healthy Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

10 Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis Now!

Paula — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 14:52:14 +0000

How to Prevent Osteoporosis post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. According to the American Orthopaedic Association, more than 30 million Americans have a pronounced risk for developing osteoporosis, or low bone density. So, learning how to prevent osteoporosis should be top of mind for many people. Although women over the age of 65 are more likely to develop osteoporosis, this serious health problem affects men as well, and impacts nearly 10 million adults in the United States. In Canada, those statistics are also high. Two million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis. An estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime! Even more reasons to monitor bone health and make good lifestyle choices too. How to Build Strong Bones But there are steps that can aid in preventing weak bones and lowering the risk of severe bone fractures. Here are a few steps that can help you to build stronger bones and achieve better bone health. Ten Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis and Nurture Better Bone Health Get Moving Studies show routine exercise is the most effective way to increase and maintain bone density. A regimen of brisk walks and resistance, weight-bearing exercises, such as aerobics and weight-lifting, can preserve and greatly improve bone health. Get outside more. Take more walks. Always opt for the stairs when that’s an option. Small lifestyle changes can help increase your healthy activity and potentially prevent osteoporosis. Exercise Try to get moving and exercise more on a daily basis! If you know me, then you know that this is one of my missions in life. I strive to get to the YMCA several times a week for my workouts. Weight bearing activity can be very beneficial for bone health. Consume More Vitamin D Osteoporosis is not as widespread in men as in women because the male hormone, testosterone, stimulates the formation of new bone. However, since vitamin D is an essential factor in the body’s ability to absorb calcium (and everyone needs calcium to maintain strong, healthy bones), both men and women could benefit from increasing their daily consumption of vitamin D to the recommended dose of 800 to 1,200 international units (IU). In countries like Canada, much has been written about the lack of sunlight and vitamin D and impact on health. So consider adding vitamin D to your regular daily routine in order to prevent osteoporosis. Increase Calcium Intake The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests an increase in calcium intake for anyone over the age of 50. Since calcium plays such a vital role in overall bone health, it is recommended that adults take 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily, in two to three divided doses. This can help prevent osteoporosis. Get The One I Take Now – > This is the Calcium and Vitamin D supplement I take daily and like a lot actually because it also has magnesium in it. Easy Foods to consume that are loaded with calcium are: almonds, milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli, seeds, beans and lentils. Here’s a more comprehensive list of calcium rich foods. Decrease Alcohol Consumption While a little alcohol in moderation is usually fine for most individuals, consuming more than three drinks a day can have detrimental effects on bone density in the long term. Chronic and heavy drinking disrupts the body’s ability to heal bone fractures and can even suppress the formation of new bone. Let’s be honest here – if you are having more than three drinks a day your health will be impacted. Time to reevaluate. Stop Drinking Completely Additionally, scientific studies show that, over time, there is a greater chance for actual bone loss recovery after someone stops drinking completely. Quit Smoking Cigarette smoking is not good for anyone, period. People who are concerned about maintaining good health need to quit. When it comes to preventing osteoporosis, smoking increases the risk for weak bones in many ways. Toxins from tobacco disrupt the natural balance of hormones that are necessary for bone health and for building strong bones. Specifically, research points to the adverse effect smoking has on calcitonin, a hormone which contributes to bone formation. Smoking cessation has a positive impact on bone density and overall bone health. Stop smoking now. If you are struggling to quit smoking talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a stop smoking program or tool. Talk to a Doctor One note of caution about implementing any of these suggestions: Consult a medical professional first. Before making any drastic changes in diet or embarking on any physical fitness routine, check with a doctor. Ask about bone density testing, if you are concerned, and especially if you have a family history of osteoporosis. Also if, as a child, you had a specific illness that was treated by steroids you may be at higher risk. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my twenties due to medications I had to take as a teenager for Crohn’s disease. X-ray absorptiometry test The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry test is one of the most accurate bone loss detection and diagnostic tests available. Investigate medication options if necessary. A Role for Medicine Consult your doctor or specialist as some medicines may help lessen risk of bone loss, contribute to bone formation. This might be an essential step to decrease any chance of debilitating bone fracture. In my late 20s I took a medication to support better bone health. I am not on that drug anymore. A Final Word About Bone Health Bone density is something that can be improved with diligence. Osteoporosis does not need to be inevitable if measures are taken to increase bone health.

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Lifeway Kefir Low Fat Cultured Milk Smoothie Drink

Paula — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 01:06:00 +0000

So what exactly is Kefir? Kefir is a smooth version of drinkable yogurt packed with protein. It is essentially a cousin of yogurt with roots that go back to Europe over 2000 years ago. It is jam packed with probiotics which is why I wanted to try it. The taste is a bit tart, almost sour. It takes a bit of getting used to actually. My kids love drinkable yogurt and one of them found this strawberry flavoured cultured milk smoothie to be a bit sour. I have a sour streak, or should I say, a love of sour tasting foods so I didn’t mind that. Because I am always on the lookout for foods and beverages packed with protein, this Lifeway Kefir low fat cultured milk smoothie is something I would buy for my family. I could easily see us adding this to smoothies, protein shakes and the Zoku maker too. We received original flavour and strawberry was sent to us also. Each bottle contains 12 active and live cultures. You can also use this over granola or in a homemade dressing for salad. (Yum!) Fun Facts: the word Keif is Turkish for good feeling. The first batches of original kefir were made in Chicago inside a family home in 1986. Now there are over 100 varieties of kefir. Lifeway Foods, makers of the popular drinkable yogurt, has recently launched in grocery stores throughout Canada. The 946 mL bottles will be available in plain, strawberry, blueberry and peach flavors, and each serving is rich in protein & calcium. Lifeway’s exclusive formula also contains 12 live and active probiotic cultures, delivering a higher probiotic count than most yogurts and helping improve digestion, immunity and overall health. Kefir is rich in protein, rich in calcium and it’s gluten free. I could be convinced to add this into our daily routine here because of the health benefits. You can find Lifeway Kefir milk on most social sites also http://www.twitter.com/lifeway_kefir/ and on Facebook too. https://www.facebook.com/LifewayKefir I received product for this post. My opinion is all my own.

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Turn Your Love of Healthy Foods into a Business You Will Love

Paula — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:18:00 +0000

Eating healthy for many mothers is a way of life. You may go out of your way to find all of the healthiest foods for you and your family to enjoy even if that means you will end up spending a little more on the groceries. Of course, a little planning can help frugal moms to find healthy foods the whole family will love for about $135 a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. The really good news is all the hard work you put into creating menus and buying groceries for your family can also turn into a full time job. This is possible if you start making and selling food to others in your neighbourhood and throughout the world. Here are a few things you might want to know if this sounds like something you might be interested in. Get the Equipment You Need for Selling As you start thinking about the possibility of starting your own business, instead of dreaming about it, turn your dream into action. Put together a list of supplies you will need to get out and start selling right away. There are outdoor markets you can start selling at this weekend. Every major city has markets going on throughout the year. Find the markets close to you and call up to learn how much the both space will be. You should also find out if you will need to supply your own tent and table or if they will supply it for you. All told, this should only cost you $200 or less. You will also need something to take payments on. Because many people at these markets forget to bring their cash with them, you will need a credit card reader for your smartphone or tablet as well as a receipt printer. All of these can be purchased through companies like Shopify, making it easy to go from dreaming about starting a business to having all the makings of a real business. Start Making Your Products Go ahead and book a day for you to start selling your products and get to work. You need to consider what you’re going to make and how you’re going to sell it. Since cooking at these outdoor markets is frowned upon unless you have the proper licensure, you might want to stick to prepared foods. According to Get Rich Slowly, you can make anything from baked goods to your favorite canned recipes. It’s really up to you and what you are good at making. You may want to test out a few recipes on your family first before you go into full production mode making the products you’re going to sell at the market. If at all possible, get some of your friends over to try the foods you’re thinking about selling to get an honest opinion about what is good and what you should reconsider. Packaging Your Products for Sale The food you’re making should be affordable to you as well as to the people you’re selling it to. As such, you should make sure the packaging is something that can be used over and over again. There are people struggling to make it with the income they have, according to Pennies and Pancakes, leaving them to find ways to save on all their groceries. If you can package your products in something like mason jars, the penny pinching crowd will love it as a mason jar represents something they can utilize again to store things in, drink out of and keep using for years to come. This can even be a bit of your marketing ploy to let people know you understand the value of the foods we eat and you’ve made sure to add value to your packaging as wel as love to the food you make. Increasing Your Savings to Increase Your Revenues The less you spend on your groceries, the more you’re going to make when you ultimately sell your finished product. According to Kiplinger, if you pay attention to the circulars, you can save a lot of money at the checkout stand. Anyone who is loyal to any one grocery store is going to eventually spend more money on groceries. The key is to move around to the stores that offer the best deals on the groceries you need. You can apply this to your household as well as to the groceries you need for your business. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned, as the old saying goes. Couple this with great coupons and you have the potential to save a lot of money on your expenses. If you ever start selling a lot, you can buy in bulk, which will allow you to maximize your savings over regular grocery stores.

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Boost Your Child’s Health with Webber Naturals

Paula — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:21:00 +0000

Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. Any purchase made via the link here results in a small commission for Thrifty Mommas Tips at no extra cost to you. A good vitamin supplement like Treehouse Vitamins from Webber Naturals can be like nutritional insurance for your child. In this neck of the woods, during one of the nastiest cold and flu seasons we’ve witnessed in recent years, insurance is important. My kids eat well, but we lead a very busy active life and sometimes I worry. My youngest, is especially prone to colds, and flu bugs. And she loves to share, so that means if she gets sick most of us get sick. Like a lot of children, my kids’s appetites tend to fluctuate wildly, which makes me worry they aren’t getting all the vitamins and minerals needed for immune support and growth. I’m sure I am not alone in wondering how to make sure a child isn’t susceptible to every bug out there. Webber Naturals – Insurance Against Cold and Flu Season Winter can be really tough on kids as they try to maintain normal development and energy levels while facing cold and flu season. The absence of sunshine coupled with shorter days but longer periods of time spent cooped up indoors means germs travel inevitably at school and home. In Canada, Vitamin D is in short supply. But it’s extremely important for growth and absorption of nutrients. Vitamin D aids in proper care and maintenance of bones and teeth. I cracked this one open immediately to try myself. The Webber Naturals Vitamin D tastes great and is tiny. The kids liked the berry flavour. Vitamin D3 insufficiency has been linked to many chronic diseases in children. A Canadian Company Webber Naturals, a Canadian company, now offers a full line of natural supplements in the shapes of popular Treehouse TV characters Franklin and Friends and Max and Ruby. We received several samples of Treehouse Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and Multi Vitamins, along with some other items. Vitamin D3 is chewable and tasty. The D3 also comes in liquid form. The Vitamin C and multi-vitamins are chewable. All of Webber Naturals Treehouse vitamins are preservative and aspartame free. There are no artificial colours or flavours in Webber Naturals Treehouse vitamins. I like that. If you want to learn more about Treehouse vitamins visit the web site: www.treehousevitamins.ca. My kids liked the berry flavoured vitamins and I am happy to share these because they don’t contain a lot of sugar. Ainsley liked the Vitamin C and the Vitamin D3, as well as the Multi-vitamin featuring Franklin (mixed fruit and berry flavour) but she did not like the taste of the Treehouse multi-vitamins featuring Max & Ruby. I think that it was actually a shock to her tastebuds if only because it is not sweet. I tasted it myself and both Payton and I liked that one. It’s a plain tasting vitamin and I don’t mind that, but I can see why some who are used to sugary vitamins might take a while to get used to the plain taste. The Vitamin C chewable tastes citrus-y and is easy to take daily. My kids were always fans of Treehouse and Franklin. They used to have these Treehouse characters all over their walls in their bedrooms. When they were infants I painted murals all over their walls. I like these Webber Naturals vitamins because they are naturally sweetened and not overly sweet. Treehouse Vitamins are good for children aged 3 and up. But don’t take my word for it, try them yourself. Follow the instructions below and one Canadian reader will win $50 worth of product vouchers for their family. Entry-Form I received product and some other perks from Webber Naturals. My opinion is all my own.

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