Two Wellness Practices to Add to Your Life

Ladies, we need to talk… about “wellness”. How about the wellness that comes with ‘vegan’ ‘gluten free’, ‘yoga’, ‘organic”sugar free’ ‘BS-free’ and other varieties of self care? All super cool, right? Now stop and think about what makes us-well. We all know what to do to feel good, and we all know we are all guilty of making the choice to NOT do those wonderful things. Let’s shine the light on what is upsetting our souls and what we do to actually deal with it.

California Vegetarian Food Festival and Symposium

Opportunity knocks for all of our plant based eating friends- The California Vegetarian (Vegan) Food Festival and Symposium will be held in just a few short weeks from now. On September 21st from 11am-6pm, join like minded individuals to learn about plant based foods. Mingle with chefs, nutritionists, animal rights friends, farmers among other influencers in San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.

Award winning speakers, athletes, nutritionists, physicians and advocates will present on all subjects related to the eco-friendly lifestyle. We will all be reminded the plant based lifestyle that has found itself in the mainstream spotlight is not a trend, it is a movement.

HealthBear will be attending. We are looking froward to meeting the industry experts who are moving the plant-based industry forward. We love opportunities like these so that we can continue to bring you current news in the veg world!

https://www.cavegfoodfest.com/index.php

This Common Spice Will Spice Up Your Health

A spice that has seen its glory celebrated in everything from ancient Egyptian ceremonies to modern-day Snickerdoodles:

CINNAMON!

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Cinnamon… What a marvelous spice! Just the smell of cinnamon has a way of taking you back in time- memories of Cinnamon spiced apple pies and toasty apple cider in the winter. Growing up in California, what summer was complete without a cinnamon Chiro at an outdoor festival or a cinnamon toast on a lazy Sunday morning? There is a popular culture club around world which celebrates the annual reemerging of the ‘Pumpkin Spice Latte’ from Starbucks never quits. It seems there are endless foods and beverages with cinnamon that take the center stage: Cinnamon Rolls, Bananas Foster, Cinnamon Raisin Bread or Monkey Bread, French Toast. We have all experienced a variety of cinnamon goodness. Around the world, cinnamon has ben a part of human food and medicine culture for thousands of years.

 

Aside from cinnamon being unbelievably yummy, there is a tremendous amount of good news that comes in that little jar inside everyone’s spice cabinet. Cinnamon has health benefits that are impressive. Here are 8 good reasons as to why you should incorporate this magical spice into your life more often.

  1. Cinnamon is loaded with Antioxidants: out doing popular spices such as garlic and oregano.
  2. Cinnamon is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which helps your body to combat infection and repair tissue damage.
  3. Cinnamon may reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Research shows cinnamon reduces blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
  4. Cinnamon improves insulin resistance.
  5. Cinnamon may have beneficial effects for people suffering from Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
  6. Cinnamon helps in preventing Cancer.
  7. Cinnamon fights bacterial infections.
  8. Using cinnamon and other spices in lieu of salt is a great strategy to cook healthier.
 

HealthBear is proud to include cinnamon in our beloved oat porridge flavor Coconut Cardamom, available now!

Follow this link for more detailed information on health benefits.

Help Your Body with this One Tiny Seed

GIVE YOUR BODY THE GIFT OF FLAX SEEDS!

With all the interest in plant based eating that has drawn so much attention in the past few years, we went on a mission to find a plant based grain to recommend to our readers. Looking for something easy to incorporate into all meals, Flax Seeds are a great addition to your diet. Our research has uncovered just how big of a punch these little seeds pack. To get all of the benefits of Flax, be sure to always grind before eating!! This is exactly why we at HealthBear use ground flax in all of our Pure Porridges. See, we love you!! Now, on to the amazing benefits of FLAX.

3 REASONS TO ADD FLAX TO YOUR DIET

  • FEEDING YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM A FIBER FAVOR
    • Two tablespoons of flax seeds provides 20% of the fiber intake you want to aim for per day. This digestive treat curbs common digestive issues like diarrhea and constipation. Additionally, soluble fiber feeds the beneficial bacteria in your stomach, turning your tummy a pre-biotic all you can eat buffet for the good guys. Besides gut health, the soluble fiber found in Flax is key in helping regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. Win!
  • BLESS YOUR HEART!
    • Flax seeds boast high rankings in Amino Acids that makes your heart sing. Phytosterols, a cholesterol lowering compound is found in Flax, has been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect. One study indicates regularly consuming flax seeds may lower cholesterol by 6-11%. Then there are the antioxidants! One antioxidant in particular, Lingnans are plentiful in Flax. This antioxidant has been linked to deceased risk of heart disease as they reduce levels of fats in the blood. YES.

 

  • DON’T ROLL THE DICE ON CHRONIC DISEASE.
    • Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential for keeping your heart in the best health. Consuming Omega-3 rich flax seeds feeds your body while decreases the risk of heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Flax also shows to lower blood pressure, lowering your risk for stroke. Diabetes concern? Studies show that supplementing with 10-2- grams of ground flax a day for 2 months reduces fasting blood sugar by up to 19.7%.

Keep your eye on the blog for ways to incorporate Flax into your diet. We will continue to search for creative ideas. In the meantime, eat a daily serving of HealthBear Porridge for a hefty serving of this power grain your body will thank you for :):).

Add This to Your Daily Gratitude Reflection

LIVING IN GRATITUDE

BY HEALTH COACH TAMMY PARKINSON


I love beginning my day with my morning ritual. I’ve been creating a special routine by journaling my gratitude and attractions of the day for over 15 years. I added in meditation and intention setting about 5 years ago, which were the missing pieces to my morning. I can’t imagine starting my day without this special process of appreciation. It is my anchor to living in gratitude.

About 9 months ago, I started to “bookend my day” with a reflection of something special—something significant that happened in my day. I take time to close my eyes and I begin scanning my day in my mind. I will start with the morning time, reflect on what conversations I had, what activities I did, beautiful things I saw, what inspired me, and I search for something extra special which stood out more than anything else. It’s as if I’m having my Godiva chocolate at night and I’m savoring my day. It’s a date with my memories. While in this process I always find something amazing that occurred—often many amazing things! It’s even been interesting to try and choose just one; but I always do. It’s always a little something that pulled at my heart strings. I write it down in my journal.


 
What’s unfolded is a thread throughout the months, showing me where my joy is day after day. I can then ask myself if I’m doing all I can to keep these moments, conversations, activities & friendships in my life consistently. I’ve found that, in my day, I now start looking for these special moments & begin to anticipate them. I live more presently.
 
This nighttime ritual is still new, but it’s one of the best gifts I’ve offered myself. I don’t miss a night—it’s fun and feels right!
 
I imagine that in years to come, I can look back at any day in my past and recall these special moments I’ve written about, and it will always bring my peace.
 
I encourage you to try this… play with it… let it be fun. Let yourself unfold into the memory of your day.

About the author: Tammy Parkinson

For most of my life I struggled with my weight and nutrition. Through years of constant battling with my weight, I turned a corner when I finally understood what it takes to drop body fat and stay on a healthy nutritional track for life…without compromising my lifestyle. I gave up a career in the corporate field and dedicated my life to helping others turn their corner. From starting Body Firm over 19 years ago, I have grown, sold Body Firm to a wonderful colleague and dedicated my life to Lifestyle and Nutritional coaching solely… one client at a time.  The individuals I’ve been blessed to guide had a ripple effect and are inspiring others towards their goals too.

Learn more about Tammy on her website: https://www.mybodyfirm.c

10 Surprising Benefits of Cucumbers You Need to Know

Wellness Coach Tammy Parkinson

For The Love Of Cucumbers 


I have a love of cucumbers. I like to munch on them while I’m cooking dinner. They are refreshing and light.  In a random search of the benefits of cucumbers, I came across this data and learned a few things about their nutritional value…as well as homeopathic and household values: 
 
1.  Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins, and B vitamins help as a catalyst for other carbohydrates, which means they provide assisted energy
 
2. Cucumbers are 95 percent water and very nutrient rich.  Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 percent of the daily-recommended allowance.
 
3. Healthy for skin and hair. The skin of cucumbers can help for human skin irritations and sunburns just as aloe would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.
 
4. Fight cancers – Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.
 
5. Home care – Eliminates a foggy mirror. Before taking a shower, rub a cucumber slice along a mirror and it will eliminate the mirror fogging up. Instead of WD40, take a cucumber slice and rub it along a squeaky hinge and your door will stop squeaking.
 
6. Relieves bad breath – Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
 
7. Hangover cure – To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.
 
8. Aids in weight loss and digestion – Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
 
9. Cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure – Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.
 
10. Promotes joint health, relieves gout and arthritis pain -Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels

About the author: Tammy Parkinson
For most of my life I struggled with my weight and nutrition. Through years of constant battling with my weight, I turned a corner when I finally understood what it takes to drop body fat and stay on a healthy nutritional track for life…without compromising my lifestyle. I gave up a career in the corporate field and dedicated my life to helping others turn their corner. From starting Body Firm over 19 years ago, I have grown, sold Body Firm to a wonderful colleague and dedicated my life to Lifestyle and Nutritional coaching solely… one client at a time.  The individuals I’ve been blessed to guide had a ripple effect and are inspiring others towards their goals too.

Learn more about Tammy on her website: https://www.mybodyfirm.com
 
Sources:
 
https://www.gardeningchannel.com
 
https://www.healthonlinezine.inf
 
https://www.eatingwell.com
 
https://www.naturalnews.com
 
https://truthwiki.org/Cucumbers

 

Cover Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

Best Cereal of 2019

Cereal is one of the most popular breakfast items, however many people end up eating them for other meals or as snacks between meals as well. The problem that arises is that cereal can be full of sugars and low of necessary components such as protein and fibers. We’ve made a roundup of the healthiest cereals for you to easily come back and find what to try next. Now you will cure your cereal craving while not indulging in all the unhealthy components of traditional cereals.

The Sweet Tooth

Those who have a sweet tooth but are still trying to make a healthier choice will love Barbara’s Cinnamon Puffins. This cereal has 6 grams of sugar and fiber, 1 gram more than the Original Puffins, with 2 grams of protein. It has only 90 calories per 2/3 cup and therefore will you keep full while satisfying that morning sweetness you woke up with.

Low Sugar

If you are worried about the amount of sugar you are consuming, Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats is for you. These oats are made with 100% whole grain and are ready for you to consume in 7 minutes. With just ¼ cup dry serving, you will have the energy to power through your morning. With 0 sugars, 3 grams of fiber, and 140 calories, this is a great cereal in the morning. Feel free to eat make this in the morning or use this in an overnight oat recipe.

High Protein

Finding a cereal with a high protein count isn’t always easy, but we’ve found a delicious cereal for you. The Kashi GOLEAN Original Cereal has a high protein count of 12 grams per 1 ¼ cup of cereal with 8 grams of sugar and 180 calories. This is the perfect cereal to keep your body working hard and not feeling hungry soon after consumption.

Gluten Free

A great gluten free cereal is hard to find nowadays. Many of them have hidden ingredients or are loaded in sugar to cover up other ingredients in the mix. The Vans Sensation is delicious and doesn’t taste like you’re eating the traditional bland gluten-free cereal. The serving size is a ¾ cup for 110 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and 9 grams of sugar. This is a great cereal that also cures the chocolate lover’s needs.

All-Around Winner

Health Bear’s Pure Porridge are all delicious and great for anyone. With a large variety of flavors suitable for anyone, we are positive you will find one you love. Our favorites include the Chocolate Cherry Almond and Coconut Cardamom Golden Raisin. Their starter line of porridge is low in calories each, high in fiber, and low in sugar (all of which are from natural ingredients). These will surely keep you full while ensuring all ingredients are natural, organic, and nutritious.

No matter your concern is for your food intake, we are sure you’re going to find your new favorite cereal somewhere in this list.

5 Ways for a Better Start in Your Day

Developing a great morning routine can truly make or break the rest of your day. Think of the last time you spent a little extra time on yourself in the morning and it resulted in more positivity and productivity for the rest of the day. Here are 5 ways to improve the start of your day.

Put Down the Phone

Give yourself a bit of time in the morning before picking up your phone. Whether this is a 15-minute stretching time in bed or not picking up the phone until your workout or breakfast is done, this allows you to focus on yourself. By doing this, you will not be stressed in the morning looking at all your notifications and emails. This allows time for you to get your thoughts together and not have work on your mind right away.

Set Goals

A good habit to develop is to create goals for yourself. If you go in the day without any intentions or a clear to-do list, you will easily feel overwhelmed. Ensure to not just list dozens of tasks that you need. Instead, create a list of 4-6 tasks that you will focus on for both yourself and your work. This could include working out, answering emails, finishing the project at work, and reaching out to a family member. Know what your priorities are and get those knocked out of the way. You can then move onto the less important tasks for the day while eliminating tasks that may have been “due” for the next day.

Start Moving

Whenever you start moving in the morning and getting a sweat sesh in, you will feel good for the rest of the day. Not only will you feel more concentrated, but you are also boosting the production of endorphins which results in happiness. A morning workout, or even just a walk outside, keeps you productive from the beginning and makes you feel confident throughout the day.

Find Your Motivation

Everyone is different and will respond to various motivation tactics. Find something that works for you that you can do in the morning that gets you pumped for the day. Some people love blasting music to start their day with a bang. Others prefer to spend time meditating in the morning. Perhaps someone loves to spend extra time on their skin routine, makeup, or planning their outfit. Whatever makes you happy and ready to conquer the day, take note of that and keep doing it every day.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

A nutritious breakfast is very important in how your day is set up. A healthy breakfast means your energy levels will be high and you will obtain all your necessary nutrients to work hard throughout the day. Try incorporating the necessary components such as healthy grains, plenty of protein, and natural sugars. Pure Porridge contains all of these in a very fast and delicious container. With this, you will receive all the healthy carbs and high proteins to get you through the day feeling awake and energized.