Health Blog

A healthy body and a sound mind

Hunting Your Way To Better Health

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hunting

When people hear the term “hunting” they think of many things, but health may not be the first thing that comes to their mind.  The truth is that hunting can be a very physically demanding sport that creates a great physical and mental workout as well as providing lean and healthy protein for you and your family to enjoy.   Here are a few ways hunting can better your health.

Nutrition

When you think of hunting, nutritional benefits may not necessarily be the first thing that comes to mind. Many hunted animals like deer or elk are low in fat and lack hormones and preservatives compared to store bought meat.  The meat from an animal is only going to be as good as the food that it eats.  An animal that eats a diet that is mostly made of grass is going to have a greater variety of vitamins stored in its muscle tissue than animals raised on grain.  Dr. Melina Jampolis, a diet and fitness expert and contributor for CNN, points out that game meat is a good source of lean protein and recommends consuming in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Exercise

In addition to the nutritional benefits, hunting almost always involves some type of physical exercise.  A majority of hunting seasons occur throughout the fall months, so it is a great alternative to get in an outdoor workout in the fresh air versus working out in a gym.  Most hunting requires trekking through the woods in one form or another and once you add on all of the gear that is required for hunting, like a rifle or bow or arrow, you are adding another 10 to 20 pounds of weight to carry which makes for a great workout.  Taking into account a hunter’s height and weight, some sources estimate that the average large game hunter can burn well over 400 calories an hour.

Mental Health And Relaxation

Hunting is primarily a mental sport.  When it comes to hunting, it is a sport that involves preparation, concentration, problem solving and a lot of patience.  Hunting also is a sport that allows hunters to clear their heads and escape from the stress of everyday life.  Hunting is an experience that requires no rush, no deadlines, and no schedule. A study conducted in 2010 determined that just spending 5 minutes in some sort of green space improves mood and mental health.  Hunting can be done alone but also organized hunts provided by clubs or groups are a way to socialize too.  Time in the wilderness almost always allows for times of thought and reflection.

The sport of hunting can promote a healthy lifestyle.  Hunting provides many health benefits:  bringing home and preparing a clean and lean form of protein for you and your family, physical health to your body, and mental benefits for your mind and your mood.  

Is Salt Really Bad For You?

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I love watching cooking shows and I make it a point to watch the shows of celebrity chefs when I have the time. I was reading about some celebrity chefs earlier when I ran across a blog post on how Jamie Oliver, one of the most popular celebrity chefs today, has launched a line of pasta sauces that contain too much salt. Apparently, parents and other concerned citizens in the UK are all in an uproar about this. But is salt really bad?

I did some reading on salt and its effects on our health and this is what I found. An entry in the Guardian blog states:

We’re used to the flavour, but our bodies only need about a single gram of salt a day. The UK’s average consumption is nearly ten times that, prompting a government health campaign – though its rather arbitrary 6g limit would bring relatively few benefits to the nation’s blood pressure.

I am assuming that high salt intake increases our blood pressure. I have heard this from lots of people before. Oh, don’t put too much salt in your food. You don’t want to increase your risk of high blood pressure. Then again, I have always liked to use salt liberally and I have not had a single episode of high blood pressure. I would like to think that it is a matter of more than our salt intake. Perhaps we should take a look at the overall picture – having a balanced diet and taking salt in moderation.

Photo courtesy of parl

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

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We’ve heard of dietary supplements, which is really an umbrella term for more specific kinds of supplements. Perhaps one of the most common – and widely accepted – supplements are vitamin and mineral supplements. Even as children, our pediatricians would recommend these. Of course, with time and age, the nature of vitamin and mineral supplements has changed.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are a way to make up for possible deficiencies in our diets. That means whether or not you are trying to lose weight, you may need vitamin and mineral supplements – that is if you want to be healthy. So what vitamin and mineral supplements should we take?

It really depends on what you need. I tried doing a little research and ended up overwhelmed with the available supplements in the market. My local pharmacy was not much help either. However, in my research, I came across a recent study that found out that the typical Western diet lacks calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. This is a possible starting point.

Aside from the results of that study, I think we should analyze our own diet and body. Pinpoint your weaknesses and needs. For example, I noticed that I usually lack the energy to keep alert all day. So I looked for vitamins that are supposed to enhance energy. If you find yourself prone to colds, then maybe vitamin C is what you need. At the end of the day, it boils down to identifying your personal needs.

Eat Much?

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bottled-waterIf you had asked me this a month ago, I would probably have laughed and said “You think?” I have been experiencing some drastic changes in life, though, and about a month ago, I couldn’t focus and couldn’t even muster enough desire to eat. Of course, I did eat a little, and after a couple of weeks, I started eating “normally” again. However, at that point, it seemed that my stomach had gotten used to not eating much, so I was able to lessen my food intake.

I do fully understand what it feels like to want to keep on eating, especially if the food is good. For those of you who think they eat too much, here are some simple tips which can help you. I have tried them myself, and they work!

Have breakfast. It’s such an old tip, but its effectiveness has never been disproven. Eating breakfast will give you the energy to do whatever you need during the day, and avoid signaling your body to go into starvation mode. You might be surprised at how you do not get hungry easily if you have breakfast!

Drink lots of water. Another old tip, but water really does fill you up. If you find yourself craving for a snack and you just had something to eat, go get a tall glass of cold water and down it. Schedule your meals and follow that schedule. In between, just drink water – lots of it.

Stock up on tasty but healthy treats. What do I have in my fridge/pantry? Cups of low fat yoghurt, low fat cheese, crackers, nuts, apples, soy milk, and other food items that I LIKE. The trick is in finding healthy food that will satisfy you. When you get hungry, you won’t have to look far for something to munch on.