Best Super Foods of Fall

Look no further than the local farmer’s market, organic market or super market for the best super foods of fall that Forbes Living TV is pleased to share.

Apples, without doubt, are a terrific super food rich in vitamins and fiber. No matter which variety you like, they are plentiful this time of year.

Brussels sprouts may be on the avoid list of veggies but roasted with a little garlic, a spritz of olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, they are truly divine. They are also chock full of iron.

Pears, if you please, can be eaten as it, baked or roasted. They are juicy and sweet and supply a good amount of vitamin C.

Cauliflower is an inexpensive vegetable which can be steamed, broiled or mashed up to make a healthier “mashed potato” dish. It has qualities which can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer and contains a lot of Vitamin C.

Squash has a thicker skin than its summer cousins so it is sweeter and can be stored longer. They are in abundance in the produce section right now. Sprinkle some ginger and cinnamon on it.

Pumpkin is a popular winter squash that is full of fiber, potassium and Vitamin B. Buy a ripe one, slice it and roast it. Cool and cut into cubes to peel. familykenkel loves it in soup and smoothies. You can also buy canned pumpkin and use it the same way if wanting to take the easy way out. Enjoy the super fruits and veggies of fall!

Good Habits for Working Out

Many people work out to feel better, get healthy, and gain more strength. And it doesn’t really matter if it’s a one hour power workout in the gym or a ten minute video done in the living room. It just feels good. familykenkel shares some good habits for people who work out – alone or with others.

Hungry? Grab a protein snack on the way to the gym or from the fridge if working out at home. Don’t ignore grumbling stomachs. Exercising on an empty belly can breakdown muscle tissue – which is counteractive to why people workout in the first place. One good habit to keep in mind is the closer to workout time you are – the more simple the meal or snack. Eat a banana, a piece of cheese and some fruit. Even a small bowl of cereal will give you added fuel to start and finish the workout.

Using the equipment at the gym? Take your own sanitizing hand wipes or spray and bring your own water bottle. Wipe or spray the handles, knocks and anything else your hands touch before using the machine. Dry it well with a paper towel. No one wants to put their hands on someone else’s sweat. Make your own flavored water at home with water, lemon, lime, mint, and orange slices, add ice, cover and shake. Avoid using the water fountains.

In a rush to get to spin class on time? Leave a little earlier and avoid speeding to the class.

If working out at home, familykenkel learned the hard way to move free weights out of the way when done using them. One accidental toe stubbing resulted in a week’s worth of limping. Choose a time when no one is home to work out. Or carve time out for yourself by taking a power walk around the area. This is your time. Make it work for you.

Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of the Day

Ever since we were small, our parents told us that breakfast “fuels the day”. But a study is out which basically turns the mom mantra on its head. Familykenkel wonders if breakfast is really the most important meal of the day.

People who are following a weight loss program are told to have breakfast since it reportedly kicks up metabolism and curbs hunger throughout the day. Breakfast is also a meal which is sharpens cognitive processes. The study, which was conducted for weight loss research, focused more on whether eating breakfast or not helped patients lose weight. The results found were that eating breakfast didn’t seem to make any difference at all.

However, Familykenkel believes that positive, steady weight loss can be obtained when we eat a healthy, proportional meal. Our bodies need food for strength and to stay healthy. Skipping breakfast only makes us feel more tired and cranky until we take a break to eat. And other studies have shown that eating a well-balanced breakfast helped people keep unwanted pounds off longer than those who skipped the morning meal. So go ahead and have some breakfast. It fuels the body and the brain for the day.

Remedies for Thinning Hair

Nothing can be more shocking than having to clean the hair off of the drain every other day and realizing it is yours. It leaves us wondering how we can stop what seems like the sudden mass exodus of our pride and joy.

Familykenkel learns how to fight the agony of thinning hair with some suggestions from health experts.

Eat more food with zinc, protein, iron and vitamin B12. These are leafy greens, lean meat, nuts, beans and fish. There are many easy recipes for all of the above.

Give your scalp a massage. Don’t just stand in the shower, shampoo and rinse. Really massage your scalp which increases blood flow and helps the shampoo do a better job on your hair.

Lessen the amount of styling products being used. This especially important for people that color their hair and use blow dryers, straightening irons or other implements. 

Visit a health food store and buy a supplement that helps hair grow. There are a few on the shelves.

Get a check up from the doctor to see if there are any deficiencies in the blood as this is sometimes where hair loss can stem from.

Familykenkel suggests relaxing more. Stress can cause hair to fall out. Try meditation, yoga (it’s doing good things for combat veterans), and rhythmic breathing.

If nothing works, talk to a doctor or dermatologist to see if there is something else to be done.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Why is having a healthy breakfast so hard to do? It is because we don’t make time to make one or that we would just rather grab something on the way to work? Familykenkel shares some healthy breakfast ideas.

While it may seem easy to grab a banana on the way out and call that a healthy breakfast, it barely feeds our bodies with the vitamins and nutrients it deserves.  Plan a little more time in the morning and makes a nutritious sandwich with a whole wheat English Muffin, all natural peanut better and apples, or an egg white with low-fast cheese. Add low-fat milk to coffee and tea if needed and a sugar substitute like Splenda. Kids should have time to sit down at the table and eat a whole wheat waffle with cream cheese (try one made with Greek yogurt) and berries.

Adults rarely think about breakfast but it fuels the day and gets metabolism moving. Make something the night before and stick it in the fridge to stay fresh. For the readers who like bacon and eggs crack one egg (or one cup egg substitute) into a microwave safe mug, add some dried herbs, a little low-fat milk and some cheese and zap it for a minute. Remove and microwave two slices of turkey bacon until crisp. It’s quick, easy and fulfills the craving. Familykenkel also likes Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of cinnamon, a drizzle of honey and some fresh berries tossed in. It takes less than two minutes. Healthy breakfasts are not that hard to make. Reserve a little time in the morning to enjoy one.