Archive for category Healthy Lifestyle
The Best Mountain Bikes for a Healthy Lifestyle
Posted by admin in Healthy Lifestyle on June 1, 2011
Cycling is more than just a method of transportation to many: it’s also a way to get and keep fit. A healthy lifestyle is built upon a base of eating right and getting plenty of exercise, and bike riding fits well into that scheme. Mountain biking, in particular, provides a great workout while enjoying the outdoors. Experiencing fresh air, sunshine, and the exhilaration of overcoming obstacles, through the beauty of your natural surroundings, beats toiling away in a sweaty, breathless gym any time. Choosing the bikes for your goals, fitness level, and budget is imperative.
Mountain Bike Basics
Mountain bikes differ from “regular” bikes in a few areas. The tires are wider and knobbier than standard bikes, to allow the treads to grip looser and more diverse terrain better. The frame is more solidly-constructed, preferably from steel, titanium or even carbon fiber, to make it both flexible and sturdy. Most bikes have suspensions built into the frame, to make impacts and landings easier on the rider; front and rear suspension is most common, but there are some bikes, called hardtails, which only have front breaks. These bikes are less expensive and lighter, but have a rougher ride, and are better for smoother trails.
Mountain Bikes for Beginners
The best bikes for cultivating a healthy lifestyle in beginning cyclists are those with lighter frames and minimum complications. These riders should usually lean toward full-suspension bikes, as the suspension will cushion the rider against more jolts. Riders who are just beginning fitness programs are usually carrying extra body weight, and they will not be accustomed to the bumps and jerks a hardtail delivers to their joints. The KHS XC 604 is a full-suspension bike which is perfect for beginners, with 4 frame sizes. The KHS XC 604 was one of the best bikes all-around, being top-rated for beginners by Consumer Reports, and it sells for around $1,500.
Mountain Bikes for Women’s Fitness
For women who want to get fit through mountain biking, they need a bike which caters to their physical needs: women generally are shorter than men, but have longer legs in relation to their height when compared with men, so a bike should address these differences. Women also need a different kind of seat. For casual riding, the SyCip Women’s Classic Steel Unleaded is a great option, a low-priced hardtail which provides smooth riding on easier trails, and is lightweight and has many color choices besides. For trail riding, the best bikes for women would be the Specialized Era FSR Marathon, which offers a full suspension and hydraulic disc brakes. Read the rest of this entry »
Healthy Lifestyle Trends – Health Facts and Figures Part 2
Posted by admin in Healthy Lifestyle on June 1, 2011
How much do we care about our health? Do we make an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle? How well are we doing? These facts and figures give us a few insights.
Holistic Health Outranks Wealth
Emotional and physical well-being are more important to Americans than money and career, according to a survey by a national trade association of health clubs. When 1,400 people were asked to rank various aspects of life as essential or important, 97 percent chose emotional well-being and 96 percent selected physical health, but only 78 percent and 75 percent, respectively, selected career and money.
Source: International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association
Healthy Lifestyle: A Rare Commodity
Only three percent of American adults follow a healthy lifestyle — not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating five or more fruits and vegetables daily, and being active. That’s what researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing concluded after examining the lifestyle habits of 153,000 people.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Strange Park Habits
Last year, more than 276 million people visited North America’s National Parks but only 10 percent ventured more than a mile from their cars, according to statistics compiled by Austin-Lehman Adventures, a company that organizes guided adventure vacations. Perhaps we’re confusing parks with parking lots.
Source: Austin Lehman Adventures
Eating for Health
Eating a nutrient-dense diet with 10 to 25 percent fewer calories than the American average can dramatically reduce the risk for diseases associated with aging. A six-year study showed that middle-aged people eating 1,100 to 1,950 calories daily, containing 26 percent protein, 28 percent fat and 46 percent complex carbohydrates, had blood-pressure levels comparable to 10-year-olds and triglyceride levels of 20-year-olds.
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Read the rest of this entry »