To Live Longer, Exercise!

We are all aware of the benefits of exercise. We know that regular exercise helps us make our bodies fit and healthy. However, as they approach middle age, many people find it more difficult to find time for exercise.

A new research has been conducted to find how changes in physical activity levels after middle age influence mortality. Researchers found that "Increased physical activity prolongs life among middle aged and older men, though there might be a period of 5-10 years before an effect is seen on total mortality, write the authors. This effect is the same as smoking cessation. They suggest further research should investigate whether and to what extent increased physical activity affects mortality in the period soon after the change, while the effects in other age groups and in women also need to be studied."

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Chemicals and Infertility

Infertility is very difficult to deal with. The agony and pain of waiting to conceive a baby can put the couple in a very depressing situation. In a recent study, researchers found out that your cookware and cleaning supplies may be one of the causes for a delay to have a baby!

According to the researchers of Human Reproduction, chemicals called perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs for short, might be linked to delays in getting pregnant.

According to one of the authors, Joseph K. McLaughlin, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn. "We need to know more about these chemicals because they are long lasting and have had effects in animals."

You can find PFC in your kitchen or almost everywhere. PFC's can be found in shampoos, floor wax, food wrapping, carpet treatments and other cleaning products. Researchers found that for higher levels of PFCs in the blood, the odds of infertility increased from 70 to 134 percent for one kind of PFC called PFOS, while another PFC called PFOA was linked to a 60 to 154 percent increase in the chance of infertility.

Although the use of PFC isn't banned yet, it is important that we take extra precaution. Try to avoid using Teflon frying pans, and avoid using scotch guard that contains the compounds. As a precaution should think twice when using plastic to store food.


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How To Select A Gym

You probably receive a lot of invites, postcards and marketing materials from various gyms and spas, inviting you to join and use their facilities. It is important that you know how to properly select a gym that would fit your needs.

It is best if you compare various gyms as well as their facilities and their services. To help you choose the right gym, here are some questions that you should ask yourself before you decide:

• In the past, did you use one or two pieces of equipment or did you take advantage of everything that was available? If you use the club to ride the one stationary bike in the corner you may be subsidizing your fellow members if you don't use the other equipment.
  
  
• How are you motivated? If you are motivated by external objects or people (extrinsic motivation) you will need a club that provides trainers, classes and other members of your age to work out with.
  
  
• Ready to exercise and bathe in front of others? There are a few clubs where individual stalls are provided.
  
  
• How much per day are you willing to pay for a place to workout? What is the value to you?
  
  
• How do you feel? Think about before, during and after. All three emotional states are important factors to help you continue with the program. You should look forward to going to this place to workout. You should enjoy the people you meet there, even if all you do is say hello and goodbye. You should be in a relaxed state when you leave.
  
  
• Are you also using the club for social interaction? If not and you are the self-motivating type, you may do well with home exercising equipment. If so, there's no doubt that seeing others exercise is a great motivator and can reinforce the reason why you're there.

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Second Hand Smoking Could Be Bad For Your Brain

We already know the negative side effects of smoking. Now a new study has shown that second hand smoking could affect your brain.

According to the study conducted by advance online edition of BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal), cognitive impairment was more common among passive smokers. People who never smoked were found to be 70% more cognitively impaired than smokers.

Mark Eisner, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said that "This study raises the strong possibility that secondhand smoke causes cognitive decline, but further research is needed to establish a causal effect."

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What Makes Us Look Older?

What makes us look older? Genes play a very important role in our appearance: the color of our hair, our nose, hands and even feet. But as we grow older, our genes also play a crucial role on how well and how fast we age. We've all met or seen people who just seem to have the genes for "slow aging". However, our behavior is also a big factor. Habits such as smoking, drinking, bad eating have great influence on how early those aging signs come around.

According to the results of a recent study by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, non-genetic factors are the villains for wrinkles, lines and blotches. Stress, jobs, or even family problems can also contribute to the lines in your forehead.

According to Richard Winer, MD, an Atlanta psychiatrist, "When people are depressed, there is a tendency not to take care of yourself, and maybe to smoke and drink more," he tells WebMD. "Generally speaking, when people are happier, they tend to look younger. Colleagues have noticed the same thing."

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Women May Have A Hard Time Saying No To Food

According to a new brain research, it is more difficult for women to resist their favorite foods than men.

Research was conducted with 13 women and 10 men. Their favorite foods were presented to them, they were allowed to smell and taste the food but not eat. While this was being conducted, PET scans examined their brain activity.

The brain scans suggested that women's brain were still acting as if they were hungry even if they thought they weren't.

According to Dr. Gene-Jack Wang,a senior scientist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y., "Some people cannot inhibit themselves, and we need to help those people."

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Anti-Aging Benefits Strength Training

As our bodies grow older, our metabolism gets much slower, increasing our body fat. According to American Institute for Cancer Research, Winter 2000 newsletter, "the average 25 year old woman has 25% body fat, while the average 65 year old woman has 43% body fat."

Strength training is an important factor to our aging bodies. It helps keep us healthy and slows down the aging process. As the years go by, we tend to be less active, gain more weight and lose muscle mass. Therefore our body fat increases as we age.


Benefits of strength training include:

- A better body
- Tighter skin
- Increased functional strength for our daily activities and sports.
- Help relieve and manage arthritic symptoms by strengthening the supporting muscles that surround our joints.
- Increased bone density.

So, make sure to make time for strength training, for a healthier and a younger looking you!

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Is Recession Making You Fat?

We are now facing the biggest economic struggle since the great depression. Health professionals say that the economy will definitely impact Americans health as well. More and more Americans will definitely cut down their budget on food.

A lot of researche have previously linked obesity to low income. Families often cut down on purchasing healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Because of financial problems, more families would go for lower priced junk foods than healthy foods.

Here are ways to help you save money on groceries:

Stick to your budget on fresh foods. Majority of your budget should be allotted for meat, dairy and other healthy products.

Avoid expensive processed foods. Refrain from buying cookies, chips and other junk foods.

Go for a discount grocery store. Now that you have limited budget, try visiting discount stores that sells items on discounted prices.

Visit farmer's market and ask for left over produce - you can ask for produce that are left overs. You can still get some good stuff out of it.

There are still more ways to eat and live a healthy lifestyle even during this time of financial crisis.

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Saw Palmetto: Men's Best Friend!

Saw Palmetto is the primary herb that helps men keep their prostate healthy. It has become very popular because of its ability to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a also known as the enlargement of the prostate.

Several studies have been conducted recently and determined that saw palmetto provides relief for short term urinary symptoms as well as inflammation of the prostate and cell proliferation.

Aside from that, researchers found that it also promotes hair growth in men, especially for those with thinning hair or baldness, with no side effects.

Saw palmetto is also known as Serenoa repens / sabal palm. It is a palm tree that grows in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. The berries of the plant provide the therapeutic compound for prostate treatment. Overall, this prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT.

This also helps relieves symptoms for urinary hesitancy, weak stream, nocturia, incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Saw Palmetto may be the new "man's best friend"

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Survival Guide for Valentines Day

Valentine's Day is just behind the corner and for most of us, Valentine's Day is chocolate day! Whether you are in a relationship or single, thas is the one day of the year when it is very difficult to avoid sweets. Here are some tips on how to "break up" with chocolate.

If you are craving for chocolate it is better to eat it after a full meal rather than eating it with an empty stomach. Go for dark and rich chocolate instead. Dar and rich chocolate can help you take in another bar compared to sweet chocolate like Hershey kisses.

It is also suggested that you keep healthy snacks such as fruits when you are hungry. Control yourself to a number of sweets per day. This will help you reduce your calories.

When craving for an ice-cream, choose a low-fat frozen yogurt instead. This will help you reduce calories 50-70%.


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Less Sleep = More Colds

Getting at least 8 hours of sleep is essential for staying fit and healthy. In addition to that, not getting enough sleep may result to higher risks of acquiring diseases.

A new research shows that people who don't get enough sleep have a higher tendency of catching common cold after being exposed to a cold causing virus.
Aside from the quantity of sleep, it is also important to get quality sleep.

According to a post at Medicine.net, the research showed that those who slept an average of less than seven hours per night were nearly three times more likely to develop a common cold than those who reported eight or more hours per night in the weeks leading up to the experiment.

Research also proves that those who spent 92% of their time in bed asleep were five and a half times more likely to develop a common cold than those who spent 98% or more of their time in bed sleeping.

To help strengthen our immune system, make sure that you get complete 8 hours of good quality sleep each night and you will soon reap the benefits of a healthier you.

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How To Avoid Back Pains When Shoveling

Back pain is very common during the winter season. This may be due to the strenuous shoveling of snow in the driveway. Here are some tips that will help you avoid back pains while shoveling

- Choose the right kind of shovel. When purchasing a shovel, make sure that their handles are curved with plastic and lightweight blades. This will help you keep your back straight when lifting the snow off the ground.

- Wear appropriate clothing. When shoveling make sure you wear a hat and dress in layers that will help you stay warm.

- Do some stretching. Shoveling is a physical activity. Similar to exercise, before engaging into a physical activity, it is important to warm up and stretch that muscles.

Here are some tips and techniques when shoveling: Spacing your hands when lifting makes it easier. Space your feet shoulder-width apart. Avoid bending your waist but your knees instead. Tighten your abdominal muscles when lifting. Keep the shovel close to your body. Lessen the distance when carrying the snow.

These techniques will definitely lessen the probability of back pains. So next time you shovel that pile of snow in the driveway, make sure you remember these techniques.

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Gardening Benefits

We all know that physical activities are beneficial to our health regardless of age. But elderly people may not have the strength to engage to more physical activities. A great alternative to that is gardening.

A study was conducted to find out if gardening would meet the physical recommendation set by CDC, and to determine the average time spent in gardening on a weekly basis. Researchers found out that the elderly spend an average of 33 hours per week during the months of May but eventually decreases during June and July to 15 hours per week.

Researchers found that gardening makes a great alternative to meet the physical activity recommendations by CDC. However because gardening may be seasonal, it is advisable that elderly find another alternative during the months that gardening is not an option such as during the winter season.

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Do You Have Tinnitus?

Do you suffer from ringing in the ears? There are 12 million Americans who also suffer from Tinnitus. This condition is very difficult to deal with because it becomes annoying after some time.

This condition is caused by damaged microscopic endings of the hearing nerve found in the inner ear. This may be caused by allergy, tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, hypertension or head / neck injury. Sedatives, anti-depressants or anti-inflammatory antibiotics can also trigger tinnitus.

Here are some things that you can do:
* Stay away from loud noises and sounds
* Reduce your salt intake as salt impairs blood circulation
* Avoid coffee, tea, cola and tobacco
* Exercise regularly
* Get enough rest; avoid become fatigued
* Sometimes using a fan or some other type of white noise when you sleep will help to drown out the ringing
* Practice breathing exercises or relaxation techniques such as meditation, as stress can worsen tinnitus

You can also try taking Ginkgo to help increase circulation of the blood in the head area and neck. Consult your doctor, it is better to have a licensed audiologist evaluate your condition.

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Getting Back to Exercise Habits

A lot of people find themselves falling out of their exercise habits. More often than not, once that happens it is much more difficult to get back on track. Aaron M. Potts, a personal development blogger shared some ways on how to get back into the exercise habit.

-Use it as a time for yourself. We easily get caught up with the business of life, work and family and we often tend to forget to give ourselves time. You can just allot at least 30 minutes of your time daily for exercise. Tell everyone that this is your time for yourself and that only extreme emergency situations can interfere you during your "alone time"

- Give your fat clothes away. Most of the time it is much easier for us to just lay back and revert back to our old eating habits if we have "fat clothes" available in our closets. Instead of giving away your "thin clothes" give away the "fat clothes". Your small clothes will serve as a motivation for you to loose weight and to drive you to keep going.

- Reward yourself. It can be a simple night out dinner or that very expensive gadget you've been eyeing on for months. Rewarding yourself everytime you shake off that extra pounds will help you keep going.

Loosing weight and staying focused on your goal requires discipline and hard work. Its not impossible to achieve this, you just have to stay motivated and focused on what your end result will be. Keep going, you can do it.

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Tips on How to Avoid Winter Sports Injuries

During the winter season, there are a lot of sports activities to enjoy. Yet this is also a time where there are a high incident of fatal-sports related accidents. Here are some facts about winter soprts injuries from National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

CPSC Winter Head/Neck Injury Statistics (Estimated)

2007 Head Injuries

Snow Boarding: 6,681
Sleds: 5,701
Ice Hockey: 5,483
Snow Skiing: 3,738
Ice Skating: 3,703
Snowmobiles: 578
Snow Tubing: 542
Toboggans: 126

2007 Neck Injuries

Snow Skiing: 1,385
Snow Boarding: 1,197
Ice Hockey: 649
Sleds: 615
Snowmobiles: 464
Snow Tubing: 84
Ice Skating: 48

Here are some ways and tips on how to avoid winter-sports related injuries:
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) offers this advice: Don’t risk your neck for that fleeting moment of fun, because it takes only one moment for a life to change forever. Wear a helmet and follow other safety precautions to help put a freeze on winter sports injuries.

- Use protective head gear that is approved by the ASTM for a particular winter sports
- Wear appropriate gear or clothing
- Avoid participating in sports if you are under the influence of alcohol, ill or tired.
- Do not participate in outdoor sports when the weather conditions pose a serious hazard.
- Drive snowmobiles safely and slowly
- Ice skate only in areas designated for skating, and be sure to check the ice for cracks and debris.
-Use only sleds that can be steered, and never go down a slope head first.
- Follow all posted signs and warnings on ski slopes, sledding hills and ice skating rinks.

Engaging in winter sports is definitely fun but don't forget to practice safety precautions tp avoid injuries.



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Enhance Your Brainpower

New Year marks new goals, new resolutions. And working on achieving our goals means utilizing our brain more. Here are some ways on how to enhance your brainpower:

Eat Right.
Make sure you include the following in your daily meals: walnuts, sardines, wild salmon, herring, omega-3 eggs and flaxseeds. Also it is important to eat protein every morning to promote brain function.

Take Supplements
We may not be eating a well-balanced diet each day and failure to do so affects our brain as well. That is why it is important to take the necessary supplements to enhance our brain. Multi-vitamins, omega-3 fat fish and vitamin b, folic acid are just a few of the supplements that you can take.

Get Enough Sleep
To get a good night sleep, avoid taking in food that has caffeine, cold medications alcohol and even sugar before going to bed. These may interfere with sleep. Take a hot bath, and clear your mind from worries and problems.

Exercise
Exercise creates a huge impact in our brains. It helps improve learning, memory and even concentration. So make sure you put in 30 minutes of exercise in your daily activities.

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Tips On How To Avoid Falls

Falling can cause serious injury especially to our elderly. That is why it is very important that we know how to prevent it. Here are some ways and tips on how to avoid it:

1. Place your phone thats accessible from the floor in case you fall. This is so you can easily call for help when needed.

2. Install safety devices such as bars in slippery areas like bathroom and kitchen.

3.Get rid of potential hazards such as rugs, wires and clutter

4. Replace slippery floors with materials that allow good traction

5. Train your pets to stay away from your feet when you walk

Engaging into a regular exercise will also help enhance and maintain your bone and muscle strength. Exercises such as T'ai chi and Yoga will help you maintain balance and coordination. In addition, eating a well balance diet will definitely help you stay fit and healthy.

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A Must-See Video

Here is super short film that has a great message to it.

And I guarantee it'll make you smile.

http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/scc/ecs/public/main/validationMovie.html

Anti-Aging Herbs and Spices - Must Have in Your Diet

Can what you eat help you reverse aging?

Yes you can. And a very simple step to do so it to choose foods that are loaded with spices.

In an article at The Huttington Post, Dr. Eric Braverman says that "Spices and herbs create a more thermogenic diet." They help increase your metabolism. It also helps maximize nutrient density. By putting in flavor and spice in your meals you are "upgrading" your food without adding calories.

There are also spices that help increase your overall feeling of fullness and satiety so you'll take in less food. Watching your salt intake. Excessive salt retains more fluid in your body.

Here are some spices and their benefits:

* rosemary and basil for their anti-inflammatory power
* cumin and sage for their dementia-fighting power
* cayenne and cinnamon for their obesity-fighting power
* coriander and cinnamon for their sugar regulating powers
* lemon grass, nutmeg, bay leaves and saffron for their calming effects on your mood
* turmeric for its cancer fighting power
* oregano for its fungus-beating power
* garlic, mustard seed and chicory for their heart-pumping power
* basil and thyme for their skin-saving power
* turmeric, basil, cinnamon, thyme, saffron, and ginger for their immune-boosting power
* coriander, rosemary, cayenne, allspice and black pepper for their depression-busting power

So next time you cook for dinner, spice up! That is one of the keys to reverse aging.

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