HUMP DAY FACTS

A few interesting day health and exercise facts to get you through this mundane Wednesday! (by the way, how much do you love our glittery camel?)

1. A Swedish study has revealed that a greater percentage of hair-loss has been found in people who follow low-carbohydrate or crash diets. So don't be scared of or neglect healthy carbs such as bananas, oats, beans, lentils, peas, potatoes, brown rice, polenta and wholewheat pasta because your body clearly needs them to function! 

2. 1.5 million Australians are currently living with Type 2 Diabetes. What they may not all know is that exercise can very well save their lives. Regular exercise; that is, 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 32%, according to a North American study. A recent Swedish study found that people with type 2 diabetes who only exercised once/twice a week or not at all have a 25% greater chance of suffering from a heart attack or stroke than those people who exercise three times or more a week. Even more chilling is the fact that these people with type 2 diabetes that rarely exercise have a 70% higher risk of dying (than those people who exercise three times or more a week). Scary stuff. 

3. Who wants to grow a few centimetres? According to Body & Soul, wearing bright colours and/or vibrant jewellery will make you stand out and appear taller by enhancing your presence. 

4. Don't hesitate to get your skin checked out if you find something out of the ordinary. Melanoma killed over 1500 australians in 2011 and continues to be on the rise, with 2 in 3 australians diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they turn 70. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and 30 plus SPF sunscreen when in the sun and apply every 2 hours. Even better, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10am and 3pm in spring and summer. 

5. Not sure what to do with Chia Seeds? 

• Add 1 tablespoon of these great omega-3 fatty acids to a smoothie
• Place 1 1/2 cups of any type of milk (regular, skim, rice, oat, quinoa, coconut) in a jar with a screw-top lid with 1/3 cup of chia seeds and a tablespoon of a natural sweetener (such as honey). Shake well and place in the fridge for one hour, then remove and shake again. Serve 4 hours later and you have got yourself a beautiful chia pudding and a healthy dessert. 
• Sprinkle on top of yoghurt or your morning cereal or museli
• Add a few tablespoons to a muffin, cookie or goodie ball batter 
• Sneakily place some in a risotto or casserole

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! 

x Emily