Heart Health Month: What You Need to Know

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Hello, all! In honor of Heart Health Month, I want to share some important statistics and information with you. Before I begin, let me remind you that it’s National Wear Red Day. You might have noticed that #GoRedForWomen is trending on Twitter right now. This is done in effort to raise awareness about women’s heart health.

While heart health is equally as important for men, the public is specifically focused on women right now due to the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one killer of women in the United States. The problem is so rampant that it kills an estimated one in three American women.

This has to stop. That’s why I’m doing my part to help educate you on what you can do to prevent cardiovascular disease.

The first thing you should know is that cardiovascular disease is preventable. While there are hereditary factors that can significantly increase your risk of developing CVD, the vast majority of CVD cases can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices.

According to the World Heart Federation, some of the biggest risk factors for developing heart disease are: smoking, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and excessive consumption of alcohol. Notice that all four of these factors are within your control.

Even if you’ve never experienced any of the symptoms of heart disease, you should still be wary. Heart disease can start developing years before symptoms arise.

This is serious stuff, guys. I hope you don’t think that I’m preaching at you or judging you for your lifestyle choices. I only write about this because it is an issue that’s dear to my heart.

A couple of years ago, my grandmother passed away from CVD at the age of 72. She was a long-term smoker, and doctors believe that smoking was the main cause of her condition.

I would have killed to have her around even if just for a few years longer. Nobody should lose a loved one due to a disease that is largely preventable. So please, please, please take this blog post seriously and take good care of your body.

My Review of the ‘Sworkit’ Personalized Workout App

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I recently came across the Sworkit app while watching an episode of Shark Tank. I have to say: so far, I’m really impressed with it!

What’s neat is that with Sworkit, there are literally no more excuses for not working out. Can’t afford a gym membership? That’s fine. Sworkit is free. Don’t have any exercise equipment? No worries. Sworkit exercises don’t require equipment. Don’t have time to exercise? Surely you can spare at least five minutes out of your day. That’s right, Sworkit has myriad of personalized exercises that range anywhere from 5-60+ minutes.

The convenience is what originally drew me to the app. I travel quite often, which means I don’t always have access to a gym. The app is almost like having a personal trainer with you wherever you go.

And that’s exactly why it’s called Sworkit. The app name is derived from the phrase “simply work it,” since it’s so easy to use.

There are currently over 170 different exercises in the app’s database. These exercises were designed by a multitude of fitness experts, including: doctors, physical therapists, personal trainers, and physical education instructors.

Users can design their own workout based on five fitness categories: strength, stretching, cardio, yoga, or Pilates. The app also has the capability to sync workouts to Health, Google Fit, and MyFitnessPal. There’s even a separate app designed specifically for kids.

The only downside is the ads. It’s annoying for sure, but at the same time, I understand that the founders of the app need to make money somehow. I mean, they are offering all of these services for free, so the least I can do is sit through a 15-second ad.

According to the Sworkit website, 20 million people have already downloaded the app. I highly recommend it myself, and since it’s available at no cost, the user has virtually nothing to lose but pounds.

*Sworkit is available on iOS and Android devices.  

Yale Graduate-Turned-Trucker Works to Improve Truckers’ Health

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Siphiwe Baleka is a remarkable man. Aside from earning his degree in philosophy at the highly prestigious Yale University, he was also the first African American to make it onto the First Team All-Ivy League Swim Team. But that’s not what makes him remarkable.

Baleka, who is now in his 40s, fell on hard times about six years ago and decided to take on a job as a trucker. But after only two months in, the former athlete noticed he had gained 15 lbs.

"Life on the road is tough. It's lonely," Baleka stated. "There's not a whole lot to make you feel good. So eating is one of the things you kind of have some freedom with, to make you feel good."

Baleka did everything he could to lose the weight. He even resorted to doing exercises inside of his cab. But no matter what he did, nothing seemed to work.

Baleka’s struggle to gain back control of his health almost made him quit his job. It’s an all-too-common phenomenon in the trucking industry. In fact, a recent survey conducted by HireRight Transportation found that 21% of drivers leave the industry due to health concerns.

But after experimenting with several different weight loss programs, Baleka finally found success in a low-carb, high-protein diet combined with short bursts of high-intensity workouts. And now that he’s back to being fit, he wants to help other truckers get healthy, too.

So Baleka developed a wellness program that’s specifically designed with drivers in mind. Inspired by the technological devices that are already used in the industry, he decided to develop one that’s capable of monitoring the driver’s health.  

"At that time, the only thing that we didn't have any real-time information on was the driver—the physiological state of the driver," Baleka stated. "These digital health devices now allowed me to do that. I can monitor the physical condition of the driver just like we do with a truck."

So far, the program seems to be doing well. Hopefully it will inspire other trucking companies to institute wellness programs as well.

Stress, Diet, and Genetics: A Recipe For Adult Female Acne

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Researchers from Italy may have just uncovered the mystery behind adult female acne. According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, acne in women is caused by three main factors: stress, diet, and genetics.  

The study looked at 500 women over the age of 25. Researchers found that these women had a few things in common. For one, they had diets low in fruits and vegetables. Secondly, they had a family history of acne. And thirdly, they reported chronic levels of stress and anxiety.

For Dr. Debra Jaliman, none of this is surprising. Jaliman is an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She said it’s quite common to see adult women with acne.

“Women tend to get adult acne more often than men. It’s often due to changes in hormone levels and or hormonal imbalances,” Jaliman stated.

But she’s also well aware of the link between acne and diet. Jaliman said that she’s seen plenty of people, both men and women, whose acne is caused by poor eating habits.

“We see that people who have a diet of junk food tend to break out more,” Jaliman explained.

Interestingly enough, the study did not find any connection between acne and dairy. Some dermatologists theorize that the hormones present within dairy cause imbalances in humans that lead to acne. However, the researchers in this study found no evidence to support that claim.

Rather, researchers suspect that high glycemic index foods—such as sugar, white bread, chips, and pastas—are to blame. High GI foods cause blood sugar levels to spike, which can disrupt hormone levels.

So on the bright side, two out of the three factors are completely within one’s control. As for the genetics aspect? Well, mom and dad can take the blame for that one.

Founder of Bikram Yoga Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment

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Bikram Choudhury, the man who founded the world’s first hot yoga studio, was ordered to forfeit the revenue from his businesses in order to settle his $6.8 million sexual harassment case. He was also ordered to give up his collection of fine cars, which equates to a total of 43 vehicles ranging from Ferraris to Bentleys to Rolls-Royces.

The ruling comes after Minakshi 'Miki' Jafa-Bodden (Choudhury's former legal adviser) sued him for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Last year, Jafa-Bodden was fired for refusing to cover up allegations of sexual harassment.

Jafa-Bodden claims that she herself was a victim of his unwanted advances. She alleges that Choudhury touched her inappropriately and tried to get her to stay with him in his hotel.

The Daily Mail reports that she was awarded nearly $1 million in compensatory damages and more than $6 million in punitive damages.

“This is a good day for women,” Jafa-Bodden said after the ruling came down.

However, the 43 luxury cars that Choudhury was ordered to give up have mysteriously gone missing… along with any trace of Choudhury himself.

Choudhury’s garage manager denies any involvement with the sudden disappearance of the cars. However, Jafa-Bodden’s lawyers claim that they have photographic evidence of his entanglement.

“Bikram is no longer the boss of Bikram yoga. I am. I’ve been to hell and back but the jury has spoken. Bikram has tried to conceal assets and has fled America but justice will be done.”

Now that the verdict is out, pictures of Choudhury standing on women in nothing but a Speedo have suddenly taken on a new meaning. It’s disturbing to say the least, and I can’t even imagine what his wife is feeling.

I myself as a yoga practitioner have gone to Bikram studios in the past. It makes me sick to think that I ever supported a sexual predator.

Stay Positive this Holiday Season: Stop Lurking!

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Holidays got you down? If you’ve found yourself spending hours scrolling through the endless feeds of Facebook and Twitter, social media could be one culprit behind your misery.

The BBC reports that a new University of Copenhagen suggests that seeing an abundance of “perfect” families, faces, and holiday festivities could trigger envy and feelings of isolation. It makes sense that when you’re feeling low and alone, seeing so much togetherness from a distance could make you feel even worse.

The study, which had more than 1,000 participants, particularly noted this effect when users are “lurking” on social media – simply taking all the information in without interacting or connecting with anyone.

The conclusion? “[R]egular use of social networking such as Facebook can negatively affect your emotional well-being and satisfaction with life.”

But these days, everyone is so plugged into social media that not partaking at all might also make people feel isolated. The researchers suggest some simple solutions: being more of an “active” user and engaging with others; and unplugging from social media when possible.

In fact, the study suggests that actively engaging with others will create a much more positive experience for users; so, if you’re not ready to take a break, consider changing your usage habits instead.

If limiting your time on social media seems like the best solution, consider taking an entire week off. Alternatively, try uninstalling social media apps from your phone and only checking Facebook once per day for a limited period. Not only could this help your mood, but it also might help you be more productive and less distracted at work or school!

It’s also important to note that many social media users tend to share only their happiest moments, best pictures, and envy-inducing events. Comparing your everyday life with someone else’s top highlights is an unrealistic comparison to make—it’s enough to make anyone envious! Remember that no one’s life is quite the same as it looks on the outside.

Have you ever experienced the “deterioration of mood” that this new study suggests? What have you found to be the best solution?

Tips for Eating Healthy During the Holidays

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With less than a week before Christmas, it’s time to prepare for all those delicious—albeit unhealthy—treats that will be at your disposal this holiday season. Trust me, I get it; it’s hard to turn down pumpkin pie, mac ‘n’ cheese, Christmas cookies, and eggnog. But if you want to be healthy, it’s absolutely necessary that you avoid the temptations that will come your way.

Tip #1: Find a Mantra

Find a word, phrase, or quote that you can repeat to yourself whenever you’re feeling weak. Your mantra should have special meaning to you, something that will keep you motivated to make the right choice. Some examples include:

• I eat to fuel my body, not to satisfy an appetite  
• Note to self: When I eat like crap, I feel like crap
• It’s not a short-term diet, it’s a long-term lifestyle change
• I’m strengthening my ‘resistance’ muscle. It’s getting stronger!
• Looking and feeling amazing is the best revenge

Tip #2: Keep an Inspirational Photo Nearby

There’s a reason that vision boards are so effective. When we have a crystal clear vision of what we want, it helps us to manifest it that much easier. Take some time to sift through a magazine and find some fitness pictures that really inspire you. If you don’t have any magazines, search for images on the Internet. You can either keep a physical copy of this image on your person at all times, or you can store it electronically on your phone. Using pictures of celebrities is fair game.

Tip #3: Reward Yourself With Something Other Than Food

Look, eating healthy is hard work. If you can manage to resist all the temptations this holiday season, make sure you celebrate by rewarding yourself. The reward doesn’t have to be expensive; it can be as simple as taking a nice, hot bath. Other ideas include going to the spa, getting a massage, watching a movie, or going to a concert. Remember: this is a spiritual journey, and you should take part in celebrating the new and improved you.