Healthy Habits

Health Habits and Long Live

healthy tips

1. Don’t retire. “Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement,” says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. “After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables,” he says. “They’re never really inactive.” Farming isn’t for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease.

3. Move around. “Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists,” says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “It’s like the oil and lube job for your car. You don’t have to do it, but your car will definitely run better.” Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you’re not into weight lifting.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. “Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging,” he says.

5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. “Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells,” says Ferrucci.

6. Consume whole foods, not supplements. Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients-selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E-age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. “There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato,” points out Ferrucci, “and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C.” nutrients.

7. Be less neurotic. It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good.

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist. Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it’s important to cherish the body that’s on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise.

9. Be a creature of habit. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years.

10. Stay connected. Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that’s particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back.

Food And Health

About Health Food

food for health

There is a great deal of emphasis on eating a more balanced and healthy diet today. Because so many people are looking for ways to utilize food and diet in order to look and feel better, the development of a wide range of so-called health food diets have taken place. While there are plenty of diet plans to choose from, some of them may not be as healthy as others. Here are some examples of types of health food approaches that have helped many people make positive changes in their eating habits, and live a healthier life.

Many people assume that health food must be bland and tasteless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Essentially, health food is all about the inclusion of foods that offer less processing, less additives, and more natural nutrients. Organic vegetables are one example health food that packs a lot of flavor as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals. Grown using natural fertilizers, organic vegetables are great options for home prepared dishes. There are a number of health food stores that offer frozen as well as fresh organic vegetables, which can make it possible to eliminate extra salt from the diet and help cut the chances of developing high blood pressure.

Spices are another important aspect of health food. Because eating healthily means finding alternatives to frying many foods, spices can help to add plenty of taste to meats that are baked or broiled. Eclectic blends of spices can be sprinkled on skinless sections of chicken and baked for a tasty entrée. Spices can also add flavor and a great deal of nutrients to soups and stews, without the need to use elements that may not be quite as healthy.

Vegetable based substitutes for red meats are one type of health food that can be used when an individual needs to cut down cholesterol consumption but still maintain a reasonable level of protein. Tofu and soybeans form the basis for many of these types of foods. Tofu can be utilized to make all sorts of dishes, and can be particularly tasty when stir fried with vegetables and seasoned with a small amount of sauce. Soybeans form the basis for a number of products that can serve as the meat in soups and stews. Some blends of soybean product can be coupled with herbs and spices that are formed into patties and served as an entrée with some sort of simple garnish.

Health food is essentially foods that are relatively free of preservatives, contain a rich blend of the nutrients each person needs in the daily diet, and promote a healthier lifestyle that includes rejuvenation of the body and the mind. Selecting health foods for inclusion in the diet means sometimes reading labels and balancing the selection of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and meat substitutes so that meals are tasty, low in excess fat, and beneficial.

Here’s a great reminder of all the wonderful benefits of healthy eating:

Longer life - Research has proven those who at eat less saturated fats, processed foods, etc. live a longer and healthier life, and are less prone to illnesses and disease.

Happiness - There’s no doubt when you eat healthy foods you’ll suffer less from those terrible ups and downs that make us moody.

Vitality - Healthy eating along with exercise will give you tons of energy and make you feel “on top of the world.” Imagine bouncing around from one thing to the other without having to drink tons of coffee!

Great Skin - Everything we put into our bodies is reflected in our skin, hair, nails, teeth, etc. The way we age is partly due to genetics but it’s also due to our lifestyle choices. Healthy eating is our “miracle cure” for staying gorgeous.

Loose Weight - Have you ever seen an overweight person who eats healthy food and exercises? I mean TRULY eats healthy food… probably not. Unless you have a thyroid condition you’ll definitely loose weight and maintain it once you embark on healthy eating.

Health Facts

Health Facts And Global Warming

global warming effects

“If you look at climate change over the long term, it will profoundly affect the pillars of public health: water,sanitation, air quality and sufficient food.”

Dr. David Heymann, Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment, World Health Organization

Science has shown that global warming will affect human health across the world. From diminished air quality and degradation of food and water supplies to increasing levels of allergens and catastrophic weather events, we will experience a number of worsening health threats during our lifetimes.

Fortunately, urgent action can help us avoid the worst of these impacts. First, Congress must address global warming through mandatory legislation that reduces global warming pollution on the order of 80 percent by 2050. In addition, the national and local public health system must protect communities by preparing for eight of the most pressing health hazards associated with climate change.

1. Extreme Storms Will Affect Health and Infrastructure

Science tells us that global warming has contributed to more hurricanes and intense storms in the North Atlantic during the last several decades. Increased storm wind speeds and more intense rainfall are projected as the climate warms. More severe storms and floods can lead to drownings, injuries, and outbreaks of infectious disease. Storms also damage basic infrastructure, with moisture leading to mold growth that can exacerbate allergies and respiratory illnesses.

2. Heat Waves Will Lead to Increased Death and Illness

The frequency and duration of heat waves in the United States is projected to increase substantially because of global warming. As temperatures increase, so do the number of deaths and illnesses occurring from heat exhaustion or heatstroke, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Extreme heat waves cause the most harm among elderly and young children. City dwellers are at particular risk because of elevated temperatures in cities, known as the “urban heat island effect.”

3. Air Pollution Will Contribute to More Smog and Respiratory Illness

More than 100 million Americans currently live in counties with ozone levels above national EPA standards. Rising temperatures will increase ozone smog in many areas, especially in cities. Increasing levels of ground-level ozone are associated with increased hospital admissions for people with respiratory diseases such as asthma and will worsen the health of people suffering from cardiac or pulmonary disease.

4. Pollen Allergens Will Proliferate

Higher temperatures and increased levels of carbon dioxide may cause allergenic pollen season to start earlier, last longer, and be more intense. For example, higher levels of carbon dioxide can cause ragweed to produce 60 percent more pollen than normal. With increases in airborne pollen, those who suffer from seasonal allergies are likely to experience worse symptoms, including hayfever and asthma.

5. Mosquito- and Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases Will Spread More Widely

Climate change will affect the patterns of diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Lyme disease. Warming temperatures and increasing amounts of rainfall have been associated with increases in the occurrence and transmission of insect-borne diseases, and higher temperatures lead to more rapid development of dangerous pathogens within insect carriers. Warming temperatures allow these diseases to expand their range into new, once cooler, regions.

6. Drinking Water Will Become Increasingly Contaminated

Outbreaks of water-borne diarrheal diseases caused by parasites, like Giardia and Cryptosporidium, have been associated with heavy rainfall events, which are likely to become more frequent due to global warming. For example, recent cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh have been brought on by heavy rains. The impact of global warming on the safety of water supplies will be most severe in developing countries, where water treatment is less available.

7. Water and Food Supplies Will Be Threatened

Global warming is expected to worsen floods and droughts, threatening the availability of water for drinking and irrigation. Droughts diminish food variety, nutritional content, and availability-all of which can contribute to malnutrition, infectious diseases, and starvation. Warming ocean temperatures bring shifts in the geographic range of fish populations and can severely impact local food supplies. One analysis predicts that by the year 2060, there will be an additional 40 to 300 million people at risk of malnutrition from human-caused climate change. And global warming’s higher temperatures can increase the risk of food-borne illnesses.

8. There Will Be Large Numbers of Environmental Refugees

Sea-level rise will leave some areas uninhabitable, forcing people to flee their homes in coastal regions. The United Nations estimates that in the next 10 years there will be up to 50 million “environmental refugees”-people forced to migrate from their homes by a range of climate change-related environmental disasters like floods, droughts, and desertification. Health among these refugees will be threatened by associated increases in urban crowding, lack of water, and transmission of infectious diseases.

Protecting Ourselves from the Worst Impacts of Global Warming

The range of potential threats to health and life posed by global warming has never been clearer. We must also prepare the public health system to respond to the range of anticipated health threats that will accompany global warming.