anti inflammatory

Recently I asked you guys to tell me all the things you dislike about exercising so that we can find ways to turn that hate into love. One thing that came up a lot is, "I don't like the muscle soreness that I get two days after working out."

Agreed — feeling sore can be a big downer and make daily practices, such as sitting on the toilet, a painful experience. The thing is that sore muscles are totally normal and totally temporary. Typically called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), DOMS usually occurs 24 to 48 hours after an activity and typically lasts about 24 to 48 hours. Since it can be an uncomfortable 24 to 48 hours, here are a few ways for keeping the soreness under control:

• Progress slowly, don't overdo it.
• Warm up and cool down.
• Stretch daily, especially after exercising.
• Ice the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes/day.
• Hit the hot tub or bathtub.
• Take anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen).
• Massage sore muscle or roll it out.
• Avoid strenuous activity.

Personally, I look at being sore as a reminder of the fact that I worked out and pushed myself. I may not have those washboard abs yet, but a mildly sore midsection means that those abs have been worked. A little soreness feels good once in a while, so try not to let it discourage you from exercising.

Fit's Tip: If you experience pain that lasts more than four days, you may have actually injured yourself and should consult a doctor.

The darker the berry... the greater the antioxidants - just doesn't have the same ring as the sweeter the juice, but so true in the case of blueberries. Those tiny blue fruit gems are just loaded with good things for you and me.

Blueberries are antioxidants and have been found to be one of the most effective foods for destroying free radicals. It is the blue-red pigment in the berries that make them such powerful warriors against the carcinogenic free radicals. They are also a low calorie, high fiber food.

In a recent study performed on rats, blueberry extract improved age related memory loss, balance and coordination in "elderly" rats. These berries also contain tannins that help decrease inflammation, particularly in the digestive system. Plus blueberries promote urinary tract health, which is important if you are battling a UTI on vacation overseas and can't get your hands on cranberry juice.

The best thing about blueberries is they are in season right now through early fall. I love them in fruit salad, on yogurt or just in my morning bowl of cereal. How about you?

Source

Cherry juice has long been know for its tartness but what about for its pain relief?

Research out of the University of Vermont found that drinking a bottle of the cherry juice blend twice a day for three days before exercise and for four days afterwards eased muscle soreness compared to those who did not drink the juice blend. So if your favorite excuse for not working out is getting sore, stop your complaining and invest in some cherry juice or yummy fresh cherries (my favorite).

I keep reading about foods that are high in magnesium, and I nod my head and I think "Great." Today, when nodding my head I finally asked myself if I knew why this mineral is important to health and I realized I was clueless. So, I did a little research and here's what I found.

• Magnesium is in our bones!!!! Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bones. The rest is found in cells of body tissue and organs.



• Our bodies cannot produce magnesium so it is important to eat a diet rich in the mineral. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of magnesium is 300 to 320 milligrams for pre-menopausal adult women. If you are under 18 years the RDI is higher - 360 milligrams. Chard and spinach are both excellent sources of magnesium. A cup of each has a little over 35% of your RDI. Tofu is a great source as well - containing 130 milligams per 120 grams.
• Magesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system.
• This mineral helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
• There is a complex and not completely understood relationship between the mineral calcium and magnesium. So it is important to eat a diet rich in both.
• It is believed that magnesium plays a role in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines.

If you are experiencing muscles cramps, you could make sure you are getting enough magnesium since a deficiency in the mineral can lead to cramping. In fact magnesium is required for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. I'd say that is why it is considered an essential mineral.

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice with an earthy, bitter, peppery flavor. It is not commonly eaten on its own, but mixed with many spices to make curry, and I love curry!!!!

Aside from adding color to curry and other foods (it is used in conjunction with annatto to color cheese and can be found in mustard), this spice has some special medicinal attributes. It has been proven to have anti inflammatory properties. Its active ingredient curcumin, works in a very similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In fact the spice has been used in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine to treat inflammatory ailments as well as an antiseptic for cuts and burns. Although it has been regarded as a medicinal spice in India and Asia for centuries, Western medicine has only recently begun to investigate turmeric - even the National Institute of Health is looking into this spice's ability to treat different types of cancer.

Fit's Tip: Sales for dietary supplements of curcumin are on the rise, but I think it is better to eat it in food (and much less burp inducing too). When cooking with curry I always add extra turmeric to my spice mix to reap the benefits of this super spice.