Many people can reduce cholesterol levels simply by changing what they eat, like eating less meat (and leaner cuts) and more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains which can lower total cholesterol by 25 percent or more. Harvard Medical School offers four steps for using your diet to lower cholesterol. 1. Stick with unsaturated fats and avoid saturated and trans fats. [...]
Regular aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety by making the brain’s “fight or flight” system less reactive. Regular exercise also may boost mood by increasing a brain protein called BDNF that helps nerve fibers grow. Regular exercise, such as cycling or gym-based aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and balance exercises, can also reduce depression and be as effective as medication and psychotherapies. For [...]
Popping a pill is the easiest way to lower blood pressure. It takes just a few seconds, and you are finished; however, fully relaxing your body and mind for a few minutes a day could lower your systolic blood pressure reading by 10 points or more—at no cost, and with no side effects. Researchers at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital compared [...]
New research shows the following five spices are good for the brain. Cinnamon – A recent study indicates if you want to react faster, chew cinnamon gum to speed the rate at which your brain processes visual cues. Cinnamon regulates blood-sugar levels which help you stay focused. (Suggestion: Sprinkle a teaspoon of cinnamon on your oatmeal.) Garlic – Garlic has [...]
Myth 1: Most people don’t need to worry about osteoporosis. One in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. The disease causes some two million broken bones every year. Myth 2: Osteoporosis is only a problem for older Caucasian women. Men and women of all races can have [...]
Mnemonics, which comes from Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory, are techniques for remembering information. One mnemonic device is thinking of a word that rhymes with a person’s name. Other techniques are Associations (learning something new and immediately relating it to something already known); Chunking (regrouping information); and the SQ3R method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review). Research suggests ten other [...]
Seniors today are aging differently. Death from heart disease and many cancers have dipped significantly while life expectancy has inched upward and disability has declined. Why then is the United States slipping downward in longevity rankings compared to many other countries? Infectious disease and acute illnesses, once the leading cause of death, have given way to chronic ailments and degenerative [...]
Prince Deese Prince Deese, an All American Wrestler, a Hall of Fame Football Player, and a State Champion Body Builder, is a certified personal trainer and strength conditioning specialist. Prince Deese and Gina Deese own A.C.T. by Deese, a Fitness & Training Center in Greensboro, NC. Have your physical therapy sessions come to an end? Have you been placed in [...]
An important way to lower the risk of a stroke is by controlling your weight. Excess pounds, which strain the circulatory system, can lead to other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea. Losing as little as 5–10 percent of your starting weight can lower blood pressure and other stroke risk factors. Keeping the [...]
Davidson County Department of Senior Services, in partnership with Novant Health, has relaunched the Passport to Better Health program, introduced last year with noteworthy success. The program, in which more than 50 participated in 2015, offers senior 55 and older the opportunity to learn how physical activity, food choices, lifestyle habits and maintaining positive mental health influences several chronic diseases. [...]
