Question:Why do I feel so sluggish this time of year in class?
Answer: You
may be dehydrated. We recommend that you hydrate about an hour
BEFORE class begins by drinking a 16oz glass of water or Viscent Green
Tea Fiber Advantage (GTFA) that we have available. Continue
sipping on water or GTFA during class and then rehydrate after class
with at least 16oz of water or GTFA. Remember, if you feel thirsty, that means you are already dehydrated! Avoid
"power" drinks that have sugar and avoid caffeine before and during
class - these can affect your heart rate and blood pressure.
---------------
Question: Do I really need to eat breakfast? There's no harm in skipping it, right?
Answer: Yes, we all need to eat breakfast...and sorry, you're robbing yourself of some health benefits if you are skipping it!
Thanks to existing research, it's now known that:
• Eating breakfast is linked with a lower body mass index
• Eating breakfast is shown to reduce a person's risk of obesity and insulin resistance
• Eating breakfast is one way proven to help maintain long-term weight loss
If you need
some suggestions on how to get started on eating breakfast and some
quick and easy things to eat on the go, email us
bloomingtonjazzercise@yahoo.com
------------
Question:What are prebiotics and why do I need them?
Answer: Prebiotics
are nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially stimulate the
growth and function of bacteria in the colon. Most dietary fibers
are prebiotics. Thus, prebiotics (fiber) are a "must have" for a
healthy digestive system. We should all aim for 30 grams of fiber
a day! If you are not getting 30 grams of fiber a day, you should
consider an alternative fiber source like the Green Tea Fiber Advantage.
-----------------
Question: What are probiotics and why do I need them?
Answer: Probiotics is
a term that refers to foods containing live beneficial bacteria and
other microorganisms that can fortify or rebuild our natural gut
flora.
There are
trillions of microbes that inhabit our digestive system and are
important for our well being daily. When our bacterial flora becomes impaired or
imbalanced it can lead to acute problems and chronic disease - heart
disease, allergies, skin disorders, obesity, IBS, some cancers, and
Alzheimer’s to name few.
The bacteria
and other microbes in our gut are susceptible to sudden changes in
environment and start to die off when conditions aren’t right. Illness,
stress, and antibiotic use can affect the balance of
microorganisms. Our bacterial flora obtain their nutrients by
breaking down what we eat. Our diet is the most important factor
in keeping our little microbes healthy. When our flora starts to
die off due to stress and illness, it's important to build it back up
through diet - or in other words, through probiotics.
An interesting
fact: The bacteria and other mircoorganisms in our body make up
3–5 pounds of our total body weight and out number our cells ten to one!
Next week we answer the question - what are prebiotics and you'll find the answer is related to this week's topic!
References: M. Pick, OB/GYN NP, RNC (2006) "Probiotics - it's life!" Women to Women
