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Health
and Fitness Make the Difference Between Living Well and Living |
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Quality of life is what we all want. Good health helps
us achieve a high quality of life. Fitness makes us want to live it
every day. If you agree with these three premises, keep reading. |
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10
Essential Health Tips
(The Basics to Practice Every Day) |
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"He who has
health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." |
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Hot Health & Fitness Finds |
Aquatics:
Older people find stress free weightlessness in water is a
good way to work out. All kinds of new "water toys" to
exercise with are on the sports store shelves these days.
Younger people also like aquatic fitness training. There's
less stress on the joints and less sweat. …Could be the wave
of the future.
The 12-Minute Anti-slip and Fall
Routine for Senior Adults:
A Florida physician has developed an exercise routine for
older adults that can be done in bed and takes just 12
minutes. Further details to come soon.
Spas for the New Millennium:
More and more hospitals are developing wellness centers that
consist of a large variety of fitness machines, whirlpools,
lap pools, running tracks and individual health analysis
testing. We predict these unisex centers will replace the
typical gender oriented "pampering spa' that were once the
domain of rich women. More and more HMO's and insurance
companies are seeing the value of preventive medicine.
Nutrition Hotline:
"The health of a nation has often depended on the good or bad
digestion of a prime minister." -Voltaire
Antioxidant Rich Foods:
Now that everybody's loading up on Vitamin C and E for their
proven antioxidant effects, studies show that the best
antioxidant dosages are not necessarily in pill-form. Eating
your 10 servings a day of fruits and veggies (remember what
Mom and Grandma used to harp on?) could be the best way to
increase antioxidant capacity. Although all fruits and veggies
have them, the best foods for antioxidants are cauliflower,
peas and oranges. Amer. Journal Clinical Nutrition, 1998.
New Sugar Substitute Approved by FDA:
More sucralose-sweetened products are becoming available on
grocery-store shelves since last year's approval by The Food
and Drug Administration of Splenda (sucralose) the latest
sugar substitute to be approved in more than a decade.
Advantages claimed over other sugar substitutes are no bitter
aftertaste and sweetness retention when used in cooking.
Steer Clear of Old Myths about Foods:
Myth: Asparagus is a
diuretic.
Truth: Asparagus is not a
diuretic. It just creates an odor during urination.
Myth: Potatoes and bread
make you fat.
Truth: Both are healthy
carbohydrates that average about 100 calories and are low in
fat. It's what you add to both that increases fat. (i.e.
butter, sour cream, mayonnaise)
Myth: Eating after 6 p.m.
makes you gain weight.
Truth: Eating at night
tends to lead to consuming higher calories because you are
home, near the T.V. (did you ever notice what most of the
commercials feature?) near the refrigerator and relaxed. Or
you are eating out at a party or in a restaurant where you
tend to eat higher fat and calories and larger portions.
Calories are the same at any hour of the day.
Myth: Drinking lots of
water makes you retain fluid.
Truth:
Water acts as a natural diuretic. It will help flush out
your system of toxins. |
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1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs
if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your
dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything
that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress
buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to
be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or
kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move
more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it! |
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2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats
(i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such
as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat
versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and
sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower
fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and
mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine….
Then be one! |
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3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the
Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health,
Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill.
Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens.
Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie
of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false
romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the
day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one. |
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4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some
techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts.
Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot
tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend;
play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get
a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing
your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when
possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink
clouds….then float on them. |
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5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid
smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and
exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog
rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality
is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution
and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets
in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do
pollutants….hum the tune daily. |
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6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate
potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down
and buckle up. |
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7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth
flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who
floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought
for the day: Floss and be your body's boss. |
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8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for
men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause
other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.
Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time. |
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9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully
and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't
be unhappy when you're smiling or singing. |
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10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just
because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't
mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for
the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better
control your own destiny. |
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