HOW YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS

An army of millions of microscopic soldiers operates within you, each one ready to spring into battle against invading germs and to do sentry duty to prevent disease from occurring in the first place. How you feed these soldiers has a great influence on how well they protect you from germs and disease. Because of poor diets, many school-age children and adults have immune systems that don’t operate at peak efficiency. They get sick more often. Here’s how to have a well-nourished immune system.

Think of the immune system as an army in which each division has a specific job, depending on the enemy they are fighting. Let’s meet the troops to see what each kind of defender does.

White blood cells are the body’s infantry, the hard-working soldiers on the front lines. These cells patrol the highway of the body’s bloodstream, preventing germs from gaining a foothold. There are millions of these microscopic fighters in each drop of blood. There are also many specialized units. For example, when enemy cells try to hide from the main white cell troops, specialized units of white cells, called macrophages (the word means “big eaters”), mount search-and-destroy missions, going into all the nooks and crannies of the body to fight harmful invaders.

WHAT IS YOUR JOB?

Fruits and vegetables are the antioxidant stars that aide in boosting the immune system. Eating a balanced diet containing a variety of fruits and vegetables with high ORAC scores such as the Brazilian Açai Berry, blueberries, and tomatoes to name a few can help you fight the harmful effects of free radicals and maintain good health. An Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score is a test tube analysis that measures the antioxidant levels of food. High ORAC score foods can help to reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes and also help to slow down the aging process.

#1 SUPERFOOD – BRAZILIAN Açai BERRY

The Brazilian AçaiBerrynot only contains one of the highest ORAC scores and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutritional value, but it also tastes great too. It is the #1 Superfood today!

The USDA recommends a daily intake of 1,000 to 5,000 ORAC units daily. The “5 fruits and vegetables” diet plans typically get around 1,700 ORAC daily, so far short of the upper USDA recommendations.

The Brazilian Açai Berry ORAC rating is 5,500 units per 100 grams, so all the USDA recommendation from 100 grams of The Brazilian AçaiBerry. Go a step further and consider freeze dried AçaiBerry pulp, and then things really start to heat up. 50,000 ORAC units per 100 grams of freeze dried AçaiBerry pulp. 10 days worth at the USDA upper recommendation! Drinking AçaiBerry juice is by far the easiest way to consume the USDA’s daily recommendation of ORAC units.

Here’s a quick rundown of the highest ORAC levels per 100 grams:

• Freeze Dried Brazilian Açai Berry Pulp – 50,000
• Brazilian Açai Berry Berries – 5,500
• Pomegranates – 3,100
• Blueberries – 2,300
• Kale – 1,860
• Strawberries – 1,520
• Spinach – 1,270
• Raspberries – 1,240

So where does all the Brazilian Açai Berry free radical fighting power come from? One word, Anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are responsible for the dark purple color of the Brazilian Açai Berry and act as a kind of natural sunblock. Sunlight causes free radicals and any fruit exposed to large amounts of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, develops anthocyanins to protect itself from the oxidative effects of these rays. Anthocyanins are nature’s own answer to those pesky free radicals.

The Brazilian Açai Berry is rich in anthocyanins, more than 30 times richer then red grapes for example. The anthocyanin levels are what make the Brazilian Açai Berry ORAC the highest antioxidant source on the planet.

Here’s an extract from a study done on the Brazilian Açai Berry ORAC ratings by the USDA itself. “In this study, the antioxidant capacities of freeze-dried Açai Berry fruit was evaluated and found to have the highest antioxidant activity of any food reported to date”

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products which contain the Brazilian Açai Berryemail them at: info@livewelldistribution.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contributing sources for this article include: United States Department of Agriculture www.usda.gov & www.nutrition.gov.

Blog Question:

Do you feel like you eat the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily?

Practice these three exercises as many times a day as you can for 2-3 weeks.

1. Pelvic floor contractions. You may know these better as Kegel exercises. All you do is contract the muscles that stop the flow of urine and hold the contraction as long as possible. At first you may only be able to hold the contraction for a few seconds, but keep practicing until you can hold the contraction for 30 seconds–and don’t forget to breathe!

2. Abdominal bracing. This is another small but important movement designed to train your abdominal muscles to stabilize the spine. It’s often described as pulling your navel back to your spine. You might also imagine lacing up a tight corset, pulling your hip bones in toward each other or bracing for a punch in the gut. Squeeze those muscles in, and hold for as long as you can. The goal again is to build up to a 30-second hold while still breathing normally.

3. Quadruped stabilization. Start on all fours with knees directly under hips and hands directly under shoulders. Keep your spine straight and engage your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles as in exercises 1 and 2. Then, keeping your torso straight and solid, raise one hand and the opposite knee off the ground only an inch or so. Your goal is to use your abdominal muscles to keep your hips and shoulders square and your torso rock solid as you initiate the slight movement of the opposing limbs. Hold the position as long as you can, then switch sides. With only two points of support instead of four, your core has to do much of the work to keep your torso steady.

IMPORTANT!

If you are new to exercise, or have been inactive for awhile, consult with your health care provider to make sure that this exercise is safe for you. Before beginning any exercise program, get your health care provider’s permission.

Remember to drink water before, during and after exercise. Make sure you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view itContributing sources for this article include: www.health-and-physical-fitness.com

Blog Question:

Do you feel that back pain of any type can affect your overall attitude?

Amazon Bean Soup with Winter Squash & Greens:

8 servings, 1 1/2 cups each | Active Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3 pounds buttercup squash, peeled and diced      (about 6 cups)
• 1 plum tomato, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 15-ounce cans pinto or other brown beans,      rinsed
• 10 ounces spinach, stemmed and coarsely      chopped
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, carrots and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add broth and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add squash, tomato, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the squash is very soft and almost breaking apart, about 20 minutes.
2. Transfer 3 cups of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Return the pureed soup to the pot. Stir in beans and spinach and cook over medium heat until the beans are heated through and the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition

Per serving : 223 Calories; 3 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 0 g Mono; 8 mg Cholesterol; 43 g Carbohydrates; 11 g Protein; 10 g Fiber; 310 mg Sodium; 927 mg Potassium

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 vegetable, 1 lean meat

Tips & Notes

• To make squash bowls:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Slice about an inch off      the top of each buttercup squash. Scoop out seeds and loose flesh. Pour      1/2 inch water into a glass baking dish (or two) large enough to hold the      squash. Place squash cut-side down in the water. Bake until the flesh is      tender when gently poked with a knife and the squash still holds its shape, about 30 minutes.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

Contributing sources for this article include: www.eatingwell.com

Role of Weight Loss

Complications associated with excess weight include chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Losing just 5 percent of your current weight may help prevent such medical problems. Weight loss is a widespread recommendation for African-Americans because they represent a large segment of overweight and obese people in the United States. The larger number of overweight and obese African-American children makes them more likely also to develop chronic medical problems associated with excess weight, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and sleep apnea. Losing weight can improve their health outlook and self-esteem.

Do you think there are enough gyms, fitness centers, and recreational locations in African American neighborhoods?

Americans of all races tend to eat more and are less active than their ancestors, which, is contributing to the obesity epidemic in the US. Recent statistics show that up to 66% of the US population is overweight or obese. These weight trends are even more pronounced among African Americans with 60% of African American men and 78% of African American women identified as overweight. In addition, 28.8% of men and 50.8% of African American women are considered obese.
Simply put, we eat large portions of what we want but the nutritional value is not there. Our recipes give you just that, good healthy food with a balanced nutrition. They are for anyone that needs a balanced meal selection without the worry of excess sugar, sodium, or calories! Start eating smarter right now with Livewell Healthy Living Café.

  Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken:

 4 servings | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 20-ounce can pineapple rings, plus 1/3 cup juice from the can
• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed (see Tip)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon butter

Preparation

1. Whisk sherry, soy sauce, brown sugar and the 1/3 cup pineapple juice in a large bowl. Add pineapple rings and chicken and gently stir to coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium-high.
3. Remove the chicken and pineapple from the marinade and pat dry; reserve the marinade. Oil the grill rack. Grill the chicken and pineapple until the chicken is cooked through and the pineapple is marked, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
4. Whisk the reserved marinade and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, whisking, until reduced and thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter. Serve the chicken and pineapple drizzled with the sauce.

Nutrition

Per serving : 360 Calories; 11 g Fat; 4 g Sat; 3 g Mono; 83 mg Cholesterol; 39 g Carbohydrates; 22 g Protein; 1 g Fiber; 467 mg Sodium; 238 mg Potassium

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 1/2 fruit, 3 lean meat, 1/2 fat

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

Contributing sources for this article include: www.eatingwell.com

 Let’s face it, there are more benefits to being active than making up excuses to why we are not. Our bodies tell us when we are not as active as we should be when it breaks down and allow diseases to take over.

No matter what your size or shape, being active:

• Makes you feel better.
• Helps you fall asleep and sleep well.
• Gives you more energy.
• Helps you think better and faster.
• Helps you handle stress.
• Makes you healthier.
• Helps you live longer.

  Your heart will thank you:

The more active you are, the better your heart works. You’re less likely to get many of the diseases that can shorten your life, including:

• Coronary artery disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Some cancers.

If you already have any of these problems, staying active may help you to have better control over them, feel better, and live longer.

Your body will thank you:

Being fit includes keeping your muscles, bones, and joints as active and healthy as possible.

Lifting weights-even small ones-is a good way to make your muscles stronger. It also increases bone density, which is especially important for older adults.

Stretching will help you stay flexible and coordinated. As you become more flexible, you will find it easier to reach things on high shelves, to look under a bed, or perhaps to tie your shoes. You will also have a better sense of balance and coordination.

Your bathroom scale will thank you:

Being more active burns calories. That can help you get to and stay at a healthy weight.

When you exercise regularly, your body burns more calories even when you’re resting. Being active may also lower your percentage of body fat and increase muscle strength and tone.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com
Contributing sources for this article include: WebMD www.webmd.com

Blog Question: 

Do you think walking approximately 10,000 steps per day can help you lose weight?

People who stretch regularly experience improved coordination. Stretching and increased flexibility help improve balance which in turn decreases the chances that you’ll experience injuries from falling. We also know that if you are seeking better circulation stretching can increase the blood flow to the muscles which helps the muscles stay nourish and get rid of waste. This, in turn, decreases the time it takes your muscles to heal from injuries. Additionally, increased circulation can also increase your energy levels!

The flexibility exercises on this page represent many ways to prepare your body for most activities you perform in daily life. Having flexibility in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments is a way to reduce stiffness and soreness in the body.

Lower Back Stretch

1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

2. Place your hands at your sides.

3. Bring your knees towards your chest.

4. Place your hands between the back of your thighs and calves and pull.

5. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Advanced Lower Back Stretch

1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent up in the air and your feet flat on the floor.

2. Place your hands at your sides.

3. Bring your knees towards your chest.

4. Place your hands between the back of your thighs and calves and pull.

5. As you pull, lift your head and shoulders off the floor towards your knees.

6. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Standing Back Stretch

1. You are going to need to find something sturdy like a pole that your hands can grasp.

2. Grasp it with your hands keeping your arms straight and feet facing forward.

3. Lower your buttocks down and away from the pole. Bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the ground. Pull the object you are grasping.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Cat Stretch

1. Position your body face down on your hands and knees (“all fours”).

2. Tuck in your chin and keep your stomach tight. Your back should be parallel to the floor.

3. Raise your back towards the ceiling in an arching position.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Reverse Cat Stretch

1. Position your body face down on your hands and knees (“all fours”).

2. Tuck in your chin and keep your stomach tight. Your back should be parallel to the floor.

3. Lower your back towards the floor so it is in a “U” shaped position.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Prayer Stretch

1. Position your body face down on your hands and knees (“all fours”).

2. Tuck in your chin and keep your stomach tight. Your back should be parallel to the floor.

3. Lower your buttocks towards your feet, while keeping your hands on the floor.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed.

 Spinal Twist Stretch

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent.

2. Place your arms to shoulder height and pointed outward. Face your palms down.

3. Slowly let your knees drop to one side of the floor (left or right). At the same time, keep the front of your torso facing up.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or longer if necessary and repeat on the opposite side.

5.  Do this stretch carefully and listen to your body. Don’t try and over stretch.

Sitting Spinal Twist

1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you.

2. Take your right foot and place it next to the outside part (left side) of your left knee. Your left leg should still be extended forward. Your right knee should be bent and facing upward.

3. Twist your torso clockwise placing the back of your left elbow on the right side of your right knee.

4. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds or as needed and repeat on the opposite side.

IMPORTANT!

If you are new to cardio exercise, or have been inactive for awhile, consult with your health care provider to make sure that cardio exercise is safe for you. Before beginning any exercise program, get your health care provider’s permission.

Remember to drink water before, during and after exercise. Make sure you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

Contributing sources for this article include: www.health-and-physical-fitness.com

Blog Question:

How important is a daily stretch? Does it really matter if you stretch before any physical activity?

It’s sad, that public perception in the Black Community is that African-Americans care more about what is on television or at the dinner table than actual physical activities. We used to get out more, spend more time outside, something happened. Our attitude about breaking a sweat plays a key role to turning this perception around about us.

Regular exercise provides both mental and physical health benefits.

One of the great things about exercise is that it can improve your mental health. Regular exercise can help you feel less stressed, can improve your self-esteem, and can help you to feel ready to get on with your day.

Exercise can also improve your overall mood. A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk will make your brain produce chemicals that will make you happier and more relaxed than before you started working out.

Having trouble sleeping? Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and help you sleep deeper. A good night’s sleep can improve your concentration and productivity each day.

Physical Benefits of Exercise For You

Another great thing about exercise is that it can keep your body healthy. Kids who exercise often have a healthier body weight than kids who don’t exercise. Exercise makes your bones solid, improves your heart and lungs, and makes your muscles strong.

Exercise can also affect specific diseases that affect adolescents and teens. New research shows that teens who exercise regularly (about 60 minutes of brisk exercise each day) burn more calories and use blood sugar more efficiently than teens who don’t exercise. This could protect you from developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, type 2 diabetes used to be called ‘adult-onset diabetes,’ but the name was changed because so many young people were developing the disease.

Here is something else to consider: children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to become adults who are overweight. If you start good habits (like daily exercise) when you are young, you will be likely to continue them when you’re older. 

New research shows that exercise during the teen years (beginning at age 12) can help protect girls from breast cancer when they are older. Also, regular physical activity can help prevent colon cancer later in your life.

Get Started Now!

Not being active is called sedentary (say: sed-un-tair-ee). Leading a sedentary lifestyle can cause weight gain and even obesity (dangerously high weight), which can lead to type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.

These health issues can hurt your heart and make it easier for you to get certain diseases. Make physical activity a regular part of your life. It can help you protect your health! Obesity can also hurt your self-esteem, too.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

Blog Question:

Do you feel that excessive weight can affect your self-esteem?

People who don’t have the best eating habits or are overweight are at an increased risk for serious health problems. Physicians recommend that we get 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity cardio activity each day with children and teens needing 60 minutes. Livewell Healthy Living Café will show you how additional health benefits can be gained through greater amounts of physical activity. We provide you the options for getting back into shape or for just maintaining a good fitness regimen.

Do you have tight muscles, an aching back, feel exhausted even though you haven’t done anything physical? Maybe your shoulders burn from tension and your head hurts from staring at a computer screen for too long. Now, think about how your body feels after a workout. Your muscles are warm and flexible, the blood is pumping through your body, providing oxygen and energy. You feel energized, confident, proud of yourself and ready to take on the world.

Our bodies are made to move–not sit around all day and yet, that’s exactly what many of us are doing.

Using these routines a few times weekly can improve your cardio endurance without the use of cardio machines.

Workout 1

1. 30 seconds – Jumping Jacks
2. 30 seconds – Jumpers
3. 30 seconds – Squat Thrusts
4. 30 seconds – Mountain Climbers
5. 30 seconds – Rest
6. Repeat 4 more times (for a more advanced workout repeat 5 or more times).

Workout 2

1. 30 seconds – Mountain Climbers
2. 30 seconds – Tuck Jumps
3. 30 seconds – Jab/Cross (with power)
4. 30 seconds – Left/Right Upper Cuts (with power)
5. 30 seconds – Left/Right Hooks (with power)
6. 30 seconds – Jumping Jacks
7. 30 seconds – Rest
8. Repeat 4 more times (for a more advanced workout repeat 5 or more times).

Workout 3

1. 30 seconds – Jumping Jacks
2. 30 seconds – Jumpers
3. 30 seconds – Squats
4. 30 seconds – Squat Thrusts
5. 30 seconds – Mountain Climbers
6. 30 seconds – Jab/Cross Shadow Boxing
7. 1 minute – Rest
8. Repeat 4 more times (for a more advanced workout repeat 5 or more times).

Workout 4

1. 30 seconds – Jab/Cross (with power)
2. 30 seconds – Jumping Jacks
3. 30 seconds – Left/Right Upper Cuts (with power)
4. 30 seconds – Mountain Climbers
5. 30 seconds – Left/Right Hooks (with power)
6. 30 seconds – Knee to Elbow Lifts
7. 1 minute – Rest
8. Repeat 4 more times (for a more advanced workout repeat 5 or more times).

Workout 5

1. 30 seconds – Knee to Elbow Lifts
2. 30 seconds – Jumpers
3. 30 seconds – Squat Thrusts
4. 30 seconds – Squat Jumps
5. 30 seconds – Rest
6. Repeat 4 more times (for a more advanced workout repeat 5 or more times).

IMPORTANT!

If you are new to cardio exercise, or have been inactive for awhile, consult with your health care provider to make sure that cardio exercise is safe for you. Before beginning any exercise program, get your health care provider’s permission.

Remember to drink water before, during and after exercise. Make sure you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com

Contributing sources for this article include: www.health-and-physical-fitness.com

Blog Question:

The more time you spend in front of the television or computer, the less time you have to be active. Why do you believe we lack the discipline to set aside more time for fitness and physical activity? What exercises work for you?  If you have seen success through your fitness workouts, share what you’re doing that works for you. 

The word says in Luke 5:24. “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to theparalyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Is the church of today on the “mat” because of failure to address weight issues? For some, it is not that easy to just get up. The consequences of staying are staggering. Obesity is estimated to directly kill 112,000 people a year in the United States and is a contributor to the deaths of many hundreds of thousands more. Health costs associated with the epidemic are tabbed at $147 billion a year, according to an analysis by health economists at RTI International.

How do you pick up your mat & walk?

Weight loss can be achieved either by eating fewer calories or by burning more calories with physical activity, preferably both.

A healthy weight loss program consists of:

• A reasonable, realistic weight loss goal
• A reduced calorie, nutritionally-balanced eating plan
• Regular physical activity
• Changing your habits to help you stay on track with your goals

Keep in Mind that your body is the Temple!

• Calories count (healthy daily average – 1500 or less)
• Portions count (needs to be small)
• Nutrition counts (get at least 5-9 servings of fruit & vegetables a day)
• Even a small amount of weight loss can lead to big health benefits
• Strive to develop good habits to last a lifetime
• Discuss weight loss with your doctor before getting started

Grab your Mat and let’s go!

• Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) – an indicator of body fat – and see where it fits within the BMI categories.
• Discuss weight loss with your doctor and decide on a goal. If you have a lot of weight to lose, set a realistic goal, maybe to lose 10 pounds. Remember that even a small amount of weight loss can lead to big health benefits.
• Estimate your calorie needs. Using USDA’s online Adult Energy Needs and BMI Calculator, you can determine the number of calories needed each day to maintain your current weight. To lose about 1 pound per week, subtract 500 calories each day from the daily amount. To lose about 2 pounds per week, subtract 1000 calories daily.
• Score your current food intake and physical activity level. Taking a good look at your current habits will help you determine what changes you might make as well as what you are doing right.

How Do I Know Which Weight Loss Plan is Right For Me?

• Keep in mind that you want to develop lifestyle habits that will help you maintain your weight in a healthy range. A short-term “diet” that you “go on” and then “go off” is not the answer to long-term weight management.
• In choosing how to go about losing weight, keep in mind key habits of people who have lost weight and managed to kept it off.

Key Behaviors of Successful Weight loss

• Getting regular physical activity
• Reducing calorie and fat intake
• Eating regular meals, including breakfast
• Weighing themselves regularly
• Not letting small “slips” turn into large weight regain

Staying On Track with Your Goals

Setting realistic goals and tracking your progress are key to your success.

In fact, research has shown that those who keep track of their behaviors are more likely to take off weight and keep it off. A reasonable rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week.

This health informative is brought to you by Livewell Distribution, a company focused on health and wellness. For more information on obtaining Livewell’s healthy products email them at: info@livewelldistribution.com 

Contributing sources for this article include: www.nutrition.gov and The National Weight Control Registry.

 Blog Question: 

How important is it to surround yourself with others that seem more focused on eating right, being more active, and better overall health?