Expert Advice for Everyday Life...

This week we're giving a shout out to all who have read our blog, shared our blog, and put some of our tips into practice. It's so great to see you in the community and hear about how you are hydrating yourself, the new sunscreen choices you've made, or to just to get a big hello!

One of my first Crossfit pictures

Amy has been blogging for years and started to do so to redefine all the CRAP that is on the Internet. Initially when she was very young, she loved English studies and she once thought of studying journalism, so the Ask Amy blog really satisfies a hobby of hers and is a great resource for your nutrition specific needs.

This weeks blog is a little different for us. If you notice our tag line for Word 2 the Wise it's Expert Advice for Everyday life.  We receive comments and insights about what you like and frankly, what you could care less about (a.k.a Antioxidants). Since we've gone live and gotten a feel for our audience, we want to make sure you are getting what you want from this site. So in addition to tips on nutrition and skin care, we want to share many other hints, tips, tricks, and products with you because let's face it, if any of you know us Kris and I are so much more than just a dietitian or PA.  We are moms, wives, sisters, and friends.  Amy is a mom of two kids very close in age, a cross fitter, triathlete, entrepreneur/business owner and about to hit the big 4-0! Kris is a mom of 2 girls & 2 golden retrievers, gun owner, struggling cook, and currently training for her first half marathon.

Yes I'm in my scrubs. Straight from work to the range

So strap in for a great ride. Kris and Amy are going to take this blog to a different level (unedited). Starting in the coming weeks you will see more Product Reviews, Testimonials, Interviews, and maybe even some videos. We want to share with you what we've kicked ass at, what we've failed at, what we use to make our lives easier, and what ticks us off (a.k.a Mom Wars).

Don't be afraid to let us know what you are looking for by commenting below or emailing us. This is your chance to hear and share the unedited truth about life that you think in your head, but never say out loud. You'll find polls on our Facebook page in the near future too!

Be Well,

Amy & Kris

Be Ready, Be Strong!

Here at Word 2 the Wise, we are a Health & Wellness Blog, so we are going to branch out a little and talk about another aspect of being Well.

This is not about scales, losing weight, or what you should be eating.  This is not about the latest fitness craze, the coolest workout place to join, or the greatest new energy supplements.  This is about doing something for yourself, something that could someday save YOUR LIFE.

This IS about no more excuses.
This IS something that is pertinent to every person.
This IS life changing.

Five weeks ago I decided to take a new class that a friend had told me about.  I had no idea just how much it would impact my life.  I knew this class was important, but I didn't know that it would change my daily awareness, my confidence, and more importantly my insecurities about being smaller, shorter, and at a lesser advantage.  I have metal rods in my back from a scoliosis surgery I had in 1998.  I always felt that if I ever got attacked by another person that I would not be able to fight back, and I would have a lesser advantage, well, that might been true, UP UNTIL 5 WEEKS AGO.

The class I am taking is 7 weeks long and offered by Athena Women and taught by third degree black belt instructor Scott Lewis.  The class is offered at Kreimer's Karate in Frederick. It is a 2 hour class once a week and the cost is $10 a class (that is a steal and he should charge 4x that.)

We all have a tiger inside of us.  We can pull out our "Mother Bear" instincts and we all have heard the saying, " It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog."  We think about these sayings and know that if something happens and we are threatened or attacked that we will fight back.  How about knowing how to fight back smarter, not harder. How about "Bringing the fight to them".  Be ready and be strong.  Improve your mind, your strength, and your awareness.

As Mr. T says, "I pity the fool" that picks me as his victim.  I will bring the fight and bring it hard. Not because I am bigger or in top physical shape, but because I am strong, aware, and prepared.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a fighter.  I am not looking for a fight, but if the fight finds me, I refuse to be a victim.

Did you know that the very worse thing you can do is turn around and run?  You can get hurt very badly if you get knocked down from behind.  What if you can't run?

If you are interested in signing up or want to learn more, contact:

Athena Women
 http://www.athenawomen.net/home.html

Kreimer's Karate 
 http://www.kreimers-karate.com/

In good health,

Kris

Finally, More is Better!!!

Antioxidants. It's a buzz word in the medical community, and sometimes it's even hot in the media. If you are like one of my neighbors and friends, who I love dearly, you may be thinking just what she recently asked me: "What are they, do I need them, and how do I get them".

 Antioxidants -What are they?

As described in another blog I wrote for Ask Amy, antioxidants inhibit the process of oxidation.  Oxidation is a naturally occurring process that results from the burning of oxygen.  Excessive sunlight exposure, alcohol, smoking, pesticides, and stress increase the oxidative process.These examples along with the oxidation process create free radicals.  Free radicals cause damage to cells by stealing electrons from cells causing damage and eventually death.  This is when your antioxidants come into play.  The antioxidants lend that electron your free radicals are searching for to prevent damage. 

Do I need them?

Of course you do. Research proves that antioxidants can help protect your heart by not allowing your LDL (aka lousy) cholesterol to increase. Antioxidants, particularly Vitamin A, can protect your sight and research from the New England Journal of Medicine has proven that large doses of Vitamin E (2000 IUs) delays the onset of Alzheimer's. In addition, Beta Carotene is thought to potentially be one of the most important antioxidants to ward off Cancers. Let's face it, who doesn't have stress in their lives? To me that's the single most important reason to start increasing your antioxidant consumption TODAY.

How do I get them?

Antioxidant Name	Color	Sources
Beta Carotene	Orange	Sweet potatoes, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Mangos
Lycopene	Red	Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce
Selenium	Multiple colors	Meats, Breads, Brazil Nuts
Vitamin A	Multiple colors	Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Milk, Egg Yolk, Mozzarella Cheese
Vitamin C	Multiple colors	Fruits, Vegetables, Cereal, Beef, Poultry, Fish
Vitamin E	Multiple colors	Wheat Germ, Safflower Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Mangos, Nuts, Broccoli

These are 2 of my favorite Antioxidant Creams

So, Antioxidants in skin care are beneficial to for exactly the same reasons that Amy discussed above!! Good news is that they don't need to be exotic or flown in from the Great Barrier Reef!

Antioxidants make sunscreen more effective and help to slow down the aging process (that means those fine lines and wrinkles!!)

Consumers will see the word "antioxidants included" on so many creams out there on the market.  When you turn the bottle around and read the label, you will see some of the same ingredients that Amy listed above, but maybe by a different name.

Vitamin C may be called  Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin A is called Retinoic Acid

Vitamin E has many names including Alpha Tocopherol

This is the back of a sunscreen containing Vitamin C, Green Tea, and Vitamin E

Other antioxidants you can see in skin care products are 

Coffeeberry

Green tea

Resveratrol (this is found in red grapes and therefore red wine!! See, we knew it all along!)

It has been shown that with Antioxidants MORE IS BETTER, so the more you get, the better, whether absorbed through the skin or through your gut by the foods you eat.

In good health,

Amy & Kris