Healthy Topic Blog

Suffering with weight gain, fatigue and really sure there is no clear explanation? It might be an underactive thyroid, even if the tests come back somewhat normal. Even a slightly elevated TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone level could indicate disease, or early disease. More clearly, a blood panel that indicates a low T4 and a high TSH typically identifies a hypo or under active thyroid gland and this disease is easily treatable with medication.

If a thyroid problem is ruled out, then you should evaluate your eating and sleep patterns. Sometimes, when you keep a journal and chart exactly what you eat, the number of hours you sleep, how much you exercise, it may help you to see patterns that you are somehow missing. Those patterns may explain your weight issues.

Don’t let science de-rail your exercise efforts. There are so many rules and opinions on what needs to happen for you to get fit. Actually, there are a lot of ways to achieve fitness. Here are some options –

Interval training – If you decide that you enjoy running or biking or walking – ad intervals of "harder efforts" interspersed with a steady, somewhat challenging pace. Those intervals help to condition your heart.

Total body sports like swimming, walking with poles, rowing, cross country skiing all help with total body workout approach.

Weight training and combining upper and lower body exercises like lunges with bicep curls, squats and shoulder press, plie squats and shoulder shrugs mean that you workout large and small muscle groups at the same time. It can add an aerobic quality to your weighted workout.

Being active all day which means walking every chance you get, using the stairs, carrying packages and walking can keep you fit as well.

How do you eat healthy while attempting to remain budget conscious? Well it’s important to know how to store food so that you can buy it on sale and store it, or simply store healthy leftovers. Here’s a guide that many chefs use –

• Freeze bread whole – don’t slice it until you plan on using it. Use within a month’s time 
• If you have leftover brewed coffee or wine or tea, freeze it in ice cube trays and then use it for flavoring in sauces or drinks. 
• If you blanch vegetables in boiling water and immediately freeze, it preserves the texture and color and taste.
• Nuts can be frozen for up to 6 months 
• Fruit puree that you make from over-ripe or bruised fruit can be frozen in plastic bags and frozen. Use it in baking recipes or smoothies. 
• If you freeze soups, casseroles, make sure to use within 2 months; while raw fish and chicken can stay frozen for about 3 months; 
• If you freeze tofu it will actually soak up sauces better – great for dishes like a stir fry and soups. Just drain the liquid first before freezing.

Starting today, ban the shaker and cut way back on salty snacks. Salt causes high blood pressure. Period.