Get Fit and Stay Young

Scientists Discover Cellular "Fountain of Youth"

2007-06-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

You read that correctly. Check this out:

Scientists Discover Cellular "Fountain of Youth".

Eat Less!

2007-06-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

I know you don't want to hear that, but it's worth a try. Many studies on animals have shown that eating slightly less than your body needs to maintain its weight ends up extending your life span (although there is still controversy over this diet works on humans or not).

Eating less reduces the risk of many of the most common diseases and complaints people have in old age, including extra weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

At the same time, a restricted-calorie diet should be used with caution, as there are possible negative consequences, including: loss of muscle mass, less bone density, anemia, dizzyness, and depression.

Here is some more information from the Mayo Clinic on restricted-calorie diets:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anti-aging/HQ00233

You Have Permission to Consume More Fat

2007-06-03T21:50:00.001-07:00

...the healthy kind of fat, that is. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease, lower your triglycerides (your bad cholesterol), help prevent arthritis, and are also important for brain functioning.

A good source of omega-3 is fish, especially fatty fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, and salmon. You can also get some omega-3 from tofu and other stuff made with soybeans, along with oils made from canola, flaxseed, and walnut.

There are also a variety of organic or all-natural fish oil supplements commercially available at health food stores.

Have you Tried Goji Berries?

2007-06-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Goji berries grow in remote regions of Tibet, China, and Mongolia. They have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, but it was only recently that scientists have discovered what makes them such a powerful supplement. They used to be known in the U.S. as "wolfberries," but health food stores have made them popular using their current more exotic-sounding name, which is a phonetic spelling of the Chinese pronunciation.

Goji berries are extremely rich in Vitamin C (they have more than oranges!), they are a source of at least 19 different essential amino acids (the only plant in the world with that many), and they contain a wide variety of antioxidants.

They also have Vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Dried berries taste good on cereal, or they can be made into a juice (often in combination with other fruits and vegetables).

The FDA wants to tell you what vitamins you can take -- or else!

2007-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

The FDA has a long history of trying to suppress alternative and natural medicines and supplements in the U.S. In the past, they've even used SWAT teams to raid and terrorize alternative clinics because people were taking vitamins there:
http://www.newstarget.com/z021791.html

Now they've really taken the cake -- they're proposing new legal guidelines that will reclassify all vitamins, supplements, herbs, and even vegetable juices as drugs under the regulatory power of the FDA.

Under these proposed guidelines, FDA "experts" (the same corrupt officials who reapproved Vioxx after it killed over 50,000 Americans) will decide whether herbs, supplements, vitamins or simple devices like massage stones are to be regulated as drugs and medical devices. If the FDA experts, in their infinite wisdom, decide that these things are to be reclassified, they will essentially be outlawed, stripped from the shelves, and regulated out of existence. Anyone who dares to manufacture, promote or sell such products may be branded a criminal and rounded up by armed FDA agents who have a well established history of suppressing natural medicine.

Read more here for more information. You can also download and read the entire FDA document as a .pdf file, and there's also a direct link to the FDA's website where you can leave comments.

Yoga!

2007-05-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yoga is a fantastic, low-impact way to keep yourself young. One of the core principles of yoga is that your age is determined by how flexible your spine is, rather than simply by how many years you've been hanging around the planet.

Yoga keeps your spine flexible, strengthens your muscles, tightens your skin all over, helps your posture, and relaxes you and takes away your stress.

Your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual levels will all function much better. As a result, you'll be happier, more relaxed, more productive, and live longer (and enjoy it). And you don't have to hurt your joints or injure yourself with jogging, weigh-lifting, or other high-impact activities.

There are classes for all levels, so you can start off easy and go from there. You can find classes at health clubs, the YMCA/YWCA, community centers, and other places.

Green Tea: the Miracle Plant?

2007-05-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

You may have heard about the many health benefits of green tea -- at least, the Chinese have known about them for 4,000 years.

Both the National Cancer Institute and Purdue University have conducted studies that show that the antioxidants in green tea are great at killing cancer cells, without harming healthy tissue around them.

Green tea also lowers your cholesterol, helps your circulation, and strengthens your immune system. It even prevents tooth decay, since it kills the bacteria that forms plaque on your teeth.

How much green tea should you drink? Apparently, you can't drink too much, and the more you drink, the better and stronger its effects will be. Some say as many as ten cups a day, while others think two cups is enough. Four or five cups is a good average to shoot for.

Free Report on Natural Anti-Aging Methods

2007-05-28T21:44:00.002-07:00

If it feels like the years are whizzing by, join the club. But don't think that there's nothing you can do about it.

Download this special free report on how you can sloo-o-ow down the aging process, look and feel younger, and live an active and healthy life in your golden years:

Natural Anti-Aging Methods Free Report

Sugar Substitutes Can Be Worse Than the Real Thing

2007-02-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

Since the 1970s, large food producers have been putting high fructose corn syrup into food as a cheaper substitute for sugar. Corn syrup can be found in a wide range of products, including soda pop, fruit drinks, cereal, bread, flavored yogurt, and others.

Now it turns out that consuming food or beverages with high fructose corn syrup can be bad for your health and for your diet:

http://sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=486

Get Rid of That Old Crap Already

2007-01-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

This isn't the prettiest or most pleasant subject around, but colon cleansing is one thing to consider if you want to live a long and healthy life. Of course, the best way to have a clean and healthy colon is to eat right in the first place (lots of fiber, little or no red meat/dairy/sugar/processed foods).

There are countless pills, powders, and other products on the market that claim to effectively clean out your colon for you. It can be quite confusing, and some substances definitely work better than others. One popular cleanser is psyllium husks -- get the whole disgusting story here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/20367/colon_cleanse_psyllium_husk_for_detoxification.html.

2007-01-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hormones are those powerful chemical messengers that our bodies produce that tell our cells what to do. They are also responsible for regulating every organ and major body system. Hormones affect everything from your ability to fall asleep to your mood, thinking ability, cholesterol level, response to stress, and the speed at which you age.

As we age, hormone levels decline, creating a severe hormone imbalance that may contribute to many of the diseases associated with aging including depression, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, and loss of libido.

Women are especially vulnerable to decreasing hormonal levels as they age, becoming at risk for heart disease, Alzheimer's, and osteoporosis. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent these problems:

http://www.womenshealth.com/hormones_aging.html

How Quick Should You Fast?

2007-01-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

Fasting has a long history in several of the world's major religions as a spiritual practice. But does it improve your health? There is controversy about this in mainstream scientific circles, although many alternative healers swear by the benefits of careful and controlled fasting.

Some of the benefits include rapid weight loss without hunger pangs, detoxifying the body, and giving the digestive system a rest.

Here are some more benefits, as well as some links for further reading about fasting:

http://cinque.getwebspace.com/facts.html

The Most Effective Exercises for Burning Off Those Love Handles

2007-01-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

For best results in getting yourself fit, a combination of aerobic and resistance training is the most effective.

Aerobic exercise increases the strength and effectiveness of your heart and lungs, while resistance training (weight-lifting and similar exercise) is what builds, tones, and firms your muscles.

There are so many options to choose from these days, that everyone should be able to find at least one or two things they enjoy doing. Read the rest of the story:

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Best-Exercise-for-Weight-Loss?&id=35405

Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick

2006-12-31T21:41:00.000-08:00

Many New Year's resolutions are related to health and fitness -- but how many of us actually carry them out? There are some easy steps to help ensure that we make resolutions that we can stick to:

http://menshealth.about.com/od/fitness/a/fitness_resolut.htm

The 10 Commandments of Holiday Weight Control

2006-12-29T21:48:00.000-08:00

As reported at http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/diet/nutrition/articles/0,,284558_602594,00.html

1. Thou shalt step on the scale once a week.

2. Thou shalt not skip thy workouts.

3. Honor thy need for sweets.

4. Thou shalt never say, "I blew it at lunch, so I may as well pig out at dinner."

5. Thou shalt prepare thyself for partying by taking the edge off thy hunger.

6. Thou shalt go easy at the buffet table. Go up and survey the spread first.

7. Thou shalt keep thy body properly hydrated.

8. Thou shalt make sensible substitutions in thy favorite holiday dishes.

9. Thou shalt always include a steamed vegetable in thy holiday meals.

10. Thou shalt not hoard leftovers.

10 Foods That are Health Horrors

2006-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

The ten foods that give nutritionists nightmares:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/129/117303.htm

Ever tried deep-fried cola? Or how about this concoction from a tavern in Atlanta: A hot dog padded with cheese and half pound of ground beef. That's dropped in the fryer, then loaded onto a hoagie roll and topped with chili, bacon, onions and a fried egg?

(Hey, don't yell at me, I'm just the messenger.)

How Exactly Do We Age?

2006-12-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

Scientists have spent years researching this question, and in recent years have narrowed it down from over 300 theories to just a handful.

They've loosely divided these remaining theories into two categories: biological processes, and wear and tear. So far, we don't have a lot of control over the first category, which deals with how our genes and cells act (but that could change, fast).

But the second category deals with damage from food, drink, smoking, stressm and the environment. Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/living_longer_science.html

Conquering Aging With Cloning?

2006-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, it sounds far-fetched, but advances in cloning technology are moving forward with exciting speed. Studies now find that cloning can reverse cellular aging.

Read the whole story here:

http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/apr2000_clon_01.html

Did You Know That Broccoli is Good For Your Skin?

2006-12-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

...I didn't, either. But it turns out broccoli is loaded with chlorophyll, which helps keep carcinogens from binding to the DNA in your liver and other important organs.

In fact, broccoli contains numerous phytochemicals that are anti-carcinogenic. Some of them block those nasty free radicals, some of them help prevent breast cancer, and broccoli even contains an antioxidant known as sulforafan, which cleans out cancer cells from your body.

Pretty amazing stuff! Here's the whole story:

http://www.skinenergizer.com/nutrition/broccoli.html

Are You Getting Hot Yet?

2006-12-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

There are many different styles of yoga, although in the U.S. at least most classes share some basic similarities -- usually putting yourself into a series of poses that help develop strength and flexibility.

You may have heard of Bikram Yoga, which has been gaining popularity in the U.S. in recent years. Classes are held in a room that has been heated to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat allows your body to be more flexible, and the sweating helps eliminate toxins from your body. Here's more information about Bikram Yoga:

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/styles-of-yoga/bikram-yoga.asp

Here's a typically ironic mainstream media viewpoint about Bikram (from the Time Magazine website):

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,106355,00.html

Some Effective Anti-Aging Strategies

2006-12-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some useful links I've come across recently:

Regular yoga practice is one of the easiest and most effective ways I've found to take the pounds off, keep your body flexible, and keep your mind relaxed.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/12/1738_50707

Here's good advice on what to eat to stay young:

http://www.gourmet.gr/mediterranean-diet/health/show.asp?gid=3&nodeid=89&arid=6393

(Any diet that includes daily chocolate and red wine can't be all bad!)

And finally, don't forget the mental aspect of staying young:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Aging-in-a-Mental-Straightjacket?&id=363042