Healthy Living

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Aging gracefully through healthy living

   
It seems that American consumers are constantly reminded to live in fear of  their mortality through the media these days. Television commercials, magazine advertisements, and billboards hawk a steady flow of products and medicines that claim to slow down or completely erase the aging process. Now let's be real, they all can't possibly be true. But ask yourself:  would you want to actually stop or slow down the natural aging process? In what sense? Well, if you answered yes or maybe then you might be interested to know that
diet and exercise can do just that.Exercise: 
I know you've seen them: those eternally youthful elderly folks flitting around your gym looking spry and being 20 years younger than you expected. Do you think it's a coincidence that the look that good AND exercise? Definitely not! According to the textbook Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, exercise has been shown to :
  • Reduce Cardiovascular diseases ( nothing says old like a heart attack)
  • Reduce the risk of some cancers including colon and breast cancers.
  • Improve mental functioning ( Alzheimer's in your family? get moving)
  • Increase bone density and lessened risk of adult bone loss in the future (blonde, short, and small boned? pump that iron!)
  • Give a more youthful appearance, healthy skin, and improved muscle tone!
  • Promote faster wound healing and resistance to infection.
  • Give a feeling of vigor and belief in one's abilities.
  • Increased muscular strength and endurance while decreasing depression.
Simply put, the "use it or lose it " mantra is especially true in physical fitness. Why walk if you can run? Balance is key but why sit still if you can move? why waste your body's potential in favor of sedentary living? Ask yourself: if you feel like moving around is difficult now, what will it be like when you get older?
Diet:



If you have eyes and ears then you have seen and heard the rumors about "super-foods" that can stave of everything from aging to illness. How much truth is behind those claims and what are super foods? Well, they are defined as those unprocessed foods rich in anti-oxidants . Click here to learn the super-foods!


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