Water Filtration System – Do You Need One?

Turn on your tap and take a look at the water coming out of it. Chances are it will be clear and look quite inviting.

The assumption is that it is safe to drink. Of course, if it was yellow, brown or smelt of rotten eggs you would question how good the quality of your water is.

But the fact is usually it is not and you take it for granted.

Unfortunately looks can be deceiving. You could take a look at the website of your local water board. This will tell you how good the quality is.

However, it will only tell you the quality of the water leaving the plant; it can’t confirm what it is like when it reaches your home. This is why you should check this link and consider adding a water filtration system.

The Benefits Of Water Filtration Systems

There are several benefits of having a water filtration system:

Peace Of Mind

A water filter is designed to remove the chemicals used by the water board. They are no longer needed as they have done their job. These chemicals can be harmful to your health and will affect the taste of your water.

But the filter will also ensure the water is clean, providing you with peace of mind. You and your family are drinking the best water possible in your home.

Removal Of Smells

Have you ever noticed that your water has a faint chlorine smell or sometimes even smells of rotten eggs? This is a result of the chemicals used by the water board and bacteria managing to enter your water.

The right filtration system for your home will eliminate these issues and give you clean, odor less water. This will encourage you to drink more of this essential substance.

Reduced Risk Of Contamination

The water that leaves the treatment plan is tested to ensure it meets government standards. However it then travels through miles of pipe work to your home.

It is possible that these pipes can become damaged and allow debris or pollutants in; the water board simply cannot check every bit of pipe.

Pollutants include harmful bacteria, fertilizers from the fields, a variety of chemicals and even miniscule pieces of debris. All of these can be harmful to your health and you may not know about them until it is too late.

Your water filtration system will remove all these things.

Get the Right Filter

Once you realize that you do need a water filtration system it is important that you choose the best one for you and your family.

You’ll need to have your water tested to ensure you know what you want to remove from it. You should also check that the filters being supplied meet the certified standard; otherwise you could be paying for nothing!

It’s not worth the risk of not having a water filter; any of the nasty bugs that live in water can cause serious illness over a long period of time. It’s much easier to prevent them from entering your body in the first place.

 

The 4th International Day of Yoga

Consulate General of India
presents
The 4th International Day of Yoga
with FREE Yoga and Meditation Sessions
Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 11am
Governor’s Island
Consulate General of India presents The 4th International Day of Yoga on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 11am at Picnic Point on Governor’s Island.
The admission to the event is free for to participate, but advance registration is required:
Free ferry access to Governor’s Island at 10am.
Consulate General of India is back again with the celebration of the 4th International Day of Yoga on June 16, 2018, bringing together communities to enjoy the spirit of Yoga.
Fifteen minute yoga and meditation sessions will be led by such organizations as Hindu Temple of North America, Mallakhamb Federation USA, Isha Foundation, Sahaja Yoga and the Art of Living Foundation, and the event will conclude with a live performance.
The United Nations proclaimed June 21, as the International Day of Yoga at the initiative of the Government of India. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit, means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and mind. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Tips for a Fit and Healthy Summer

By Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA, Olympic runner & VP Worldwide Sports Performance & Fitness for Herbalife

Summer is just around the corner and summer body preparation should start now.  With proper planning, and an early start, you can avoid crash diets that do little for you waistline and even less for your mood. By focusing now on an exercise routine and a balanced nutrition program, you can get your body ready for summer and beyond.  Avoid the extreme crash diets and replace them with a sensible balanced diet and exercise to set yourself up for long-term success.

 

Below are my top tips to getting fit for summer.

 

  • Commit to a Fit and Healthy Summer!  Think about increasing the types of activities that work for your lifestyle and that can easily be built into your day. Make it a point to read up on fitness news and information.
  • Perform Simple Stretches.  Ensure you’re moving your muscles and joints through their full range of motion each day.
  • Get Moving!  Increase your daily activity level by taking the stairs, parking in the furthest space from the store, gardening, dancing or playing with your children. If you become more active in your everyday life you’ll get fit faster.
  • Add Regular Walks to Your Day.  You can slowly increase your time until 30-minutes feels comfortable. Then, increase your intensity level by walking faster. Start including varied terrain such as hills, then progress to a jogging or running pace.
  • Perform Body Weight Resistance Exercises. Try simple squats, lunges, push-ups and then progress to using weights. Ideally, you need both resistance exercise and aerobic exercise to keep your body operating at its peak.
  • Engage in Aerobic Exercise.  Repetitive motion, such as running, swimming or cycling, is important for the cardiovascular system. It can also tone muscles. Incorporating a little of both aerobic and resistance training is best for your daily routine.
  • Eat More Mindfully.  Eating snacks that contain carbs and protein before a workout can provide you with energy, keep you focused and give your body what it needs to build muscle once the workout is over. Consistently pay attention to the foods you choose in order to properly fuel your body.
  • Keep Hydrated.  Consume at least two liters of water each day. It is even more important to drink water before, during and after exercise. Even low-intensity exercise requires you to be well-hydrated.

About Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA
Samantha Clayton is a former Olympic runner, personal trainer, and vice president of Worldwide Sports Performance and Fitness at Herbalife, where she is responsible for all activities relating to exercise and fitness education for Herbalife Nutrition Independent distributors and employees. Before joining the corporate ranks, Samantha, a native of Liverpool, England, was a professional athlete. She represented Great Britain in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in both the 200m and the 4x100m relay events. Samantha is a personal trainer and group exercise coach through the American Fitness and Aerobics Association (AFAA) and International Sports Science Association (ISSA).

Complete Guide To Pre-Workout Supplements: Is It for Everyone?

Working out is hard. During the first days of hitting the gym, you are always psyched up. It’s because you have got goals or objectives that you want to achieve. Maybe you want to lose some weight, or perhaps you are an athlete, and you want to keep fit. Despite your objective, after the first week or two. The laziness comes in. You feel like you don’t want to go to the gym. It almost feels like you are out of energy. This is where pre-workout supplements come in handy.

 

You have probably heard it from friends or colleagues on how these pre-workout supplements get them in the mood of working out. It’s okay to wonder if the pre-workout supplements are suitable for you. This post will provide you with all you need to know about pre-workout supplements. By the end of it, you will be able to make an informed decision on whether to use them or not.

But, what are Pre-workout Supplements?

It’s a supplement that you should take before hitting the gym. The supplement usually entails ingredients responsible for addressing a couple of issues that may occur during training such as low energy, loss of focus, fatigue and much more. A good pre-workout supplement should provide the user with an optimal hormonal environment that enables him/her to get the most out of a workout session.

What Are The Ingredients Responsible?

Before taking any supplement, it’s always best to know which ingredient you are taking into your body. In the case of pre-workout supplements, the ingredients used are usually similar.

 

Below are some examples;

  • Caffeine

Being one of the primary ingredients, coffee is known to improve alertness, arousal and improve the energy level.

  • Amino-Acids

Amino acids are responsible for building proteins that in turn increase energy levels. The supplements provide branched-chain amino acids that enhance physical performance.

  • Carbs

Workouts involve a lot of muscle strain. But thanks to carbs, it helps fuel your muscles with glycogen.

  • Beetroot Juice

Beetroot juice isn’t a favorite for most people because of its taste. But it’s an ingredient of several pre-workout supplements. The juice can aid an individual workout for long hours.

The Advantages of Pre-workout Supplements

The main reason why pre-workout supplements are highly gaining popularity is because of the benefits that they offer the user. However, not all supplements are effective. Always buy from known brands. Below are some advantages of using pre-workout supplements.

 

  1. Enhanced Power and Strength

Power and strength are essential for any workout session. If you are feeling tired, then a pre-workout supplement can do the magic. Ingredients such as amino acid are capable of helping in muscle contraction.

 

  1. Muscle Growth

A good pre-workout supplement can help improve muscle growth. Carbs help in the preservation of muscle glycogen that keeps you strong. There is another essential ingredient found in pre-workout supplements known as whey proteins that are also effective in minimizing muscle wasting.

 

  1. Increased Focus

A pre-workout supplement can help improve focus. You should know that the brain is also a muscle. When your body gets tired, so does the brain. And this can really sidetrack your functioning at the gym.

What are The Disadvantages?

Pre-workout supplements have one disadvantage. If you use a particular supplement for an extended period, your body adapts to it, and its effectiveness reduces. This leads to the need of using a higher dosage to achieve better results. To be on the safe side, incorporate the strategy of cycling pre-workout supplements. You can either switch brands or rather give your body a break from a particular supplement for two weeks or even a month.

 

The above is all you need to know about pre-workout supplements. Before buying a particular supplement, do your research. Find the one with ingredients that are suitable for you. Read reviews to see if they actually work. Always consider your goals when selecting a supplement. Don’t take the supplement on days that you are not working out.

 

Win All-natural, Topical Pain Relief Creams

Looking for relief from pain, but don’t want all those chemicals on your body? Or those weird smells. Who wants to walk around smelling like a hospital.  There are other options available- check these out if you want all natural relief that really works.

Real Time Pain Relief – https://rtpr.com/, a U.S. company with decades of experience in skin care and topical pain relief, has just launched two new products for topical muscle soreness and pain relief for after workouts and other physical activities:


HEMP OIL PLUS ($40): is a rich cream that provides on-spot relief from pain and muscle stiffness. This homeopathic formula of Hemp Oil has a light feel when applied and pleasant smell from Turmeric Extract, Peppermint Oil, Wasabi Extract and 100% pure and organic Hemp extract (but does not have any trace of THC or any psychoactive ingredients).  You can see full product details here:
https://rtpr.com/hemp-oil-plus

 

REAL TIME SPORTS CREAM ($20): made with 25 all-natural ingredients including Wintergreen, Turmeric, Magnesium Oil and the lowest effective dose of menthol (0.5%). This sports cream provide a gentle cooling feeling where applied without any burn or medicinal smell. Use before or after exercise – it’s sweat resistant. Also free of GMOs, Parabens, SLS and Dye. This pain cream is FDA registered as an over-the-counter topical pain relief medicine. Full product details here: https://rtpr.com/sports-cream

Both products are formulated, made and packaged in the heartland of the USA – 100% American made.

If you’d like to enter to win, please feel free to use the RC form below. Good luck! Ends June 14, 2018.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sports That Will Get You Fit – And Fast

Everyone is looking for a quick fix to their body ailments these days, cause who actually has time to dedicate themselves to something long term when you’ve got children, jobs and home life to think about too? We all know that eating healthily and exercising is the best way of keeping your fitness levels at their best, but are there any quick fixes out there? You might try a crash diet, but the results can quickly be reversed once you return to your regular eating habits. However, when it comes to exercise, a few rules can be bent because there are exercises out there which will get you fit – and fast too. Check it out:

Baseball

The great thing about baseball is that you’re using every muscle in your body without even realising it. You’re too busy thinking about either hitting the ball, catching the ball, or running to your base (or even getting a home run!). In a regular match you could be burning off up to 500 calories!! Sign yourself up for a fast train to fitness heaven.

Skiing

As you can probably imagine, skiing is another sport that uses many muscles in your body. You may think that it’s sliding down a hill on two skis, but you use your muscles working your way through the snow (and trying not to fall over!) So, if you’re heading off on a skiing holiday to say, Marriott’s Summit Watch, then why not rent out some skis and hit the mountains for a full body workout?

Tennis

Tennis is one of those sports where you’re running back and forth for the ball and then suddenly realise “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m not out of breath!”. It’s an all round fun, highly active, and addictive sport that anyone can play, so why not grab a buddy and head to your nearest tennis courts for some quick fitness sporting!

Swimming

Swimming is great for boosting your fitness levels because the water takes any strains off your muscles and joints, and you will find that you’re able to do more in the water than you can on land. Just remember that even though you don’t feel it now, the next day you might ache, so try not to over do it!

Rowing

Rowing is another sport that uses literally every muscle in your body. If you’re looking to get shapely legs, abs and get rid of those bingo wings all in one sitting, then rowing is most definitely the sport for you!

Rock climbing

Finally, rock climbing takes and builds a lot of strength in both your arms, abdomen, and legs. It’s a sport that can be done within a rock climbing center, or you can go to the full extreme and climb the face of a cliff. Either way, you’re getting a kick ass workout that will help you get fit – and fast!

4 Ways that hormones can impact your mental health

Mental illnesses have in the past 30 years shot up in men and women as well as children exceeding 8 million having a prescription in the U.S. Lifestyle and food culture have a huge impact on hormonal imbalances which is associated with mental health and here is how.

Adrenal Issues

The two stress hormones; adrenaline and cortisol can have a significant impact on your mental health if not they happen not to be balanced. This can result to one feeling anxious, depressed or even lacking sleep. Additionally, when in excess and when low, the stress hormones can have different mental impacts on you. When in excess, you will experience irritation, anxiety and nervousness. When significantly low, you experience tiredness, depression, moodiness, sluggishness and may have a difficult time concentrating. However, you can manage stress through the multiple known ways in order to keep your cortisol and adrenaline levels in check and this will in turn lower the psychological effect risks linked with the two hormones.

Estrogen and Mental Health

Every month during menstrual cycle, women often deal with issues that are quite out of their hand due to Effects of Estrogen Deficiencies and this often results to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). During a woman’s menstruation period, estrogen levels are low. Estrogen has an impact on serotonin and dopamine, which are chemicals linked to the brain, and are associated with depression as well as psychosis. According to statistics, 80% of women experience both mental and physical issues which are as a result of hormonal imbalances. Through a recent study, health professionals revealed Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a condition that causes seasonal affective disorder, anxiety and severe depression as a result of hormonal shifts.

Also, while pregnant and during post-partum, women experience varying moods and emotions, and later in life during menopause, their hormonal changes result to brain fog and reduced sexual drive. If you thought men don’t experience mood swings and depression, they do: when estrogen levels are too high.

Thyroid and Mental Health

Inflammation and chemical stressors are the major causes of all thyroid-related problems. Thyroid issues can result from a leaky gut; when the body begins attacking and destroying all kinds of tissues, the thyroid included. If uncontrolled, thyroid activity has two extremes; hyperthyroidism, when it is overactive and hypothyroidism, when it is underactive. During hyperthyroidism, insomnia, depression, panic attacks, mood swings and anxiety may result and unfortunately in the past, women have been misdiagnosed with anorexia and panic disorder when they actually suffered from overactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism on the other hand may cause; fatigue, depression, moodiness and in rare cases anxiety.

Interference of Gut Secretion of Neurotransmitters

The gut contains multiple hormones and bacteria which act as signal transmitters. They signal digestion responses, immune responses and most importantly production and release of serotonin and dopamine. The signal for serotonin use -which is responsible for digestion, mood, appetite, social behavior, memory, sleep and libido- is through microbiome, a bacteria found in the gut. Dopamine, although in relatively small quantities is linked with happiness and contentment.

Gut issues are mostly as a result of antibiotics, which kill bacteria including these important ones. Microbiome takes more than three years to re-populate once they are severely damaged and even killed by one round of antibiotics. Due to this, it is advisable to avoid antibiotics not unless you have to take them, and if you do, make sure you eat fermented foods and take probiotic supplements.

 

Serenity Skin Care and Body Wellness in Englewood, NJ

Looking for a great Mother’s Day gift?

 

If your mom is anything like most moms, she can use a break. Some rest, relaxation, and perhaps someone taking care of HER for a change of pace. Who wouldn’t like a minute to herself? I can’t think of too many things I like more then a good massage, and I’m guessing your mom is not too different in that arena.

We recently headed over to Serenity Skin Care and Body Wellness in Englewood, NJ. It was located on a really cute “main street” type of road, with a bunch of cute shops and restaurants- it would be easy to make a day of this trip.  The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, and the people who greeted you as well as the therapists were all very relaxed, easy going, and pleasant.

serenity skincare

They offer quite a few services, from facials and massages to waxing and sugaring, to manicures and more. If you want to give it all to mom (or your spouse, mother of your children, your best friend, yourself- whomever), they also have packages available. Make an afternoon of it, and enjoy the time together.  You can read a list of available treatments here.

We enjoyed their couples massage, because there is nothing better than a relaxing treatment except maybe doing so with your partner. They asked us about sore spots, previous massage experiences, preferences, and made sure we were comfortable before the massage began. It was really nice to spend the time with someone I love and being able for us both to relax and enjoy ourselves. It was one of the nicest days I’d had in a long time, and we both felt so well afterward- I’d highly recommend the service and the location.

The time we spent at Serenity Skincare was much-needed relaxation and so rejuvenating, we were both ready for a nap and to take on the world when we were done. (PS, the nap won out, we felt amazing.)

Visit their site https://www.serenityskincare.com to get all the details, to find out more, and to book an appointment.

Serenity Skincare

7 GRAND AVE.

ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631

(201) 816-3050