Happy holidays, people and planet! The month of

March has definitely roared as we bring April into spring. It’s a nice feeling to start gradually peeling off the layers of winter baggage.

The change of seasons can lead to different allergies and bodily reactions to humidity, humidity, dryness and continuous cold. Yes, it also brings us warm sunshine! As the excitement and Mother Nature unfolds, make sure you are aware and prepared for the change. Nowadays, everything can change in an instant. The Easter season is upon us, so let’s rise to the occasion! Have a blessed and grateful month.

get out

Walking can be wonderful for many reasons. Besides being an inexpensive way to exercise, you can get outside, enjoy the scenery, and breathe in the fresh air. Walking is also easy on the environment.

Walking can also be a fun time to catch up with friends, loved ones, or take your dog for a bonding experience. Make sure you have good walking shoes and be sure to watch your step for any obstacles that may be in your way. Dress in light-coloured clothes to be visible.

The best time of day to walk varies with each individual. If you are someone who gets hot easily and feels uncomfortable in the heat, you may want to walk when the temperature is cooler, such as early in the morning or in the evening. And for those of you who get cold easily, dress in layers or walk at temperatures where the sun or the day is the hottest, like 2 p.m.

Be sure to take water with you if you go on long hikes or drink some before you go. Wear a hat or sunglasses if the sun is shining to protect yourself from the rays. And if you’re walking for more than 15-20 minutes, you might want to wear sunscreen.

Additionally, there are many different devices that monitor your heart rate, steps, and miles. Some walking or hiking locations will also tell you how many miles you are covering.

The number of calories you burn depends on the pace of your walk:

• Slow walking burns 4 calories per minute.
• Brisk walking burns 7 calories per minute.
• Brisk walking burns 10 calories per
minute.
Here is a walking program that you could

want to try. Calories used are based on
a 140 pound person.
• Weeks 1-2: 1 mile, 20 minutes, 140 calories • Weeks 3-5: 1.5 miles, 28 minutes, 200
calories
• Weeks 6-8: 2 miles, 35 minutes, 250
calories
• Weeks 9 and 10: 2.5 miles, 45 minutes, 310
calories
• Weeks 11+: 3.5 miles, 60 minutes, 420
calories

Be sure to pay attention to your breathing, as well as your pace, as you walk. If you suffer from allergies, you may want to consider going outside during the lowest pollen or pollution index of the day. You may want to stretch slightly before walking and more after walking to help prevent pain or injury. A sidewalk or step is a great place to stretch your leg and calf muscles. Happy walking in complete safety!

Check ingredients for wheat-free and gluten-free products

After trying to be a wheat and gluten free person for over 20 years, I still find it hard to choose between dining out or eating processed foods. For many, our food choices had changed over the past two years to provide us with more convenience and, therefore, more processed foods.

I have never been diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune problem with the intestinal tract unable to process gluten (proteins found in wheat). When tests became available for celiac disease, I had been wheat-free for many years already, so it was undetectable. However, I have several of the characteristics.

Many foods that claim or appear to be wheat-free or gluten-free may still contain a derivative or breakdown of the ingredient. Those of you who are severely allergic or have variable intolerance should seriously ask questions about the product, such as reading the label yourself or asking how the food is prepared.

And with our rising grocery bill, we should be more selective and make better choices. With the arrival of spring, we will have more choices of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, as we shed our skin and our sins, we should all wish for a good purification.

Julie is a Healthy for Life advocate. If you have any questions or want to share your inspirations or information, contact her at [email protected] or email her at Hometown Focus, 401 6th Ave. N. Virginia, MN 55792.