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Showing posts from June 6, 2017

Why I Run + Brooks Running Giveaway

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As someone who enjoys running long distances, I often get questions from friends and family about why I like running so much. Why do you like running? How can you run for so long? Don’t you get bored? My short answer is always something like: “I dunno. I just do. It relaxes me,” which I’m sure makes people think I’m even crazier! Ha! I often elaborate about why I love it so much, but my response is usually all over the place depending on how I feel about running at that very moment. (Like a lot of runners, I go through phases of “love” for the sport, but it’s always something that I come back to for a variety of reasons.) So, I started to think about why I love running so much (and maybe you can relate) and, in honor of Global Running Day today, I thought it would be the perfect time to share. It makes me feel healthy . Ok, ok, I know this sounds totally cliche, but there have been so many times in my life when I haven’t been healthy enough to run (i.e. colitis flares, injurie

3 Ways to Regulate Insulin That Have Nothing to Do with Food

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Today’s guest post is served by a good friend of Mark’s Daily Apple, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD, or as you might know her— The Paleo Mom .   Regulating blood sugar levels is a key feature of any health-promoting diet [15, 20] . High blood sugar levels after eating are a major stimulator of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are chemically reactive molecules that have important roles in cell signaling (the complex communication between and within cells) and in homeostasis (maintenance of a stable environment inside and outside the cell). But ROS are also potent signals for inflammation and stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers), and also injure cells and tissue. As a result, chronic high blood sugar levels can cause serious damage throughout the body, including to blood vessels and vital organs. This is why diabetes (chronical hyperglycemia) is associated with higher risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, vision problems, kidney disease, and nerv

Father’s Day Care Package

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This post is sponsored by American Greetings. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  What do you do on Father’s Day when your father lives in a different state? In the past, I have sent him coupons and gift certificates in the mail to be used when we were together or we have celebrated a few weeks early or late at a family gathering. But this year, inspired by the card section at Target, I decided to send him a package in the mail with a bunch of little treats. Mazen and I had so much fun picking out cards together. Of course, he wanted all of the superhero ones or cards with crazy googley eyes and I was on the hunt for the perfect message inside! We finally picked out a variety of cards for all the dads/granddads/father figures in our lives. We found a little something for everyone, from silly to sentimental to Star Wars themed. I love the message behind their latest campaign — “A card is just a card. But in the right moment, it means everything.” So true with a surprise ca