October 2010
Notes from Josh www.MensVitalityCenter.com
When most of us think about aging gracefully, we think of wrinkles, hair color, and weight gain, but past a certain age, there are much more serious threats to our well-being than looks. So what’s the secret to getting your mind and body through old age in good health?
1. Eat Grains, Vegetables, and Fish. To learn about the lifestyle of the old and healthy, many researchers look to Okinawa, Japan, which boasts the world’s highest concentration of healthy 100-year-olds. Their diets consist mainly of grains, vegetables, and fish, and are low in eggs, meat, and dairy.
2. Avoid Soda. Stick to water and juice, and stay away from sodas (even diet). There are plenty of reasons to stay away from soda, but in the end this is on the list because the world’s oldest people just don’t drink pop. Caffeine and alcohol aren’t great when consumed in large quantities, but when consumed in moderation hey can actually be beneficial.
3. Indulge Every Once In a While. We all know which foods to avoid, but researchers say that some of the world’s oldest people have certain indulgences – a scoop of ice cream, a brownie – and doctors say this is good practice. Avoid eating red meat and sugar too often, but small portions of your favorite foods or drinks can have a good impact on your overall well-being.
4. Get Up and Get Busy. Sleeping in and watch soap operas through your retirement may sound like a fun plan, but the world’s oldest people say they’ve kept to routines of getting up early and filling their day with activities and chores – not just relaxing.
5. Walk. Your personal trainer would love you to go to aerobics every day, but doctors say that your workouts don’t have to be intense to have big benefits. Walking regularly, taking the stairs, and doing active chores like taking out the garbage or carrying groceries can have great benefits. And every 100-year-old that Forbes interviewed reported that they make a point of walking every day.
6. Do Puzzles. The crossword may seem like a trivial distraction, but habitually partaking in focused activities like puzzles, trivia games, or word games helps keep you mentally fit – an important part of aging healthfully.
7. Stay Married and Keep Strong Friendships. Studies show that married people live longer, and they also show that having strong friendships and friends with whom you speak on a daily basis makes a big impact on your emotional health.
8. Love Your Work. Americans now spend at least one-third of their time at work (and for many of us, more than that), and if you’re unhappy or stressed by what you do, it can have serious impacts on your emotional and physical health. Loving what you do and avoiding constant stress triggers can make a huge difference in terms of how long you stick around.
9. Maintain Spirituality. We’re not saying you have to be a bible-thumper in order to see old age, but studies have shown that 63% of those who live to 100 maintain a regular spiritual practice – whether faith-based or not.
10. Don’t Harbor Regrets. Living a simple life surrounded by friends and family is what got many of the people interviewed by Forbes to their triple digits. Minimizing emotional stress and drama is a good policy to live to old age by.
www.MensVitalityCenter.com
When most of us think about aging gracefully, we think of wrinkles, hair color, and weight gain, but past a certain age, there are much more serious threats to our well-being than looks. So what’s the secret to getting your mind and body through old age in good health?
1. Eat Grains, Vegetables, and Fish. To learn about the lifestyle of the old and healthy, many researchers look to Okinawa, Japan, which boasts the world’s highest concentration of healthy 100-year-olds. Their diets consist mainly of grains, vegetables, and fish, and are low in eggs, meat, and dairy.
2. Avoid Soda. Stick to water and juice, and stay away from sodas (even diet). There are plenty of reasons to stay away from soda, but in the end this is on the list because the world’s oldest people just don’t drink pop. Caffeine and alcohol aren’t great when consumed in large quantities, but when consumed in moderation hey can actually be beneficial.
3. Indulge Every Once In a While. We all know which foods to avoid, but researchers say that some of the world’s oldest people have certain indulgences – a scoop of ice cream, a brownie – and doctors say this is good practice. Avoid eating red meat and sugar too often, but small portions of your favorite foods or drinks can have a good impact on your overall well-being.
4. Get Up and Get Busy. Sleeping in and watch soap operas through your retirement may sound like a fun plan, but the world’s oldest people say they’ve kept to routines of getting up early and filling their day with activities and chores – not just relaxing.
5. Walk. Your personal trainer would love you to go to aerobics every day, but doctors say that your workouts don’t have to be intense to have big benefits. Walking regularly, taking the stairs, and doing active chores like taking out the garbage or carrying groceries can have great benefits. And every 100-year-old that Forbes interviewed reported that they make a point of walking every day.
6. Do Puzzles. The crossword may seem like a trivial distraction, but habitually partaking in focused activities like puzzles, trivia games, or word games helps keep you mentally fit – an important part of aging healthfully.
7. Stay Married and Keep Strong Friendships. Studies show that married people live longer, and they also show that having strong friendships and friends with whom you speak on a daily basis makes a big impact on your emotional health.
8. Love Your Work. Americans now spend at least one-third of their time at work (and for many of us, more than that), and if you’re unhappy or stressed by what you do, it can have serious impacts on your emotional and physical health. Loving what you do and avoiding constant stress triggers can make a huge difference in terms of how long you stick around.
9. Maintain Spirituality. We’re not saying you have to be a bible-thumper in order to see old age, but studies have shown that 63% of those who live to 100 maintain a regular spiritual practice – whether faith-based or not.
10. Don’t Harbor Regrets. Living a simple life surrounded by friends and family is what got many of the people interviewed by Forbes to their triple digits. Minimizing emotional stress and drama is a good policy to live to old age by.
www.MensVitalityCenter.com
Flu Season:
Seasonal Flu Versus Pandemic Flu – Tips to Stay Healthy This SeasonThe flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses.In the US, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring.Sometimes a new type of flu virus may emerge that people have no resistance to.When people have no resistance to a flu it can spread more easily from person to person around the world in a very short time, causing serious illness and death. This kind of flu is called “Pandemic Flu”. The two types of flu are very similar in symptoms:
Prevention of Dehydration:
The average person loses between two and three litres of water a day through the breath, sweat, and urine. This number can increase or decrease based on the types of activities that a person engages in. Heavy exercise can cause a body to lose more than 2 litres an hour! To prevent dehydration you simply need to replenish the liquids that are lost throughout the day. Many resources and sites will tell you to drink 8 glasses of water a day, or give you a set number of litres to drink but the honest truth is that every BODY is different and only you will know how much your BODY needs. Only YOU can know how much water YOU need to be at your best. Thats right, WATER. Not soda, not juice, not sugar-drinks. Pay attention to your fluid loss and take special care to replenish it as it is being lost. By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated - you want to avoid becoming thirsty in the first place. Pay attention to the color of your urine, dark urine is usually an indicator that you are dehydrated. Drink more water, especially infants, children and the elderly.
General Health Tips:
Here's some miscellaneous fun and interesting trivia about your general health and body that you may not have known. Test Your Knowledge and Share What You Learn!
Seasonal Flu Versus Pandemic Flu – Tips to Stay Healthy This SeasonThe flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses.In the US, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring.Sometimes a new type of flu virus may emerge that people have no resistance to.When people have no resistance to a flu it can spread more easily from person to person around the world in a very short time, causing serious illness and death. This kind of flu is called “Pandemic Flu”. The two types of flu are very similar in symptoms:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Extreme tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle aches and pains
- Stomach problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Prevention of Dehydration:
The average person loses between two and three litres of water a day through the breath, sweat, and urine. This number can increase or decrease based on the types of activities that a person engages in. Heavy exercise can cause a body to lose more than 2 litres an hour! To prevent dehydration you simply need to replenish the liquids that are lost throughout the day. Many resources and sites will tell you to drink 8 glasses of water a day, or give you a set number of litres to drink but the honest truth is that every BODY is different and only you will know how much your BODY needs. Only YOU can know how much water YOU need to be at your best. Thats right, WATER. Not soda, not juice, not sugar-drinks. Pay attention to your fluid loss and take special care to replenish it as it is being lost. By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated - you want to avoid becoming thirsty in the first place. Pay attention to the color of your urine, dark urine is usually an indicator that you are dehydrated. Drink more water, especially infants, children and the elderly.
General Health Tips:
- Drink 8-10 Glasses of Water a Day. If you normally do NOT add salt to your food, you may need to add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to your diet as a result of drinking this amount. This cleans out toxins and helps the body function much better.
- Add Movement to Your Life. Park further so you walk between the car and the stores, take steps instead of elevators, and take longer routes to your desk.
- Think Positively.
- Take Time to Relax. Allow yourself to destress at least once a day.
- Sleep 6-10 hours a night (or until you are well rested).
- Wash your hands often. Minimally wash hands before eating and after using the restroom.
- Eat a large variety of fresh produce or supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals.
- Believe is Something. Studies have found that people who have faith live longer.
- Eat vegetables every day. Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Many are known to prevent various diseases including cancer.
- Drink water before, during and after exercise. Thirst lags behind your body's need for water. So drink water early and often.
- Laugh. Let humor enter your life. One of the easiest ways of being healthier is to find a way to relax more and have more fun.
- Find a way to bring joy into your life. Treat yourself to long baths or help a neighbor. Find a way to smile and help others smile.
Here's some miscellaneous fun and interesting trivia about your general health and body that you may not have known. Test Your Knowledge and Share What You Learn!
- Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
- You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
- Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.
- All US Presidents have worn glasses. Some just didn't like being seen wearing them in public.
- The average human body has 14 to 18 square feet of skin.
- The skin of the armpits can harbor up to 516,000 bacteria per square inch, while drier areas, such as the forearm, have only about 13,000 bacteria per square inch.
- A bird's eye takes up about 50 percent of its head; our eyes take up about 5 percent of our head. To be comparable to a bird's eyes, the eyes of a human being would have to be the size of baseballs.
- A boy’s voice breaks during puberty because his vocal cords are lengthening. Up until that point, girl’s and boy’s vocal cords are the same length.
- The strongest bone in the body, the thigh bone, is hollow. Ounce for ounce, it has a greater pressure tolerance and bearing strength than a rod of equivalent size in cast steel.
- Most people lose half of their taste buds by sixty years of age.
- The average human body holds enough: sulfur to kill all the fleas on an average dog, potassium to fire a toy cannon, carbon to make 900 pencils, fat to make 7 bars of soap, 10 gallons of water, and phosphorous to make 2,200 match heads.
- The temporal lobe is the area of the brain that allows humans to hear and understand people speaking.
- The average human eyelash lives about 150 days.
- The average human has about 10,000 taste buds — however, they're not all on the tongue. Some are under the tongue; some are on the inside of the cheeks; some are on the roof of the mouth. Some can even be found on the lips — these are especially sensitive to salt.
- The thumbnail grows the slowest; the middle nail grows the fastest.
- The average human scalp contains between 120,000 and 150,000 hairs.
- It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.
- Like a finger print, every person has a unique tongue print.
- The air released from a sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.
- The longest word is English language is pneumonoultramiscroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - an inflammatory lung disease caused by the inhalation of fine silica dust.
- You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
