Ancient Eating Habits

They may have relied on the spear instead of the supermarket but our Stone Age ancestors could probably teach us a thing or two about eating for good health.

Our primitive predecessors consumed a diet high in protein, carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats, eating lean meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts and fish. Although we live longer, they were healthier, taller, faster and physically stronger.

Ancient eating habits are currently the subject of a modern revival as advocates of hunter-gatherer-based eating, called the Paleolithic, Stone Age or Caveman Diet, cite its many health benefits, including weight reduction. “This is not a weight loss diet per se, but rather a lifetime plan of eating that will optimize health and reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and many other chronic diseases that are epidemic in the U.S. and virtually all other westernized nations,” says Dr. Loren Cordain, professor of health and exercise at Colorado State University.

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Fibromyalgi- What?

There’s good news for the more than six million sufferers of fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that affects the muscles and skeletal system. Exercise can help relieve the pain.

You’re in a world of hurt and all you want to do is pull the covers over your head and make that world go away. Exhausted, depressed and frustrated, the last thing on your mind is exercise. Well, you know what they say about when the going gets tough—and fibromyalgia is a tough way to go.

Estimates suggest that this chronic condition affects between three to six million Americans, all but ten to twenty per cent of them women. Fibromyalgia can inflict havoc among sufferers who complain about widespread symptoms including, insomnia, depression, dizziness, anxiety, poor concentration, facial pain, irritable bowel and bladder, persistent pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons and pressure pain in the back of the head, upper back and neck, knees, elbows, hips and chest.

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Cinnamon And Your Health

Cinnamon is the elite star performer in your spice rack, which may represent exciting news for people suffering from or at risk for Type 2 Diabetes. If you hear the word cinnamon and the first thing you do is mentally pair it with the word bun—then maybe it’s time to expand your vocabulary—along with your understanding of what this ancient spice may contribute to your health.

Aromatic and flavorful, cinnamon, which contains iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, vitamins B3, A and C. and dietary fiber, is native to Sri Lanka and has been prized as a culinary treasure over much time and many cultures.

A form of peeled, dried and scraped tree bark, cinnamon is a traditional component of folk medicine used to stimulate the appetite, aid in digestion, and help relieve the symptoms of colds and flu—cinnamon oil may also prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.

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Row Your Body into Shape

You’ve got to have both the heart and stroke if you plan to make rowing a serious part of your workout—the amazing results are well worth the intense commitment levels. Condition the whole body and engage every major muscle group and you don’t even need to get wet.

One look at the finely sculpted physique of a competitive rower tells you all you need to know about this compelling exercise, which is ideally suited to the human form. Rowers have the distinction of being, if not the fittest athletes in the world, certainly among the best proportioned. Their powerful legs are complemented by well-defined shoulders and arms, which are perfectly tapered from the smooth, rhythmic action of the stroke.

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