5.12
The next installment of my 2018 celebration of turning 50 is a legitimate memorial event to celebrate Memorial Day. Some time ago I was introduced to The Murph Challenge (likely through CrossFit videos on YouTube...). Memorial Day Monday, I'll be grindin' it out, doing this classic workout, in honor of Lt. Michael P Murphy.
Lt Murphy fought for our country as a Navy SEAL, and lost his life in 2005 near Asadabad, Afghanistan. Learn more about his heroic investment in his team here. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Murph Challenge workout is something Lt. Murphy was know for among his comrades. This self-styled PT was something Murph embraced, and invited others into. The workout?
1 mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 squats
1 mile run
All with a military body-armor vest on (about 20 pounds)
Years ago, this workout caught on as a great, simple cardio, upper-body and leg workout, and was promoted in military circles before catching on with CrossFit. The Murph Challenge is now repeated world-wide in honor of Lt. Murphy.
A month or so ago I registered for the Murph Challenge, and I've been preparing mentally and physically since. How about you? What's on your wellness calendar? Are you reviewing your pantry or your physical activity for 2018? Have you added anything beneficial recently? There is no time like the present.
By the Way
I'll be doing the Murph Challenge without the body armor vest. I will do the run with my 25 pound sandbag, but the arm and leg portions will just be body-weight. And the point is to do the workout for time. Without the weight vest, I should be able to finish in about 45-50 minutes. We'll see... And maybe this will become a yearly tradition for me - our military deserves our honor and acknowledgement.
5.11
Fermented foods are just plain good for you, and the most common and available is yogurt. Our gut has a 'microbiome' which benefits from healthy bacteria, and fermented foods offer great bacteria for our overall health.
Probiotic foods like yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi all offer healthy bacteria, which hold a host of benefits. Healthy bacteria can even 'crowd out' unhealthy bacteria in our gut, giving further reasons to having beneficial probiotics over unfermented foods.
Check out this great article from Dr. Josh Axe on why the most accessible fermented food, yogurt, should be included in our pantries.
10 Benefits of probiotic yogurt
An important thing to keep in mind is to source your dairy from the most raw, grass-fed, high quality dairy possible. Yogurt from goat's milk or sheep's milk is best, but hormone-free, grass-fed cow's milk yogurt is a close contender.
So add some beneficial dairy to your pantry, and improve your gut health, blood pressure, weight and mood.
By the Way
The most beneficial yogurt is one with active probiotic cultures, and little to no added sugars. Common production yogurts full of fructose, sugar and fruit purees are often giving you way too much sugar, and are likely sourced from hormone-treated dairy cows (to increase their milk production.) And Greek yogurt (as well as Greek-style yogurt) are dubious in their health benefits, at best. Check out this article from Dr. Axe on the issues with Greek yogurt...
5.10
All foods are not created equally. If I've learned anything on my wellness journey, it is that truth. I know after years of learning about healthful eating, and then living out my convictions, that some foods are great for my everyday diet, and others are not.
One vegetable that I have grown fond of is the sweet potato. Gone are the days of sweet potatoes being the holiday casserole with sugary syrup and marshmallows on top. Now sweet potatoes are found in all forms of main dishes, side dishes and snacks. and all of these make nutritious and tasty offerings for our pantry.
I don't eat white potatoes, which are from the nightshade family, but sweet potatoes are different. A simple root tuber, sweet potatoes offer numerous vitamins and minerals,fiber, antioxidants and a good calorie to fiber profile to assist in regulating blood sugar. Here are some nutritional highlights of common sweet potatoes:
High in vitamins A, C, B6 and niacin and thiamine
High in minerals like manganese, potassium and copper
High in protein and fiber, low in fat
Our bodies benefit from sweet potatoes in that they help regulate blood sugar and aid in weight loss. They aid in our immunity and are high in antioxidants, and promote good vision. So give sweet potatoes another look when you're stocking your pantry this week. Or maybe you can substitute a sweet potato side dish for regular potatoes next time you're eating out.
For other details on the value of sweet potatoes for your pantry, check out this article from Dr. Axe's website: Sweet Potato Facts & Benefits
By the Way
Sweet potatoes are not yams, and yams are not sweet potatoes. They are two different kinds of root tubers. Most of the confusion happens in our western-market grocery stores because the two descriptions are used interchangeably (when they shouldn't be). Check out this article from Epicurious about the difference: Sweet Potatoes compared to Yams
