Living Young Forever

Weight lifting is long been hailed for its health benefits. In recent years it has been refined to become know as “resistance” training. When proper stress is applied to the body such as load bearing or weight bearing exercises the body responses to accommodate the new stress through adaptation.

The benefits to this is increased bone density and muscle quality improves to accommodate the new demand. Cardio fitness is still important but being able to get up out of your chair and go about your daily activities takes muscle and balance skills which are only achieved be weight or resistance training.

No you don’t have to be a “body builder” or a highly conditioned athlete to achieve health and a vibrate life. Simple tools for exercising such as a re-bounder, resistance bands or light hand weights can do the magic of keeping your muscle tonality and bone density in optimal condition. Just 30 minutes a day 3 to 4 times a week is what research has shown to be all you need to keep the body tuned up.

Well the seasonal Flu finally caught up to me. Even though I have an immune system like a Rhino still somehow I managed to let one of those little viruses’ get past me. A few of my friends also contracted the Flu this year and all where complaining of persistent symptoms for several weeks. Unlike my friends I only experienced symptom for about 5 day and then I was back the game of life full throttle. When asked what my secret was I reminded them it was no secret I just kept up with my daily Multi Vitamins and added an extra Super Green Food to my daily supplement program.

Most of us when we get a cold or flu struggle with lose of appetite which can cause an additional drop in immune efficiency. Enter the super hero “Super Green Food” that provides an extra boost and is not very filling when only mixed with water and perhaps adding a banana for extra potassium. If this is still too much for a diminished appetite Super Green Food is also available in tablets.

So make sure to have plenty of Super Green Food on hand, drink plenty of clean water and of course some of mom’s homemade chicken soup is always a great comforting addition.

No I am not referring to your car, I am speaking to the vehicle you call your body. Most of us are aware that we need to drink plenty of water to replenish our body’s ever present need to stay hydrated to maintain a healthy body. What most people are not aware of is our need to also consume healthy oils daily.

It is great that people are far more aware of the need to change to healthier cooking oils such as olive or grapseed oils, but did you know that consuming unheated oils on salads and vegetables along with oil from healthy fats is just as important?

Yes I used the word “fats”. The oils derived from fat sources such as fish, grass feed beef and vegetarian sources are a vital necessity for our health. These sources provide us with much needed omega 3 fatty acids, that are know to help with aiding in the treatment of heart diseases, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, AHDH, low immunity, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, IBD, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, macular degeneration and ulcers. It is helps in weight loss, pregnancy, fertility and skin care (particular for disorders such as psoriasis, acne). Adding an Omega 3 supplement can be an easy way to make sure you are maintaining a healthy dietary balance.

It is well documented that only 30 minutes of walking a day can lower blood pressure, reduce body fat and contribute to overall wellness. That’s right WALKING. No you don’t have to do all those advanced infomercial expensive programs to have a healthy vibrant life.

If you want to add a little bounce in your walk try a rebounder. A what? OK a trampoline some call it, actually a mini trampoline and almost anyone can use it. It’s compact, stores easily, and it is right there when you need it; at home ready to use without driving across town. With a rebounder you get all the benefits of walking plus it will kick start your lymphatic system giving your immune system a boost. Not to mention its fun. But don’t tell anyone else after all exercise is supposed to be “Working”- Out not FUN.

According to UCLA’s Brain Research Institute and Brain Injury Research Center, “Omega-3 fatty acids support synaptic plasticity and seem to positively affect the expression of several molecules related to learning and memory that are found on synapses, Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal brain function”.

“Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in humans has been associated with increased risk of several mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia”. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in rodents results in impaired learning and memory.

Omega-3 fatty acids — found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit — provide many benefits, including improving learning and memory and helping to fight against such mental disorders as depression and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia. Adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is a great way to balance out dietary deficiencies to insure your brain is firing on all Omega-3 cylinders.

The best time of the day to take your vitamins is generally when it is convenient for you is a good rule to start with. The producer of the vitamin will make general recommendations based on their product research. Some of us can take say a Multi-Vitamin with or without food and not have an upset stomach problem from the intense intake of condensed nutrients.

Generally though taking vitamins with a portion of food is recommended but the key is not to combine with a “full” meal. As the body is taking in nutrients from the food the vitamin supplement may not complement the nutritional value of the meal or the high nutritional value of the food may interfere with the intake of additional nutrients. Because of this some of the nutritional value of the Multi-Vitamin or supplement may be wasted. It would be like eating a ½ pound steak and drinking a protein shake in the same meal very redundant as you can see.

Your best bet to maximize the supplement is to follow the recommended advice from the Supplement company and then adjust to your schedule just remember that less can be more when combining with food.

Choosing the right vitamin can be a little challenging with the hundreds of brands and formulas available. A good place to start for a general nutritional boost is a Multi-Vitamin. We always recommend a whole food vitamin with an organic formula whenever possible for the best quality. The next step is to consider your personal life style and age to start to customize your choice.

Many of the formulas will give you a good idea by the label such as Multi + Stress Formula or 50 + Formula for older adults. Once you have narrowed your Multi-Vitamin choice closer to your personal needs you may consider adding additional supplements such as a b-12 complex for high stress situations. A protein shake is another great option for those times you can’t stop for lunch and want to avoid the fast food temptation.

Don’t be afraid to try different brands or formulas especially if you’re new to supplementing your diet with vitamins. Not everyone wears the same shoe size and not everyone’s body chemistry and needs are exactly the same so trying different formulas can get you closer to a more customized program. If you are still puzzled or overwhelmed, going on line or having a consultation with a nutritionist for more education on what vitamins best fits your needs is a great option.

Healthy weight loss can be very confusing in a media driven for profit quick fix world. Don’t be taken in by the gimmicky world of profit based fads. Healthy weight loss is really a simple formula. You need to keep and gain healthy muscle and loose the excess body fat.

All you need to do is simply make better food choices and eat in moderation along with moderate exercise on a regular schedule. It really is that simple and it is a time tested healthy way to loss those unwanted extra pounds. Well a little patience and consistency is needed also but always remember if you stick with it you will reach your goals. You gained those unwanted pounds over time not over night, and it takes time to lose it. There are some very good and safe products on the market to help with appetite control and metabolism boosts, but remember there is no “magic” pill or potions they are only as good as the effort you apply with them.

So you think you don’t have time to exercise. Think again, studies have shown that just 30 minutes a day will give amazing health benefits. Including immune boosting fat reducing heart healthy benefits. So you don’t have 30 minutes a day you say.

Well 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, it has an accumulative effect. Next excuse? No gym required. A simple piece of home gym equipment will do just fine. How about a rebounder (trampoline) they are cost effective and are inexpensive. There are lots of great exercise options out there and with a little bit of effort to find right option for you, could add years to your life and life to your years

Well winter has arrived and it may be a great time to rethink the protein shake mode. As snow has fallen across many parts of the country somehow a nice cold smoothie protein shake has lost its appeal from that summertime refreshing blast in the morning. Not to worry we have a delicious option for you.

Since it is time to break out the hot cereal to get a warm start on the day just drop a scoop or two of your favorite protein shake powder in the bowl along with your favorite fresh or dried fruit and “bam” you have a protein packed power house breakfast to start your day. We like to add a scoop of fresh yogurt in but the choice is yours just don’t be afraid to get creative like adding some cinnamon or vanilla flavoring, Yumm!!!