It almost cost me my marriage..

Yes, I said it. This habit literally almost cost me the best thing that ever happened to me. But first, I know this is a bit off my normal topic, but is it? I speak to all of you about healthy life choices. And I, the author maybe eating healthy, working out, running, etc etc, but then I turn around and throw a plug in. The least healthy thing I could do to my body is increase my odds of Cancer by doing something that is optional. BY CHOICE, I am willing to negate all that I am doing to my body to "better" myself and heart and yet I am dipping and increasing the odds of cancer, from my mouth, to my stomach. Not to mention tooth loss etc etc.

But worst of all, I lied , and that is where I came to the cross roads of addiction. Give up something or loose something forever..... So now this blog has turned into an outlet for me to vent and look for support as I end my addiction to nicotine. As I go through this process, I hope that I can sway some of you away from tobacco.   

Apples...Your New Best Friend

1. Get whiter, healthier teeth

An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

2. Avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s

Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.

4. Curb all sorts of cancers

Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes

• Top 20 flat tummy foods
• Our best healthy apple recipes
• 6 reasons to eat more apples

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol

The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates intolower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

7. Get a healthier heart

An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Prevent gallstones

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.

10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

11. Avert hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

12. Control your weight

Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre.Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.

13. Detoxify your liver

We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits—like apples.

14. Boost your immune system

Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found thatquercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you're stressed out.

15. Prevent cataracts

Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like apples—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataract

GUTS, BALLS, THIS MAN IS A HOCKEY PLAYER

Campbell suffered the injury when he blocked a slap shot from Evgeni Malkin with his right leg during a Pittsburgh power play in the second period of the 2-1 double overtime victory at TD Garden.

After blocking the shot, Campbell remained on the ice for more than a minute in obvious pain and helped the Bruins kill off the penalty.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/9347725/2013-nhl-playoffs-gregory-campbell-boston-bruins-breaks-leg-done-postseason

PRE - WORKOUT....THAT WONT KILL YOU

Ahh My Good Ole Friend

Before you run off to Starbucks and order a veinti Mocha Frap Crap with 300 grams of sugar, this IS NOT to what I am referring. I am speaking of regular, coffee,Joe and Java. Not those liquid desserts they sell at Starbucks. 

Caffeine (in coffee or otherwise) improves performance... Hundreds of studies have shown that consuming caffeine before a physical challenge likely helps subjects go farther and faster than when they go without it. This effect holds true in studies of both endurance athletes and sprinters.

…but it works best when timed right… A study last year indicated that the best time to take caffeine for a performance boost is an hour before your event begins.

…and it’s possible to have too much. Research shows that about three to six milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight is all you need to see benefits. (For a 150-pound person, that's roughly 12 ounces of strong coffee.) Higher doses don’t do more to improve performance, and you run the risk of developing negative side effects like dizziness, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

Coffee boosts your brain. A review published earlier this year examined the difference between the effects of caffeine on its own and the effects of consuming it in coffee. Coffee contains a number of substances (including polyphenols) that have been shown to help people with dementia, stave off Alzheimer’s disease, and positively influence brain health.

Coffee isn’t proven to dehydrate you… Studies have found drinking up to about five cups of coffee has little to no effect on hydration. (However, if coffee tends to “get things moving” for you before a run, consider replenishing what you’ve lost with an electrolyte-rich drink.)

…but you may not need to swallow it to reap benefits. A recent study in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism suggests that receptors in your mouth can sense the presence of caffeine and boost your performance, even when you spit out the drink. Might be helpful in the later miles of a long race, when you’re not feeling up to ingesting any more gels.

Coffee may help post-exercise recovery, too. One study had cyclists ride hard for two days in a row to put them in a glycogen-depleted state. Those who drank a recovery drink with carbs and caffeine rebuilt their glycogen stores by 66 percent more than those who drank only carbs.

You can do more than just drink coffee. If a morning cup just isn’t enough, try topping your pancakes with coffee butter, whipping some coffeeinto a smoothie, or freezing coffee with herbs for a cold, caffeine-laced treat.