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Running is great way to boost your health — and it doesn’t even require any special equipment! The exercise is especially beneficial to the heart and lungs, as it promotes healthy oxygen and blood flow.

Studies have linked running to reducing the risk of contracting a cold and even developing cancer. It also provides excellent stress relief and can soothe mild forms of depression as well.

(And it’s good for dogs, too!)

Photo via richard.heeks on Flickr.

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We were happy to see an article on glutathione in The Huffington Post, as this powerful antioxidant is instrumental in removing toxins from the body.

Humans actually produce glutathione naturally. It serves as a sort of internal fly paper for toxins and free radicals — absorbing them so they can’t do harm elsewhere in the body. Ideally, everything goes smoothly, and the body recycles glutathione so it can keep on fly-papering, however an excess of pollutants can actually halt this process, thus leaving dangerous toxins inside our bodies.

Part of the problem, HuffPost reports, is that humans evolved in a much less toxin-filled environment, leaving our species rather unprepared for the pollutants of the 20th and 21st centuries. About one half of all people lack something called a GSTM1 function, leaving their bodies unable to fully remove toxins.

To bulk up on glutathione, HuffPost recommends ingesting sulfur-loaded foods such as onions, garlic, broccoli, and cabbage, in addition to exercising regularly. For more tips, check out the full article here.

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Perhaps you’ve heard of something called the French Paradox — a term describing the apparent disparity between French and American diets. Basically, the French consume greater amounts of cream, cheese, and butter than Americans, but we’re the ones more likely to die of heart disease. What gives?

Some researchers contend that the secret lies in red wine — particularly in resveratrol, an ingredient that is vaguely associated with anti-aging and such… in mice. When such news first hit the States in 1991, the demand for red wine sky-rocked.

Alternatively, other experts argue that the French lifestyle more than compensates for said high fat content. Relevant factors include: more walking, less snacking, and a tendency to savor meals (as opposed to munching mindlessly).

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WebMD has a neat slideshow featuring 12 things not to do while trying to shed some pounds:

Crash dieting. Patience is a virtue – especially when dieting. When you decrease your food intake to under 1,000 calories, your metabolism dramatically decreases, so that even if you lose weight, it’ll be hard to keep off (and probably come back).

Missing breakfast. D’oh! It’s hard to stick to your diet when you’re hungry to the point of distraction. To keep your cravings in check, start the day with a healthy, low-calorie breakfast like sugar-free cereal, granola, or oatmeal.

Snacking. A lot. There’s nothing wrong with snacking, but people have a way of letting themselves snack without even thinking about it – or without even being hungry. Don’t just eat food because it’s in front of you.

Snacking. Too little. Like Goldilocks, it’s up to you to find the perfect balance between over- and under-snacking. Having a healthy snack of nuts or dried fruit can help manage your hunger and make it easier to eat smaller meals.

Trusting the label. Low-fat and sugar-free foods aren’t always as healthy as they seem – these products are often loaded with calories or high in sodium, both of which can sabotage your diet. To make sure your food is as healthy as you think it is, be sure to read the label.

For the full list, click here!

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Representing over 5,000 years old of posing in seemingly impossible positions, yoga isn’t just fun to look at — it’s good for you, too.

Yoga can improve your flexibility, strength, and posture, and the breathing methods can actually increase lung capacity. The activity is also associated with better heart health (it reduces blood pressure and slows your heart rate), in addition to combating a number of different conditions, including asthma, back pain, and multiple sclerosis. Plus, yoga has been shown to boost concentration and instill a sense of calm.

And isn’t that worth standing on your head?

Photo via 75mondays on Flickr.

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Varicose veins are painful, unsightly, and sometimes require surgical intervention. They are most common in women and frequently brought on by pregnancy, however genetics and lifestyle factors are also relevant.

Veins pump blood back to the heart, which means that leg veins are tasked with pumping blood upward, against gravity. Veins have natural leaflet valves to keep the blood moving in the right direction; in varicose veins, however, problems with the leaflets allow some of the blood to flow backwards, resulting in discomfort.

Let’s take a look at some of the lifestyle changes you can make to prevent varicose veins:

Sit and stand with care. To promote better circulation, maintain good posture and avoid crossing your legs when seated. Your circulation suffers when you sit or stand for a long time, so take frequent breaks to stretch your legs.

Invest in compression hose. Compression hose and socks are available both over-the-counter and by a doctor’s prescription. They apply pressure to the lower legs to help your veins pump blood upward toward the heart.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Easier said than done, we know, but keeping your weight down and activity level up have been shown to decrease your risk of developing varicose veins. Doctors recommend low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and walking.

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Cheers! According to WebMD, a study that followed over 19,000 women for about 13 years found that those who consumed one or two drinks a day were 30 percent less likely to gain weight. This statistic held up even when scientists considered other weight-gain factors like smoking and exercise.

At the beginning of the study, the women were all 39 or older, and none of them were overweight.

Another project by Texas Tech University in 2005 found that moderate drinkers of both genders were less likely to become obese. However, consuming more than four drinks a day and binge drinking were linked to becoming overweight or obese.

Of course, correlation does not imply causation. Scientists don’t know whether alcohol has certain biological implications to prevent weight gain, or whether moderate drinkers simply tend to follow healthier lifestyles.

In other words, you shouldn’t start drinking because of this study, but if you already consume one or two drinks a day, keep up the good work!

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Hey fitness fans! If you’re looking for luscious rock hard abs, or just to reduce back pain with a stronger core, it doesn’t get any better (or faster) than 8 Minute Abs. You can watch this classic video right on YouTube (or even here on Healthize). So go ahead and get crunchin’!

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There are plenty of reasons to have sex, but improving your health usually isn’t one of them. But scientists have found that getting it on can benefit your body in a number of ways.

So, what can sex do for you?

• Sex reduces stress. Sex actually decreases your blood pressure, particularly in stressful situations like public speaking.
• Sex improves immunity. People who have sex at least once a week have higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which helps prevents colds and other types of infection.
• Sex works you out. Every 30 minutes you spend having sex adds up to at least 85 calories burned. And it’s more fun than the elliptical machine.
• Sex boosts heart health. Men who have sex at least twice a week are half as likely to suffer a fatal heart attack than those other unfortunate souls.
• Sex raises self esteem. Sex doesn’t just make you feel better; it makes you feel better about yourself.

That’s all for today — check out part two of this list tomorrow!

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When your alarm clock is blaring, hitting that snooze button one or two more times sounds a lot more appealing than getting out of bed in time to make breakfast. Still, the first meal of the day is also the most important one, offering both short and long term benefits.

Eating breakfast:

• Gives your body more energy to get through the physical and mental demands of your day by replenishing your glucose levels, also known as blood sugar.
• Helps you lose or maintain your weight by decreasing your hunger, thus making you less likely to binge later on. Plus, you’ll be less inclined to chow down on unhealthy work food like chips from the vending machine.
• Reduces your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Statistically, people who eat breakfast are less likely to develop these conditions.

Generally, you want a protein-rich breakfast featuring foods like eggs and nuts. Combine these with whole-wheat toast, whole-grain cereal, and low-fat/nonfat milk or yogurt. Add berries (fresh or dried) for flavor.

Still reaching for that snooze button? You can guarantee yourself a quick — and healthy — breakfast by cooking hardboiled eggs the night before, or by stocking your workplace with breakfast-making materials.

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