Kate’s Health Corner

New Column!

Hello Everyone! My name is Kate and this is Kate’s Health Corner. I want to teach you about health and fitness. In today’s society we do not always look at how we are taking care of our bodies. We are so busy with everyday events that it is just not something we think about. With obesity in America quickly rising, we must take action now to have a happy and healthy life. My mission is to teach you how to do that. TAKE THE WORD DIET OUT OF YOUR HEAD! This column is going to teach you HOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Many times diets are not life changing; in fact, they are just a quick and simple way to lose weight. We are going to learn the safe way to stay healthy and fit.

WHAT IS NUTRITION?

Nutrition is the process of nourishing or being nourished, especially the process by which a living organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and for replacement of tissues.

Nutrition

Have you ever heard someone say “You are what you eat?” Well, that is true, but there is more to it than just that. You are what you eat. You are also how you eat and when you eat.  That is why eating the right things for your body is so important. Nutrition is the science of how your body uses what you eat. So when you look at it this way, nutrition equals life! Every living thing on the face of the earth needs food and water to live. You need good food that fortifies the body with the proper nutrients to live a healthy life. When you are not getting the proper nutrients, your bones may bend or break from lack of calcium. Your gums may start to bleed from not having enough vitamin C. Your blood may not carry enough oxygen to every cell from lack of Iron. Eating the right things will also help your digestive system. The digestive system is a collection of organs designed to turn complex foods into basic nutrients during the process called digestion. Your food first starts in your mouth, goes to your stomach (or the bottomless pit!), and makes its way to the small intestine. Then finally it goes to the large intestine. Nutrients are absorbed in the intestine not in the order of which they went in, but according to how fast they’re broken down. Carbohydrates are broken down first, followed by proteins, fats, and vitamins.

Fun Fact: Finding Your Small Intestine

Open your hand and put it flat against your belly button. With your thumb pointing up to your waist and your pinkie pointing down. Your hand is now covering most of small space into which your 20-foot-long small intestine is neatly coiled.

NUTRIENTS IN ENERGY DRINKS? I THINK NOT!

Tip: The Boost in the Bottle

It all started with Gatorade. In the summer of 1965, a football coach at the University of Florida asked a team of university physicians to explain why so many players wilted in the heat. The answer: Loss of fluid and electrolytes when sweating. The result: A thirst –quenching hydrating fluid replacement beverage called, yes, GATORADE! That soon had the Florida Gators walking over their opponents to end up with a winning season and a win at the Orange Bowl in 1966. Nothing succeeds like success, of course. Soon other universities began ordering up some Gatorade for their teams, pro teams, and by 1983, Gatorade was the official sports drink of the NFL- a title still held today. Eventually, the hydrating liquid for serious athletes turned it into an “energy drink” for amateur athletes with nutrient-packed beverages promising to increase performance and sometimes just keep a person awake. Not surprisingly, one of the most common ingredients in these drinks is the original awake and alert substance berry native to Brazil and Venezuela. Other ingredients are taurine, amino acids, and B vitamins. Then there are also many sugars to sweeten a normally bland cocktail.

There are three cautions to look at on these energy drinks. First, sugar is fattening. Second, adding vitamins to a daily diet via energy drinks might trip a person who is taking other supplements into overdose territory. Third, you need to watch the caffeine level. Yes, caffeine keeps you awake and alert. But too much caffeine, whether from coffee, tea, or energy drinks, can lead to bad results such as a nervous, irritable, rapid heartbeat, and maybe even high blood pressure. That is mild compared to the 2003 report from the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association that there were at least four cases reported of caffeine-associated deaths and four documented cases of seizures associated with energy drinks. Anyone here want a bottle of water?

Statistical Fact

According to the Dietary Guidelines in 2010, in 1970 about 15% of all Americans were obese. By 2008, that figure had more than doubled to 34%, and in 32 of the 50 states, more than one in every four people were obese. The national survey of Children’s Health (2007) says that more than 12 million American children and adults are obese, and the National Center of Health Statics says that the number of obese 6- to- 11 year olds has quadrupled since 1970. ~Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA)

New Exercise

Lie facedown resting on forearms. Push up onto toes, keeping the body as straight as possible. Draw the belly button toward the spine, squeeze your glutes and abs and hold for 30 seconds. Rest one minute, then do the move again. Repeat once. As you get stronger, tack on more time in 15-second increments.

Quote

“Our eyes are placed in front because it is more important to look ahead than to look back.” ~Unknown

ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Katelyn Hall. I am 20 years old. I was homeschooled for 8 years (5^th grade to 12^th). I love the beach. I enjoy learning about health and fitness. I have four sisters and two brothers. I was adopted in the 1^st grade. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about them. My mission is to tell others about living a healthy life style so we can take care of the body God gave us. I enjoy working in my garden and planting flowers! I also have a blog and a Facebook page for those wanting to learn about health and fitness.

Blog: http://kateshealthcorner.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatesHealthCorner