Candy is an energy quick fixCandy bars and energy bars are loaded with sugar, short on protein and will give the body a quick lift without providing any real nourishment. The lift soon gives way to a letdown and you feel hungrier than before. Additionally, they are loaded with artificial ingredients and hydrogenated oils. Better choices for afternoon snacks are cheese, hard cured sausage or a handful of nuts. They can all be convenient, nutrient-dense, concentrated foods, easily stored at work or a small cooler in the car.Milk is the best source of calciumAs hard as it might be to imagine or understand, milk is NOT the best source of calcium for human consumption. A 1994 study of elderly men and women in Sydney, Australia showed that higher dairy product consumption was associated with an increased fracture risk. Dairy contains calcium, but it is accompanied by animal products, lactose sugar, animal growth factors, fat, cholesterol, occasional drugs and contaminants. The most healthful sources of calcium are green, leafy vegetables and legumes. Some of the best sources include dried figs, collard greens, spinach, kale, salmon, almonds, tofu, sesame seeds, sardines, garbanzo beans and black beans. All of which are significant sources of calcium, without the added animal fat or cholesterol.Thin people don’t need exerciseSkinny or not, exercise is needed to keep calcium in your bones. Sedentary people tend to lose calcium. Exercise is needed for strong healthy bones. Bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. If bones are not called upon to work, like with physical activity, they do not receive messages that they need to be strong. Lack of exercise, especially as we get older may contribute to lower bone mass or density.I am not thirsty; I don’t need waterWater is essential for life. Our bodies are mostly 60 percent water and our brains are approximately 75 percent water. Most people mistake thirst for hunger. While most people drink enough water to survive, many people are walking around partially dehydrated without realizing it. Low water intake can change your skin tone, deplete brain cells, slow digestive processes, stress your kidneys and dry out joints. Mild dehydration can slow your metabolism slightly. It can cause daytime fatigue and headaches can be triggered by a lack of water. Dehydration can also affect memory. Water provides a means to regulate our internal core temperature. We need water to be healthy, focused and comfortable. Water creates the water-based environment needed for all of the body’s chemical reactions that sustain life. Water keeps moisture in the body and helps transport oxygen and nutrients to the blood. It is especially important in the high altitudes in Colorado – we need to drink more water to stay hydrated and healthy.DID YOU KNOW?From the October issue of Health magazineSince 1947, there has been a 450 percent increase in soda consumption in America.For those who drink 1.5 cans of soda per day, you are exposed to 32,100 minutes of harmful acids.Currently, women consume 1,877 calories per day compared to 1,542 calories per day in 1971. Men consumed an average of 2,450 calories in 1971 compared to today’s average of 2,618.The annual market value of all anti-aging drugs and cosmetics sold in America is $237.6 billion.
