Bio Scan Demo

Schedule a Bio Scan Appointment Today!

ITHRIVE Health: Webinar Schedule

ITHRIVE Health: Webinar Schedule: Bio Scan Presentations: Monday, April 28 at 02:00 PM CDT Registration Link:   http://ithrive.enterthemeeting.com/m/4U38DPB4 Tuesday, Ap...

Looking for a new way to reach your fitness goals?

5 Fitness Apps That Actually Get Results:

Now’s the time to check out some of the hottest fitness apps for the new year. Getting fit no longer requires a pencil-and-paper workout plan or a hardback diet book. The latest apps can aid your fitness goals through interactive features, instant stats and tips, and GPS technology, as well as inspiration of the monetary variety. Reinvigorate your workout by downloading the following five fitness apps. Some are new to the market, while others are simply tried and true. Not only will these apps boost your health and wellness, they will give you a new burst of motivation.

1. Hot5
Hot5 is hands down one of my favorite apps for 2014. From abs and core to yoga and flexibility and everything in between, Hot5 contains pages and pages of 5-minute video workouts that are super easy to follow. You can find video workouts of all varieties and difficulty levels that will work you out with only five moves. While most fitness app videos look like they were filmed in the 1980s, Hot5’s are sleek and modern. The interface is also beautifully designed and user friendly. It is to the point and clear cut, saving you time by skipping the personal questionnaires and sign-up lag. I also love that this app can be used as an add-on to your fitness routine or as your entire workout. If you want to do 5-minute abs after a run, Hot5 is for you. If you want to do a full body workout, mix and match from their plethora of videos. This pick and choose system is great for beginners and fitness gurus alike. The best part? Hot5 is completely free. No hidden costs, no paid upgrades. Hot5 gives you the best of the best without costing you a penny.

Compatibility: iPhone; Cost: Free

2. GymPact
We all need a little motivation when it comes to working out, and GymPact is the perfect way to get inspired. How does it work? Make a commitment to work out a certain number of times a week. Choose the amount of money you are willing to risk if you don’t reach your goal. If you don’t achieve your goal? Your credit card gets charged. Achieve your goal? You get paid! The days of being paid to work out have finally come!

Compatibility: iPhone and Android; Cost: Free

3. Weight Watchers Mobile
Sure, you’ve heard of Weight Watchers, but there’s a reason this company has been around so long. Their system gets great results –plain and simple. Weight Watchers Mobile is a great way to track your calorie consumption by using their point system. Not only can you enter and search for different foods in their database, you can scan barcodes for instant information about what you’re eating. The app counts down your available calories by day and also by week. Weight Watchers Mobile even has a section to find foods from your favorite restaurants, and info on portion control and healthy eating. Their clean-looking, easy-to-use interface makes dieting more manageable and straightforward.

Compatibility: iPhone and Android; Cost: Free, but you must be a Weight Watchers’ member to get full access.

4. RunKeeper
RunKeeper has been around for a while, but it’s still one of the greatest fitness apps out there. RunKeeper allows you to track your runs, walks, or bike rides by using the GPS system in your phone. You can view your detailed stats on its easy-to-use layout, and also track your progress over time. RunKeeper even allows you to connect with your friends so others can track your achievements and goals. My favorite feature on this app is the audio cue option. RunKeeper provides real-time coaching by giving you audible updates on your pace, time, distance, and more.

Compatibility: iPhone and Android; Cost: Free

5. Zombies, Run! 2
That’s right… the zombie craze has even reached the fitness arena. This action packed app adds an element that is sometimes missing from other workout apps – fun. Zombies, Run! and Zombies, Run! 2 mix games and stories into your run as you complete missions in a world laden with zombies. Whether you’re gathering supplies, saving a fellow human, or out-running a horde of the undead, this app amps up your normal jog with imagination and competition.

Compatibility: iPhone and Android; Cost: $2.99

2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791497

Need More Energy During the Holidays? Eat these 5 High Energy Foods to Keep You Going...

1. Have bran for breakfast.

Eating a morning meal rich in fiber may make you more alert during the day. A Cardiff University study found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10% reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. One theory: Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, which keeps your blood sugar levels steady to sustain energy levels for a longer period of time.

2. Order a small latte.

Experts say it's best not to rely too heavily on caffeine, but if you're an unapologetic java junkie, try spreading your intake out more evenly over the day. Mini servings of caffeine (8 ounces of coffee or less) every few hours keep you awake, alert, and focused for longer than a single jumbo one would, according to sleep experts. "When you quickly drink a large coffee, the caffeine peaks in your bloodstream much sooner than if you spread it out over time," says Harris R. Lieberman, PhD, a research psychologist with the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.

3. Order the seaweed salad.

If your go-to Japanese appetizer is miso soup or edamame, consider rotating seaweed salad into the mix. It's packed with iodine, a chemical that helps maintain sufficient levels of the thyroid hormones that regulate your weight, energy level, and mood—and a new study finds you may not be getting enough of it. We tend to get our biggest dose of iodine from table salt, but among 88 randomized samples of common iodized salt brands, 47 didn't contain the FDA's recommended iodine concentration, say scientists from the University of Texas at Arlington. 
Adults should get 150 mcg of iodine daily (220 mcg if you're pregnant, 290 mcg if breastfeeding). Iffy on the seaweed? Other food sources include fish and yogurt. 

4. Copy your kid's lunch

... If it's a banana and peanut butter sandwich. Bananas pack potassium, a mineral your body needs to convert sugar in your blood into energy, says energy expert Susan Lark, MD, author ofThe Chemistry of Success: Six Secrets of Peak Performance. The peanut butter is high in magnesium, which gives your cells much-needed energy. Aim for 320 mg of magnesium and 4,700 mg of potassium daily. Other good sources of potassium and magnesium: fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts.



5. Gulp some water.

Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to keep energized and focused. A recent study of athletes found that 92% felt fatigued after limiting fluids and water-rich foods for 15 hours; they also had lapses in memory and reported difficulty concentrating. Aim to drink every hour or two so you don't feel thirsty.

Add avocado to meals for Heart Health

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — A so-called “Mediterranean diet” can improve heart health in people at risk for cardiovascular disease, even if dietary changes aren’t coupled with weight loss, a study shows.

Swapping out white bread and pasta carbohydrates for unsaturated fat from foods like avocados, olive oil, and nuts helps the body avoid insulin levels that could be triggers for diabetes and, eventually, heart disease, the study found.

“The introduction of the right kind of fat into a healthy diet is another tool to reduce the risk of future heart disease,” says Meghana Gadgil, a postdoctoral fellow in general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University. She presented the research recently at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions in Orlando

Gadgil and her colleagues analyzed data from the OmniHeart Trial, which studied the cardiovascular effects of three different balanced diets on 164 people with mild hypertension but no diabetes.

The researchers compared the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and maintain healthy insulin levels while on a carbohydrate-rich diet, a protein-rich diet and a diet rich in unsaturated fats. People whose bodies fail to use insulin effectively usually develop type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for heart disease.

The researchers found that a generally balanced diet higher in unsaturated fats such as those in avocados, olive oil and nuts improves insulin use significantly more than a diet high in carbohydrates, particularly such refined carbs as white bread and pasta. The preferred diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet, inspired by the foods of southern Italy and Greece and emphasizing healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.

Each participant in the study was fed each of the three diets for six weeks in a row, with two to four weeks off in between. Blood samples were collected after fasting periods in weeks four and six of each diet, and used to monitor insulin and glucose levels. The study was designed to keep participants at their starting weights.

“A lot of studies have looked at how the body becomes better at using insulin when you lose weight,” Gadgil says. “We kept the weight stable so we could isolate the effects of the macronutrients. What we found is that you can begin to see a beneficial impact on heart health even before weight loss.”

Blend Your Smoothie with Cocoa Powder instead of Peanut Butter to Keep Your Arteries Clean

Cocoa tastes great with everything from bananas to berries, plus one tablespoon of chocolaty goodness will add only 12 calories to the blender (the equivalent amount of peanut butter adds 100 calories). Plus, cocoa is loaded with compounds called flavonoids, which prevent fat from clogging the arteries, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. To swallow the maximum antioxidant benefits, look for a cocoa percentage of at least 60: A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that flavonoids found in the dark stuff can decrease blood pressure and improve insulin resistance in healthy adults.

Serve it up: Add one tablespoon of cocoa powder to your smoothie or morning coffee. Or swirl the powder in your oatmeal for a chocolaty, antioxidant-rich bowl.

By: Nicole Yorio Jurick

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/protect-your-heart-and-your-figure-snack-pistachios-not-pretzels/4-b-396477#ixzz1d9MTRDyQ