Fruit Loops is a smart choice?

There is a labeling program called Smart Choices, which is suppose to help shoppers identify smarter food and beverage choices. Products can now display the Smart Choice label on the front of the packages. This symbol is suppose to help you make smarter food and beverage choices.The concept of this program could be a great idea if used properly, but foods such as Fruit Loops have the Smart Choices label? Since when is Fruit Loops a smart choice? Are you suppose to get your daily requirements of fruit by eating Fruit Loops? Or maybe it's all the "natural" grain and fiber in the cereal?

My solution is just read the ingredient labels on foods to see what it actually contains instead of relying on a company's marketing campaign to have people believe that they are making "smart choices"! Fruit Loops is not a Smart Choice in my opinion!

Importance of vitamin D

This year's cold and flu season is supposed to be more risky than usual and I am already stocking up on supplements. I am a bit of a germophobe, so I already have the disinfecting and hand washing part covered. I have the regular preventative supplements including Echinacea and Air Borne, but this year I am including zinc tablets and vitamin D. I don't usually take extra vitamin D supplements (except for what's already in my multivitamin), but I have been reading a lot about vitamin D lately and how beneficial it is to overall health.

Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin" and is critical to keeping your immune system functioning. The immune system contains vitamin D receptors. If there is not sufficient vitamin D present to bind these receptors, immune cells become weak and cannot protect the body from infection. I used to think that I would be able to get all of my vitamin D from the sun (it is produced when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis). There are not too many foods that contain vitamin D so it's difficult to get it from food (most foods that contain vitamin D have it added, such as milk). I read recently that in the winter, it's impossible to produce vitamin D from the sun if you live north of Atlanta because the sun never gets high enough in the sky for its ultraviolet B rays to penetrate the atmosphere. So now I am supplementing with extra vitamin D!

7 Benefits of Exercise

If you wanted some more reasons to exercise here they are:

Daily exercise, just 20 minutes a day will help you:

1. Sleep better: The more active your body is during the day, the more likely you are able to relax fully at night and fall asleep easily.

2. Better mood: A study was reported recently, in which an exercise program was equal in benefit to routine doses of Zoloft, a common antidepressant (I am sure you have all seen the commercials).

3. Reduced risk of breast cancer: A USC study found that women exercising for five or more hours per week experienced greater decrease in risk of developing invasive breast cancer compared to less active women. Remember, this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

4. Less cellulite: Exercise can reduce or eliminate cellulite by toning and firming the skin.

5. Live longer: The three-year survival rate was about three times higher for active 85-year-olds compared with those who were inactive.

6. Builds self confidence: In a recent magazine poll, women stated they felt the most sexy after exercising.

7. Reduce bad cholesterol: Studies have shown that regular exercise can help reduce cholesterol. One of the best exercises to reduce cholesterol is to simply walk for 30minutes.

Just Do It!