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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Studies show that 30 to 40 percent of the general population snores… which means there are an awful lot of people out there not getting a good night’s sleep. Whether you snore, or your partner, there are some easy ways to alleviate snoring and catch some zzzz’s before you know it.
Tongue exercises – believe it or not there are exercises that you can do with your tongue that will help “train” your tongue where to stay in your mouth while you are sleeping to prevent snoring. One good tongue exercise to practice is making the “t-t-t-t-t” sound – sort of like you are scolding someone. This strengthens the tip of the tongue. You can also let your tongue hang out relaxed, then tense your tongue by pointing it and holding this position for three seconds.
Buy a mouthpiece – one of the most effective anti-snoring techniques is using a “boil and bite” mouthpiece. These mouthpieces form to your upper and lower teeth and pull your lower jaw and the back of your tongue forward. This process allows your airway to be opened and you to breathe easier.
Wear an air mask – commonly used for severe sleep apnea, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask pushes air into the nasal passages and throat, allowing the airways to be opened. Unfortunately, only 50 percent of users use their machine correctly, as they cannot keep a mask on throughout the night.
Sleep with a tennis ball – say what? Hear us out on this one… because most people snore while sleeping on their back if you provide a barrier between your body and your back while you are sleeping you will be less likely to sleep on your back throughout the night… thereby reducing your snoring. Some people suggest putting a tennis ball in a pocket T-shirt then sleeping with the T-shirt on backwards. You can also put the tennis ball in a fanny pack and then wear that backwards. If you happen to turn onto your back during the night, the ball, whether it is in your shirt or in your fanny pack, will cause discomfort and you will roll onto your side.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Even though summer is almost over, there is still time to get those fabulous abs.
Follow this 31-day workout to start building those abdominal muscles today!
Day 1: 20 crunches
Day 2: 25 crunches
Day 3: 30 crunches plus a 30-second plank
Day 4: 35 crunches
Day 5: 40 crunches
Day 6: 45 crunches plus 2- 30-second planks
Day 7: 50 crunches
Day 8: 55 crunches
Day 9: 60 crunches plus 3- 30-second planks
Day 10: REST
Day 11: 65 crunches
Day 12: 70 crunches plus 2- 45-second planks
Day 13: 75 crunches
Day 14: 80 crunches
Day 15: 85 crunches plus 3- 45-second planks
Day 16: 90 crunches
Day 17: 95 crunches
Day 18: 100 crunches plus 1- 60-second plank
Day 19: REST
Day 20: 85 crunches
Day 21: 80 crunches plus 2- 60-second planks
Day 22: 75 crunches
Day 23: 70 crunches
Day 24: 65 crunches plus 3- 60-second planks
Day 25: 80 crunches
Day 26: 85 crunches
Day 27: 80 crunches plus 2- 60-second planks
Day 28: 85 crunches
Day 29: 90 crunches
Day 30: 95 crunches plus 5- 60-second planks
Day 31: 105 crunches
- Details
- Written by Lisa Jillanza
- Besides containing 40 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, it also contains 15 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, 8 percent of your daily value of potassium, and 7 percent of your recommended dietary allowance of iron for women and 10 percent for men.
- Lycopene, what gives tomatoes their red pigment, acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body.
Recipe: Tomato Casserole with Sweet Onions
- 6 medium tomatoes, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges
- 1 large Vidalia onion or other sweet onion
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, or scant ½ teaspoon dried dillweed
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or scant ½ teaspoon dried leaf thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
Place peeled tomato wedges on paper towels to drain. Peel onions and slice into ¼-inch rings. In separate bowl combine dill, thyme, salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs. Layer half of the tomatoes and onions in a lightly buttered baking dish and top with half of the minced garlic. Sprinkle with half of the bread crumb and seasoning mixture, half of mozzarella cheese, and drizzle with half olive oil. Repeat layers. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until bubbly.
Recipe: Corn and Black Bean Salsa
- 3 to 4 small ears of corn
- 1 can (15 to 16 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed thoroughly
- 1 large tomato, seeds removed, diced
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup minced red onion
- 2 to 3 tablespoons finely minced jalapeno or poblano pepper
- Juice of one lime, about 3 tablespoons
- 3 tablespoons fresh, chopped cilantro
- Dash salt and pepper, to taste
Grill or broil corn to char slightly; let cool.
Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl. Cut corn from cobs and add to the mixture. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving time.
Great alternative to sauces, and is especially tasty on grilled fish, chicken, or pork!
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
The summer months and grilling always seem to go hand-in-hand. Because this is a popular cooking method in the summertime, experts remind us that there are ways to grill safely and to avoid cookout germs.
- When handling raw meat, make sure you separate it from other foods. Wash your hands immediately after handling raw meats.
- Throw out marinades/sauces that may have come in contact with raw meats.
- Clean your grill and check all tools before cooking with them.
- Use a food thermometer and check the temperatures that each meat should be cooked until (can be found using a Google search)
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
- Details
- Written by Lisa Jillanza
(Continued from Part I…)
Depression - If you’re familiar with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may not be surprised to hear that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to a higher risk of depression. After all, the nickname for vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, and that’s not just because people may generate much of the vitamin D they need with sun exposure. There is research evidence that shows a relationship between mood and vitamin D levels, where deficient vitamin D levels are related to depression.
Risk of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that affects between 0.25 and 0.64 percent of American adults, according to the NIMH. Symptoms of schizophrenia, which commonly appear between ages 16 and 30, include hallucinations, incoherent speech, withdrawal from others, and trouble focusing or paying attention.People who are vitamin D deficient may be twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia compared with people with sufficient vitamin D levels.
Dementia - A study in the journal Neurology found that moderate and severe vitamin D deficiency in older adults was associated with a doubled risk for some forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia involves a decline in thinking, behavior, and memory that negatively affects daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
Diabetes - Research found that when vitamin D is deficient, many cellular processes in the body begin to break down, and this sets the stage for the onset of diseases such as diabetes.
Prostate cancer - There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in prostate health. One study found a link between low blood levels of vitamin D and aggressive prostate cancer in European American and African American men.