grow older better

Tag: healthy aging

  • Obesity Is Linked To Changes In The Brain

    human_brain

    What are we doing to our brains?

    Our bodies?

     

    The hypothalamus is a small almond sized structure situated just above the brain stem and controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles. These are functions in the category of homeostasis – or balance.  Look what we are doing!

    Obesity appears to be strongly linked to structural changes in the brains of rats and humans, according to new research.
     
    During a study of high-fat diets in the brains of mice and rats bred to become obese, researchers found evidence of early and lasting injury to a specific part of the hypothalamus.

    Then using brain imaging, the researchers also found signs of similar damage in the same area of the brain in obese humans.
    No one has found a cause and effect – but interesting questions are being asked and further studies will be designed.

    If obesity changes what is basically the hunger thermostat – it might explain a lot about why people keep eating even when they know it may not be good for their health.

    And this study was done on rats and adults so another question would be what happens to young children who are gaining so much weight? If their brains are also changed in not-so-good-ways by the weight, what else might that affect developmentally?

    More questions that need answers!  But while we wait for more answers, please eat healthier foods and grow older better!!

     

    Thoughts? Comments?

  • Vitamins and Older Women: Some Thoughts

    There was recent news that taking multivitamins was bad for the health of "older" women.

    I read the research summary and nowhere did it tell me what vitamins were studied other than "popular" ones. The conclusions were that we are wasting our money and harming our health.

    Not surprising as 95% of all vitamin/mineral supplements are synthetic!! And those synthetic ones are made of rocks, petroleum and other "natural" ingredients.

    Yes legally they can be called "natural" but they aren't foods. So the next time you read the label and it says natural vitamins and minerals – think again!

    Better yet – take the vitamins you have at home and do a "bake test." 

    Put them in an oven at 350 degrees [F] for 10 minutes and see what happens.

    Here is one such "bake test" result:

    The ones turning black or with black spots? [well that's the tar coming out]

    The ones that lack black spots? [well they are made from food]

    Food bakes; tar ? I don't want to know!

    I can't say for sure but I wonder if the women who were in the study were eating tar!

    And I'd bet that eating tar is not good for your health!

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

    Disclaimer: I eat and market products that are food-based and are mentioned in the above photo. And yes I make $ if you buy any from my associate site – and yes that is my link below [I bet you figured that out from my name ]

    http://mymannapages.com/lynndorman

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

     

    Comments? Thoughts? Thank you.

  • 65 Million MORE Obese People?

    It's Not Always Baby Fat!

     

    According to some recent surveys, there will be 65 million more obese U.S. citizens by 2030 and 11 million more in the U.K.

    I've written books, articles, and blog posts on the obesity epidemic and this is scary! The epidemic is not slowing down!

    It means more obesity-related illnesses, more obese children, and more [and more costly] health care – which we all pay for!

    And as a Developmental Psychologist, to me it means future generations of children who will not have the best start on development that they can.

    It's called an epidemic for good reason. Obesity is apparently "contagious."

    • If you are obese, your family is more likely to be obese; especially your children
    • If you hang out with obese people, you are morel likely to become obese
    • If your non-obese friends hang out with you; they are more likely to become obese

    Please – think not only about yourself and your own health but

    • think of your family
    • think of your friends
    • think of the future

    Don't be in this statistic – grow older better – be healthy!

    Thoughts? Comments? Thank you.

  • Watch TV; Shorten Your Life?

     I write about the benefits of exercise and have a blog about being healthy – and here is a study that may just be part of the formula as to why we have an obesity epidemic and don't get enough exercise.

    The amount of TV viewed in Australia in 2008 was associated with reduced life expectancy by 1.8 years for men and 1.5 years for women. The authors suggest that every hour of TV viewed after the age of 25 reduces the viewer's life expectancy.

    The following study concluded that:

    Viewing time may be associated with a loss of life that is comparable to other major chronic disease risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity.

    Read more about TV and life expectancy.

     

    Comments? Thoughts? Thank you.

  • Got 15 Minutes? Get Started on Your Exercising!

    biking-along-the-Columbia

     

    I know – exercise is the last thing on your to-do list and the first thing that gets brushed aside when you are "too busy" or "too stressed" or "too too…"

    I admit that I get this way as well. But then I get back into exercising and I feel better, am less stressed and SURPRISE – I can get more work done and in less time!!

    We are "supposed to" exercise at least 30 minutes a day and that is difficult for some when they are just getting started thinking about exercising.

    "Find another block of 30 minutes? You gotta be kidding."

    Well no – you don't need that block of time. Sometimes 3 ten-minute segments is just as good – or – even less is good.  A new study in Asia found that:

    …those who exercised just 15 minutes a day — or 90 minutes a week — cut their risk of death by 14 percent and extended their life expectancy by three years compared with those who did no exercise. Both men and women benefited equally from the minimum activity.

    Article about 15 minutes of daily exercise

    Adding more minutes to that 15 was beneficial. But 15 was good in and of itself.

    So  – no more excuses! You can find 15 minutes! And you may find you are enjoying your day more because you are active for that time.

     

    Thoughts? Thank you for your comments.