By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire
The New Year is here! Many of us probably made resolutions for 2015. Most of these resolutions include a vow to become healthier.
If this sounds like you, Lindo’s has got you covered with the newest health and fitness trends for 2015. Here are some of them pertaining to both food and exercise.
1) Real food
There’s been a rise in popularity of eating “clean,” wholesome foods and that trend is only growing. At its simplest, clean eating is about eating whole foods, or “real” foods — those that are not – or minimally – processed, refined, and handled, making them as close to their natural form as possible. These foods are more nutritious.
Diet foods, which are often heavily processed and loaded with artificial sweeteners and other suspect ingredients, seem to be losing their appeal. Now, people are filling their plates with real foods like veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains and lean protein, all of which are much better for you and your family than processed diet foods.
2) Snacks
No, I’m not saying to start your day with a donut to go with your morning cup of coffee or a bag of chips from the vending machine in the afternoon. Snacking is an important component of living clean and healthy, but, you have to choose smart snacks. Smart snacks include nibbles that are calorie-appropriate (less than 200 calories) and made up of the right nutrients – fiber and/or protein with bonus points for healthy fat. Not only will these nutrients help to stabilize blood sugar levels, but you’ll also maintain your energy levels and focus.
3) Local ingredients
There’s been a global movement towards organic, locally-sourced, and humanely raised produce and meats. For us, this means buying our vegetables, fruit and meat from Bermuda’s farms. We care about not only how the food tastes and if it’s good for us, but if it’s good for the Earth and everyone involved in the development of that food. Eating local means you know where you food comes from which is not only more nutritious but it’s also more sustainable. It’s really that simple.
4) Body weight training
According to an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) survey of more than 3,000 fitness professionals worldwide, body weight training will be the next exercise fad. Bodyweight workouts simply mean using your body as the weight rather than lifting weights. Experts say to lookout for the comprehensive incorporation of gymnastics, jungle gyms, workout spaces that are uncluttered with weight machines and open for training, greater suspension training options, primal movements, and more programming that is less focused on standard weight lifting. In other words, exercises that don’t require equipment—like lunges, squats, push-ups, and burpees—are here to stay, so embrace them.
5) High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT is a technique which alternates intense bursts of exercise with short, sometimes active, recovery periods. It is already a part of many commercial exercise routines and experts believe it to be highly effective. Donna Cyrus, Senior Vice President of Programming at Crunch, comments: “People are exercising in shorter bursts and they are still seeing results.” Working out in shorter increments is ideal for individuals with a busy schedule and the results are powerful.
6) Recovery efforts
However, too much intense training can cause soreness and potential injuries. When planning exercise routines, remember to stretch and allow the body a chance to recovery to prevent causing damages to the muscles and body. And last but not least, good sleep habits are vital to a full recovery. Some of these trends may not have made your new year’s resolutions list, but better health shouldn’t be a decision you need to sleep on – we can all benefit from better eating and more exercise for a more fulfilling 2015 and years to come.
Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.
