast and Bacteria) that “eats” the sugars in the sweetened tea and creates an acidic, vitamin and probiotic rich beverage (Sounds great, right?!).

Where Do I Get a SCOBY?

• From someone you know who already has one brewing; each time you make a batch you get a fresh new SCOBY (Fort Worth friends you are in luck!)
• Online source. Be careful and make sure it is a reputable source! I like these

10 Reasons To Yoga Upside Down

Turn your frown upside down with a yoga inversion!

I will start by saying that I LOVE yoga. If I could practice at my studio every day I would. Sometimes I do it at home, if I cannot make it but I wanted to share with you 10 of the health benefits of yoga inversions (or going upside down).

What do you mean upside down anyways?

Any pose that places the hips above the heart and the heart above the head is considered an inversion. So technically downward dog could count!

Here are 10 Reasons you yoga upside down and add yoga to your daily workout routine:

10 Reasons to Yoga Upside Down:

1. Fresh Glow: While you are upside down, nutrients and oxygen are flushed to the face–creating that healthy glow. You’ll look like you just walked out of spa day…but for a much cheaper price!
2. Brain Booster: a headstand increases the blood flow to the brain and improves cognitive functioning. It also stimulates the glands in charge of sleep cycles, digestion, reproductive hormones and more!
3. Confidence: I mean, who doesn’t feel good when they are upside down?
4. Body Strengthening: You will put your shoulders, upper back, core and legs to work while in an inversion. To hold your handstand your abs, legs, and obliques will be contacted the entire time!
5. Good-bye Grays! Did you know that increased blood flow to your brain can prevent gray hairs (mom, are you reading this?)
6. Adrenal Support: Adrenal glands are flushed when you are upside down. Not only will you have a better outlook on life, but your headstand/handstand could improve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress! You’ll also flush a healthy dose of hormones into your body which= more energy!
7. Get your digestion going: Being upside down stimulates digestive juices and keeps everything moving as it should. Inversions also stimulate the endocrine gland which regulates metabolism and turns food into available energy!
8. Reduce Edema: Stimulating lymph and blood flow can help reduce swelling in your legs, ankles and feet. If you walk all day, you may consider an inversion when you get home to help reduce the swelling in your legs!
9. Mindfulness: Practicing yoga inversions will help you to learn to be in the moment, listen to your body, block out “outside noise” and focus on one thing at a time.
10. New Party Trick: Be the “coolest kid on the block” when you bust out this talent at your next social event! Promise, it works..

Sleep: What it has to do with YOUR health!

With the passing of daylight savings last weekend I thought it would be appropriate to post about sleep and what it has to do with your health!

Sleep… What Does it have to do with my health? A lot actually! Sleep controls your hormones, your stress response, your body inflammation, mood, hunger, fullness, cravings, and so much more! In this article you will learn some interesting sleep and health facts you might not have been aware of!

Do you struggle falling asleep at night?

Do you wake up tired every morning?

Do you wake up in the middle of the night have trouble falling back asleep?

Do you get a surge of energy around the time you should be winding down for bed?

Anyone around here know what I am talking about?

(**sees every hand raised**)

So many people struggle with these problems so trust me, you are not alone! When you are sleep deprived, weight gain, sugar cravings, confusion, and slow metabolism (to name a few) may occur.

Does sleep affect your weight?

YES! And there are TONS of studies that demonstrate the connection between sleep and weight.