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Ever wonder whether there is a miracle food to health and weight loss? The answer is yes, and the food is greens. Greens not only pack nutrition and mega-vitamins, they support weight loss, increase muscle gain, improve brain function, and even ward off cancer. There is a variety of greens ranging from mild to spicy in flavor that can be prepared in a multitude of ways for a delicious and diverse meal plan.
Spinach

You’re probably very familiar with spinach. If not, it’s an easy green to work with and is delicious eaten raw or cooked. Saute, steam, or flash-boil and add to your favorite vegetable medley and lean protein.

Arugula

Arugula is my favorite green. It has a rich, peppery flavor and adds a wonderful zing to any salad or sandwich. Place poached eggs over a bed of arugula for a fabulous breakfast or bake it onto a pizza with roasted garlic for a delicious dinner.

Kale (Purple Kale, Russian Kale, Lacinato Kale)

Yes, kale can be eaten. No, it’s not just decoration for buffet platters. This curly plant from the cabbage family has green or purple leaves depending on the variety. Eat a lot of it. Kale contains sulforaphane, a powerful anti-cancer chemical, that is best maintained during steaming or sauteing.

Collard Greens

So many of us think of collard greens in their Southern version – alongside fatty meats like ham or bacon. But collards are so packed with anti-cancer properties and antioxidants, it’s a shame to counteract their healthy aspects with unhealthy meats. Treat them like grape leaves and stuff the whole blanched leaves with lemon and mint rice and pine nuts for a Mediterranean inspired meal.

Turnip Greens

Like beets, turnips produce a leafy top that is wonderful to eat. Turnip greens are excellent when wilted in olive oil. Try sauteing shallots and red pepper flakes to release a rich, spicy aroma before tossing in the turnip greens. Add some Dijon mustard and chicken stock near the end to spice up your greens and make them succulent.

Beet Greens

Beets are a beautiful red root vegetable you should also know, but don’t forget about their lovely green tops! The beet greens are delicious when sauteed with oil and garlic and tossed with a red wine vinaigrette. Pair with the roasted beets themselves. Feeling extra wild? Add a few blue cheese crumbles for a stellar treat.

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are at their peak from January through April, so now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself! They have a bitter, peppery flavor, and taste incredible when wilted with sweated onions and salt. Splash the greens with lemon just before eating.

Sorrel

Sorrel has a juicy, lemony flavor that brightens any mixed green salad. For a Polish twist, add sorrel at the last minute to a stock of hot water, chopped veggies (carrots, celery, leek), and boiled meat on the bone. Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste.

Mâche (Lamb’s quarter, Lamb’s lettuce, Field salad)

Mâche gets its many nicknames by mostly being considered a weed eaten by sheep. I first encountered this dark, soft textured plant while working on an organic farm. It grew as a weed throughout the farm and was washed and sold to our customers’ delight. Enjoy it in a mixed green salad with arugula and spinach and top with a light vinaigrette.

Swiss Chard (Rainbow Swiss Chard, Red Chard)

Swiss chard is a delight to cook with, because the stalks come in a variety of lovely reds and yellows. Separate the stalks from the leaves, but don’t toss the stalks! Saute them to soften and when they are mostly cooked, throw in the leaves until wilted. Swiss chard shines in lentil soup.

Dandelion Greens

Yes, the greens on those annoying yellow weeds are edible. But please, don’t harvest them just anywhere. They are often sprayed with harmful pesticides and are not safe to eat. Buy them from your local organic farmer or pick them from your own yard (if you don’t use pesticides). The leaves have a bitter taste and pair well with rich foods like eggs, pototoes, or cheeses. Try wilting your greens with garlic and topping with poached eggs and herbed goat cheese for a killer breakfast.

Pea Greens (Pea shoots)

Pea greens are the leaves and tendrils of the pea plant. A delightful sign of spring, pea greens are enjoyed raw in a mesclun salad and tossed with a lemon vinaigrette.

Fava Leaves

The leaves of fava beans are not only edible, they’re delicious. Though similar to spinach in texture, their flavor is a bit milder and sweeter. Treat them as you would spinach while cooking for an unexpected flavor twist.

Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)

Broccoli rabe is a nutty, earthy green that does well when blanched. Like the rest of the greens, rapini tastes wonderful sauteed with garlic and tossed with lemon, but it’s also a tasty addition to homemade pizzas.

Popular primal living blog Mark’s Daily Apple spent the entire month of August giving away some great stuff as part of his Primal Blueprint Health Challenge, but Mark saved the best prize for last.  We were happy to partner with Mark’s site and offer an Ultimate Body Press Full Package as the big grand prize for the event.  We think that Mark’s site is great, and if you’re committed to a healthy lifestyle, it’s an excellent resource to look at.

And if you haven’t seen our newest products yet - like the pull-up bar or our weighted, adjustable speed rope, take a look in our store and get acquainted.

If you are designing your new home gym, make sure that music is part of the equation. Listening to music while you workout adds a little extra entertainment and the great thing about working out at home is you get to pick what plays. Just make sure that something, anything is playing. You will work out longer and with more intensity if there is music playing.

According to recent study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine you may also want to turn the music up louder for even better results. The study compared the exercise output of individuals listening to music at various volumes. The individuals were tested during strength training and cardio exercise. The researchers found that when music was present at any volume the subjects performed better at cardio. The research also suggests that for strength training there is a distinct advantage to playing the music at a louder volume. The study found that the individuals listening to louder music could perform more repetitions than those listening at lower volumes. Those listening to louder music did an average of 29 leg presses while those listening at a lower volume only averaged 26.

Simply put, music is fun. When you’re having fun you will perform better. So next time you workout make sure you have some music playing. Put on your head phones. Drag the computer into your workout room. Crank up the satellite radio. Let the music take control and your workouts will improve because you will feel less fatigue and build more muscle without even knowing it. Sounds good doesn’t it?

According to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet full of fruits and vegetables could help to reduce the chance of mental health decline as one ages. To measure these findings, researchers tracked the exercise and eating habits of more than 1,800 adults between 1992 and 2006, noting how strictly each participant stuck to a regular exercise routine and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean fish, and olive oil. People who closely followed the diet reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40 percent, and those who exercised most reduced their risk by 33 percent, compared to adults who didn’t follow the diet or who did not exercise, the Wall Street Journal writes. As a result of these findings, more and more doctors and nutritionists are recommending that people with higher risks of cognitive degeneration focus on developing a regular exercise plan, as well as encouraging a diet that’s rich with specific foods like fish, olive oil, olives, polenta, whole grain pasta, grapes, spinach, tomatoes, nuts, yogurt, beans, garlic, and broccoli.

If you’re already a master at strength training, you should know that you always have to keep changing your routine and your strategies in order to be the best at what you do. The same thing goes for UltimateBodyPress.com, which is why we’re introducing to you several new products that can help to make your workout routine, fast, easy, and effective – all without the gym membership.

The first product, Push Up Stands, are ideal for anyone that’s looking to improve form, increase your range of motion, or to reduce the strain on your wrists for longer and harder workouts. Using a simple, portable design that’s built to offer sturdy support, these push up stands are an essential in any home workout area.

Next up, we have our Doorway Pull Up Bar, which is a versatile and fun way to strength train without having to install any complicated pieces of equipment into your home. Simply assemble your bar and use your doorway as a support for your convenient and fast workout. Build strong muscles and have a place to work out anywhere in your home with this great new feature at UltimateBodyPress.com.

Finally, check out our Adjustable Speed Rope, which is perfect for building up your endurance as well as getting you a great cardio workout. Skipping rope can be a great exercise for anyone and it’s one that’s trusted by world class athletes from all types of sports. Not to mention, it’s one of the most versatile and affordable pieces of workout equipment you’ll ever buy. Get yours today at UltimateBodyPress.com.

According to a recent study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, men who regularly performed strength training workouts and had the highest muscle strength were between 30 and 40 percent less likely to die as the result of a cancerous tumor. For the study, thousands of men between the ages of 20 and 82 were tracked by a team of Swedish experts.

Even among volunteers who had excess tummy fat or a high body mass index, regular weight training seemed to have a protective effect, although the researchers stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. So coupled with a healthy diet and smart decisions regarding your health, strength training can be an effective cancer prevention method and a key to better health.

If you’re at risk for cancer, talk to your doctor about possible prevention methods and more things that you could do to improve your overall health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

Running is an important part of maintaining good health, especially if you want to boost your cardiovascular performance and increase your stamina. As one of the best and easiest forms of aerobic exercise, running can be incredibly beneficial to your overall health. Haven’t sold you yet? Maybe National Running Day will.

Get out and run!

National Running Day is a national event where many of the running industry’s best will join forces to promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise. There’s no equipment involved, it’s great for building community, and it’s a great alternative to jetting to the gym in order to get in shape. Today, groups around that nation will participate in fun and informative sessions on the sport, how it can impact your health and how it’s an important part of an active lifestyle.

To find out more about some of the Running Day events near you, check with RunningDay.org or just slip on your shoes and plan a run with family or friends. It’s that simple and it’s great for your health.

According to a recent report from the Mayo Clinic, researchers are finding that strength training is more important than ever for a stronger, leaner, and healthier body.

“If you don’t do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you’ll increase the percentage of fat in your body,” says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. “But strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass — at any age.”

Besides being a great way to regenerate muscle, strength training also encourages strong bones, weight control, reduced risk of injury, stamina, well-being, and even a better night’s sleep. Strength Training is just the push your body needs to become healthier, no matter what your age or gender. Both men and women of all ages can benefit from adding strength training workouts to their fitness plans.

You don’t need to spend hours a day working out to benefit from strength training either. Two to three strength training sessions each week lasting just 20 to 30 minutes are sufficient for most people. For example, using the Dip Machine at home for just 20 minutes each week to start can deliver the results you need to increase your stamina and consequently, improve the quality of your workouts. After a few weeks, bump up your training on the Ultimate Body Press to 30 minutes twice or three times per week and you’ve got a fitness plan that’s sure to be effective.

Improvements in strength and stamina can become noticeable in just a few weeks, while major benefits may take a few months. Either way, with regular strength training, you’ll notice that you’ll be feeling better, looking leaner, and living healthier than ever.

According to a recent story in the Voice of America News, the rising cost of healthcare has prompted a move towards preventative medicine by most physicians and health care professionals in the United States. As reported in the story, Brookings Instituion reported that healthcare in the US will account for 20 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product within a decade. The National Coalition on Health Care, a group pushing to lower costs for patients, also states that American medical expenses rose nearly seven percent in 2008. With numbers like these, it may come as no surprise that various workplaces are trimming and cutting healthcare coverage for employees. The result: to trim costs and encourage fewer health problems corporations and practitioners are working together to establish healthier lifestyles through preventative medicine approaches.

At the College Park Family Practice, employees of a major U.S. hotel corporation can receive a range of medical services for free, including help to quit smoking.

For Harris Rosen, President of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, preventing his staff from becoming sick improves productivity and reduces the future cost of employee medical benefits. Rosen said, “We’ve probably saved well over $ 100 million. On an annual basis, I expect we save between 10 and 15 million dollars.”

Several other companies, including Walt Disney World, Darden Restaurants, and Lockheed Martin, have opened clinics for their employees. But although corporations and doctors stress the need for preventive care, the number of U.S. physicians practicing in the field has dropped, according to the American College of Preventive Medicine.

If your company is interested in setting up clinic services for employees in order to reduce the costs of expensive medical treatment, remember that PhysiciansResource.net has the

According to a recent news release, newly issued guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) state that Americans may require more to lose weight and keep it off.

“In the midst of a genuine crisis in Americans’ health related to what we eat and how little we move, these guidelines are meant to provide an understanding and clarification of the role of physical activity and its relationship to weight,” Dr. Joseph E. Donnelly of the University of Kansas in Lawrence and chair of the advisory committee noted in a statement about the research findings.

In 2001, the ACSM stated that Americans should exercise for a minimum time of 150 minutes each week, which amounts to about 30 minutes per day, five days per week. However, 200 to 300 minutes per week was recommended for long-term weight loss.

“Resistance training does not enhance weight loss but may increase fat-free mass and increase loss of fat mass and is associated with reductions in health risk,” said the ACSM.

“More recent evidence has supported this recommendation and has indicated that more physical activity may be necessary to prevent weight regain after weight loss,” reads the ACSM’s position paper published in the latest issue of the College’s journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

To start getting on the road to a healthier fitness plan, start making time for Strength Training Workouts and other forms of aerobic exercise in your life. The benefits will be overwhelming!