Archives for Healthy Living

Get Screened for Heart Damaging Conditions

Get Screened for Heart Damaging Conditions

September 19, 2013 | No Comments

Nearly 800,000 Americans die each year from heart disease.  This is nearly 30 percent of all deaths.  And it is estimated that a quarter of these deaths, around 200,000, could have been avoided with proper screening and treatment for preventable causes. Physicians nowadays are aware of the risks associated with certain conditions and how critical it is to get them under control. Here are two conditions that should regularly get screened to keep a healthy heart. High blood pressure.  High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can have many causes and many devastating effects on the body.  The high pressure of
Read More

Broccoli Boasts Big Benefits

Broccoli Boasts Big Benefits

September 13, 2013 | No Comments

Not only is broccoli delicious in everything from soups to side dishes, it is incredibly healthy for you too.  Packed with nutrients and low in calories, it is one of the most tastiest and easiest-to-prepare super foods.  Here are a few things that you may not have known about broccoli: It’s packed with nutrients.  From Vitamin C to Folic Acid, this super food is a good source of a variety of vitamins and nutrients.  For those who do not eat dairy, broccoli is a wonderful source of osteoporosis-fighting calcium.  It also has loads of beta-carotene that promotes eye health and
Read More

Study Finds Genes from Mom Affect Aging

Study Finds Genes from Mom Affect Aging

September 9, 2013 | No Comments

Want to know why you’re aging so well?  You can look to your mother for the answer. Recent studies have shown that the genes that moms contribute to their children directly affect how well the child will age.  If the mom happens to pass on certain mutations, then the child will age more quickly. But whether or not your mother passed along good genes or bad, there are some ways to help yourself age well: Sleep.  When you sleep, your body has the chance to restore itself.  It also forms new connections and memories in the brain.  So if you
Read More

Are You a Super Ager?

Are You a Super Ager?

September 5, 2013 | No Comments

Do you have a brain that puts you in the pristine category of Super Ager?  If so, Northwestern University is looking for you!  They are going to begin researching exactly what makes a super ager so, well, super.  They will be doing brain scans, running tests, and eventually examining the brains of the super agers after they have passed. Do you have what it takes to do this study?  Northwestern scientists are being very selective and have only found 35 super agers out of the over 400 applicants. But even if you aren’t a super ager, what can you do
Read More

3 Ways To Overcome Social Isolation

3 Ways To Overcome Social Isolation

August 27, 2013 | No Comments

As more baby boomers enter their senior years, they are beginning to make choices as to how they want to live.  Many seniors choose to remain at home to maintain independence, but social isolation can become an unintended side effect.  Here are some ways to overcome it: Volunteer.  Getting active in your community is a great way to stay social while helping others.  Having trouble finding ways to help?  Offer to help keep up the gardens for the local park district.  Answer phones for your PBS telethon.  You can even read newspapers to the blind over the radio.  Have some
Read More

Step Your Way into Heart Health

Step Your Way into Heart Health

August 12, 2013 | No Comments

As we age, heart health becomes more important.  One out of four people will eventually die of heart disease.  So it is important to keep it strong and pumping well. And to do so is easy in theory.  We need to eat right, exercise more, and continue to do those things for the rest of our lives.  We begin well, with having salad for lunch, dutifully pedaling the exercise bicycle, and drinking only water.  But then we begin to slip back into our old habits.  Before we know it, we’re sitting on the couch watching T.V. while eating ice cream! 
Read More

Get Your Immune System In Shape

Get Your Immune System In Shape

August 8, 2013 | No Comments

Even though we think of summer as a healthy time of year, germs are still everywhere.  Your grandchild who hugs you may have a cold.  That grocery store clerk who rang up your veggies may have just gotten over the stomach flu.  We never know when we will next become ill. A great way to ensure that your body is ready to fight those germs off is to get your immune system in shape.  Here are some ways that you can do just that, according to nytimes.com: Eat foods with antioxidants.  Antioxidants protect cells from molecules that can be damaging. 
Read More

The Secret to Eating Right for a Senior

The Secret to Eating Right for a Senior

August 6, 2013 | No Comments

As people age, they need less food to keep them going.  This makes food choices even more imperative.  Gone are the days where you can get away with eating a slice of cake for lunch or a no-veggie dinner.  Balance and variety are keys to any senior’s diet.  Here are some tips to eating well as you age:  1. Protein.  Protein is essential for a healthy body.  It is found in large amounts in meats, dairy, beans, and tofu.  If you have a portion of meat that is the size of a deck of cards, that is 50% of your daily
Read More

Three Common Myths about Dehydration

Three Common Myths about Dehydration

July 31, 2013 | No Comments

Summer is the time of sunshine, fun outside, and barbecues.  It is also the most common time of dehydration.  Here are some myths surrounding dehydration. “I’ll know if I’m dehydrated.” Many people think that the main symptom of dehydration is thirst, so they will know they are dehydrated when they get really thirsty.  Although thirst is a major symptom, other signs such as headaches, nausea, and drowsiness can be overlooked.  If you have a headache in the summertime, try drinking some extra fluids.  You may just be dehydrated. “Hydrating is all about drinking water.” Depending on what you eat, you
Read More

Survey Says Seniors are Generally Happier

Survey Says Seniors are Generally Happier

July 29, 2013 | No Comments

Are seniors the happiest age group?  According to one study, it certainly appears that way! Participants spanning in age from 21 to 73, were asked to do a survey about their happiness, stress, and anxiety every day for two weeks.  The results were that seniors were generally happier and less stressed.  They even had less anxiety about shooting self-videos every day as part of the survey. What’s more is that the seniors felt more comfortable with the emotions they were feeling.  While the younger generations felt guilty for feeling stressed and anxious, the seniors accepted their emotions.  That alone could
Read More