health

 

Our April 12^th Minnesota COVID-19 forecast model was the first to predict Minnesota crushing COVID cases by June 1. Our May 20^th herd immunity analysis used custom reports from the Minnesota Department of Health to reveal that the State’s herd immunity percentages are already exceeding World Health Organization goals. And this week we turn our attention to a troubling surge in COVID...

It has been said that in taking great risk, one can reap an even greater reward. Most would assume we would be discussing an investment in the stock exchange or a bet at the high-stakes table. However, I am referring to the investment we make into the lives of our children. Parenthood is one of the most rewarding roles one can hold, yet it encompasses all the great challenges in life. Today, parents are faced with countless decisions for their children. The simplistic days of white or wheat are long gone. We are now learning how to decipher mysterious ingredient labels that are comprised of shelf-life stabilizers, genetically modified ingredients and artificial food...

Early planning and preparation can help you succeed through and beyond the holidays. According to one study, the average holiday weight gain was just under a pound, but the cumulative effect can negatively impact health. Although the weight gain during the six weeks pushing to the end-of-year holiday festivities is not as large as once believed, it still adds up, especially if it is not lost each year. The holiday season is full of parties, social commitments, specialty foods, alcohol, stress, cold weather, lack of sleep and a myriad of other distractions that can stand in the way of...

Cheating. Whether it’s in sport, relationships or life, the word itself almost always carries a negative, even hurtful, connotation. And when it comes to meeting your fitness goals, cheating — on your diet, your workouts, and your food journals — can feel like a betrayal to yourself. Why work so hard, if you are only going to undermine your efforts with a cookie, or two — or five? But what if cheating was actually somehow good for you? What if taking a break from discipline can actually help you in the long run? It might seem counterintuitive, but there is scientific evidence that relaxing the rules occasionally...

Let’s say you are trying to shop healthier for your family. You head out to the store for your weekly shopping trip, determined to come home with some healthier alternatives to the items in your pantry. However, when you get to the store, you find a multitude of products with different labels. Trying to determine which may be the best one to try is not always that easy. Products don’t just yell out from the aisles, “I’m the healthiest one! Buy ME!” I have spent an awful lot of time reading labels and nutritional data. (Trust me: you would not want to go food shopping with me … ever, just ask my husband)....

It’s Grandma’s Marathon. The Boston Marathon. Maybe even the IRONMAN. What do the these major events have in common? They are big, audacious goals that are achieved by putting one foot in front of the other. Many will never achieve them. Some have. Some will. While others will do so over and over again! What do these competitors say when they are asked how they accomplished the seemingly impossible? Focus on the present and set intermediate goals. Sports Psychology research leads us to the same reasoning. Setting intermediate or “process goals” are vastly superior to the big, audacious ones. So why are fitness goals, especially...

Do you find yourself wondering what to eat after a run or other training workout? There is so much information out there on what to eat pre and post workout. How do you determine what to do to get the most out of your workout by refueling it properly? This can be a simple strategy of combining the right food categories to get the most out of your nutrition and training. It is common to over-eat immediately after a strenuous workout. This is a very typical practice if you are training for longer endurance events like a marathon and triathlon. While it is vital for you to consume an appropriate baseline of calories for your typical...

I have found five (although there are many more) main reasons eating the right ratios and portions of food nutrients benefit you. Let's get started.

1. Overall Nutrition

Your body is like a car. It needs to be fueled in order to drive the distance you are expecting to travel. It is easy to understand that if you run out of gas, you will be walking rather than driving to your destination. By eating appropriate portions, along with implementing a balanced ratio of nutrients from each category of foods (protein, non-starchy...

“Surround yourself with those who challenge you, push you, and motivate you”

Motivation — it is something we all want to have, but something that can easily evade us! Motivation is like a muscle, and you need to practice strengthening it through a regular routine. Whatever your daily ritual is, make sure it encourages you to stay committed to your goals. Sounds easier said than done right? However, if you have a clear visualization of the specific things you are working toward you will be able to successfully ignite that motivation within to stay on track! Try using these five ways to stay motivated.

1.     Set specific...