“Renew You” Challenge – Be a part of my Weekly Challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot for bringing health to your week.

So here we are right smack in the middle of another cold and flu season, and all I can hear in my head is mom telling me to eat my fruits and veggies. Why? Well, you know how a lot of folks take multivitamins every day? Fresh fruits and vegetables are like nature’s multivitamin—chock full of important nutrients and natural antioxidants proven to boost immune function and help keep you healthy—which brings me back to cold and flu season.

The best way to ward off seasonal illness is by being proactive. Don’t wait until the first sign of a sneeze or sniffle, but instead practice good habits all year long, and that includes (and you knew this was coming) eating more fruits and veggies. So that’s your challenge this week!

Now before you start to groan, just bear with me. The CDC has this great new website that helps you calculate how many servings of fruits and vegetables you need each day based on your age, sex and activity level, and from there it’s just a matter of being creative. And parents, pay attention—getting kids to gobble up their fruits and veggies may not be as difficult as you think. Just plan ahead, spend a little time at the beginning of the week slicing and storing, and soon the whole family will be on their way to better health. Here are some tips to help you get started!

 Dip bite-size veggies in low-fat dressing
 Spread natural peanut butter on celery sticks
 Spread hummus on celery, carrots or even whole-wheat pita
 Add pre-sliced veggies and even fruit to sandwiches & wraps
 Prepare individual salad servings for a quick grab-and-go lunch
 Top natural tortilla chips or pita chips with fresh, homemade salsa
 Mix berries or other fruits with yogurt, oatmeal & cereal
 Keep frozen fruit on hand for shakes & smoothies

For more simple, healthful snack ideas and recipes using fresh fruits and veggies, be sure to visit www.fiber35diet.com.

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think seeing really is believing, like when I found this link recently from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). It’s an animated map that shows the increase in obesity rates across America from 1985 all the way to 2008.

It’s one thing to hear about our obesity problem on the news or read about it in the paper, but it’s a pretty big eye-opener to see it come to life right in front of you!

So how obese is your state? Well, unless you live in Colorado the obesity rate of your state is at least 20%—that might make me think twice about not sticking to my weight loss plan!

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America, CDC, Centers for Disease Control, map, obese, obesity, obesity problem, obesity rate, Weight Loss

Health Links Wednesday

Just How Much Do I Need? I’m always telling folks how important it is to eat their fruits and veggies. Not only are they a great source of nutrients, but they’re also loaded with fiber, which is important for good digestion and keeping your bowel movements regular – and remember that good digestion equals a healthier body!

If you’re not sure how many fruits and vegetables you need to eat to meet your daily requirements, relax – it’s easy! The CDC has a website that lets you calculate exactly how much you need (in cups) based on your age, sex and activity level – just type it in and voila! It does the work for you!

www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov even gives examples of 1-cup servings of different fruits and veggies so you don’t have to get out the measuring cups, and they have hundreds of delicious recipes (complete with nutrition facts) based on the fruits or vegetables you want to use – how easy is that??

Oh, and just because you meet your requirements doesn’t mean you have to stop there – If you can eat more, go for it!!!

Now I know if we were talking about chocolate you’d be more excited, but hey, your body needs this, so check it out!

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bowel movements, CDC, daily requirements, fiber, fruits, fruits and vegetables, good digestion, nutrients, Recipes, veggies

Summary: In this video blog I discuss the how many people suffer from Omega 3 Deficiency . What are Omega 3′s? How do you get these healthy Omega oils in your diet? What happens if you don’t have enough? The answer to all these questions and more are in this video. Tune in and find out…

Full Script:

Did you know that Omega-3 Deficiency is a major killer? The sixth biggest killer of Americans according to a new study just released. That’s right – according to the study funded by the CDC and performed by Harvard University there are between 72 to 96 thousand Preventable deaths each year due to Omega-3 deficiency.

Many of us in the natural health field have long been touting the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. From cardiovascular health to brain health to vision health, the benefits are enormous. Unfortunately most Americans get very little in the Standard American Diet. The best food sources of these fatty acids are fish, especially fish like mackerel, sardines and salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in some seeds and nuts, like flax seed and walnuts. Although your diet has a tremendously powerful effect on your overall health, these are not foods normally included on a lot of Americans dinner plates.

Thankfully, you can purchase these valuable essential Omega-3 fatty acids in supplement form. Renew Life’s Norwegian Gold Critical Omega is the best on the market. It is highly concentrated, enteric coated and burp-free, thanks to Lipase. You can get tremendous health benefits from just one capsule a day. This newly released study just proves that Omega-3 fatty acid intake, whether in the diet or by supplementation, goes well beyond minor health benefits.

It is a matter of life or death.

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Brenda Watson, CDC, flax seeds, harvard university, norwegian gold critical omega, Norwegian Gold Fish Oils, Omega 3 Deficiency, omega 3 oil supplements, salmon, sardines

There has been a lot of press lately about the new strain of flu, H1N1 or as most know it, the swine flu. It seems that as of today cases have been confirmed in 36 states. The CDC, the news channels and even President Obama have been telling everyone to take precautions, such as wash your hands religiously and cover your mouth when you cough.

Surprisingly, I’ve not heard much talk about keeping your immune system strong. You would think now would be a time when strengthening your immune system is suggested more than any other. One of the best ways you can help keep your immunity high against is to take a very therapeutic potency probiotic supplement. Those of you who know me, know how much I tout the benefits of probiotics. Well this is exactly one of the situations where everyone needs to be taking a probiotic supplement. I would suggest the highest potency multi-strain formula you can find such as my Renew Life Ultimate Flora Super Critical 200 Billion sachet probiotic.

This is one of the highest multi-strain probiotics on the market. Along with probiotics you should drink plently of clean purified water, get plenty of rest, try to eat well which means avoiding processed and refined foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables have phytonutrients that will help keep your immune system strong. During these times of stress and sickness we need to take extra precautions on the inside not just on the outside such as washing the hands. Over 70% of your immune system is in your digestive tract. And that is where you need to start in order to keep healthy. Pick up your probiotic today!

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benefits of probiotics, Brenda Watson, CDC, H1N1, immune system, phytonutrients, President Obama, Probiotics & Gut Flora, swine flu