In a recent study, researchers put 11 young, healthy adults through a strenuous workout—the kind that’s almost too hard to finish. To see the effects of massage on muscles, they took muscle biopsies of both legs—before and after exercise, and after a Swedish-style massage. The massage was given right after the workout. The massage affected two specific genes in the muscle cells. The first gene decreases inflammation caused by exercise, similar to the relief you get from certain pain medications. The second gene turned up production of mitochondria in the muscles. These are the power houses of cells. They use oxygen and the broken down products of food to generate energy needed by the cells. As muscle cells become adapted to exercise, the number of mitochondria increases. Massage seems to help this process along. Other studies have shown that treatments for sore muscles—such as ice baths and anti-inflammatory medications—can reduce inflammation. These tend to block muscle repair and growth. Massage, however, appears to not only make you feel better, but also speed up muscle recovery. Researchers also found that the massage did not decrease the amount of lactic acid in the muscles, something often given as the reason for post-workout massages. Still, this research bumps massage up a notch, making it less awkward to limp up to the massage tables at the end of a big race.
Drink This!
This week my stomach has been a little weird so I decided to whip out my Vitamix and make a concoction. I had just bought some ginger root at the store and decided it was time to use it. I rushed to my fridge to search for what other immune-fighting superfoods I could find.
The picture below is the final result. Isn't it pretty :)
(Looks a little Halloween-esque right?! I went a little cray at Sephora this week.)
ginger. You don't need to wait until the next time you have sushi to start incorporating ginger into your life. For thousands of years healers have used ginger not only as a food but as a healing medicine.
Ginger can work wonders for nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory that boosts your immune system.
carrots. carrots make make instantly think of Bugs Bunny ha! (I'm so mature) Carrots are named after the antioxidant nutrient they are rich in, called beta-carotene. This is just one of the many antioxidants found in carrots.
Studies have shown that eating carrots is amazing for your vision, and preventing heart disease and cancer. Their color makes smoothies a pretty orange color too :)
apples. you know the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the Doctor away!" Did you know that there are over 7,000 different variations of apples? Whoa. New studies concentrating on the diversity of polyphenols found in apples continue to amaze scientists.
Apples are full on antioxidants and studies show that including them in your diet can help prevent heart disease, balance blood sugar, and prevent certain cancers.
raw honey. I live in Cincinnati (woot, woot!) and we have a wonderful market downtown called Findlay Market. It's been around forever. My Grandma and even Great-Grandfather were regulars to the market... and now I am! Anyways, they have tons of veggies and local foods. I found some delicious raw honey and knew I had to buy it and take it home right away.
Raw honey simply means that the honey has not been heated in anyway. Heating honey kills all the amazing nutrients and can make it harmful to your body. It's an extremely high-tech process, and is definitely not the same honey used a generation ago.
Raw honey is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. It also includes beneficial phytonutrients known to prevent all sorts of diseases. Of course, moderation is key.
Recipe:
small piece of ginger root
1 carrot
1 apple
1 cup filtered water
honey to taste
Blend it up in a high-speed blender. I love my Vitamix and I think the Ninja is a great choice too.
*** I will say that this recipe has quite the bite to it because of the ginger. But I still thought that it was tasty and it made me feel amazing afterwards.
As we go into the colder seasons I know this is going to be one of my go-to recipes to prevent getting sick.
Also, I was looking at my calendar and the holiday parties are starting to roll in. From past years, I know that right now is the perfect time to reset and get on track. Can't wait for the holiday food. Thanksgiving is my fav!
I have two questions for you my friends.
#1 What is your favorite smoothie or juice to make when you're feeling a little off or want to prevent illness?
#2 What are you doing to prepare for the holidays?
Let me know by replying to this email :)
Talk soon,
ENTfit & Beth Nutrition
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace a one on one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Beth Leah Nutrition LLC, its officers, affiliates, employees and Beth Krumbein encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The entire contents of this document are based upon the opinions of Beth Krumbein, unless otherwise noted.
ENTfit Fitness Event - In the LA area
Come join ENTfit for a workout in Beverly Hills & Reveal Your Skin’s Past and Change Your Skin’s Future with YouthCam after
ENTfit will be putting on a one hour body weight fit and tone class at Murad, and all you need to bring is a towel or mat to lay on. Some might be wondering what a YouthCam is... A Murad YouthCam high- definition camera that analyzes fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, inflammation and pore size and anticipates the future of customers’ skin, will be offered to those attending this workout, complementary of Murad.
ENTfit Fitness Event - In the LA area
Come join ENTfit for a workout in Beverly Hills & Reveal Your Skin’s Past and Change Your Skin’s Future with YouthCam after
ENTfit will be putting on a one hour body weight fit and tone class at Murad, and all you need to bring is a towel or mat to lay on. Some might be wondering what a YouthCam is... A Murad YouthCam high- definition camera that analyzes fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, inflammation and pore size and anticipates the future of customers’ skin, will be offered to those attending this workout, complementary of Murad.
7 Ways to Boost Your Energy Level
Increase Your Magnesium Intake
Eating a balanced diet can help ensure your vitamin and mineral needs are met.
Walk Around the Block
While it may seem as if moving about when you feel exhausted is the quickest route to feeling more exhausted, the opposite is true. Increasing physical activity -- particularly walking -- increases energy.
Take a Power Nap
Research has shown that both information overload and pushing our brains too hard can zap energy. But studies by the National Institutes of Mental Health found that a 60-minute "power nap" can not only reverse the mind-numbing effects of information overload, it may also help us to better retain what we have learned.
Don't Skip Breakfast -- or Any Other Meal
Studies published in the journal Nutritional Health found that missing any meal during the day led to an overall greater feeling of fatigue by day's end.
Reduce Stress and Deal With Anger
Stress is the result of anxiety, and anxiety uses up a whole lot of our energy.
Drink More Water and Less Alcohol
You may already know that it's easy to confuse signals of hunger with thirst (we think we need food when we really need water). But did you know that thirst can also masquerade as fatigue?
Eat More Whole Grains and Less Sugar
The key here is keeping blood sugar balanced so energy is constant. When you're eating a sweet food, you get a spike in blood sugar, which gives you an initial burst of energy, but that's followed by a rapid drop in blood sugar, which in turn can leave you feeling very wiped out.