Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Friday, November 14, 2014

When it came time to recommend drinks for this week's episode, I chose two simple - and healthier compared to most other - cocktails.

Pom Cosmo

  • 1 shot Pomegranate vodka
  • 1 shot Orange liqueur
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Garnish w/ lime wedge

Gin & Juice

  • 1 shot Gin
  • 1/2 cup Fresh squeezed fruit juice (try orange or grapefruit juice)
  • Top w/ seltzer water

DRINK RECIPES FOR EPISODE #56: Pom Cosmo and Gin & Juice

Posted on by Zoe Grimm with No comments
When it came time to recommend drinks for this week's episode, I chose two simple - and healthier compared to most other - cocktails.

Pom Cosmo

  • 1 shot Pomegranate vodka
  • 1 shot Orange liqueur
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Garnish w/ lime wedge

Gin & Juice

  • 1 shot Gin
  • 1/2 cup Fresh squeezed fruit juice (try orange or grapefruit juice)
  • Top w/ seltzer water

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

It's been a roller coaster kind of week here at casa de Grimm. Just a few days ago, I was having a grand time with my fellow TVP ladies as we recorded this week's episode of The Vodka Press podcast. Then yesterday... my grandmother passed away.

My grandmother suffered for years from a smorgasbord of illnesses; ultimately, it was a combination of a respiratory infection (possibly pneumonia?) and Alzheimer's that led to her death.

A lot of us folks in our 20s, 30s, and even 40s don't give much thought to Alzheimer's disease (AD); it's just an "old person's" disease, right? Wrong. According to the Alzheimer's Association, "approximately 200,000 individuals younger than age 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer's." In fact, you can develop and be diagnosed with early onset AD in your 40s.

It's a terrifying disease, one that "kills more than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined." Even if you don't have a loved one who suffers from AD and/or don't think you're at risk (yet), it's still important to understand the symptoms, risks, treatments, etc.

Today I want to share an interview I did with Jacqeline Marcell, author of Elder Rage—or—Take My Father...Please! How To Survive Caring For Aging Parents. Jacqeline's an amazing woman who aims to educate others (regardless of age) on early signs of AD, coping with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or another form of Dementia, tips for managing an elder loved one's care, and more. Take a listen below:



To learn more about Jacqueline and her book Elder Rage, visit www.elderrage.com and tune in to this special spot. Click here for the "Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's" list that she mentioned during the interview.

Another great resource to check out is, of course, the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org). You can read up on the different stages of AD, review AD facts/figures, find local support if you or a loved one suffers from the disease, get involved in fundraising and/or other volunteer opportunities, etc.



****

And before I go, I just want to thank everyone for reading this post. I know it's a heavy topic but, as we say here on The Vodka Press, this is one of those conversations we all need to have (with ourselves, our families, and so forth). Next week, I promise to serve up one of my usual sexy and geeky pieces. Take care folks. xoxo

Loss, Loved Ones, and Alzheimer's - An Interview with author Jacqeline Marcell

Posted on by Zoe Grimm with No comments
It's been a roller coaster kind of week here at casa de Grimm. Just a few days ago, I was having a grand time with my fellow TVP ladies as we recorded this week's episode of The Vodka Press podcast. Then yesterday... my grandmother passed away.

My grandmother suffered for years from a smorgasbord of illnesses; ultimately, it was a combination of a respiratory infection (possibly pneumonia?) and Alzheimer's that led to her death.

A lot of us folks in our 20s, 30s, and even 40s don't give much thought to Alzheimer's disease (AD); it's just an "old person's" disease, right? Wrong. According to the Alzheimer's Association, "approximately 200,000 individuals younger than age 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer's." In fact, you can develop and be diagnosed with early onset AD in your 40s.

It's a terrifying disease, one that "kills more than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined." Even if you don't have a loved one who suffers from AD and/or don't think you're at risk (yet), it's still important to understand the symptoms, risks, treatments, etc.

Today I want to share an interview I did with Jacqeline Marcell, author of Elder Rage—or—Take My Father...Please! How To Survive Caring For Aging Parents. Jacqeline's an amazing woman who aims to educate others (regardless of age) on early signs of AD, coping with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or another form of Dementia, tips for managing an elder loved one's care, and more. Take a listen below:



To learn more about Jacqueline and her book Elder Rage, visit www.elderrage.com and tune in to this special spot. Click here for the "Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's" list that she mentioned during the interview.

Another great resource to check out is, of course, the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org). You can read up on the different stages of AD, review AD facts/figures, find local support if you or a loved one suffers from the disease, get involved in fundraising and/or other volunteer opportunities, etc.



****

And before I go, I just want to thank everyone for reading this post. I know it's a heavy topic but, as we say here on The Vodka Press, this is one of those conversations we all need to have (with ourselves, our families, and so forth). Next week, I promise to serve up one of my usual sexy and geeky pieces. Take care folks. xoxo

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

This last episode has got the wheels turning in my head about people and their beauty/health rituals. One of the latest trends seems to be something that is a little, well, non-traditional, and has me very, very curious. That trend would be oil pulling.

For those who have no clue what oil pulling is, it is the simple practice of swishing an oil (usually coconut or sesame oil) in your mouth, much like you would mouthwash, and then spitting it out - Normally you're instructed to swish for about twenty minutes.

Truth be told, I have yet to try oil pulling. I like to do a little research before I dedicate a whole twenty minutes to something. Especially when that something requires holding liquid in your mouth for lengthy periods of time without swallowing or drooling on yourself.

I'm curious.

Have any of you, my fantastic TVP readers, tried oil pulling? Is it all it's cracked up to be? Is oil pulling going to go the way of Tamagotchis and pet rocks or is it here to stay?

I did my homework; I took notes. I searched to the ends of the earth to compile as much data as I could to be analyzed by me and my team of experts. We slaved laboriously over mountains of testimony.

Actually, really, I just "googled" it and clicked on the first few links.

The Pros (or kinda pro's?): It seems the general consensus for those who are pro-oil pulling have listed positive outcomes in relieving symptoms of migraines, headaches, asthma, diabetes mellitus, acne...and the bonus is that it helps to brighten up those pearly whites in your mouth, decrease dental plaque, . However, most who tout these benefits seem to also give the disclaimer that these "facts" are unsupported by any scientific research or data.

The Cons: Oil pulling can lead to lipid pneumonia (from inhaling oil into the bronchial tree). And that's just no fun for anyone. The other downside is that the only thing that people can agree on is that their isn't enough scientific data to really agree on anything.

My curiosity is killing me but I have to admit - it's more of a curiosity about how this trend is actually becoming so popular. Is it's (dare I say) ridiculousness that is causing this "health trend" to blaze a trail across the internet? While I do try and make it a habit of trying anything that promises to cure a hangover right quick, I think I'll save my oral hygiene habits for toothpaste and mouthwash and I'll leave the job of detoxification to those little guys named my liver and kidney because hey, no one wants to be out of a job in this economy and they've done just fine for me this far.

Getting serious though, if you've tried oil pulling, let me know your thoughts. I'm all ears, sometimes even for more than 20 minutes.

Episode #23 Hangover: Trend Alert: Oil Pulling

Posted on by Karly Kingsley with No comments
This last episode has got the wheels turning in my head about people and their beauty/health rituals. One of the latest trends seems to be something that is a little, well, non-traditional, and has me very, very curious. That trend would be oil pulling.

For those who have no clue what oil pulling is, it is the simple practice of swishing an oil (usually coconut or sesame oil) in your mouth, much like you would mouthwash, and then spitting it out - Normally you're instructed to swish for about twenty minutes.

Truth be told, I have yet to try oil pulling. I like to do a little research before I dedicate a whole twenty minutes to something. Especially when that something requires holding liquid in your mouth for lengthy periods of time without swallowing or drooling on yourself.

I'm curious.

Have any of you, my fantastic TVP readers, tried oil pulling? Is it all it's cracked up to be? Is oil pulling going to go the way of Tamagotchis and pet rocks or is it here to stay?

I did my homework; I took notes. I searched to the ends of the earth to compile as much data as I could to be analyzed by me and my team of experts. We slaved laboriously over mountains of testimony.

Actually, really, I just "googled" it and clicked on the first few links.

The Pros (or kinda pro's?): It seems the general consensus for those who are pro-oil pulling have listed positive outcomes in relieving symptoms of migraines, headaches, asthma, diabetes mellitus, acne...and the bonus is that it helps to brighten up those pearly whites in your mouth, decrease dental plaque, . However, most who tout these benefits seem to also give the disclaimer that these "facts" are unsupported by any scientific research or data.

The Cons: Oil pulling can lead to lipid pneumonia (from inhaling oil into the bronchial tree). And that's just no fun for anyone. The other downside is that the only thing that people can agree on is that their isn't enough scientific data to really agree on anything.

My curiosity is killing me but I have to admit - it's more of a curiosity about how this trend is actually becoming so popular. Is it's (dare I say) ridiculousness that is causing this "health trend" to blaze a trail across the internet? While I do try and make it a habit of trying anything that promises to cure a hangover right quick, I think I'll save my oral hygiene habits for toothpaste and mouthwash and I'll leave the job of detoxification to those little guys named my liver and kidney because hey, no one wants to be out of a job in this economy and they've done just fine for me this far.

Getting serious though, if you've tried oil pulling, let me know your thoughts. I'm all ears, sometimes even for more than 20 minutes.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

For last week's Wicked Find I spouted the healthy benefits of chia seeds.

I first heard about the snazzy health benefits of chia seeds when Zoe, Karly and I watched Hungry For Change to prep for our not so healthy drinking game/power hour (power 58 minutes?) recording session. 

I'd seen the weird kombucha-like drinks at Whole Foods, I'd seen odd bins and bowls of bird-food-type toppings on salad bars, but I'd never, ever, know what the fork chia seeds were or why I would be interested in eating them.

ohhappybelly.com
Turns out, chia seeds are good for much more than growing that cute, fuzzy grass out of hedgehog and squirrel shaped terra-cotta pots  and adorning your mother-in-law's living room - they are actually chalk full of good-for-you-ness, and taste pretty alright, too. 

As I was racking my brains and spelunking through Google for fun things to do with these little health powerhouses, I found these four recipes that look absolutely to die for.  Or at least to spring the $7.99 a pouch of chia seeds typically costs. 

Wicked excited for spring to truly roll around and bring lazy evenings and fresh fruit by the bushel. I can't wait to try these bad boys out at home - and maybe on my hapless partner. 

Enjoy.

***

moevenpick-icecream.com
For breakfast... Vanilla-Almond Chia Pudding 

The consistency of this chilled, creamy concoction will be thicker and a bit gummier than your average scoop of yogurt, but the almond milk and vanilla flavor will make up for any misgivings you might have about texture.


For lunch or dinner... Kale and Farro Salad with Lemon and Chia Dressing

The seeds in this one go only into the dressing, but will make a standard vinaigrette not only thicker but oh so much healthier.


For everything... Chia and Tomato Jam

I'm not sure you need anything to make tomato jam sound better (unless, that is, if you don't like tomatoes like, at all) but this salsa-y spread will add oomph to your sandwiches and toast without sliding all over the place.

The sweet and salty will go great on anything, and if you want a little extra zing some chili powder or cayenne pepper will do the trick.


For summer (with vodka?)... Raspberry-Chia Lemonade

Ok, who doesn't like berry lemonade? Who doesn't like berry lemonade with booze in it? While the recipe doesn't call for making it an adult beverage, after the seeds have soaked up all the yummy goodness and set into that cool chia suspension, adding a lil somethin' somethin' is anything but a bad idea. 

The omega-3s and protein might even help you fend off any hangover-inducing depletion of electrolytes.  But I'm not a doctor.  I don't even play one on TV. 

Wicked Recipes

Posted on by Kit Bangles with No comments
For last week's Wicked Find I spouted the healthy benefits of chia seeds.

I first heard about the snazzy health benefits of chia seeds when Zoe, Karly and I watched Hungry For Change to prep for our not so healthy drinking game/power hour (power 58 minutes?) recording session. 

I'd seen the weird kombucha-like drinks at Whole Foods, I'd seen odd bins and bowls of bird-food-type toppings on salad bars, but I'd never, ever, know what the fork chia seeds were or why I would be interested in eating them.

ohhappybelly.com
Turns out, chia seeds are good for much more than growing that cute, fuzzy grass out of hedgehog and squirrel shaped terra-cotta pots  and adorning your mother-in-law's living room - they are actually chalk full of good-for-you-ness, and taste pretty alright, too. 

As I was racking my brains and spelunking through Google for fun things to do with these little health powerhouses, I found these four recipes that look absolutely to die for.  Or at least to spring the $7.99 a pouch of chia seeds typically costs. 

Wicked excited for spring to truly roll around and bring lazy evenings and fresh fruit by the bushel. I can't wait to try these bad boys out at home - and maybe on my hapless partner. 

Enjoy.

***

moevenpick-icecream.com
For breakfast... Vanilla-Almond Chia Pudding 

The consistency of this chilled, creamy concoction will be thicker and a bit gummier than your average scoop of yogurt, but the almond milk and vanilla flavor will make up for any misgivings you might have about texture.


For lunch or dinner... Kale and Farro Salad with Lemon and Chia Dressing

The seeds in this one go only into the dressing, but will make a standard vinaigrette not only thicker but oh so much healthier.


For everything... Chia and Tomato Jam

I'm not sure you need anything to make tomato jam sound better (unless, that is, if you don't like tomatoes like, at all) but this salsa-y spread will add oomph to your sandwiches and toast without sliding all over the place.

The sweet and salty will go great on anything, and if you want a little extra zing some chili powder or cayenne pepper will do the trick.


For summer (with vodka?)... Raspberry-Chia Lemonade

Ok, who doesn't like berry lemonade? Who doesn't like berry lemonade with booze in it? While the recipe doesn't call for making it an adult beverage, after the seeds have soaked up all the yummy goodness and set into that cool chia suspension, adding a lil somethin' somethin' is anything but a bad idea. 

The omega-3s and protein might even help you fend off any hangover-inducing depletion of electrolytes.  But I'm not a doctor.  I don't even play one on TV. 

Friday, March 21, 2014

Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is Chia - specifically, the delicious and nutritious seeds.

According to its wikipedia.org page:
By Daniel Schwen [CC BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
"Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids... Chia seeds may be added to other foods as a topping or put into smoothies, breakfast cereals, energy bars, yogurt, made into a gelatin-like substance, or consumed raw... One pilot study found that 10 weeks ingestion of 25 grams per day of milled chia seeds, compared to intact seeds, produced higher blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 long-chain fatty acid considered good for the heart, while having no effect on inflammation or disease risk factors."
For some easy ways to incorporate this healthy treat into your daily diet, check out these tips from wellnessmama.com.

Wicked Find for Episode #22: Chia (seeds)

Posted on by The Vodka Press with No comments
Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is Chia - specifically, the delicious and nutritious seeds.

According to its wikipedia.org page:
By Daniel Schwen [CC BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
"Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids... Chia seeds may be added to other foods as a topping or put into smoothies, breakfast cereals, energy bars, yogurt, made into a gelatin-like substance, or consumed raw... One pilot study found that 10 weeks ingestion of 25 grams per day of milled chia seeds, compared to intact seeds, produced higher blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 long-chain fatty acid considered good for the heart, while having no effect on inflammation or disease risk factors."
For some easy ways to incorporate this healthy treat into your daily diet, check out these tips from wellnessmama.com.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is Our Bodies, Ourselves, by Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Inc. (ourbodiesourselves.org).

www.amazon.com
The summary from ourbodiesourselves.org:
For over forty years "Our Bodies, Ourselves" has provided readers with indispensable information on women’s health and sexuality...includes dozens of personal stories and essential, up-to-date information about gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and birth, perimenopause, menopause, health issues such as breast and ovarian cancers, and sexuality and sexual health as we age.

You can see the book's table of contents and read excerpts on ourbodiesourselves.org. To purchase the book, head over to amazon.com.

Wicked Find for Episode #19: Our Bodies, Ourselves

Posted on by The Vodka Press with No comments
Kit Bangles's Wicked Find for this week's EP is Our Bodies, Ourselves, by Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Inc. (ourbodiesourselves.org).

www.amazon.com
The summary from ourbodiesourselves.org:
For over forty years "Our Bodies, Ourselves" has provided readers with indispensable information on women’s health and sexuality...includes dozens of personal stories and essential, up-to-date information about gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and birth, perimenopause, menopause, health issues such as breast and ovarian cancers, and sexuality and sexual health as we age.

You can see the book's table of contents and read excerpts on ourbodiesourselves.org. To purchase the book, head over to amazon.com.

Episode #19: The Link List

Posted on by The Vodka Press with No comments

Friday, February 21, 2014

Self-improvement is something, in my opinion, that a lot of people should take more seriously and, we're all in luck, there's a lot of great apps to facilitate the personal growth in all of us.

#5. Gympact - Gympact is a really cool app for motivating you to get your butt back to the gym for that workout you promised yourself that you were going to get in. Here's how it works: You promise a dollar amount for your workouts, for example: 2 dollars. If you miss your workout, you're fined the 2 dollars. The best part of the app is that if you make your workouts, you get a cut from the fines that the people who didn't make their workouts paid. There's nothing like a financial incentive to get you motivated!

www.skiptomylou.org
#4. Evernote - If you're like me, always on the go, but always having a thousand ideas and thoughts in your head, than Evernote is a company for you. They have a ton of different products, especially apps, that help you work smarter and stay organized. Their best app is their simple evernote app, it allows you to write down, organize, and sync your thoughts, to-do lists, and ideas no matter where you are.

#3. Lift - Lift is an app that wants to help you "succeed at everything" by "unlocking your potential" and "changing your life" Whether you have small goals or big ones, lift helps you keep track of them by giving you steps to achieve your goals and milestones to help keep you motivated and celebrate your small or large achievements. The other great thing about this app is the daily motivations and community support that it provides.

#2. Live Happy - Live Happy is a "happiness boosting positive psychology program," developed by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and a research team. Lyubomirsky wrote the book "The How of Happiness," and is also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside..meaning..you should probably check it out because it sounds like she knows her stuff ;)

#1. The Habit Factor - Habits are the hardest thing to change but the most necessary thing to change if its personal growth you're looking for. The Habit Factor is inspired by the book of the same name and is the #1 downloaded goals and habits app. It helps you track your goals and your progress and is really easy to use.

Top Five for Episode #18: The Best Self-Improvement Apps

Posted on by Karly Kingsley with No comments
Self-improvement is something, in my opinion, that a lot of people should take more seriously and, we're all in luck, there's a lot of great apps to facilitate the personal growth in all of us.

#5. Gympact - Gympact is a really cool app for motivating you to get your butt back to the gym for that workout you promised yourself that you were going to get in. Here's how it works: You promise a dollar amount for your workouts, for example: 2 dollars. If you miss your workout, you're fined the 2 dollars. The best part of the app is that if you make your workouts, you get a cut from the fines that the people who didn't make their workouts paid. There's nothing like a financial incentive to get you motivated!

www.skiptomylou.org
#4. Evernote - If you're like me, always on the go, but always having a thousand ideas and thoughts in your head, than Evernote is a company for you. They have a ton of different products, especially apps, that help you work smarter and stay organized. Their best app is their simple evernote app, it allows you to write down, organize, and sync your thoughts, to-do lists, and ideas no matter where you are.

#3. Lift - Lift is an app that wants to help you "succeed at everything" by "unlocking your potential" and "changing your life" Whether you have small goals or big ones, lift helps you keep track of them by giving you steps to achieve your goals and milestones to help keep you motivated and celebrate your small or large achievements. The other great thing about this app is the daily motivations and community support that it provides.

#2. Live Happy - Live Happy is a "happiness boosting positive psychology program," developed by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and a research team. Lyubomirsky wrote the book "The How of Happiness," and is also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside..meaning..you should probably check it out because it sounds like she knows her stuff ;)

#1. The Habit Factor - Habits are the hardest thing to change but the most necessary thing to change if its personal growth you're looking for. The Habit Factor is inspired by the book of the same name and is the #1 downloaded goals and habits app. It helps you track your goals and your progress and is really easy to use.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Your health is important, and it's never too late to make changes. At least that's what I try to tell myself. The following are my top five favorite wellness tips.

#5 - Get Enough Sleep - Your body needs sleep, and not just to make sure you aren't tired throughout the day. When you are sleeping your body is restoring and healing itself. Make sure you get enough. 

#4 - Choose a healthy diet that is not restrictive - Instead of thinking about what you can't have think about what you can have. Your body needs a balanced nutrition plan. Only eating egg whites and grass is going to do more damage than good. Remember: your brain's favorite food is carbohydrates, and your body needs a little bit of fat from time to time. Moderation is key. 

#3 - Limit your alcohol and vices - This is about moderation as well. At The Vodka Press, we love our cocktails but we also know when enough is enough. Alcohol interferes with your sleep (see #5) and can also cause other physical ailments. It's okay to indulge every now and again, but keep it within reason. Your body will thank you.

#2 - Seek to educate yourself - Diets, wellness, and exercise are not a "one size fits all" plan. Educate yourself about what it is that your own body needs and what works best for you. Before you believe all the crazy facts and trends out there, do a little research of your own. Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true.  Remember, what works for your bestie may not be best for you. And that's completely okay. 

#1. Don't forget your emotional and mental health - Health doesn't just mean physical. Your mind and your happiness are just as important as the state of your body. Do you have a healthy social life? A healthy home life? Are you happy at work and with your career? Are you feeling depressed? Seek to find balance in all areas of your life. 

Episode #04 Top Five: My Favorite Wellness Tips

Posted on by Karly Kingsley with No comments
Your health is important, and it's never too late to make changes. At least that's what I try to tell myself. The following are my top five favorite wellness tips.

#5 - Get Enough Sleep - Your body needs sleep, and not just to make sure you aren't tired throughout the day. When you are sleeping your body is restoring and healing itself. Make sure you get enough. 

#4 - Choose a healthy diet that is not restrictive - Instead of thinking about what you can't have think about what you can have. Your body needs a balanced nutrition plan. Only eating egg whites and grass is going to do more damage than good. Remember: your brain's favorite food is carbohydrates, and your body needs a little bit of fat from time to time. Moderation is key. 

#3 - Limit your alcohol and vices - This is about moderation as well. At The Vodka Press, we love our cocktails but we also know when enough is enough. Alcohol interferes with your sleep (see #5) and can also cause other physical ailments. It's okay to indulge every now and again, but keep it within reason. Your body will thank you.

#2 - Seek to educate yourself - Diets, wellness, and exercise are not a "one size fits all" plan. Educate yourself about what it is that your own body needs and what works best for you. Before you believe all the crazy facts and trends out there, do a little research of your own. Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true.  Remember, what works for your bestie may not be best for you. And that's completely okay. 

#1. Don't forget your emotional and mental health - Health doesn't just mean physical. Your mind and your happiness are just as important as the state of your body. Do you have a healthy social life? A healthy home life? Are you happy at work and with your career? Are you feeling depressed? Seek to find balance in all areas of your life.