August 10, 2011 | 3:51 pm

Medicine is for wussies

Posted by Sima Cohen

Who needs botox when you can grub these?

You’re depressed, you’re overweight, you have acne, you’re getting old, and you can’t poop. Instead of making an appointment with your physician, would you believe that the prescription for your every ailment can be found in the aisles of your local market?

More than one in 20 Americans over the age of 12 are considered depressed. Maybe they should take a cue from the Middle East and start eating Hummus! A diet high in Tryptophan is shown to raise serotonin levels in the brain. The key ingredient in Hummus is chickpeas, and this and other legumes contain large doses of Tryptophan, which is an important building block of serotonin. Chickpeas also contain fiber and iron, two other ingredients that can help you to relax. The best part is that in addition to Hummus, chickpeas are versatile and can be used in salads, soups or as a snack alone.

Getting old is inevitable. Looking old is not. Especially when your diet is high in Vitamin C. This essential vitamin is shown to play a part in the production of collagen. But before you reach for a glass of OJ, consider this: 4 strawberries contain more Vitamin C than a medium sized orange!

Everyone knows that garlic is good for your heart, but did you know that garlic also contains powerful enzymes that help increase the release of serotonin? Kiss anxiety goodbye! (After chewing a mint.) Fresh garlic in particular has been shown to lift mood, increase feelings of well-being, and decrease fatigue, sensitivity, agitation and irritability.

Nothing wrecks a vacation like a sunburn. You’ll be soaking up rays again in no time if you have this versatile food on hand: Plain Whole Milk Yogurt! Rub it on the affected area and leave it until it’s dry, then rinse with cool water. Relief is just a few minutes away…. Just don’t forget to use sunscreen to avoid a repeat.

Every woman knows, PMS sucks. But how many pills can you take? Pop open a can of tuna and pop those pain pills into the nearest trash can instead. Tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which will help you soothe cramps and it’s also a low-fat, high protein food that will boost your energy.

As if we need to give you another reason to reach for chocolate, but studies show that it can actually help cure your headaches. When you have a headache, blood vessels in the head and neck are dilated. Chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine, which has been shown to constrict blood vessels. Despite the fact that some still believe chocolate causes headaches, I beg to differ. If you are experiencing a headache after eating chocolate, consider how much you ate. Chances are your headache is caused the by the massive amount of sugar you just consumed and not the cocoa itself.

Need to poop? The solution is tasty and doesn’t come in pill form. The high fiber and water content of Papaya are associated with a healthy colon, and this wonder fruit contains antioxidant properties that support digestive health. Papaya also contains Papain, a natural digestive enzyme that helps the body to digest proteins. Make sure to get it while it’s ripe!

I don’t have enough time or room on the page to tell you about all of the health benefits of turmeric. It can cure almost anything including gum disease, sore throat, flu, sinusitis, boils, allergies, joint pain, runny nose and wheezing cough, acne rosacea, stomach pain, and wounds. It is a natural liver detoxifier that has also been linked with the prevention of prostate cancer and melanoma, and a reduced risk of childhood leukemia. And for all you “dieters” out there, turmeric may aid in metabolism and weight loss. Turmeric is also one of the most versatile spices. You can add it to vegetables, meats, pastas, stews and dips. Get cooking!

Peace and Hershey’s
Sima

August 2, 2011 | 3:51 pm

Newsflash! Women Need to Weight Train, too.

Posted by Sima Cohen

Depression. Insomnia. Cellulite. Muscle Loss. Back Pain. Arthritis. High Blood Pressure. High Cholesterol. Osteoporosis. Heart Disease.

If all 10 of these common female problems sound about as fun as an enema, you should weight train. The benefits of strength training, at any age, are way more than just a tight tuches. Increased strength, reduced body fat, improved athletic performance, and decreased health risks like the ones listed above. Looking good is just a bonus. You’ll also have more energy and sleep better, too.

The belief that weight training will make a woman look like Lou Ferrigno is B.S. Men produce 10 to 30 times more testosterone than women. It just isn’t possible. It also isn’t possible for you to get the body you really want with cardio alone. Cardio only burns calories while you’re doing the workout. After a few weeks of the same old workout, your body will begin burning less calories and you’ll quickly plateau.

Your muscle determines your metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn throughout the day and even while you sleep. For each pound of muscle you gain, you can burn up to 50 calories more every day. Keep it up for 10 weeks and you can kiss another pound goodbye! Here’s more: strengthening lower back muscles can eliminate lower back pain and adding muscle helps support your bones, which means less breaks, better bone density, and stronger joints. That sounds sweeter than a Godiva bar!

Weight training doesn’t have to mean an expensive gym membership and overdosing on protein. You can do it at home and save the egg whites for breakfast.

Here is a 30-minute workout to get you going. If you are a beginner, you can do this set once, and if you are a little more advanced you can repeat it twice. Do this 3 times a week at home with a couple of dumbbells, a chair and a yoga mat:
Start by stretching your soon-to-be buff muscles. Raise your arms above your head and across your chest to stretch them out. Get into lunge position and switch to stretch both legs. Bend over and touch your toes to stretch your Hamstrings. Then, run in place or jump rope for 3 minutes. Now you’re limber!

25 Wide-Leg Squats
25 Squat and Kick (alternate legs)
25 Bent Over Reverse Flys
25 Overhead Tricep Extension

25 Side Leg Extensions (alternate legs)*
25 Reverse Lunges (alternate legs)
25 Tricep Dips on chair
25 Bicep Curls sitting on chair

Cool down:
Stand up, raise your arms above your head then bend your knees slightly and place your hands on the back of your ankles or calves.
Return to standing position and spread your legs wide. Raise your arm above your head and lean to one side. Switch.
Put your hands behind your back and link your fingers. Bend forward and pull your arms up as far as you can.

*Here you can hold on to the chair for balance.

For more workout tips and information go to our website at http://www.meetsima.com

Peace and Muscles,
Sima

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