Sport and the importance of active recovery…

After a hard workout or training session, it would seem that complete rest would be the best way to encourage recovery… However, research proves many advantages in active recovery.

What is active recovery?

Active recovery is a workout session that is less intense and has less volume than any of the other sessions you do and is specifically designed to help reduce physical and mental fatigue.

The Purpose of Recovery

The purpose of recovery is to allow the muscle to repair itself and to engage muscles that are tired or sore from a previous day, intense training or competition.

It is common to feel less energetic and sore the day after your workout, race, or game, but passive recovery isn’t recommended unless you are injured. Instead, it is recommended to do some light physical activity. This can be walking, easy jogging, easy cycling or mobility exercises. Massage can also be used as part of active recovery.

Active recovery helps mobilize the joints, which need to move through their range of motion to be lubricated. It also gets the blood flowing through your muscles, which helps bring them nutrients to build new muscle as well as helping to carry away waste products.

During an active recovery day, you don’t want to engage in activities that challenge the muscles used the day before. Instead, aim for doing lighter activities. 

Science to back this up

There are hundreds of studies that underpin Active Recovery. One study¹ published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise found that active recovery immediately after the event encourages recovery and reduces muscle lactate levels faster than complete rest.

What we do on Recovery Days

The point of a recovery day is to recover from your training in not only the physical aspect, but also as a much-needed mental break.

Active recovery focuses on completing a workout at a low intensity, but just high enough that it gets the blood moving and helps reduce residual fatigue in the muscle.  One of the best activities towards recovering is swimming. A relaxing swimming session and a cool / cold shower after, may help the muscles stretch, relax and recover. Another study² showed that a swimming based recovery session enhanced following day exercise performance, possibly due to the hydrostatic properties of water.

To help you stay motivated and consistent on an Active Wellness lifestyle, here are some tips:

1. Eat healthy carbs a couple of hours before strenuous activities to keep your body warm and energetic. This also helps prevent fatigue.

2. Set exercise / weight goals and write them down.

3. Reward yourself periodically as you achieve your goals, but not with food, so you don’t associate pleasure only with edible treats.

4. Wear the KenkoTherm DUK® Tape, which may help your muscles and joints stay warm and supported.

5. Massage your tired muscles with the Kenkotouch®, a device designed to help promote relaxation and relief.

6. Support your back during and after a workout with the KenkoTherm® Back Belt that can be worn alone but is designed with a back pocket that holds the Kenko MagFlex® in place.

1. http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/5/2/40
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19908172

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(11th June)

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Men’s health…

Everyone knows the importance of a healthy lifestyle. If you have a busy schedule, you may find it hard to make time for regular exercise or find yourself eating a lot of takeout and junk food. But you can’t afford to be passive about your health.

Diet, exercise, sleep and stress management all count towards optimising men’s health at any age. Here are some key tips which could help towards men’s overall health and wellbeing.

Stay fit

There are some basic but very important things men should do regularly to stay in good health. Start exercising! Men (and all adults) need at least two-and-a-half hours a week of moderate – intensive aerobic activity, like a brisk walk. Plus, strength training at least twice a week, that helps work all major muscle groups.

Eat right

Consuming a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are important in reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other significant health issues. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Experts recommend eating a balanced diet, which is high in fruit and vegetables and low in red and processed meat, fat and salt.

A UK study¹ suggested that a high intake of plant foods, particularly tomato products, may benefit men’s health. Tomatoes are well known for containing lycopene, which is an antioxidant compound that gives tomatoes and certain other fruits their colour. Lycopene² is an antioxidant that also protects our body cells from oxidants that have been linked to cancer. Two capsules of Nikken’s Kasai® for Men provide 6mg of high- quality lycopene, together with powdered garlic and pumpkin seed; this variety of Kasai® is designed to help contribute to men’s overall wellbeing.

Stick to a sleep schedule

Good “sleep hygiene” (things that promote regular, sound sleep) can help men lead healthier happier lives.

Look after your skin

Given today’s busy lifestyle, adequate skin care is just as important for men as for women. Environmental factors, as well as constant shaving, makes men’s skin sensitive and prone to skin conditions such as acne, dehydrated skin, dullness and shaving ingrowths. Nikken’s TRUE elements® Marine Organic skincare offers all the products necessary for a good skincare regime. Not just for women, but for men too! The TRUE elements® Youth Active Serum contains Ulva algae which helps natural cellular renewal plus hyaluronic acid, known to helpstimulate collagen synthesis which may help improve skins overall appearance.

1. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2014/07/12/1055-9965.EPI-14-0322
2. http://www.britishtomatoes.co.uk/health-nutrition/miracle-fruit-report/ 

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(5th June)

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Get Summer ready…

It’s that time of year when we start to think about getting in shape for Summer…

But how exactly do we do it?

One of the most important aspects is our food intake… As the seasons change, our eating habits change too. Say good-bye to the rich and comforting winter meals and welcome the summer seasonal produce like fruit and salads! What you put in your body, along with exercising, is crucial to a healthy lifestyle as you want to loose weight and tone up. Eating the right foods can help make you feel happier and healthier.

Did you know…

1. Super foods¹ are nutrient-rich and a catalyst for good health and overall wellbeing. Not only can they help optimize the natural immune system, are known to have body-healing compounds, but may also help reduce inflammation and even eliminate any harmful bacteria. What, when and how much you eat can help keep both your metabolism and energy levels steadily elevated, helping with raised energy levels throughout the day. Tap into the fat-burning power of foods like nuts, avocados, dark chocolate and New Zealand Kiwi.

2. The healthiest way to lose weight is neither crash diets nor bursts of exercise. The body likes slow changes in terms of food and exercise. For example, someone who hasn’t exercised for years shouldn’t rush into running miles a day. Not only will the struggle to do so leave you feeling disheartened and demotivated, you’re also far more likely to injure yourself and set your fitness levels back further. The same goes for people who suddenly cut out certain foods from their diets.

3. Diets that severely restrict calories or the types of food ‘allowed’ can lead you to be deficient in the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs. The Eat Well Guide², provided by NHS England, offers an abundance of information on how to eat healthy without cutting out produce packed with essential nutrients.

Here are some tips to help you manage your weight and avoid cravings:

1. Replace your daily coffee or regular tea with herbal tea or green tea. Try the Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink and help wake up your body and mind the natural way… According to a study conducted by scientists from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences³, regular consumption of green tea could help keep your bones stronger as you age.

2. Include MCT’s in your meals (medium chain triglycerides). MCT’s are good fats which have also been shown to suppress appetite. In one 14-day study, six male volunteers were allowed unlimited access to one of three diets: a low MCT diet, a medium MCT diet and a high MCT diet. Calorie consumption was significantly lower on the high MCT diet. The researchers noted that substituting MCTs for other fats in a high-fat diet “can limit the excess energy intakes and weight gain produced by high-fat, energy-dense diets.”⁴ We’ve made it easy to access these valuable fats by making it our second ingredient in the high protein, low-carb KVB® Natural Food Mix Meal Replacement that offers only 125 calories per serving, allowing you to reap the benefits and enjoy the Nikken Active Wellness lifestyle.

1. Take care of your gut. Nikken’s Kenzen Digestion Complex 4-20 contains twenty natural digestive enzymes that act on all four different macronutrient types: fats, protein, carbohydrates and fiber. This wider range of enzymes may help you derive more energy from the food that you eat.

The healthy choices we make when it comes to food may help us manage weight, maintain focus and avoid cravings.

1. http://www.superfoods-scientific-research.com
2. https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/goodfood/Pages/the-eatwell-guide.aspx
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531716305619?via%3Dihub
4. Stubbs RJ, Harbron CG. ,“Covert manipulation of the ratio of medium- to long-chain triglycerides in isoenergetically dense diets: effect on food intake in ad libitum feeding men,” Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord1996 May;20(5):435-44.

Summer Offers… available until 31^stAugust 2018

Kenzen ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink – Buy one get one Free
#88036 – save £39.00

KBV® Natural Food Mix – Chocolate #16011 / Vanilla #16010
Save 50% – Only £35.00 each

(8th May)

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Take your workout outdoors…

The finer weather is finally here and with it come countless opportunities to move your workout routine into the great outdoors. Perhaps, the biggest reason people exercise indoors, is to avoid the elements. While you may not want to give up your gym or studio workouts entirely, you might want to consider squeezing some outdoor activity out in the fresh air, whenever you can.

Why exercise outdoors? Here are a few reasons:

1. Save money on fuel and gym membership. Gym memberships can be pretty pricey. On top of that, the fuel to get to and from the gym can add up, especially if you don’t live close by. By exercising outdoors, you can save money and still reap all the benefits of working out and being healthy whilst avoiding the gym crowds.

1. Mood enhancement. While exercising outdoors, you’ll breathe in fresh air. Increased oxygen consumption can help release the feel-good brain chemical known as serotonin. According to the Mental Health Foundation¹ participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety.

3. Change of scenery. Sometimes we can get bored of our routine at the gym, using the same equipment, staring at the same walls everyday… Exercising outdoors allows you to take in great views, fresh air, soak up the sun and at the same time it allows you to really think and be more creative with your workouts.

4. Cleaner Air and fewer germs. Between the locker rooms and the equipment itself, the gym can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. According to a study from the EuropeanEnvironmental Agency², the air in the gym is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air!

When exercising, we all need that extra bit of support at some point or another to protect ourselves from unexpected injuries and enhance our fitness.

For that little extra support, you could try the KenkoTherm^® support wraps, which may help with flexibility and movement, retain warmth and help to relax the muscle tissues. The Dynamic Underlayer Kinetic Tape, KenkoTherm DUK™Tape can help comfort stressed muscles and may provide additional support exactly where you need it.

The most important thing to remember when exercising is to stay well hydrated. Enjoy delicious PiMag^® water from your Nikken PiMag^®Bottle during your workout routine to ensure you stay hydrated. Take advantage of our current offer which gives you and your family the opportunity to benefit from PiMag^®water created by the PiMag^®Waterfall.

Remember, your outdoor excursions can offer strength building and fat burning amongst plenty of other health benefits. So, take your workout routine outside and live an active wellness lifestyle!

1. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-using-exercise
2. https://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2013/articles/indoor-air-quality

PiMag® SPECIAL OFFER… available until 30^thApril 2018

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PiMag®Water Bottle #11375– Save £30.00

Contact your Independent Nikken Consultant for more information on the PiMag® Special Offers…

(23rd April)

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Winter workouts

Did you know that exercising in cold weather may not only help keep extra pounds at bay but it may also help combat the winter blues?

“All exercise can increase your levels of those feel-good hormones, endorphins. But because your body has to work harder in the cold, your endorphin production is boosted even more, leading to a happier state of mind.”¹ explained Dr. Keven Plancher, Head of Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New York when speaking to Women’s Health magazine. Women’s Health also points out that a workout outside—even when the air is cold—can give you some much-needed sun exposure in the dark winter months, which may boost your mood as well.²

To help you stay motivated and consistent on an Active Wellness lifestyle, here are some tips:

1. Eat healthy carbs a couple of hours before strenuous activities to keep your body warm and energetic. This also helps prevent fatigue.
2. Do not drink caffeinated beverages before working out, because they can cause dehydration.
3. Drink water or beverages with electrolytes before, during and after your workout to avoid cramping and dizziness. The PiMag® Water Bottle is ideal with its built-in water filter.
4. Set exercise/weight goals and write them down. Ask your Nikken Consultant for information about our Weight Management Plan to help you. Remember there is FREE SHIPPING on all Weight Management Packs ordered before 31^st March 2018.
5. Reward yourself periodically as you achieve your goals, but not with food, so you don’t associate pleasure only with edible treats.
6. Wear KenkoTherm® Support Wraps to help your muscles and joints stay warm and stable.

Before undertaking any exercise you should be healthy and ensure you dress appropriately for the weather. If you have any health issues you should not exercise in really cold weather. If the temperature drops to below minus 10 Celsius it is advisable to workout indoor instead.

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1. https://www.bustle.com/articles/174136-8-weird-ways-weather-affects-your-workout

2. https://www.bustle.com/articles/174136-8-weird-ways-weather-affects-your-workout

Stay Healthy through the Flu Season with Active Wellness

The cold and flu season is upon us, but is there anything we can do to help maintain good health?

As well as basic good hygiene, such as keep hands clean after using public transport or holding a railing on communal stairs, here are a few other suggestions that may help to lower you chances of infection this season:

Eat protein – We have no control over which viruses or bacteria latch onto our bodies but we can attempt to boost our immune systems so we may have a better chance of fighting off colds and flu if they do strike. Douglas Kalman, PhD, RD, director of nutrition and applied clinical trials at Miami Research Associates in Florida says, “Research shows that diets too low in protein can deplete the immune system. So I make sure to get protein-rich foods throughout the day, especially fish, eggs and yogurt.” ¹ 

Nikken makes it easy to boost your protein intake with KVB^® Natural Food Mix as it contains highly nutritional organic pea protein. One serving of KVB® contains 41% NRV (Nutrient Reference Values) of protein but only 133 calories.

Drink plenty of water – Drinking enough water may help us to flush toxins out of our bodies, the PiMag® Water Bottle not only serves as your personal water bottle to have with you wherever you go but it also has a built in filter, so you get alkaline water without sediment!

Take a supplement – Lactoferrin®; contains a complement of 60mg of vitamin C in each capsule. Vitamin C that can contribute to the normal function of the immune system, normal energy-yielding metabolism function, and the normal functioning of the nervous system.

A healthy diet and lifestyle choices may improve your health and wellbeing. For your wellbeing, Nikken provides choices in support of Active Wellness with its nutritional supplements water and sleep products. To discover more visit: http://www.nikkenwellbeing.co.uk/s/about-us/our-philosophy.html

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1 http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20752945,00.html

New Year, New Approach to Active Wellness

Do you find it hard to resist giving in to bad food cravings? Do you blame yourself for lacking will power? Understanding why you have those annoying cravings for sugar, fat, salt and so on, might be how you can help curb them!

In 2008, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) formed the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). Microbiome is defined as “the collection of microbes or microorganisms that inhabit an environment, creating a ‘mini-ecostystem.’”¹

The human microbiome, located in the gut, is made up of trillions of bacteria that send messages to the brain. This communication is known as the “brain-gut connection.” Because approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the body’s immune tissue is located within the digestive system, boosting your immune system really requires a healthy gut.²

The good news is that you may actually be able to help manage your microbiome and influence the brain-gut connection. Good bacteria may thrive on fibre and nutrient-dense food, so eating that type of food consistently may help to encourage a healthy brain-gut connection.

A healthy gut may help the brain minimise unhealthy cravings. If you currently do not eat a lot of fibrous foods, try to integrate them into your daily regimen slowly so that your body has time to adjust. Incorporate a little into each meal or snack. The fibre may help to give you a sense of fullness and may help you to cut back on sugar and processed food.

• Eat leafy greens, asparagus, any type of bean and root vegetables.
• Try not to peel apples & pears. Well-scrubbed potato & carrot skins are also fibrous and edible.
• Do you throw away stems? For example, broccoli stems are full of healthy fibre and taste great in soups and stir-fries. The same is true of kale and spinach stems.
• Add variety to your diet. Many vegetables are delicious raw while others are easily steamed or sautéed.
• Be generous in your use of garlic, onions, herbs and spices. They are also good sources of fibre and add so much flavour.

Kenzen^®Cleanse^dx contains a blend of 100% organic ingredients, which may help cleanse whilst contributing to the support or maintenance of normal liver function. The combination of ingredients is further noteworthy for its possible positive effects on weight management. Kenzen^®Cleanse^dx is part of our Everyday Organic-based Weight Management Programme.

We are offering FREE shipping on the Everyday Weight Management Pack until 31st March 2018. This offer applies to retail, wholesale and Autoship orders.

To support your immune system, taking Lactoferrin Gold 1.8^® may help, each capsule also contains a complement of 60mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C that can contribute to the normal function of the immune system, normal energy-yielding metabolism function, and the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Make 2018 the year you take a new approach to Active Wellness by filling up on fibre and banishing those unhealthy food cravings.

1 https://www.hmpdacc.org/hmp/overview/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/

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