Showing posts with label Caribbean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caribbean. Show all posts

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Zumba + Soca Music = Fun workouts!

Hello peeps! 

I am back with a new blog post under my new and improved blog name-----> Lilia's Healthbook!
Do you like the new name?

As a West Indian, I love soca music. I love dancing to soca music. I love listening to soca music.
I came across Shani McGraham's youtube channel. (btw I love YT). She combines my love for exercise and soca/reggae music effortlessly in well-choreographed Zumba steps.

My favorite Zumba workout from her channel is 'Bend Over' by Machel Montano



Before my workout I dance to 1 or 2 of her Zumba videos to warm up.

I enjoy physical activity and when physical activity is combined with awesome workout music makes exercising that much more enjoyable. 

Here are some of the many the benefits of consistent physical activity and exercise
  • Decreases stress levels by changing one's mood due to the release of endorphins
  • Allows you to sleep better at night
  • As you sweat, you rid the body of toxins
  • Burns extra calories
  • Maintains body shape
  • Tones and firms
  • Alleviates menstrual cramps
  • Enhances the immune system
  • Support the transport of oxygen throughout the body
  • Helps with mental focus and clarity etc. etc. etc.
Why do you exercise?

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

People of the Caribbean: Living longer BUT with chronic diseases

www.virginislandsnewsonline.com

Jamaicans and other citizens of the Eastern Caribbean are living longer than ever before, which is always good news. All six Organization of Eastern Caribbean State (OECS) countries experienced an increase in life expectancy at birth between 1990 and 2011, with a high of 76 in Dominica and St. Lucia.
However, this increase in life expectancy presents an unhealthy problem, because quality of life in the Eastern Caribbean is rapidly decreasing. New research from the World Bank informs that Jamaicans and other counties of the OECS are facing a health crisis with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases include heart disease, obesity and diabetes. NCDs are disproportionately affecting poor families; thereby, increasing rates of poverty when a large part of their income has to go to health care.

In fact, the annual cost for treating an individual with diabetes ranges from US$322 to US$769 in the OECS. This amount is more than double in the currency of these countries, which presents another burden. In fact, data from ST. Lucia show that individuals living with a non-communicable disease spend 36% of their total household expenditure annually for health care. Poorer households spend 48% of their per capita expenditure, while wealthier households spend less than 20% on health care. The problem that is presented here is a widening gap between the rich and poor.

Worldwide there is an increase in non-communicable diseases, but the region with the largest increase are in low and middle income countries, which is representative of many countries of the Caribbean.


Chronic diseases in the Caribbean from World Bank on Vimeo.

These are the facts: Now what? How can we as a people, ensure that non-communicable diseases are NOT threatening this increase in life expectancy?  

 For more information on NCDs in the Caribbean visit http://www.healthycaribbean.org/

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