Older people are more likely to have additional health problems that are made worse by drinking alcohol. Did you know that drinking alcohol makes you more likely to develop osteoporosis? As we age the body takes longer to absorb calcium.  Alcohol interferes with this process, causing brittle bones and other calcium deficiencies. Calcium loss leads to low density bone mass and the bent, frail physique we often see in the elderly. Alcohol is dehydrating and toxic. It causes wrinkles and lines on the face and is damaging to the liver, bladder, kidneys, stomach, throat, mouth and brain. Alcohol affects virtually every organ in its path. It can cause stroke, high blood pressure, memory loss and mood disorders. For those of us who are serious about looking younger and aging well, it’s important to understand and be aware of the many ways in which alcohol accelerates the aging process.

Skin aging is a concern as we grow older even without the alcohol. Alcohol is  a major contributor to the aging effect on the skin. Alcohol causes the small blood vessels to widen, producing flushed, coarse skin, broken veins deep lines and wrinkles.  Smoking accelerates skin aging even more. Combine alcohol and smoking and the effect becomes far worse.

Alcohol is full of dead calories. We have all heard the term”beer belly”. That is where the fat is stored, in your belly. Consuming a lot of alcohol results in stored fat around the abdomen. One drink every evening adds 15 pounds of fat to your stomach in a year. YIKES!  Exercise is extremely important to keep this added fat at bay. Walking one mile will walk off the excess calories of one drink of alcohol. One can of beer, a single shot of liquor, or a small glass of wine or sherry equals one drink.

Women take much longer to process and eliminate alcohol than men. That is because alcohol is stored in fat and women have more fat than men.  The older we become, especially after the age of 40, the more fat we store. How well I have learned that fact.

Another danger is in prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal remedies. Not only  can they be dangerous but even deadly when mixed with alcohol. Always read the labels on all of your medicines. Many labels tell you, “Do not use with alcohol.” Taking aspirin and drinking alcohol can raise the chance of bleeding in your stomach.  Cold and allergy medicines when mixed with alcohol can cause drowsiness. Check your cough syrups, many already have alcohol in them. Drinking alcohol while taking some sleeping pills, pain pills, or anxiety or depression medicine can be very dangerous. Acetaminophen, found in many painkillers when mixed with alcohol can be damaging to your liver. Always check the warning labels on prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies and of course always check with your doctor.

You are considered an “at risk” drinker if you drink over 7 (for a woman) to 14 (for a man)  drinks per week. This amount of alcohol can result in adverse health and social consequences.

There are some good things about drinking alcohol if you drink in moderation. The French owe their increased resistance to heart disease largely due to wine consumption . Scientists have linked the protective effects of wine to an organic compound known as ‘resveratrol’ that’s found in red wine. British researchers found in a study of over 6,000 people over the age of 50, that alcohol can protect your brain, your mental health and your thinking abilities.
So go ahead and have a glass of wine. If you drink wisely the effects of alcohol on the body can be positive or at least not SO damaging. It could be good for your heart, your brain and your well being.  Keep in mind if you drink more than you should your looks and your health will suffer. Just don’t overdo it.

CHEERS!

My wife, Betty,  of 47 years passed away March 25th, 2005 as a result of  pancreatic cancer. It is one of the most deadly aggressive cancers,sometimes called the silent disease. It spreads rapidly and most often is not diagnosed until it is in it’s advanced stage. Often there is a lack of specific symptoms until it is too advanced for surgery. Unfortunately Betty was not eligible for surgery when she was diagnosed. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiation  for over a year.  She lost a lot of weight, was nauseous and vomiting most of the time. The radiation and chemo treatment itself, I felt, was what killed her. It drained her body of all the remaining healthy cells she had. My son and daughter-in-law, both chiropractors, both understood how serious her stage of pancreatic cancer was. They advised me not to put her through this treatment. Of course Betty and I were desperate and wanted to do whatever it took to help her beat the disease. At this point we would try anything. We made three visits to an alternative medical hospital in Mexico and three more visits to a hospital in San Francisco that specializes in the pancreas and liver. The doctors had us return after the many tests were completed even though they knew Betty was terminal and they could not operate.

Betty managed to stay with us longer than most pancreatic cancer patients. From the time she was diagnosed until she passed it was one and a half years. The last six months of her life was hideous. Her courage was awe inspiring and her suffering heart wrenching. During her illness and after,  my family and I have learned a great deal about this disease and just how horrible it is. We learned and know how important it is to pay attention to our health and maintain our bodies healthy immune system.  The body must be able to fight a disease as lethal as pancreatic cancer. Eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise, and not smoking can really make a difference in your life. About 31,800 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and about 31,200 of these people die from it. In spite of the challenges this deadly and aggressive disease poses, there are now many new advances in diagnosis and treatment. Betty met those horrific challenges with courage and determination. She was 67 years old. Betty will remain in my heart and thoughts forever.

Live long and stay healthy everyone!

Chuck

5 Ways to Keep Pancreatic Cancer at Bay
If you’ve ever seen a loved one suffer from cancer, you’d know that it is one disease you hope you never fall prey to. Cancer can eat you away, literally. However, because of the vagaries of nature, none of us are immune to this disease, and the wisest course of action is to try and prevent it the as best as we can. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth-largest cause of cancer related deaths in the USA. It’s an aggressive form of this disease that is asymptomatic until it’s too late – by the time you start feeling the symptoms, it is often too late for treatment and you’re given only five or six months to live. If you want to keep pancreatic cancer at bay, you need to:
•    Stop smoking: Smokers are more prone to this disease, so if you need another reason to quit, this is it. The longer you smoke, the more susceptible you are to both lung and pancreatic cancer. The best way to quit is cold turkey, where you don’t look back at all. It may be hard at first, but think of all that you stand to gain and all that you stand to lose if you don’t do so.
•    Lead a healthy lifestyle: The more you exercise, the more you eat healthy food, the more vegetables and fruits you include in your diet, the more your chances are of not contracting pancreatic cancer. In short, the healthier you are and the more normal your weight is, the better your chances of keeping this disease at bay.
•    Supplement your diet with aspirin: A study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health found that women who had their diets supplemented with aspirin or products that contained aspirin were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who did not take the drug. The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin were thought to help in preventing the onset of this form of cancer.
•    Keep your gums healthy: A study conducted by researchers at the Harvard University and those from the University of Puerto Rico reports that keeping your gums healthy and preventing periodontal disease may help in reducing your risk of pancreatic cancer. This is because gum disease could cause inflammation related disease in your pancreas and increase the risk of cancer.
As with any kind of cancer, the earlier it is detected, the better your prognosis and chance of survival. So if your family has a history of cancer or if your lifestyle makes you prone to this disease, it’s best to get yourself checked periodically.
By-line:
This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of pharmacy tech certificate at her blog The Pharm Tech Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the body’s aging process. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that affects the macula, a part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail.  Age-related macular degeneration destroys sharp central vision. Central vision is what you see directly in front of you. It is the vision you need for everyday tasks such as reading, watching TV and driving. AMD affects as many as 15 million Americans with about 200.00 new cases every year. It never causes complete blindness, but can affect your daily lifestyle in many ways. In many cases the impact of macular degeneration on vision is minimal. Even people with more advanced cases continue to have some useful vision and are able to take care of themselves.

Studies indicate that people over the age of 60 are at greater risk for age-related macular degeneration than other age groups. it is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in people 55  years of age or older.  Because our life expectancy continues to increase, AMD has become one of the major public-health concerns.

Age is not the only risk factor. Smoking, obesity, family history, race and gender can also play a role in age-related macular degeneration. Whites are more prone to AMD than African Americans and women are more at risk than men. If someone in your family had AMD the odds of you developing the disease is higher. Exposure to cigarette smoke and smoking doubles your risk. People with light colored eyes are also at greater risk of developing the disease. Cardiovascular disease contribute to the risk, such as  high blood pressure,heart attack,coronary artery disease and stroke. Low levels of nutrients, minerals, zinc, antioxidants and vitamins A,C and E play a role in developing AMD. Antioxidants may well protect the cells from oxidation, which is responsible for the effects of aging and the development of disease. Although the exact causes of AMD are not fully understood, researchers may be getting closer to an effective way of preventing it. They believe that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may have a significant effect in slowing the progression of this disease. More studies need to be done  on the actual prevention of age-related macular degeneration.

Eating the right foods is essential to healthy eyes and will help you avoid or slow the progress down of  age-related macular degeneration.  Eat foods containing antioxidants.  The antioxidants and minerals found in green leafy vegetables and fish can help keep your eyes healthy and help prevent many diseases such as cancer and those affecting the heart and  immune system. Antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E . These antioxidants can help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases. Good sources of antioxidants are found in highly pigmented fruits and vegetables.  When choosing fruits and vegetables choose the ones with more color to them.  Fish is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and can also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

It is also important to note that vitamin supplements are not a cure nor will they restore any of the vision you may have lost due to AMD.  The antioxidants  and vitamin supplements can reduce the impact by slowing down the progression of AMD.

Take a look at this you tube video for keeping your eyes healthy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NnEdcw6GhE[/youtube]

Stay healthy everyone,

ChucknGayle

Brain cells do die off as we age, but the process does not accelerate. The areas of the brain that do lose cells are not necessarily the ones that are related to memory. The structure called the hippocampus shrinks in some people. These physical changes in the brain vary from person to person. Many people reach a ripe old age and are as sharp as ever.

It is known now that aging isn’t just about our outward appearance. Mental health and well-being are also major factors. Physical, mental, spiritual and social processes affect each person differently during this complex process called aging. Dementia, senility Alzheimer’s Disease and depression are very real and unpleasant realities that many seniors face as they age. We know there is no magic potion to stop this process of aging. It is up to each individual to take control of their mental health, make smart lifestyle changes about diet and exercise and maintain a healthy, positive attitude in order to maintain their youth and mental potential as long as possible.

Old age puts more wrinkles in our minds than on our faces.  ~Michel
de Montaigne

Studies indicate that 50% of brain power is genetic and the other 50% is attributed to the environment. The activity a brain receives and the experiences it encounters all help the brain to develop and achieve. Like a muscle the more we exercise it the better it becomes.  The best thing you can do to increase your brain’s thinking power is to exercise it through lots of activity. Constant exposure to new ideas, learning and activities will help work your brain, improve it and protect it from mental decline.  With mental exercise you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Defying your chronological age (maintain your youth)can be achieved by keeping your mind active and your brain sharp.

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.
George Burns
1896-1996, American Comedy Actor

There are dozens of books out there that are full of activities that will help you keep your mind sharp. Sodoku puzzles, brain teasers, word finders and crossword puzzles, even the internet has games you can play and challenge yourself to reach new levels of mastery. Simply memorizing a song or poem or perhaps a verse from the Bible will help you with thinking and remembering. The following are a few activities I found to be fun and are excellent examples of ways to sharpen your brain.

These were excerpted from Women’s Health
magazine, January /February 2008.

Brain-Boosting Puzzles

(1) Find a six-letter male name from which you can drop either the
first or the last letter to spell out a five-letter food. (Hint: The name
starts with a vowel.)
(2) Find the last name of a famous actress hidden in each of these
sentences. Each name will be seven consecutive letters long and part
of two or more words.

After jumping a crevasse, the cougar landed safely on the other side.

Marian drew sketches in the park all afternoon.

(3) Think of the name of a well-known sport. Change its first letter to
another letter, and you get a word for a participant in a different sport.
What are the two words?

(4) Put three letters in each set of blanks to complete a word on the
left and start a word on the right.
Example: TO _ _ _ TURE
Answer: PIC (topic/picture)

UNI _ _ _ STION
MINI _ _ _ MY
M _ _ _ MERATE
PL _ _ _LEA

(5) What three consecutive numbers, when spelled out, use a single
vowel over and over?

ANSWERS
ANSWER to (1): Oliver — olive and liver
ANSWER to (2): Judy Garland (cougar landed), Julie Andrews
ANSWER to (3): hockey/jockey
ANSWER (4): QUE (unique/question); MUM (minimum/mummy);
ENU (menu/enumerate); AZA (plaza/azalea)
ANSWER (5): ten, eleven, twelve

Check out more puzzles at this website:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/puzzle?

Here are two additional sites to check out for more games to try.

Best Memory boosting Games

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/emotional/memory-brain-

power-games

Brain games can Boost IQ – Here’s 5 new brain games to play
now.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/91581

Last but not least, I found this memory boosting trick in Prevention
magazine, August 2007;

“If you want to be sure to recall something you read, warm up your memory first by moving your eyes from side to side for 30 seconds.Horizontal eye movements are thought to bolster interaction between the two hemispheres of the brain, and communication between them is key to retrieving certain types of memories. “–AM

The aging brain is very resilient, adaptable and capable.  Keep it functional and keep it young. With the proper care and lifestyle choices you can anti-age. Go play some games and have fun!!

Happy Anti-aging everyone!

Chuck’n'Gayle

Here are a few great recipes that we love and eat often.

Seafood Stew

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove minced

1 ½ teaspoons olive oil

1-1/2 cups diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce ( 8 oz.)

3 tablespoons dry red wine

4 ½ teaspoons fresh oregano minced

4 ½ teaspoons fresh parsley minced

2 cans of chopped clams or ( 8-10 fresh clams)

12 uncooked medium shrimp peeled and deveined

¼ pound of scallops

¼ pound white fish cut in bite size pieces

Saute the onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the tomatoes, add wine, tomato sauce, oregano and parsley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the clams, shrimp, scallops and whitefish. Bring to a boil and then let it simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until the shrimp is pink and the scallops are opaque. Serves 2-4 Approximately 300 calories in 1 3/4 cups. If you like it a bit spicy you can add 2 teaspoons of chili powder or ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
This is an adapted version of a recipe found in Cooking For 2, 2007.

Capellini with Pine Nuts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Chicken

(Shrimp or scallops can be substituted for the chicken)

4 oz. whole wheat capellini or angel hair pasta

3 oz. dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes

1 ½ Tbsp. olive oil

8 oz. chicken breast tenderloins cut into bite-size pieces

½ tsp. salt

3 cloves of garlic minced

¼ cup minced basil

½ cup pine nuts

( I also add an 8oz. can of diced tomatoes)

1. Prepare the pasta per package instructions and soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain and save the water. Chop the tomatoes.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat while the pasta is cooking.

3. Season chicken with salt to taste. Add chicken and garlic, stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes water and can of tomatoes, cook until chicken is done. About 5 minutes.

4. Drain pasta, add to skillet and toss, add basil. Sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.

Serves about 4..about 390 calories per serving.
This is an adapted version of a recipe found in Prevention Magazine March 2008.

Lemon Chicken and Mushrooms

4 chicken thighs

1 ½ cups sliced mushrooms

1 whole lemon

2-3 Tbsp. of lemon pepper

1 Tbsp. olive oil

Sprinkle the olive oil in a glass baking pan. Place the chicken in the pan. Arrange the mushrooms around and on top of the chicken. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken and mushrooms. Make sure it is drenched good in the juice of the lemon. Sprinkle the lemon pepper liberally over the chicken and mushrooms. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for1 ½ hours. (I sometimes cut up 2 small red potatoes and add that to the mushrooms and chicken as well) Serves 2.

Feeling like you need a treat?

Here is some good news especially if you like wine and chocolate.

One or two glasses of red wine a day can work to protect the body from the effects of aging. An antioxidant called resveratrol is found in red wine that helps keep the body young. Good quality dark chocolate also contains antioxidants that have been found to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and provides an energy boost. Have a small piece daily.

It is a known fact that lean eaters do outlive their voracious eating counterparts. So stay slim and eat healthy!! Great New Year’s resolution for all of us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Here’s to your good health and a long and prosperous life.

ChucknGayle

People are living a little bit longer every year due to our success in battling childhood disease, providing better drugs to keep our cholesterol low, our vision clear, and our bones strong, access to better medical procedures that can add years to our lives and understanding more about the aging process. Most of us will probably live to be at least 78 or 80. Our life expectancy is at an all time high. Although we cannot expect to be forever young we can maintain our youth and be as young as we feel as long as we live. How do we do that? How can we ensure that we will live to be 80, 90 or even 100 and be healthy enough to enjoy our life as we age?

By eating nutritiously and maintaining a healthy weight many of the problems we face with aging can be prevented, minimized or even delayed, says Michael Roizen, M.D., author of Real Age: Are You As Young As You Can Be? (HarperCollins/Cliff Street,1999). Being overweight can take a toll on your body and make a person 9 years older than his or her chronological age. We all know that eating healthy and staying fit brings great rewards. We feel good and look good when we make healthy choices and live a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet is essential in order to live a longer life. A diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains and is low in fat and cholesterol will keep us on the path of eating healthier for the rest of our lives. Good nutrition is the basis for life.

As we age, our body basically has too many free radicals that can do damage to our body’s cells. From vital organs to skin cells, this damage is responsible for many diseases and accelerates the aging process. Our health pays the price. Antioxidants are compounds in foods that can stop these free radicals from doing this kind of damage. They allow the body to repair the damage done and resist any future attacks. Three essential antioxidants are vitamin C and E and beta-carotene. Plant compounds, called phytonutrients, also have antioxidant abilities. These are found in fruits and vegetables. Getting enough of these will help you reach a ripe old age or at least to reach your maximum life span. A recent study at Tufts University found that antioxidants in addition to retarding the aging process, may also reverse it. There is no guarantee that you will reach 120 or 150, but adding a few extra years is definitely a plus. You can get antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables you eat. Imagine, with every strawberry, blueberry or carrot you put in your mouth, you could be reducing your risk of disease and adding years to your life.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOODS

The recipe for success is definitely in the foods you choose. For maximum benefit, healthy aging, and maintaining your youth (anti-aging) add the following foods to your eating plan;

COLD WATER FISH.. Eat fish twice a week. Fish like salmon, herring, and tuna that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Shrimp and tilapia are other good choices to help keep your heart, eyes and brain young.

DARK LEAFY GREENS.. Spinach and swiss chard are low in calories and fat and high in folic acid, vitamin A , potassium and magnesium. Other dark leafy vegetables include bok choy, collard greens, spinach, kale and romaine lettuce. Dark leafy greens help prevent vision loss and keep your mind sharp.

DARK SKINNED FRUITS.. Apples, grapes, plums, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, acai berry, blackcurrants and figs all have high levels of antioxidants to help ward off diseases like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

OLIVE OIL, AVOCADOS AND ALMONDS.. These are good fats, monoun-saturated fats that are heart healthy, disease fighting fats.

NUTS.. Most nuts are good sources of minerals and vitamin B and are good fats. Adding nuts to salads and eating them as snacks can boost your immune system. 2 tablespoons is a good measure for a quick snack. Most nuts are high in calories. They are good fats, however.

WHOLE GRAINS .. Strive to eat 3 servings of whole grains each day such as; brown rice, wild rice, whole oats/oatmeal, whole wheat bread. Whole grains have phytonutrient content equal to any fruit or vegetable.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES.. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Kale, turnip, brussel sprouts, radish and watercress assist the body in its fight against toxins and cancer. Whenever you eat vegetables put about 20% more on your plate then you normally do. These are filling and full of nutrients.

LEGUMES.. Beans have the highest antioxidant content. They are low in calories and are packed with nutrients. Eat them 3-4 times a week.

YOGURT.. Eat low fat yogurt as one of your 3 dairy servings each day. Yogurt has probiotics that help add healthy bacteria to your intestines.

WATER.. Water is essential for hydration of the skin, organs, and muscles and helps us get rid of toxins and wastes in our bodies. Drink at least 3-4 glasses of pure water each day in addition to other liquids and watery foods such as; watermelon, teas, soup, tomatoes,oranges, and 100% fruit and vegetable juice.

GREEN TEA.. Drinking green tea daily is also good for longevity.The Japanese are one of the longest lived peoples in the world.They have been drinking green tea daily for ages.

GARLIC.. Eating a clove of garlic a day ( raw or cooked) is great protection against heart disease, cancer and the development of colon cancer. We also found it helps ward off the common cold.

We especially liked the guidelines for eating healthy suggested byLaura L. S. Mueser, a perinatal social worker at the University of Washington Medical Center.

* Eat 6-11 servings of bread or grain, like rice, pasta, tortillas or cereal a day.
* Eat 3-5 servings of vegetables, like carrots, cabbage, tomatoes or broccoli a day.
* Eat 2-4 servings of fruit or fruit juice, like apples, peaches,mangoes, or bananas daily.
* Eat 2-3 servings a day of meat, fish, beans, eggs or nuts, for protein.
* Eat 2-3 servings daily of yogurt, cheese or milk.

Certainly if you do all that you will not have time nor room for the unhealthy snacks and “junk food” we all seem to crave and eat too much of. Junk food consumption in America is associated with heart disease and obesity. Everyone has their own list of what constitutes junk food in their diet. Candy, gum, fried foods, sweet desserts, and carbonated beverages are some of the foods we label junk food. They offer little in terms of nutrients needed for the body. It is important to judge each food according to the list of ingredients and nutrition facts on the label. This information will help you be more knowledgeable when choosing foods to reduce your nutritional health risk.

The anti-aging food pyramid is also a great guide for choosing the appropriate foods for maintaining your youth and making choices for a healthy lifestyle.

“This is the world’s most advance Food Pyramid specifically designed for anti-aging. In addition to optimum nutrition for cellular fortification, it curtails sugar imbalance, control oxidative stress, aids in detoxification, and prolong lifespan. It is the best anti-aging diet available, and it has been proven clinically to work.”

by Michael Lam, MD, MPH, ABAM, CNC

http://www.drlam.com/pyramid.asp

Scientists now know that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease and the aging process as well. Antioxidants fight against the free radical molecules that invade our bodies. They inhibit the oxidative damage that free radicals cause. Antioxidants help to fight against premature aging as well as help prevent many serious and life threatening diseases.

Fruits and vegetables are extremely rich in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients essential to maintain good nutrition and prevent disease. People who eat fruit rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins have a lower risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and neurological disease. Fruits and vegetables with antioxidant power can help digestion, relieve inflammation, fight viruses and bacteria, strengthen memory, the heart, the immune system and the nervous system, stabilize cholesterol and combat the effects of diabetes just to mention a few. As you can see there are many great benefits in eating lots of fruits and vegetables. It is well documented the number of servings of fruits and vegetables we need to eat daily to maintain good health as well as our youth.

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,

Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,

Bundles of magazines tied up in string,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,

Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,

Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,

When the knees go bad,

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don’t feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,

No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,

Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’,

Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’,

And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames,

When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,

When the eyes grow dim,

Then I remember the great life I’ve had,

And then I don’t feel so bad.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews’ clever wit and humor with others who would appreciate it .

Dictionary

lone.ly
adjective ( -lier , -liest )
sad because one has no friends or company : lonely old people whose families do not care for them.

• without companions; solitary : passing long lonely hours looking onto the street.

• (of a place) unfrequented and remote : a lonely stretch of country lane.

Thesaurus
lonely
adjective
1 I felt very lonely isolated, alone, lonesome, friendless, with no one to turn to, forsaken, abandoned, rejected, unloved, unwanted, outcast; gloomy, sad, depressed, desolate, forlorn, cheerless, down, blue. antonym popular.
2 the lonely life of a writer solitary, unaccompanied, lone, by oneself/itself, companionless. antonym sociable.
3 a lonely road deserted, uninhabited, unfrequented, unpopulated, desolate, isolated, remote, out of the way, secluded, off the beaten track/path, in the back of beyond, godforsaken; informal in the middle of nowhere. antonym populous, crowded.

Over and over again we have heard that social isolation is unhealthy for people of all ages. It can lead to depression, dementia and all sorts of other complications related to stress. Bottom line is that good friends are good for your health. It is never too late to make new friends or reconnect with old friends. Strong supportive friendships help you to maintain your happiness and self worth. The physical health benefits of socializing are equal to those of physical exercise. Good physical health and healthy eating count too, but it is the feeling of being worthwhile and loved that leads to a longer life. Social interaction is responsible for the results. Not only do strong social connections help you live longer, they also aid in better intellectual performance. You have to agree being healthier, smarter, and living longer are great benefits. Add to those a circle of new friends and your investment in socializing has paid off well.

One of the most difficult challenges for seniors is maintaining or finding relationships with people from their generation who share their interests, experiences and hobbies. This peer interaction is quite essential for a healthy retirement and aging. Whether you are retired or not, there are many things you can do to prevent loneliness and make connections with others. “People Do Need People”. Making connections can be as easy as joining a group with interests that match your own. Joining a gym, a walking group, computer club, book club, car club, Bible class or sewing group for examples, provide the social interaction that is key to your good health. Involvement in your church or synagogue, interacting with family and neighbors, and volunteering in your community all create socializing opportunities to meet and make new friends. People teach us new things about life and prevent us from being depressed. Focus on others and you will find less time to feel sorry for yourself. Get out of the house and enjoy life. You will not feel lonely very long and you will have fun doing it.

Many seniors find that going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week is great therapy for loneliness or the blues. Here at Siena where we live seniors and boomers are in great supply. Siena is a 55 or over community. Our gym is always filled with people. Often you will find small groups or couples stopping to chat, catch up on what’s new or provide a little advice. Sometimes it is merely a friendly wave to acknowledge you as a friend. It gives us a chance to interact with others, maintain friendships and start new ones in a relaxed atmosphere. None of us lose sight of the real reason we are there, to get in our physical exercise.Most of our conversations are short or before or after we finish our routines. Going to the gym 3-5 times a week gets people out of their homes where they might be all alone and feeling sorry for themselves which can lead to depression.

Getting to the gym allows for some socialization, provides purpose and physical exercise. The gym offers small group classes for Yoga, body sculpting and aerobics. These are all great ways to stay connected as well as providing some motivation for the day. A lot of our senior friends go to the gym for rehabilitative reasons or are recovering from an illness or loss of a loved one. As they connect with others they find compassion and understanding and can share experiences. This allows them to verbalize their concerns, which helps to alleviate the sorrow or pain that may be affecting their lives. Good times too can be shared as new and closer friendships are made. Laughing and humor help us to feel good and suppress depression. Often we discover someone who is from the same hometown or state, has the same hobby, or has taken a vacation to a place we have visited. Common interests tend to bond us together. Many of us look forward to connecting with our fellow “gym rats”. Our loneliness is diminished when we have someone to interact with and something to look forward to on a daily basis. It is important for our mental health to feel a part of this type of a community or group no matter how involved we become.

Friends are the shoulder to lean on, the confidants, advisors, supporters, motivators or companions for a variety of activities that help maintain your happiness. Having a network of friends promotes positive mental health and keeps unhealthy stressful situations in perspective. Sharing with others can multiply your joys and divide your sorrows. People who become involved and are connected with others give living a purpose. Socializing is your lifeline, friends are your lifesavers. Everyone needs to feel loved and supported. We are social creatures and feel better when we are with other people. Not only do strong social connections help you live longer, they also aid in better intellectual performance. You have to agree being healthier, smarter, and living longer are great benefits. Add to those a circle of new friends and your investment in socializing has paid off well.

Get out their folks, make friends, reconnect with old friends, learn something new, volunteer or get to know your neighbors. The payoff to your physical health, mental health and spirit is wonderful. You will feel like a new person and add a few years to your life in the process. “The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” -Allan K. Chalmers-

Happy Anti-aging Everyone!

Chuck and Gayle

• Eat a healthy diet and follow the Healthy Eating Pyramid built by the faculty in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
• Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
• Eat fish and poultry rather than red meat, potatoes, sugary drinks and salty snacks.

The bottom line is that the body will not survive without vitamins. Think of your body as a machine. It needs fuel to keep it going. It does lots of incredible things, but it cannot make its own vitamins. Vitamins must come from the food we eat or the vitamin supplements we ingest. Vitamins become the “spark plugs” that keep this machine running smoothly, strengthen the immune system, increase the energy and slow down aging. Benefits we all want to enjoy. Aging bodies need these vitamin supplements more than ever. As we age the chances of suffering serious illness are greater and nutritional experts believe that poor eating habits contribute to many of these ailments. It is estimated that 30% of seniors lose the ability to make stomach acid and this will interfere with absorbing some nutrients, like B-12, B-6 and folic acid. As a result neurological changes take place like a decline in alertness, loss of memory and numbness of the extremities.

There are basically two kinds of vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. The fat-soluble ones are stored in your liver and in the fat tissues of your body until they are needed. Vitamins A, D, E and K are the fat -soluble vitamins. The water-soluble vitamins are the B complex ones and vitamin C. These vitamins are not stored, dissolve in water and are eliminated from your body by urination. Water-soluble vitamins can be destroyed or washed out during food preparation and even during food storage.

Take a look at some of the essential and widely recommended vitamins, what they are for and their sources.

VITAMIN A Vitamin A is one of the most essential vitamins for older adults 50+. Vitamin is critical for bone growth and a powerful antioxidant that keeps the immune system healthy. Sources for vitamin A are milk, butter, cheese, eggs, chicken, kidney, liver fish oils, mackeral, trout, herring,orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables.

VITAMIN B There is quite a large group of vitamin B. B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, biotin, folic acid and pantothenic acid. Vitamin B’s are vital nutrients for cell repair, digestion, production of energy and a healthy immune system. Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 are; meat and poultry, yeast extracts, asparagus, broccoli, fish and seafood, dried apricots, dates and figs. Vitamin B6 is found in avocado, herring, salmon, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Other foods rich in Vitamin B are; whole grains, eggs, dairy products, milk, yogurt, leafy green vegetables and beans and peas.

VITAMIN C Vitamin C is another important vitamin critical for old age. It reduces cholesterol levels and helps regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, heals wounds efficiently, keeps body tissues in good shape, and is important in immune system function and collagen formation. It is the most potent antioxidant vitamin. Vitamin C is found in fish, fruits and vegetables such as oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi fruit and sweet red peppers.

Vitamin D The sunshine vitamin is known as the “new wonder drug”. Vitamin D is the best supplement for all ages young and old. The body needs this vitamin to absorb calcium. It is the vitamin we need for strong bones, to prevent osteoporosis and for strong teeth.New findings indicate that you can get your daily intake of vitamin D by spending 20 minutes in the sun. Vitamin D can also be found in milk, figs, eggs, liver and fortified cereal. Watch this interesting report on Vitamin D we found on YouTube.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0BgxNstkFI[/youtube]

VITAMIN E Vitamin E is essential for human life, everyone needs this vitamin. It is vitally important for older individuals and is the best supplement known as an antioxidant vitamin. Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts and seeds.

VITAMIN K Vitamin K is important for the function of blood clotting in the body. It is also linked to preventing Alzheimers disease in the elderly. Vitamin K is essential for kidney functioning and bone calcification. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, dairy products, broccoli, brussel sprouts and soybean oil.

VITAMINS or NOT ? We say yes to vitamins and supplements. Get them in the foods you eat and take supplements for deficiencies. They are the essential nutrients to keep your body humming. Remember it is always wise to check with your doctor before taking vitamins just in case they react to any medications you may be taking. Your doctor is also your best guide for helping you choose the vitamins that you need.

HAPPY ANTI-AGING EVERYONE,

Chuck and Gayle