Live Strong & Age Well

Fasting 70 to 90 normal 80 to 130 diabetes 1 to 2 hours after meal: less than 140 normal less than 180 diabetes Pre-Meal (Baseline Glucose) 72 to 90 non-diabetic A1C: less than 5.7 normal less than 7.0 diabetes Normal Post-Meal Blood Sugar Levels for Non-Diabetics 1 hour after eating: Below 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating: Below 120-130 mg/dL 3 hours after eating: Close to fasting levels (~80-100 mg/dL) What High Post-Meal Glucose Could Indicate 1. If 2-hour glucose is still above 140 mg/dL → Possible impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes) 2. If 3-hour glucose is still above 120 mg/dL → Your body might be taking longer than normal to clear glucose, possibly indicating: Mild insulin resistance (even if fasting levels are normal) Slower glucose metabolism due to thyroid function or stress hormones A higher glycation rate, contributing to your slightly higher A1C

I'm vegan because I care about animals and don't want to contribute to their suffering. Once I learned how even eggs and dairy often involve harm or exploitation, I realized I didn’t want to be part of that system anymore. It just feels right for me to live in a way that matches my values of compassion and respect for all beings. My thoughts on honey.  I rarely use honey as a sweetener. I mainly use maple syrup and coconut sugar. Some vegans choose to make exceptions like local honey from responsible beekeepers, especially when: It's not industrially produced, The bees are well cared for, and It supports local agriculture and pollination. I really believe that if a lot of people were aware of how their food is processed when it gets to their plate, they would be vegan too.  Many people are conditioned to believe that it's just the way things are.  For others, they may care but feel overwhelmed by the idea of change, or they justify it because it’s convenient, tastes goo...

When growing microgreens, you'll need to soak larger seeds like sunflower seeds and peas. However, smaller seeds such as broccoli, kale, fenugreek, and radish don't require soaking. This is also because they're small size makes it challenging to spread them evenly when they are wet.  For a 10" by 20" tray, typically use about 1-1/4 cups of dry seeds (sunflower seeds or peas) and soak them in water overnight for 8 to 12 hours. Both sunflower seeds and peas will double in size and fill up the tray nicely.  You can choose either coconut coir soil for growing your microgreens.  You can select any organic soil that is specifically labeled as suitable for seed starting.  After spreading out the soil, you can spray some water to evenly hydrate it. This can be done while the seeds are soaking, and the soil will be ready to be planted.  Once your seeds have been fully soaked for 8 to 12 hours and the soil is prepared, it's time to plant them.  Evenly spread the seed...

Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) technique. It can help relieve muscle tightness, soreness, and inflammation, and increase your joint range of motion. Foam rolling can be an effective tool to add to your warm-up or cool down, before and after exercise. Myofascial release helps manage pain and discomfort by applying pressure to area that are tight or sore to help them relax.  By using a foam roller, you can apply pressure and massage the area by rolling back and forth. Benefits of foam rolling:  Ease muscle pain and soreness, reduces muscle inflammation, increases range of motion,increases blood flow to the muscles, aids in muscle recovery and relaxation. Foam rollers come in various types, each designed to provide different levels of massage intensity and target specific needs. Here's a breakdown of the common types: Based on Texture: Smooth Foam Rollers: These are the most basic type, offering consistent and gentle pressure. They are excellent for beginners a...

Physical Health Benefits: Cardiovascular Health: Cycling is an excellent aerobic exercise that strengthens the heart, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation. This is particularly important for women as they are often at a higher risk of heart-related issues. Regular cycling can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Weight Management: Cycling is an effective way to burn calories and manage or lose weight. Moderate cycling can burn a significant number of calories per hour. It also helps in increasing metabolism and burning body fat. Combining cycling with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can further accelerate weight loss. Low-Impact Exercise: Cycling is gentle on the joints, making it a suitable exercise for women of all ages and fitness levels, including those with joint pain or recovering from injuries. It reduces the stress on hips, knees, and feet compared to high-impact activities like running. Muscle Strength and Tone: Cycling engages ...

EPI occurs when your pancreas does not make enough digestive enzymes.  Sometimes the enzymes don't work as they should.  Enzymes are proteins that cause chemical reactions in your body.  Digestive enzymes break down food, allowing your body to get nutrients.  The pancreas is part of your digestive system.  It makes enzymes that aid digestion and help your body absorb nutrients.  When you have EPI, you don't have enough digestive enzymes.  Foods pass through your intestines in a more complete (undigested) state.  As a result, your body doesn't get the nutrients it needs from foods. There are differently types of pancreatic enzymes.  Amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates.  Lipase, which breaks down fats.  Protease and elastase, which break down proteins. Causes:   Chronic pancreatitis is the main cause of EPI in adults.  Other causes are Celiac disease, Diabetes, Inflammatory bowel disease, Pancreatic cancer, and surgery...