As a trainer, I’m often asked which alcoholic beverages are best from a healthy lifestyle perspective. Red wine (and especially pinot noir) tops the list of healthy alcoholic beverages.
Here’s why:
Drinking red wine may preserve memory and protect the central nervous system. It also prevents clots and blood vessel inflammation—both of which are linked to heart disease and decline of cognitive function.
Overall, red wine drinkers have overall lower body mass indices (BMI’s). And moderate wine drinkers tend to have narrower waists and less abdominal fat than people who drink hard liquor. (Higher BMI is associated with greater risk for disease).
Throughout my Mom’s battle with cancer, I downed more comfort food and bottles of wine than I care to admit. Take my 35th birthday for example: dad grilled steaks and mom arranged for the most amazing cupcakes. Bronson and I went out later for margaritas. And boy, did I ever feel the full brunt of it: the acid reflux dragon reared its angry ANGRY head. I told mom about it the next day. “You’ve got to eat right, son.” she warned me matter-of-factly.
It would be one of her last admonishments.
It wasn’t the first time the reflux beast had gripped me. Five years ago, (on my 30th) we gathered at El Coyote Mexican Cafe with the same gruesome result. Back then, I didn’t know tacos and tequila were GERD’s best friend, but in the wake of Mom’s warning this year, I knew something had to change. (more…)
The bedroom is for two (and only two) things: sleep, and “satisfying” sex. That’s according to Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, a sleep research specialist who spoke at LA Times Magazine’s annual conference on health & wellness. (Who wants un-satisfying sex?)
In my five years as a personal trainer, I’ve listened to many clients talk about their insomnia, struggling with my own at times. My husband and I have tried to integrate most of the items on this list and, oh boy—when done in concert, they make a BIG difference.
Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Yes, even on weekends. This is the single most important thing you can do for insomnia. Try not to wake your mate if your sleep hours differ.
Remove the clock from the bedroom, or cover it up at night. Cover any other lights (such as LED lights on VCR’s). If you wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, do not look at the clock. This is key.
Don’t drink alcohol before bedtime. You may fall asleep faster, but drinking alcohol will also jolt you awake in the middle of the night.
Don’t eat before bedtime.
Do more cardio. Yoko Ono says, “Walk until your body feels like dancing. Then dance. You will find that you no more have difficulty in sleeping at night.”
Make the room as dark as possible and use thick window coverings; they have the added benefit of keeping noise out.
Keep the bedroom cool. The optimal temperature for sleep is 65-72 degrees.
Use a noise machine or soothing CD. We use Simonette Vaja’s guided meditation for sleep all the time. You won’t be able to make it through the CD without falling out.
Wind down before bedtime. A pre-bedtime ritual like reading or taking a shower or bath will relax you.
Use essential oil of lavender on pillows.
Replace old pillows, but don’t change the linens too often. Slightly slept in sheets are more comfortable to the body.
If you haven’t fallen asleep after 20 minutes leave the bedroom and go do something that’s relaxing and boring. When you feel sufficiently relaxed to enter the bedroom again, try again. Do not lay in bed tense or upset.
Avoid napping during the day.
Do not drink caffeine after lunch. Or better yet, eliminate caffeine altogether.
Find 10-20 minutes per day to worry. Don’t allow worries to come into your bedroom.
Tart cherry juice may treat pain and inflammation caused by exercise, say researchers at Oregon Health & Science University. These findings, while highly preliminary, concur with a U.K. study of British marathoners who drank tart cherry juice. Experts say it could even be useful for treating arthritis or reducing the amount of pain medication needed post-surgery. Trader Joe’s carries a reconstituted concentrate version for $2.99/bottle.
Okay, Bronson and I (inspired by Rory Freedman) have started a 30-day exploration of vegetarian eating. The latest entry on our menu is this chili sin carne (no meat) with mole, a recipe from Vegan with a Vengeance. It’s a rich, decadent chili (you won’t even miss the meat). Takes about 20 minutes to throw together, ready in an hour. (more…)
Modern evangelist Marianne Williamson was one of the presenters at LA Times Magazine’s “Conversations on Health & Wellness” at Terranea Resort. The conference was a nice break from my mind, which has been mired in thoughts about mom’s cancer. I was glad to see that Marianne was one of the speakers, since her book, A Return to Love, influenced our coming back together. Whether you’re well or ill, her remarks are worth a listen:
“Botox Parties” may put people at risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis because the single use vials of Botox are often used multiple times on different patients, alleges a federal lawsuit filed in California.
As a trainer, I’m often asked which alcoholic beverages are best from a healthy lifestyle perspective. Red wine (and especially pinot noir) tops the list of healthy alcoholic beverages.
Throughout my Mom’s battle with cancer, I downed more comfort food and bottles of wine than I care to admit. Take my 35th birthday for example: dad grilled steaks and mom arranged for the most amazing cupcakes. 
