Tag Archive | "aging"

Growing Old Gracefully

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Today the average duration of human life in the United States is just about 70 years for women and a little less for men. Conservative experts believe that man is really build to last about 100 years; and that medial advances and more healthful living habits could bring this about within a generation or two.

What good is it to add years to life if we do not also add life to years? In fact, unless people learn to enjoy life and to grow old gracefully, the extra years may be an additional burden.

From 18 to 30 years is roughly the period of highest physical and mental vigor. The experiences we accumulate from the day we are born help us to conserve and to use our physical and mental abilities more wisely, so that for some time after 30 years we are able to perform increasingly well in spite of slowly slipping vigor. After age 50 the increasing accumulation of experience is no longer able to offset the now more rapidly energy and therefore aging begins to assert itself noticeably and in many ways.

A number of things may come about gradually such as people who have not used eyeglasses before may at some time in their forties need them for reading, and in the fifties they usually need bifocals.

Also in the forties, people are likely to put on weight because there is a general slowdown in the oxidation rate of the aging body tissue. Also we tend to do less strenuous work with no reduction in the amount of food consumed.

And in the fifties there is likely to be some loss of hearing. Usually the high-pitched tomes go first, so words with the sounds of F, S, and TH are confused. A hearing aid may be needed in some cases.

Aging is generally accompanied by a loss in physical and mental flexibility. This is noticed in a tendency to become stiff in the joints; in slower comeback after a strenuous trip, excessive “night life,” or hard work; in slower healing of wounds, sore muscles, and sprains; in slower recovery of pep after an illness; and in greater difficulty to adjust to new people, new places, and new ideas.

Men, especially, will notice loss of muscular strength. There will be increased unsteadiness and delicate muscle movements will be more clumsy and the stride in waking will become shorter. The conclusion now is that the performance and ability of the elderly has long been underestimated and can be greatly improved by a proper diet, sleep and exercise along with rest and relaxation.

Many elderly people tend to lose their joy and will to live and chronic worriers may mope around and withdraw. Medical authorities now say that laughter is one of the best medicines for the elderly. You can always keep your sense of humor tuned up by surrounding yourself with pleasant and interesting people. Just act your age and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself even when no else is around.

Now that we all know the role that physical activity plays in our lives, remember to do something physical every day. The joints must be used or quite simply they will tighten with age creating that stooped worn out appearance we so often associate with getting old. Keep yourself flexible and fit on an exercise program consistent with your ability.

What good is it to add years to life if you can’t enjoy it.

Can Antioxidants Prevent Cellular Damage?

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Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage, which is the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. The scientific community has begun to unveil some of the mysteries surrounding this topic, and the media has begun whetting our thirst for knowledge.

Considering Foods High in Powerful Antioxidants?

Grab a Handful of Almonds! The next time you’re shopping for antioxidant-rich foods, make sure to add almonds to your cart. Not only are almonds rich in vitamin E, fiber and magnesium, but according to a study, almonds contain antioxidants in levels comparable to those of healthy foods such as broccoli and tea. This high antioxidant content makes eating a handful of almonds a day more important than ever for good health.

The researchers are now conducting additional phases of antioxidant research to describe how efficiently the human body extracts and absorbs these compounds from almonds.

AHA Guidelines

The AHA guidelines are the first to put a number on how little trans fat one should eat just 1 percent or less of total calories. For someone who eats 2,000 calories daily considered the “average” intake, that’s about two grams of trans fat per day , or roughly the amount in half a small bag of fast-food fries.

Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance andor recovery from exercise.

Great Tips

1. Follow a balanced training program that emphasizes regular exercise and eat 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day. This will ensure that you are developing your inherent antioxidant systems and that your diet is providing the necessary components.

2. Weekend warriors should strongly consider a more balanced approach to exercise.

3. Failing that, consider supplementation.

4. For extremely demanding races such as an ultradistance event, or when adapting to high altitude, consider taking a vitamin E supplement 100 to 200 IU, approximately 10 times the RDA per day for several weeks up to and following the race.

5. Look for upcoming FDA recommendations, but be wary of advertising and media hype.

6. Do not oversupplement.

Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. That is a fact, and we urge you to find out more about Antioxidants and how they can benefit you today!

Your Food Can Prematurely Age You!

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Did you know that the food you eat could be prematurely ageing you? Science has made some amazing discoveries in the last decade in nutrition. We really should be taking note of what we put in our mouth because more than ever, “we are what we eat”. Do you know the impact of what you are eating? Probably not. It’s time to find out because over-indulgence in certain types of food cause the body to prematurely age.

Would you like some more free radicals with your lunch…? There is frequent mention these days about ‘free radicals’ and how they are constantly attacking the body, causing potentially serious damage.

A free radical is the name for a molecule that has an unpaired electron. They are a normal by-product of metabolism and without them you would die.

To put the record straight, it’s the over-production of free radicals that causes damage to the body. We are advised by nutritional experts to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

This is because they are rich in antioxidant phytonutrients…substances that neutralise free radicals and so help protect the body.

One of the essential tasks of free radicals is in producing energy from the food you eat. Every time you eat, free radical activity is intense. The more food you eat, the more free radicals are formed, and the more antioxidants your body needs to neutralise them. Big meals are big trouble!

Effective Antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E; minerals such as selenium, zinc, and herbs such as aloe vera and grapeseed extract.

The Reality of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are root vegetables, pasta, rice, bread, grains, fruit, pastries, cakes, biscuits, crisps, sweets etc. They are easy to prepare, filling, tasty and cheap. Most meals are dominated by carbohydrates, as most of us ‘full up’ on them. When you eat carbohydrates you’re eating a form of sugar.

Carbohydrates are converted by the body into glucose, which is either used immediately for energy, or stored in fat cells. Carbohydrates make up an excessive proportion of the diet, add together a lack of exercise and excess sugar and the inevitable result is excess weight.

By reducing your overall carbohydrate intake and reducing the size of your meals, you reduce your body’s exposure to free radical activity, and, the amount of excess food that meals, you reduce your body’s exposure to free radical activity, and, the amount of excess food that gets stored as unwanted fat. A double bonus!

Big meals are too much stress

Food is in abundance – look around the supermarket shelves at the food mountain! Fill your trolley, take it home and fill your kitchen cupboards – fill your plate and fill your stomach till you can barely move. How many times a week do you overeat? How many free radicals are attacking your body and accelerating the aging process? You could choose to eat less.

Think about your meals over the last week.

Better still, keep a food diary for the next week, record each meal by drawing a plate divided up showing how much protein, carbohydrate, fat, vegetables and fruit you eat at each mealsnack. After a week you’ll be able to see for yourself how much sugar you are eating.

Sources Of Antioxidants

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What exactly are antioxidants? And why is it so vital to our core health?

At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, which is the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule wants to be oxidized, and this oxidation process can sometimes be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells. They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, tobacco smoke and radiation, for instance.

Antioxidants have become synonymous with good health. They are a class of compounds thought to prevent certain types of chemical damage caused by an excess of free radicals, charged molecules that are generated by a variety of sources including pesticides, smoking and exhaust fumes. Destroying free radicals may help fight cancer, heart disease and stroke, researchers believe.

Why Fruits and Vegetables are Important!

Fruits and vegetables have long been viewed as a rich source of antioxidant compounds. Health officials have been urging consumers for years to eat more fruits and vegetables in order to gain the health benefits of antioxidants, but progress has been slow, according to researchers. Westerners still tend to favor diets that are rich in fats and carbohydrates, they say. More recently, researchers have begun to formally study the health benefits of herbs and spices. The two differ mainly by source. Herbs typically come from the leaves of plants. Spices come from the bark, stem and seeds of plants. Both have been used for thousands of years to flavor foods and treat illness.

Does Herbs have Antioxidants?

Yes! Recently, herbs have emerged as a quick and easy way to get a concentrated source of antioxidants, without all the extra calories of whole foods. Researches recently compared the antioxidant activity of herbs to a few select spices, including paprika, garlic, curry, chili, and black pepper. Herbs came out on top!

Herbs can be consumed in a variety of ways. Some people prefer to drink herb extracts, which can be made by adding herbs to hot water to make potent antioxidant teas. Others use concentrated herbal oils available in some health food stories. Most of us prefer a little dash and sprinkle of the familiar leafy or powdered versions to add flavor to our favorite meats and vegetables. This is a great reason to head to your nearest herb store for a boost of antioxidants!

In general, fresh herbs and spices are healthier and contain higher antioxidant levels compared to their processed counterparts. For example, the antioxidant activity of fresh garlic is 1.5 times higher than dry garlic powder!

Natural or Supplemented Antioxidants?

And of course, it is always best to take the all natural antioxidants from your food! But many times, too many of us do not really stick to a all well balanced diet, and this is why it is essential that we take antioxidant supplements to ensure we have all the proper balance of nutrients!

I Have Strained My Neck, What Do I Do?

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If you have hurt your neck in any way, the best thing to do is rest. Lie back with an ice pack wrapped around the painful area for 30 minutes. Take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen 600 mg four times a day. Repeat cold packs 30 minutes, four times a day for two days. After a few days, gentle heat may be used intermittently to relax the area. Don’t overdo the heat, it can make you more sore. Limit it to about 20 minutes four times a day. Get back to your activities as quickly as you can. After a day of activity, an ice pack in the evening can reduce the next day stiffness.

Once you feel well enough, you will want to move onto the Rehab stage. Begin to restore your neck’s mobility. Begin by warming the neck for 10 minutes. Some light aerobic activity may help loosen the muscles. While sitting, tilt your neck forward until you begin to feel the stretch. Hold there for 30 seconds, relax a minute, then repeat 5 times. Do the stretch in the backwards direction, then tilting to each side ear towards shoulder, then rotating chin towards shoulder. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds, repeating 5 times. If the discomfort has increased after the stretches, cold-pack the neck for 30 minutes. Repeat the exercises twice a day.

For more active exercise, use the palm of your hand as a graded resistance machine. Put your palm against your forehead, and push your neck against it. Slowly push the hand forward with your head until the neck is fully bent, then let the head return to the neutral position while continuing resistance.

Repeat 10 times. Do the exercise for backward motion with both hands behind your head, then with side-tilt with a palm against your scalp just above the ear. Do the exercises twice a day.

As with all exercise, you need to listen to your body, keep the back of the neck and spine lengthened and the rib cage lifted. Remember to breathe as you work with the different exercises.
However, seeing a doctor is vital for all strains with a significant mechanism of injury or for severe, persistent, or unexplained symptoms or problems. As with other conditions, supportive self-care is often enough for you to have a complete recovery.

The 7 Destructive Habits Of Aging And How To Stop Them So You Can Live Longer!

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Introduction

The Fountain of Youth is still more myth than reality, but scientist say they’re getting closer to understanding the secrets of the aging process that have eluded us for ages. While the dreams of always being young may still be years away, the dream of looking and feeling younger is here today.

Americans spend more than 1 Billion Dollars per year on anti-aging products, and the demand for anti-aging supplements and a variety of other products to help Baby Boomers live longer, healthier lives is growing rapidly as Boomers reach retirement age and beyond.

Baby Boomers for many years have searched for the elixir of youth per say, pursued by those wishing to stay looking young and avoid the ravages of old age for as long as possible.

Premature ageing and degenerative disease are often the result of bad eating habits, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and environmental factors such as exposure to pollution, resulting in premature illness.

Experts on aging agree, there are positive steps you can take to make your “golden years” healthier and more enjoyable. And, they might just add as much as a decade or more to your life. To do this you need to eliminate all or most of the 7 destructive habits from your current lifestyle such as

Destructive Habit 1 Smoking
Destructive Habit 2 Alcohol Abuse
Destructive Habit 3 Lack of Quality Sleep
Destructive Habit 4 Overweight and Obesity
Destructive Habit 5 Lack of Exercise
Destructive Habit 6 Too Much Stress
Destructive Habit 7 Internal Pollution & Lack of Essential Vitamins & Minerals
Create a Diet and Supplement Regimen Right for You – Summary

We have also included a Vitamins & Minerals Guide to assist you with additional information.

For more free health information and the best prices on vitamins and supplements please visit www.CarolBond.com.

To read this entire article, please visit us at FreeOnlineHealthReports.com

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