I have been an avid runner for eight years now and one of the major perks (besides the endorphins) is that it’s quite inexpensive.  The only thing absolutely necessary to invest in is your running shoes.  Running can be very tough on your body and it’s important to take responsibility for treating yourself well!  I bought a new pair of Asics GT-2170 last weekend.  I have been running in the 2000 series for years now and they have never failed me.  The difference with the newest model is that they are taking on this minimalist trend.  The sales clerk was very knowledgeable about the shoes and explained that they are lighter and have a lower heel in order to help runners reduce heel striking.  It is much less harmful to the body when runners achieve a midfoot/forefoot strike in their stride.  Lately I’ve been seeing more and more talk about the minimalist running shoe trend.  My ears perked up when I started to notice those odd looking FiveFingers shoes, which seemed more like socks to me.  The idea is that they “allow the foot to move more naturally and, thus, allow the rest of the body to set up in more efficient running posture from foot to forehead” (http://bit.ly/elIFyp).  In fact, this idea has gone beyond the FiveFingers brand and has become a major trend in the running shoe industry.   All of this new information regarding minimalist shoes has definitely contradicted a lot of what I have learned in the past about running shoes.  One barefoot enthusiast claims that, "Arch support, cushioning, and high-tech features are believed to be improvements for human comfort but they're actually the direct cause of foot problems and injuries."  People in support of the minimalistic shoes even go as far as saying that companies who promote motion control and stability shoes are simply propaganda. ... [More]

  In my previous post Blood Donation Preparation (http://urec.wsu.edu/urecnews/post/2012/04/04/Blood-Donation-Preparation.aspx) I discussed my difficulties donating blood.  I mentioned I would follow-up today with my progress.  So my co-worker, Megan, and I compared our veins in the video below. As you’ll see in the video my veins are still too small and I think I’ll sit out the blood drive today but there’s hope.  The Student Recreation Center (SRC) is hosting a blood drive on April 12.  So with six days of preparation I think I’ll have a better shot!

Until recently I was too afraid to donate blood, I’m not proud of this because I think donating blood is a great way to contribute to your community.  Everything changed last Tuesday when I was walking to class and passed a blood donation event.  Before thinking I asked if they had any openings and signed up to donate the next day.  I don’t know what exactly changed but I was ready to face my fear. I was instructed to drink a lot of water and sleep for a full 8 hours.  I slept a little longer than I usually do but that was only about 7 and half hours so I didn’t quite reach the recommendation but I did drink a lot of water.  I even cooked a steak the night before because they do a preliminary blood test to check if there’s sufficient amount of iron in your system. When I arrived in the afternoon, I shakily went through the steps nervous to sit while a needle idles in my arm.  The doctor asked routine questions then stuck my middle finger and squeezed out the blood for the preliminary blood test.  According to the doctor I barely reached the required amount.  After that I figured there was no way to be rejected and I was meant to donate blood, but I was wrong.  As I pulled off my sweater and squirmed in the chair the doctor examined my arm, her expression worried me as she moved to my other arm and then asked for another opinion.  “I’m sorry but your veins are too small,” they said.   I didn’t realize the size of my veins could be my downfall!  Don’t get me wrong there was a small part of me relieved to escape the needle but a bigger part of me still wanted to help.  I asked if there was anything I could do next time to help my chances of a vein becoming more prominent.  I was instructed to drink more water.  Apparently for all the extra water I thought I was consuming I should have been drinking twice that much!  With this experi... [More]

We all know that eating healthy is a difficult yet important thing to incorporate in your life.  I for one am not the best at it especially when you consider factors like cost and time.  However, I decided to do a little research about healthy recipes.  I found a blog with tons of healthy desserts created by a girl who is devoted to make them not only healthy but good as well.  Naturally, I decided to test one of her most popular recipes.  It’s a Healthy Cookie Dough Dip.  She calls it a dip because it’s not meant to be baked which sounds great to me because when I make cookies not many of them end up in the oven.  It doesn’t include eggs so we don’t have to worry about salmonella!  However it does call for chick peas.  The last time I checked, chick peas can be used to make hummus, not cookie dough.  It also has non-dairy milk, nut butter and oats.  This recipe is not only healthy, it’s vegan!  Challenge accepted.  With the help of my friend Hannah, I went to the store and picked up the ingredients.  Although I did end up buying milk chocolate chips which are far from vegan because I don’t mess around with chocolate.  The great thing about this recipe is that it didn’t turn out to be very expensive, except for the nut butter which can be substituted with oil if you’re on a budget.  The following ingredients are pictured below: brown sugar, oats, chick peas, chocolate chips, nut butter, non-dairy milk, salt, vanilla extract and baking soda.      As a side note, I learned a little something during the making of this recipe.  Apparently it’s important to use a food processor not a blender.  After looking the differences between the two, it turns out a food processor should be used for mixing solid foods whereas blenders are meant for liquid foods.  Unfortunately that doesn’t change the fact that I do... [More]

Spring Break is nearly upon us and for many that means vacations to warmer climates. Personally, I will be spending my Spring Break in Arizona enjoying the 80 degree temperature and clear skies. It’s been a long winter full of cold weather and little sun exposure so this is going to be quite the change. Because of this, there are a few things for me to consider regarding my health; anyone planning a trip to a land of sunshine should take note. I plan to spend just about as much time as possible in the sun which means I am going to have to pay special attention to sun screen application. On top of that, I will be making sure that I drink more than enough water to make sure that the dry heat of Arizona does not dehydrate me. Check out this website for more info on proper water consumption: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283. Beyond preparing for the heat and sun, there are couple other aspects of my wellbeing that I plan on watching out for. This is a vacation for me and I am staying in a hotel, I plan on doing everything I can to be financially healthy by avoiding eating at restaurants too many times and taking advantage of cheap healthy food whenever possible. The last thing I want to warn about is general safety. Spring Break can be a time that college students use to cut loose with their friends, but everyone should make sure they are being safe by making sure they designate sober drivers if people plan on drinking. Also, make sure you are respecting your body by always drinking in moderation. If you do have a Spring Break trip planned this year, please be safe and healthy. If your Spring Break plans are spending some quality time at home, make sure you stay active and plan some fun activities with friends and family so that you can make the most out of this quality relaxation time. No matter what your plans are, take advantage of this break so we can all recharge and gear up for the rest of the school year back in Pullman.

       Being sustainable is a choice to be more conscious about your impact on the environment and how you’re using resources.  Sustainability is no longer just a novel concept—it’s made its way into the mainstream.   Even as I write this blog I’m drinking from a reusable cup, which is a sustainable way to reduce the impact of one-use cups.  However, not all sustainability practices are obvious and that’s why I wanted to create a list of unusual ways to stay sustainable. 1.    Sew old clothes into a quilt. 2.    Plant vegetable garden in the summer, then store rainwater and water your garden with it! 3.    Eat lower on the food chain. 4.    Don’t throw away electronics. Here are some specific electronic tips from World Watch Institute (http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3915): Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem. Recycle your cell phone. Ask your local government to host a hazardous waste collection event set up an electronics recycling.  5.   Make your own cleaning supplies; for helpful recipes visit this link from eartheasy.com, http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm.        Don’t stop with just my unusual ways to stay sustainable there are so many different ways to make a difference.  What are some ways you make a difference by being sustainable?  Even if you commit to little changes in your lifestyle, over a lifetime it can make a huge difference!  Below I've included a video from YouTube.com, Sustainability Explained through Animation, enjoy!

          Life’s little surprises can come at any minute, that’s why keeping track of my wellbeing is a priority to me.           The reason I bring up wellbeing is because while watching the morning news with my Special K cereal and black coffee, which is my go-to breakfast, I saw a video that left a lasting impression.  The comedic video is from the campaign Go Red for Women called “Just a Little Heart Attack,” see video below.                      My first thoughts were, “this is hilarious!”  But then I started thinking about the message, heart disease is more common in women than I previously assumed and after watching this video I started thinking about my own health.  I encourage you to look at what you’re doing to put your health first.  For some ideas, take a look at the Wellbeing wheel on wellbeing.wsu.edu, which showcases the different dimensions of wellbeing.            Lately I’ve focused on my physical wellbeing more, but something I would like to spend more time on is my spiritual wellbeing.  What dimension do you need to pay a little more attention too?           Oh, and if you read this today, don’t forget to sport some red gear in support of awareness for this campaign!  For more information on the Go Red for Women campaign, please visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/?popup=little-heart-attack.

One of ASWSU’s most recent initiatives will be a great way for students to improve both their social and financial wellbeing. The 30 Days of Pullman is a month-long event created by the Associated Students of Washington State University, which hopes to strength the connection between WSU students and the city of Pullman. ASWSU has partnered with 30 different local vendors to provide students with 30 days of discounts in February. When students present their Cougar Card at any of the local vendors on the day of the sale, they’ll receive a discount. According to an article on DailyEvergreen.com, the idea came from Virginia Tech in a brainstorming session during a conference in Denver. Some of the local vendors include Thomas Hammer Coffee this Friday, Black Cypress, Zeppos, Licks, South Fork and Crimson and Gray. For more information about the 30 Days of Pullman, check out this article in The Daily Evergreen or find the full listing of local vendors on ASWSU’s Facebook Page.

From fourth meal to first meal, Taco Bell now offers breakfast items.  And Washington made the list of states where they will test their new menu!  This news is probably exciting for a good number of my friends who drool over Taco Bell, but for me I’m just not sold.  Even though, “Taco Bell enters crowded breakfast arena,” from the Associated Press, applauds the fast-food chain for teaming up with popular brands, I wonder about the healthiness of items like the Cinnabon Delight (fried dough balls with an icing filling) (http://bit.ly/AjRGNH).  All of this breakfast talk jump-started me thinking, not only about the nutritional ramifications, but also why Taco Bell is serving breakfast in the first place?  “Right now we're not getting our fair share of that," said Brian Niccol, Taco Bell's chief marketing and innovation officer.  The ‘fair share’ mentioned is of a growing fast-food breakfast industry.  For more information about Taco Bell’s news-worthy changes, please visit the news clip below featured on today.msnbc.msn.com. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy I understand convenience is vital to the fast-paced lifestyle of the ‘average’ American but how can a Cinnabon Delight from Taco Bell satisfy my nutritional needs in the morning?  There are healthier options on their menu but I’m not convinced it can compare to a healthy breakfast at home. I’ve attached a link to an article from the website realsimple.com, with recipes for a healthier breakfast made at home (http://bit.ly/12aL7U).  If you try any of these recipes, or the new Taco Bell breakfast, leave me a comment describing your experience.  The peanut butter waffle looks yummy to me!  

I was forwarded an article about how Yoga helps Breast Cancer survivors with their recovery.  Yoga is often times used as a way to relax from a hectic lifestyle or rehabilitate an injury due to other forms of workout.  So it seems obvious that the combination of relaxation of the mind and body can help cancer survivors deal with their post-battle health issues.  The article written by Andrew M. Seaman stated that a Yoga class in California reported a significant decrease in fatigue after doing three months of a twice-weekly yoga class as opposed to a control group who participated in a different form of workout.  They did not see any change in their fatigue or depression levels.  WSU Nursing professor, Jacquelyn Banasik made an interesting remark about other forms of workout that could achieve the same results.  “Gaining a sense of control over one's physical body, when one has a disease like breast cancer, might be an important part of the benefit” stated Banasik.  This shows me that working out on a regular basis not only keeps you physically in shape, but it has many other benefits to your health. I am an avid runner and my experience has shown me the benefits to not only my physical health, but to my mental health as well.   I find that my day is much more productive when I am able to fit in a morning run.  The truth is getting your heart rate up in a high energy workout releases endorphins which causes feelings of euphoria, also known as the “runners high”.  All in all, I think it’s safe to say that working out has more benefits then you think, don’t forget it!  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/30/us-yoga-fatigue-idUSTRE7BT19I20111230