FEATURED ARTICLES

• Hay fever prevention
• Spring hay fever
• Prevent hay fever

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

Spring is finally here! After a long and cold winter, everyone is in their glory with the sunshine and warm weather.

However, coming hand-in-hand with the blooming season is some people's dreaded seasonal nightmare: hay fever.

One of the best plans of action for fighting spring allergies is to avoid the things that make your sneezing, itching and watering eyes worse.  Warren V. Filley, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, recently told www.health.com which plants you should avoid.

Spring Hay Fever

• Ragweed : It is common along riverbanks and in rural areas. Dr. Filley says that almost 75 percent of people with allergies are sensitive to ragweed.
• Mountain cedar :This tree is commonly found in mountainous regions and, according to Dr. Filley, causes some of the “most severe allergy symptoms I have ever seen.”
• Maple : These trees are found along streams and in woods all through the eastern United States and Canada. The maple produces potent allergens.
• Elm : Common in the wetlands, these trees will most likely aggravate your allergies.
• Mulberry : This pretty tree can be very deceiving. Found in woods and river valleys, it is often associated with contributing to hay fever.
• Pecan : Although it makes many good desserts, the pollen from pecan : found in woods and orchards : is second only to ragweed as the most severe source of allergens.
• Oak : It may have less potent pollen, but it produces very large quantities of it, Dr. Filley says. Avoid the woods just for this one.
• Pigweed/Tumbleweed : This common weed is found in lawns and along roadsides, but be aware.

• spring exercise
• Spring Workout
• spring exercise routine
• Spring workout routines

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

Sure, you would be hard-pressed to find a woman or a man who says that they actually enjoy the thoughts of spring cleaning.  But, if you just take into consideration how many calories are burned while you are doing your spring cleaning, then you may be a little more excited when spring rolls around this year.

Spring cleaning exercises

The actual number of calories burned will depend on your weight, gender and age, but their calculators that you can find online (FitDay or NutriStrategy) that will help you to calculate your actual calories burned.

So, dust off your mops, break out the cleaner and begin to sweat off the weight!

Editor's Note: The calories burned estimates listed here are based on one hour of cleaning for a 155-pound woman.

Gardening: 226 calories 

Window washing: 226 calories 

Scrubbing floors (on hands and knees): 291 calories 

Laundry, ironing: 84 calories 

Sewing repairs: 36 calories 

Dusting: 97 calories 

Scrubbing toilets, tub: 246 calories 

Vacuuming: 317 calories 

Cleaning gutters: 258 calories 

Moving furniture, household items: 387 calories 

Painting, papering, plastering: 317 calories

Sweeping: 194 calories

Mopping: 153 calories

• nutritional benefits of spinach
• Benefits of spinach
• spinach healthy recipes

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

• The vitamin K in spinach provides 200% of the daily value in fresh spinach and nearly 1000% of the daily value in boiled spinach.
• Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, folate and magnesium.
• Cooked spinach is a great source of iron and is totally fat free.

Spinach health benefits

Recipe: Wilted Spinach Salad

• 10 to 12 ounces spinach, washed and torn into pieces
• ¼ cup minced red onion
• 5 to 6 radishes, thinly sliced
• 2 hard-cooked eggs, 1 chopped and 1 sliced
• 2 to 4 slices bacon
• 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons bacon drippings
• 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Place prepared spinach in a large bowl. Add onions and radishes. Refrigerate, tightly covered. Fry or microwave bacon until crisp; remove to paper towel and set aside. In a small jar or measuring cup combine drippings with sugar, vinegar, water, salt and pepper. Refrigerate all ingredients until just before serving. When ready to serve, microwave the dressing on high for 30 to 45 seconds, or until mixture boils. Toss the chopped egg with the greens then pour the hot dressing over greens mixture; toss again lightly. Top with sliced egg and crumbled bacon.

Recipe: Spinach Lasagna

• 2 egg whites
• 26 oz of prepared spaghetti sauce
• 24 oz of ricotta cheese
• 10 oz of Lasagna noodles, cooked
• 10 oz of frozen spinach, thawed and chopped, then squeezed dry
• 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, grated, reserve ½ cup
• ¾ cup of Parmesan cheese, grated and divided, reserve 2 tablespoons
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• Olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare a 9x13 dish.Cook lasagna noodles as directed on the package, then rinse and drain. Combine parmesan cheese, ricotta cheeses with the egg whites, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Pour ¼ cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out using a spatula. Cover the sauce with a single layer of lasagna noodles. Spread about half the cheese mixture over the noodles, and then cover with about half of the spinach and shredded mozzarella cheese. Finish this layer with half of the remaining spaghetti sauce. Add a second layer of noodles, topping with the remaining cheese mixture, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. Top with the final layer of noodles and remaining spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle the reserved Parmesan cheese over the top and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set for 10-12 minutes.

• Spring Health Tips
• spring tips
• healthy spring tips

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

As the ice and snow start to melt and the mercury starts to rise again, everyone starts to think about getting back in shape for the spring and summer seasons.  Instead of hitting the exercise hard, many experts suggest easing back into your springtime routine

Spring health tips

Start Slow.  Take the time you need to jump start your spring diet and exercise plan.  By easing into your regimen, you will be more successful in keeping with your diet and exercise plan.

Plan a New Menu.  You need to really look at your diet and the number of calories you are consuming daily.  Choose foods that are low in calories but are filling to help you fight off the hunger throughout the day.

Get outdoors.  Now that the weather is breaking, mix up your exercise routine and enjoy the weather outdoors.  Walk, hike, bike, run , enjoy yourself and the beautiful season.

• lower blood sugar
• decrease blood sugar levels
• lower blood sugar naturally

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

The American Diabetes Association estimates that around 10 percent of the general population and 25 percent of senior citizens suffer from type 2, or adult onset diabetes.

Diabetes when left unchecked can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, skin conditions, and even blindness. However, type 2 diabetes like any lifestyle disease is highly preventable.

The sooner you make this healthy lifestyle changes, the better your chances of lowering your risk for developing this disease. To keep your blood sugar levels healthy, below are some simple tips to keep type 2 diabetes at bay.

Control blood sugar levels

Avoid or limit your sugary food or beverages intake. One of the most obvious culprits in raising your blood sugar levels. Replace those sugary drinks/ sodas with fruit juices or even better, water.

Shed some pounds. Every extra pound count, and the sooner you could keep your weight within your recommended levels, the better your chances of lowering your risk for diabetes.

Lower stress levels. Sound mind, sound body. Finding time to relax after a stressful day at work by performing simple exercises or just take some “me” time can lower stress levels.

Keep hydrated. Drinking water is never overrated. With water making up more than three-fourths of our body, keeping our body hydrated is essential. Dehydration causes our body to release stress hormones which in turn raises our blood sugar levels.

Eat less and more frequently. Keep your blood sugar levels within healthy levels by avoiding sudden peaks. Spreading your meals throughout the day means a steady stream of sugar.