Health and Fitness New Years Resolutions

     The New Year is here! Welcome 2017 and all that you have to offer! I can't wait to see what this next year holds for me! The new year is a great time to get back on track and start being healthier. Even if you already have a healthy lifestyle, its still a good time to shake things up and get back on track!

 

Essential Oils

My mom started using essential oils about a year ago, but I wasn't sold right away. Honesty, I though it was another one of Mom's 'things'! :)But, after using them a few times, I had more faith in them, and now I love to use them!

What are Essential Oils?
Each essential oil company has it's own standards in regards to the way them make their oils. We use a brand called, Young Living , and we love their Seed-to-Seal standards! Essential oils are simply the oils from botanicals. They can be use in so many ways, to promote healthier living in all aspects of life!

Oils I love!
Lavender: I love this one, and it's probably the oil I use the most! Here are a few ways you can use lavender to promote healthier living!

Burns: Appling a few drops to a burned area of skin can help relieve some of the discomfort.

 

Bug Bites and Stings: A few drops on a bug bite or sting can help to relieve some of the pain or itching.

 

Sleep: Smelling the oil or applying some to your sheets and/or pillows can help to calm you and help you sleep!

 

Thieves: This one is probably my Mom's favorite oil, for good reason too! Here are a few ways we love to use this oil!

 

Disinfectant: Thieves can be used to clean anything from the countertop to you hands, and it can help to disinfect the area.

Bug Repellant: Applying a few drops, or spraying it on your skin and clothing can help repel the bugs!

Cold/Canker Sores: My sister has used a few drops of this oil on her canker sores to help relieve the discomfort.

 

 

Purification: This is another one of my favorite oils to use, and I use it quite a bit too!

 

Acne: This is how I use this oil the most- Applying a drop of oil to a skin blemish or acne spot can help to relieve discomfort and some redness.

 

Insect Bites: Much like lavender, purification may used to soothe bug bites.

 

Stinking Shoes: A few drops into your shoes can help to, well, purify them and make them smell nice!

 

 

Lemon: This one smells so nice, I love to use it whenever I can!

 

Energize: A few sniffs of this oil can help to energize you and can be uplifting!

 

Cleaning: Adding a few drops to your cloth to clean, or diluting it in a spray bottle can be a wonderful way to get your house clean, without using harsh ingredients.

 

Essence Water: Add a few drops to your water for a nice, refreshing drink!

 

 

 

Please Note!

I am not making any health claims, but I am sharing with you the  ways some essential oils can be used. They don't work the same for everyone, so some things might work for a certain thing for me, but not for you!

 

 

Obviously there are a ton more essential oils out there, so I encourage you to try a few out and learn as much as you can about them and the way you can use them! Going to a website like, Young Living, can give you some more info!

 

Please share this blog with a friend and family member! You can follow the blog via email, Google, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett and on Twitter @ SpinachisGood.

 

I'm going to change my post schedule from every Monday and Friday to just every Friday! Hopefully this will give me more time to put more into each post!

 

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H.Banana



 

 

 



Go Nuts for Nuts!

I love nuts as a snack, baked in cakes, cookies, and breads, tossed in salads, toasted on anything and so much more! Nuts are such a healthy ingredient that can be thrown into just about anything! Knowing why and how nuts are good for you is important for a healthy lifestyle!

Consuming 1.5 ounces of unseasoned nuts a day as a part of a healthy diet can reduce the risk of heart disease. Many varieties can improve artery linings and lower LDL cholesterol, and are loaded with healthy fats and other healthy nutrients!

Almonds
Almonds are the nuts that I eat the most. I love to toast them and top a salad or oatmeal with them, add them to a smoothie or just eat a handful for a snack! There are about 20-24 almonds per ounce with about 160 calories for every ounce. They can help improve skin complexion and skin quality!

Brazil Nuts
I don't eat a lot of these nuts, but they are common in a lot of mix-nut blends you can buy, so I've had them that way. There are 6-8 nuts per ounce with about 190 calories per ounce. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium, which can help prevent breast cancer and prostate cancer!

Cashews
I love cashews! They are one of my favorite nuts because they are so creamy and flavorful! There are 16-18 nuts per ounce with about 160 calories per ounce. Cashews are a good source of magnesium which helps to regulate muscle tone and nerves.

Chestnuts
Chestnuts roasting by an open fire..... These nuts aren't just for Christmas time! There are 3 chestnuts per ounce with 70 calories per ounce. They are the only 'nut' to contain vitamin C!

Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are one of the ingredients in the popular hazelnut/chocolate spread we all know and love. All the more reason to gorge on it right? No, all in moderation! There are 18-20 hazelnuts per ounce with 180 calories per ounce. They are a great nut for hair and nut growth.

Macadamia
I've only had these nuts a few times, but they are delicious! Per ounce there are 10-12 nuts and 200 calories. These nuts are great to speed up fat metabolism.

Peanuts
Peanut butter, peanut butter cookies, peanut sauce, there are almost endless ways to enjoy peanuts! There are 28 peanuts per ounce with 170 calories. They surpass many fruits in there level of antioxidants.

Pecans
I love pecans in pie, in oatmeal, in cookies, on salads, in cinnamon rolls, monkey bread...oh man, now I'm hungry! Per ounce there are about 18-20 pecans and 200 calories. They may help lower high blood pressure.

Pine Nuts
These little nuts are great so many ways. You can make awesome crust for desserts, toss on a salad or enjoy by themselves! Per ounce there are about 150-170 nuts with 160 calories. They are great to promote eye health.

Pistachios
These little green nuts are a great snack but they are also a great way to add flavor and color to breads, cakes, granola and cookies! Per ounce there are about 45-49 nuts and 160 calories. They are high in fiber, almost as much as a 1/2 cup of oats!

Walnuts
I love walnuts( I feel like I've said that a lot in this post!) on or in just about anything! Per ounce there are about 14 nuts and 190 calories. They are great to hydrate the skin because they have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Well, I hope you know a bit more about the food we eat and why its are good for you. Adding nuts, all of them or just a few, is a great way to have a healthy diet! Let me know how you enjoy nuts, and which ones are your favorite! Also, please share this blog with a friend!

Please follow the blog here, on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

5 Healthy Snacking Tips

Snacking is something that just about every does at some point in the day. And, if done right, it is healthy for you. Snacking on good nutritional food helps to keep your metabolism up. But choosing the right things to grab for a snack isn't always easy. I am going to share with you a few tips to snack healthier as well as a few healthy snack ideas!

 

#1
Keep premade snacks handy. Having healthy snacks already made and ready to grab will make it less likely for you to go for an unhealthy option. Cutting up veggies and fruit and portioning them out to keep in the fridge is one idea. You can even portion out fruit and veggie dips( Like nut butters, yogurt or cream cheese) to grab along with your snack. Another idea is to make up healthy treats like these Almond Joy Clusters or Apple Chompers . What ever you chose to do, having ready-to-eat snacks that are healthy will keep you on track!

#2
Water first! Sometimes when you feel hungry, you actually are just thirsty. Because your stomach is empty you body thinks its hungry when really you just need some water. Try drinking a glass of water whenever you feel hungry. If you still feel hungry afterwards, have a snack, if not, you don't need a snack!

#3
Chose the more filling option. When choosing a snack, try and chose the one that will fill you up for the longest time. You don't want to be hungry in a few minutes! A few filling choices are, broccoli, Greek yogurt, nuts of any kind, or oats. The reason these are good choices is because they fill your stomach up, plus they are full of the nutrients your body needs! I love to eat broccoli raw or steamed, and Greek yogurt topped with berries is a amazing treat!

#4
Don't eat mindlessly. When you have a snack, sit down and enjoy it. Eat it slowly and drink water with it. Don't just sit down in front of the computer and chomp away on your snack because before you know it, the food will be gone and you'll ask yourself 'Where did my food go?!". Snack time is a great time to take a break from work, school or whatever and just take a few deep breaths. Eating slowly also helps to keep you from over eating because it takes a while for your body to recognize that it's full.

#5
Eat something you like. This may sound like a no brainer, but its something you need to think about. Don't just eat a snack that you don't like because you know its good for you. There are plenty of healthy options out there, so find the ones you like and have those at the ready. You can try Banana Bread Cookies , Boo-Nanas , Summer in a Smoothie, , Candied Pecans or any of the other recipes on my blog!

I hope these tips help you to stay on track when snacking and that they give you a few ideas for healthy snack options! If you like this post, please share it with a friend!

Thank you for checking out my blog and be sure to check back often for more healthy tips, workouts, recipes and more!

Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana

Follow the blog on Twitter @ Spinachisgood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett