It’s no secret that the environment in which you live has a significant impact on your health and well being. For instance, if you live in what could be considered an unhealthy city (one with lots of smokers or a high rate of obesity for example), you health might follow suit.

Natural Health Magazine recently released a study on the top “healthy” cities in the United States by looking at 49 metropolitan areas. The study was based on criteria like natural medicine practitioners, availability of exercise options, easy access to healthy foods, a solid public transportation system, clean air and water and a strong sense of community.

Healthy City #1: San Francisco, CA

Affectionately known as the City by the Bay, San Francisco is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. With its beautiful architecture, rolling fog and stunning views, it’s no wonder people flock from the world over just to visit. San Francisco also takes the cake (rice cake maybe?) as the healthiest city to live in. The city allocates nearly 20% of its land to park space, so despite the city being a thriving metropolitan area, there’s plenty of space in which to get out and stretch your legs. The temperate climate in the Bay Area certainly lends itself to outdoor activities as well, boasting 265 sunny days each year.

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Winter is almost here, and with it comes the inevitable plethora of sicknesses. The flu, the cold, the sniffles, the aches and the calling in sick to work because you just can’t hack it. You don’t have to become a victim of the cootie bugs this year; there are simple and effective ways to keep the germs at bay and your health insurance company happy! Here are the top five tips to keep your health in winter.

1-Wash those hands. And then wash them again. One of the best ways to make sure that germs don’t get you is to wash your hands. Simplistic? Yes, but if you’re meticulous about washing your hands after you shake hands with people, use public restrooms (or any restroom at all, let’s stay hygienic here people), cough or sneeze, touch handles of public doors…you get the picture. If you think you might feel self conscious about running off to the bathroom every 3 minutes, grab yourself a handy little bottle of hand sanitizer and carry it around with you.

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In doing research for this piece on the top health foods, I came across a website touting over 129 foods as being the healthiest in the world. In one sense, this is good news, because you can easily build a complete diet around a variety of food choices. On the other hand, boring readers with a long list of foods and their benefits is not the goal here, so I’ve chosen to select some fruits, vegetables, grains and other foods that provide exceptional benefits to your health and body.

Healthy Food #1: Avocado

photo credit: faeryboots

These little rich California buttery delights do a lot more than add some zip to salads and sandwiches. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help to lower cholesterol. Avocados are also a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Not only that, but one cup of avocado has 23% of the daily value for folate, a nutrient important for heart health. Avocados are a great protector of the chest region of the human body, providing a dietary source of monounsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, which has recently been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer.

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photo credit: A. Belani

If you are wise, you do your best to eat a healthy-well balanced diet. But some people are more prone to food allergies than others (maybe lactose intolerant or allergic to wheat), and other choose a eating style that might be devoid of certain foods (vegetarians or vegans). You have no doubt heard of various types of dietary supplements, but how do you know what is safe and appropriate for you and your diet?

What is a Dietary Supplement?

According to the National center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a dietary supplement has to meet the following criteria:

• It is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet and that contains one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, or any combination of the above ingredients.
• It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form.
• It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
• It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

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photo credit: Philippe Romagon

You are probably familiar with the term “vegan.” Maybe you know a good deal about it already, or possibly you think the word is some anarchist, hippie term whispered in patchouli-scented coffee shops. However you think about this eating and lifestyle choice, this article will help dispel any myths about what veganism really is, help present the facts on its benefits and drawbacks, and guide you in your considerations for your own health and wellness choices.

What is Vegan?

Vegan, or veganism, is a diet lifestyle choice that seek to exclude the use of all animal products. For eating, this means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no cheese, nothing that comes from any animal whatsoever. Some vegans also chose to not wear or buy any products made from leather, suede or other such animal items. Simply put: if it has any animal-based components, strict vegans avoid it. How far you take veganism would be completely up to you.

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