Wednesday, January 10, 2018

How To Stay Healthy While Fighting Cyber Crime

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Please be aware of any food allergies you might have and take precautions to avoid them.  I am not endorsed by any of the companies whose products are recommended below.


Problem
In the Information Technology field you spend a lot of time sitting in a chair. Whether it be in the car during your commute or at work, sitting long periods of time can have a negative affect on your health as stated in the reference article below. Another reason it's detrimental to your health is due to poor eating habits that one can develop. Normally you are glued to your seat because you have a lot of work to do and not enough time. This means you're most likely grab anything that is quick and readily available.  More often than not only food that is high in sugar, salt, preservatives, and low on nutritional value are with in an arms reach.  

 
Solution(s)
Below are a few simple things one can try that will not break the bank nor consume a massive amount of time when it comes to implementation. I recommend starting out implementing one item for a weeks time period and then building upon that the following week with another item until you have successfully implemented them all. Also an important note is to give yourself room for error(s). You might forget to do something one day or even for one week, but don't get discourage or quit, just try again.

1. Drink plenty of Water
Water is essential for maintaining many bodily functions. A good way to ensure you consume enough water throughout the day is to buy a water bottle of a certain size, fill it up at the beginning of the day, and make sure you drink it up by the end of the day. Try adding fruit to your water in order to add flavor and nutrients to it. Citrus fruits such as Oranges, Lemons, Limes, etc diffuse well in water and provide one with vitamin C and plenty of minerals. Cucumbers in the water help to curb one's appetite. 


2. Nuts & Veggies
If you like crunchy snacks try replacing any junk food with Nuts & Veggies. Nuts like Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews, are good source of protein and fatty acids. Carrots and Celery are crunch veggies that even when paired with a dip are still healthier than junk food.


3. Tea
Caffeine intake is almost mandatory in the work force. An alternative to coffee and energy drinks is ceremonial grade green tea powder. It has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and is packed full of antioxidants. Sweeten it with raw honey for added health benefits.


4. Juicing
Juicing your fruits and veggies allows you to pack a substantial amount of nutrients into a small space. This makes it a convenient way for you to consume or surpass your daily amount of fruits and veggies. Please remember to rotate your fruits and veggies on a weekly basis. This is the one step that will take the most time and money. 
Materials
There are two ways to juice. The first is to buy a conventional juicer to which I recommend researching the various types to decide which will work best for you as an individual.  The second is to buy a blender and a fine strainer. The fine strainer will be use to extract the juice by removing the planet fibers from the blended food. The second approach may seem more difficult or as if it'll take more time than the first, but all juicers have multiple parts to which each needs to be cleaned. This means both options may end up requiring the same amount of time to execute.
Storage
Various juicing blogs and books come to a general consensus that juiced fruits and veggies will keep in an air tight container for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator or freezer. I recommend using glass wide mouth Mason jars (Per Ball's information both Pint (16oz) and Pint & Half (24oz) are freezer safe) with a fermentation lid that allow one to pump the air out of the jar once it's been sealed. Remember when placing jars in the freezer to only fill half way as to allow room for expansion.


5. Protein Shakes
Protein shakes make great meal replacements or snacks. Brown Rice, Pea, Hemp, and Cricket are great planet and insect base complete proteins respectively. It is a good idea to rotate your proteins every other week.


6. Granola Bars
Granola bars can be considered a healthy snack but only if they are low in sugar and salt.  They come in the form of chewy or hard. I have linked to a brand whose granola bars come in either hard or chewy and both are low in sugar and salt.

 
Conclusion
All these recommendations are things I am implementing into my personal daily life. If you feel that these recommendations are helpful or have any of your own please feel free to leave them in the comment section below or tweet them at me so I can share them with the rest of the community.


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