Toni Fulton

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The word “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to yoke or join together. It most often refers to the yoking of a conscious subject (jiva-atman) with a Supreme Spirit (parama ta man) in order to reach an ecstatic condition (Samadhi, a “placing or putting together”). It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European base *yeug-, meaning “to join” as in jugular.n

BetaBfit Personal Training and Consulting Toni Fulton Master Trainer
612.390.0765
“Practical Fitness For Our Unpractical Lives “

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People come in all different shapes and sizes but we can all be fit!

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Super Foods and Antioxidants  

One of the best ways to keep your immune system strong is to shop your supermarket’s produce aisle.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients called antioxidants that are good for your immune system — and the rest of you.

What to Eat

Add more fruit and vegetables of any kind to your diet. It’ll help your health. Some foods are higher in antioxidants than others, though.

The three major antioxidant vitamins are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You’ll find them in colorful fruits and vegetables, especially those with purple, blue, red, orange, and yellow hues.

Beta-carotene and other carotenoids: Apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon

Vitamin C: Berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, orange, papaya, red, green, or yellow peppers, snow peas, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes

Vitamin E: Broccoli, carrots, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach, and sunflower seed

These foods are also rich in antioxidants:

Prunes                                              Plums                                  

Apples                                     Red Grapes                            

Raisins                                    Red grapes

Alfalfa sprouts                       Onions

All berries                               Eggplant

Beans

Other antioxidants that can help keep you healthy include:

• Zinc: Found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains, fortified cereals, and dairy products
• Selenium: Found in Brazil nuts, tuna, beef, poultry, fortified breads, and other grain products

Cooking tip: To get the biggest benefits of antioxidants, eat these foods raw or lightly steamed. Don’t overcook or boil them.

Get what you can first from your diet; I believe supplements like Macro Greens and Miracles Reds are a great way to make sure you are covering all your bases. They are very reasonably priced and all natural. I have label information and pricing available to send if you would like more information.

Toni@betabfit.com

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Importance of Exercise  and  Supplementation

Regular exercise is one of the best medicines available. It should be a part of everyone’s weekly routine. Regular exercise is linked to significant benefits in bone density, blood pressure, lean muscle mass and overall mood. Most of us interested in health know that exercise is important. But are nutritional supplements important for exercise? While supplements are not required, they could be very useful in many situations.

Starting an exercise program can be very intimidating. Sticking with a program can be even harder. Muscle cramps that come with early conditioning can further compound the problem. Good sleep and proper nutrition are part of the equation for any fitness program.

Sleep is a must not only for energy the next day but also because that is when the body repairs itself. The body needs healthy sources of protein as well as good fats to maintain energy and bone and joint health.

Certain vitamins and minerals may help lessen cramps in the muscles and aches in the joints. These supplements might be worthwhile for the beginner athlete ready to get back in shape and also for the exercise veteran who drops a lot of minerals through sweat loss.

• Magnesium. 250-500 mg (or more if cramps continue) can be taken in divided doses, with meals. Magnesium can help improve strength training in those who are new to a program.
• Potassium. This vitamin is found in many fruits and vegetables. Regular produce intake of 6-7 servings a day might be all that is needed. If cramps continue, add 100-200 mg of additional potassium. Patients with kidney failure should not supplement with potassium.
• Vitamin D. This vitamin is included because vitamin D has so many health benefits. In particular, it is needed for good bone density, which is in turn needed for healthy joints during exercise.  Recommended dosage is 1,000-2,000 IU daily.
• CoQ10. This is an antioxidant that might help quench free radicals that form during exercise.  It is like cleaning up the ash after a log burns. Like vitamin D, CoQ10 is good for many other things and arguably worth taking for many reasons. Recommended dose 50-100 mg daily, with food.
• Glucosamine. Glucosamine is useful to help protect joints from arthritic joint pain. For former high school stars that are starting to feel the aches from their previous glory days, glucosamine can be the trick to help keep the joints moving. Dosage is 1,500-2,000 mg divided with meals 

There are a few more supplements to consider if you’re wishing to enhance your workout routine.

Research is still very new in considering supplements that might actually improve exercise performance. There are some nutrients that have gained attention for varying degrees of benefit without workout routines.

The following recommendations come with the above suggestions.

• Creatine. This powder is widely used by various types of athletes up through the professional level. Reviews of creatine are mixed and some are skeptical of its overall benefit. Clinically, creatine does seem to help with gains in the gym but these gains can be lost if creatine use is discontinued. Research does say that creatine may help the body recover after initial exercise and may further benefit later exercise sets. The appropriate dosage is 1-2 g of powder mixed with water daily.
• D-ribose. Ribose has gained much attention as a vitamin used for heart failure and fatigue. It can be a very good idea for those with a history of heart problems who are trying to improve their conditioning. The dosage of ribose is 5 g taken 3 times a day. In well-trained athletes, ribose has shown little benefit in smaller dosages. Conditioned athletes may need the full dose to see any effect. Ribose is well tolerated and appears very safe.
• Whey protein. This type of protein typically comes in powder form and is well absorbed. Because it is so well absorbed, whey is useful after workouts to help replenish the body while the muscles try to repair themselves. Whey protein comes from milk, so the healthier the cow, the better the product. Look for brands that do not use growth hormones in their cows. Even better, are versions that come from grass-fed cows.
• Resveratrol. Resveratrol’s benefits include help with blood sugar, inflammation and longevity. It may or may not benefit exercise directly, but like CoQ10, it might aid in healing the body after workouts. It can be particularly helpful for those with a history of heart disease, diabetes or cancer. Dosage is 20 mg daily.

Patients with a history of heart disease, diabetes or fatigue may need to have certain hormone levels that could affect their exercise ability checked. Low thyroid or testosterone levels can play a major role in fatigue as well as muscle pain. If fatigue is slowing your desire to exercise, discuss options to test hormone levels with your physician.

Always discuss new supplements with your doctor and discuss how they may affect you.

Exercise benefits the body in countless ways. Optimal health requires your commitment toward activity and living a healthy lifestyle. Choose an exercises you enjoy and make exercise a weekly routine.

Work with an expert in Fitness Training and Supplementation to minimize spinning of your wheels.

Send questions to toni@betabfit.com

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