Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 34)

Hit the gym For Underwood, staying in shape isn’t just good for her body; it’s good for the mind. When she works out, she told Women’s Health, she feels “awesome for the rest of my day.” Exercise is great for keeping the immune system ﬁghting, too, says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and health consultant for Puffs. “A lot of research has shown that even when you’re sick, mild exercise, as long as your body can tolerate it, can help you ﬁght off that infection.” You don’t have to be a singing sensation on tour to be a busy traveler. If you’re often on the road, don’t forget to stay active, Altmann says. “Do some laps around the airport before your ﬂight,” she says. “Stretch and get your muscles going before you go and sit for three hours.” Plus, most hotels have a ﬁtness center, which is a great way to get in a workout. If you really can’t spare the time at the gym, consider doing a few laps around the hotel courtyard or taking the stairs instead of the elevator to squeeze in what you can. And Altmann’s tip for being motivated to move? “Wear comfortable shoes when you’re traveling,” she advises. “Wear a good sneaker on the plane. It helps you be more comfortable and more the vitamin C boosts iron absorption. Likewise, she says, calcium and iron compete for absorption, so try to consume those foods at different times. Another area vegetarians need to monitor is omega-3 fats, which aid in vision and brain development, lower heart disease risk and reduce memory loss, Somer says. There are various kinds of omega-3s. “Vegetarians think they’re ﬁne when they sprinkle ﬂax on their cereal. But that’s ALA [alpha-linolenic acid],” she says. “You’re going to have to look for vegetarian sources of DHA.” DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is in certain fortiﬁed foods, although in much smaller amounts than found naturally in ﬁsh. Somer adds that eating a diet of whole foods and limiting processed foods is a good place for all of us to start—vegetarian or not. Underwood stays away from fast food. “It would be very easy to just go eat that all the time,” she told WebMD. “But if I don’t know what’s in it, I don’t eat it. That’s my rule.” She visits local natural and organic grocery stores or farmers markets while on tour and keeps healthy foods like yogurt and microwavable oatmeal on her tour bus. She even keeps a food diary to keep herself honest. “Once you get into a routine of eating healthy, it hurts twice as much when you fall off the wagon,” she told Women’s Health. “But it’s nice to have a few bites of something you like.” PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW MARKS, RETNA 34 Vim & Vigor · FALL 2 011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil's Feature
So Long, Suffering
The Will to Recover
Healthy Hues
The New Survivors
First (Aid) Things First
Find Your Groove
A Healthy Tune
Stay in Circulation
‘X’ Marks the Spot
Pregnancy Predictors
Play It Safe
Prime Time Health
Full Strength
Lifesaving Gift
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center