The government of Denmark has imposed a tax upon high fat foods, with the ultimate goal of improving the health (and reducing health care expense we expect) of their population.  You can read more about the program here.

So, what does everyone think, should certain eating attributes be taxed like tobacco or alcohol?  Should those taxes be used to offset weight / nutrition related health care expenses or should the government just butt out(no pun intended)?

No surprise there, and the research didn’t answer the question as to whether viewing is the cause or the effect of the poor eating but the conclusions were clear:

In particular, television viewing was strongly associated with the consumption of energy-dense snacks, drinks and fast food, and a lower consumption of fruit and vegetables.

It was also interesting to note that the relationship existed across all the age and demographic groups and the researchers noted the critical role parents play in helping children establish healthy habits.

We at Xigo wish you all healthy and happy viewing with your families!

Today’s blog highlight’s an alternative view of the “plate” put together by Harvard University.  This version emphasizes not only the type of food, but also the quality, and is something I think I could share with my kids so they could understand good nutritional choices.

You can view it here, tell us what you think!

Today’s Health Tip is an overview of the caffeine in various drinks, foods, medicines and even gums from the Mayo Clinic that can be read HERE.  Knowledge is important, especially with something like caffeine which can be beneficial in the short term…but may catch up with you a bit later.

We hope this helps you make some informed choices.

Xigo Energy Management

Xigo Immunity

Speaking of which, we realize a great many people today are challenged by power outages, damage and flooding from Hurricane Irene and we wish you and your families only the best as you work to resume normalcy.  As a Florida based company, Xigo has seen our fair share of hurricanes and can feel your pain.

This week’s tip is about choices we can make around the household to improve the family’s health, it’s a great little article 5 Toxic Chemicals You Should Banish From Your Home.

We’re sure many of you are either dropping children off, supply shopping, or attending open house….adding yet more activity to an already busy schedule.  If you are like us, this is also an easy time to put of that daily workout, and if you are not careful, to put on some unwanted pounds.

This week’s health tip is a great little article on exercising when you are busy.  The first tip is a favorite here at Xigo, most of us have our daily exercise on the calendar because even those activities we love can fall to the wayside while we are taking care of those people we love.

Me neither, it seems that the allure of a “spa day” was overruled by the start of school for my boys next week, a basketball game, soccer registration, work and my martial arts classes.

For those of you who joined me in neglecting what I suspect is the spa industry’s version of a “Hallmark Holiday”, WebMD has prepared a nice little read on stress management that can be viewed here.

All joking aside, one thing that I learned from helping to develop Xigo’s new products for energy management is that an energetic day starts with a good night’s sleep the evening before.  Give these tips a try, and if you still need a gentle nudge to help you get a great night’s rest, take a look at Nighttime Repose from Xigo, a truly unique nighttime formula.

Fortunately, no matter how much sleep you got the night before, there are some easy ways to help your body get on track and wake up with energy.  This article from Fitsugar has some great suggestions such as starting with a stretch, and how to combat the snooze button ( a battle I often lose).

One thing I think we can all agree upon, the answer is not caffeine.  That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy my morning cup of java, but if that’s what I’m relying upon to get through the day, I’m doing something wrong.  We can all benefit from breaking the  stimulant / sedative cycle!