I have no idea where this article originated from but I thought it was most interesting. My cousin Joan sent it to me in an e-mail. ( Thanks Joan)  It seems everyone will find something interesting in this. Enjoy, I learned a great deal.  I love fruit so this was very helpful and quite an eye-opener.

EATING FRUIT...
We  all think eating fruits means just buying  fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our  mouths. It’s not as easy as you think. It’s  important to know how and when to eat.

What  is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT  MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! *  FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY  STOMACH.

If  you eat fruit like that, it will play a major  role to detoxify your system, supplying you with  a great deal of energy for weight loss and other  life activities.

FRUIT  IS THE MOST IMPORTANT  FOOD. A SUPER FOOD. Let’s say you eat two slices of bread and then a  slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to  go straight through the stomach into the  intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In  the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments  and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes  into contact with the food in the stomach and  digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins  to spoil….
So  please eat your fruits on an empty  stomach or before your meals! You have  heard people complaining – every time I eat  watermelon I burp, when I eat with my meal or after my stomach  bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like  running to the toilet etc – actually all this  will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty  stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying  other food and produces gas and hence you will  bloat!
Graying  hair,  balding,  nervous  outburst,  and dark  circles under the eyes, all these will NOT happen  if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There  is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and  lemon are acidic, because all fruits become  alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert  Shelton who did research on this matter.   If you have mastered the correct way of eating  fruits, you have the Secret of beauty,  longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal  weight.  Maintaining Youth!! YES!!
When  you need to drink fruit juice – drink only  fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans.  Don’t even drink juice that has been heated up.  Don’t eat cooked fruits because you don’t get  the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.  Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
But  eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the  juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it  mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must  let it mix with your saliva before swallowing  it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse  your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice  throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised  when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of  potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its  vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although  an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has  antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the  activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower  the risks of colon cancer, heart attack &  stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest  total antioxidant power among major fruits &  protect the body from cancer-causing, blood  vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may  help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent  & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens  the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher.. Composed of 92% water,  it is also packed with a giant dose of  glutathione, which helps boost our immune  system. They are also a key source of lycopene -  the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients  found in watermelon are vitamin C &  Potassium.

GUAVA  & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear  winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava  is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent  constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this  is good for your eyes.

Drinking  Cold water after a meal =  Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink  cold water, this article is applicable to you.  It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a  meal. However, the cold water will solidify the  oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will  slow down the digestion. Once this ‘sludge’  reacts with the acid, it will break down and be  absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid  food. It will line the intestine. Very soon,  this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It  is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a  meal.

A  serious note about heart attacks:  HEART ATTACK  PROCEDURE Women should  know that not every heart attack symptom is  going to be the left arm hurting.. Be aware of  intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never  have the first chest pain during the course of a  heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are  also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people  who have a heart attack while they are asleep do  not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a  sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware.

The  more we know the better off we are!!

ChucknGayle

Don't fool yourself exercise works.

HATE GOING TO THE GYM? Who doesn’t? It gets old pretty quick. There are soooo many benefits that you really have to stop and think about all of the great things exercise can do for you. As we grow older we need regular exercise the most to keep our bones and joints moving and to keep our minds alert.

Check out 20 health benefits that exercise can provide for you!
Exercise can…

•    Increase your level of muscular strength and endurance

•    Improve your looks physically.

•    Improve your body’s ability to use oxygen ( fitness)

•    Maintain your resting metabolic rate in order to prevent weight gain

•    Increase your stamina.

•    Provide protection against injury

•    Improve balance and coordination

•    Help you lose fat and extra weight.

•    Increase your level of muscular strength and endurance

•    Increase bone  density to prevent osteoporosis

•    Lower  heart rate and blood pressure

•    Lower Body Mass Index (BMI)

•    Reduce triglycerides,bad (LDL), raises good  (HDL)

•    Enhance sexual desire and performance

•    Reduce risk of heart disease and stroke

•    Reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer

•    Increase insulin sensitivity — prevents Type 2 diabetes

•    Reduce  anxiety and helps you manage stress

•    Improve the immune system function

•    Improve your self-esteem and  confidence

•    Help you sleep better and improve your mood. ( exercise relaxes you.)

www.ediets.com is where I found these 20 health benefits.

These are all wonderful thoughts to keep in mind when the urge to skip your routine is stronger than your will to exercise.

Chuck and I are striving for 10,000 steps a day (walking) on the days we do not go to the gym. On the days we go we walk to and from.  10,000 is about 5 miles a day.  More on walking next time I blog.

Take care and get out there and improve your health!!!

Chuckngayle

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!

Our Zumba class starts with a warm-up session, then breaks into the main session and ends with a nice slow cool down. The hour just flies by. Annie, our instructor does different routines each time, so it is never boring and each class is fresh and fun. Zumba mixes it up with body sculpting movements and dance steps from cumbia, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, hip hop, mambo, rumba, flamenco and calypso. Zumba targets many areas of the body such as your legs, arms, glutes, abdominals and the heart. The routines are a mix of aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that help to tone and sculpt the body.  Zumba is wonderful for your mind, body and attitude.

Zumba originated in Columbia, South America in the 90′s. The creator, Alberto “Beto” Perez, was a fitness instructor in Miami. One day he forgot his regular music for class. He took the Latin music tapes from his car and improvised with some dance steps for his class that day. Everyone loved it and the rest is history.  It Is and has been a great success.

I found a few You Tube videos of Zumba classes, but since Annie is our instructor and even though this is not the best video for clarity, I thought you might enjoy it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvPOpLr9TaM[/youtube]

You can see for yourself Zumba is loaded with lots of red-hot dance steps, great Latin music that keeps you moving and grooving and even shaking the weight off. It is really bunches of fun. If you haven’t tried it I highly recommend it.  If you live in Siena the classes are Monday and Friday mornings at 8:00 AM. Yep, 8:00 AM.  It starts your day out right and you will be looking forward to the next class. Remember to bring a towel and lots of water. You will do some sweating!

Zumba Zumba Zumba

Resveratrol has also been produced in labs by chemical synthesis.  A few companies sell supplements containing resveratrol.  Not enough is known about the effects of resveratrol to endorse such supplements.  Research is still continuing on the heart-healthy and age prolonging benefits of resveratrol.  Dr. David Sinclair, associate professor in Harvard Medical School’s Department of Pathology, is the lead researcher in the much-reported study about resveratrol and aging. The research he and his team did on mice found that the mice not only lived longer but had lower incidence of diabetes. When asked when do we get this pill?  Dr. David Sinclair answered,  “I would say five years to be conservative that this’ll happen within our lifetimes. I’m fairly certain about it. ”

Resveratrol can be found in peanuts, blueberries, cranberries, red grapes, acai, and camu camu berries. The most powerful ANTI AGING antioxidant berries are coming from the Amazon Rain Forest, such as acai and camu camu. There are 3000 berries that grow wild, with super powerful phytochemistry. The amount of resveratrol in food and red wine can vary significantly. It is not yet known how beneficial eating these foods might be when it comes to promoting your heart health. Basic questions of safety and biological effect in humans remain to be studied experimentally.

Dr. Oz, (Oprah Winfrey show) reports that taking resveratrol regularly could add 20 or more years onto your life.  The National Institute on Aging and  Oregon State University have also found that resveratrol, can counter the effects of a high-fat diet and  may prolong life. Check out this video with Barbara Walters on ABC news.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3q0-agqkAE[/youtube]

In the meantime we’re going to enjoy our red wine at dinner, add blueberries to our cereal and throw in a few cranberries when making our salad. We also enjoy the acai berry in a wonderful juice we have found to be delicious and healthy. We may not add 20 years to our life, but at least we are on the right track.

Have a great day!

Chuckngayle

chuga3140@gmail.com

Superfoods are packed with nutrients and are powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Did I mention that there are no side effects? You don’t even need specific foods for specific ailments. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. Just think, anti-aging, delicious and most can be found right in your local grocery store. There are a lot of superfoods, one thing they have in common is that they are all unprocessed food. Some superfoods are hard to find because they are from remote places on earth.

You should not limit your diet to just superfoods. Other fruits and vegetables also have nutrients that are necessary for a healthy body. What makes certain fruits and vegetables special (superfoods) are the high concentration of phytonutrients found in them.

This  is a list of some of the best Superfoods;

*  Acai
* Avocado
* Bananas
* Barley
* Beans and Lentils
* Bilberries
* Buckwheat
* Camu Camu
* Green Foods
* Hot Peppers
* Kiwi
* Nuts and Seeds
* Sprouts
* Cranberries
* Beans
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Mangoes
* Oats
* Oranges
* Papaya
* Pomegranate Juice
* Pumpkin
* Red Grapes
* Salmon
* Soy
* Spinach
* Tea (green or black)
* Tomatoes
* Turkey
* Walnuts
* Yogurt
* Dark Chocolate

With the exception of a few of the rarer foods on the superfood list, you’ll provide yourself with a wealth of phytonutrients by eating a well-rounded diet that includes some of the superfoods and plenty of other fruits and vegetables.

Eat Super Well!

Chuck and Gayle

Baby boomers and older seniors are hitting gyms and health clubs at a record rate. According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association,” the number of health club members over 55 grew by 343% from 1987-2003, while the number of members in the 35-54 age group increased by 180%.” Don’t let the tools of fitness scare you or intimidate you such as exercise bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills, free weights and exercise balls.  We live in a community for people over 55.  We have a great gym here in Siena with several trainers that work with seniors to plan a program tailored for the capabilities of each individual. They also teach seniors how to use the machines safely. We have people in our gym in their 80s and 90s.  The best part is everyone is a baby boomer or older senior.  It is a known fact that seniors prefer to exercise alone or with people their own age. Our gym justifies that statement because it is always busy and no one feels intimidated or out of place.

Some of the safest and easiest exercises for seniors are walking, swimming and water aerobics. These activities have less impact on the joints. Another good activity for seniors is riding a stationary bike. It improves the strength in the thighs and does not require balance.

Walking is probably one of the easiest ways to begin an exercise plan. Almost every magazine or article you pick up has an article about walking. Walking is very popular in our community. It is also the simplest way to get exercise.  All you need is a pair of sneakers or good walking shoes and a sidewalk or path.  If you don’t have time for long exercise sessions you can walk in 10 minute sessions four times a day and still gain the same health benefits as a daily 40 or 60 minute walk.  Just remember little strolls can yield big results.  Walking to music, with a friend or even your dog will blast fat, boost your energy and tone your body every step of the way. You can burn more than 250 calories an hour just by walking around your neighborhood, local park, golf course or mall. The farther you walk, the better your mood, walking perks you up and makes you feel good. Exercise like this boosts energy levels and triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical. If you are suffering from aches and pains from arthritis, or every day wear and tear on the joints, walking has been proven to reduce these pains, banish fatigue and even strengthen your legs for better balance.

Prevention Magazine December 2007, has a short article titled “3 Tips for a Healthier Walk”. They are as follows:
1.    “Count your steps with a pedometer.  Aim to take 3,000 steps or more within 30 minutes or 1,000 in 10 minute bouts.
2.     Use a 1 minute benchmark. Strive to hit 100 steps or more in 1 minute and hold that pace.
3.    Track your laps. Try to walk a mile in 20 minutes or less.”

“A fast stride may mean living longer.  Adults in their 70s who could walk a quarter of a mile in 5 minutes were 30% less likely to die in the next 5 years compared with their peers who took 6 minutes to walk the same distance”, revealed a National Institutes of Health Study.

Moral of the story is to maximize your walk and go for speed. This will also bring your heart rate up and give you energy to last the whole day.  It is important to be consistent, choose a walking routine that fits your lifestyle and ability level, but most important, get walking!  Vary your walking pace, by alternating 3 minutes of strolling with 3 minutes at a fast, breathless pace. This will help keep your heart, lungs and joints young and maximize age-defying benefits.

The following is a simple walking plan designed by Mark Fenton, author of the new book “ The Complete Guide To Walking, New and Revised; For Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness” (Lyon Press).

“Choose one of these 15 minute walks 3 days a week and complete it twice daily, either all at once or at two different times. If it is too challenging at first, do two moderate 15-minute walks each day until you feel more fit.  Be sure to do 5 minutes of easy walking to warm up and also to cool down after each walk.”

“WALK 1.   Alternate brisk and moderate walking for 15 minutes.

WALK 2.   Alternate moderate walking, brisk walking and jogging for 40 seconds each; that is one cycle. Do 3 cycles, walk slowly for 3 minutes and then do 3 more cycles.

WALK 3.   Walk briskly uphill for 2 minutes. Walk back down the hill at a moderate or easy pace.  Now repeat this walking uphill for 3 minutes and then 2 minutes.”

These are just a few ideas to get you started. You may have some ideas of your own.  I started walking about 5 years ago when I moved to Las Vegas.  I walked 3 times a week for an hour with a walking group. I have since graduated to the gym and riding my bike. I loved walking and still do. I am a young and energetic 68 year old woman. I not only lost some weight and built up my fitness level, but I met some super people as well. Walking is only one way to get the exercise you need to extend your life and be healthy.  It is, as I mentioned before, the simplest and easiest way to get started on a fitness plan.

Make no mistake you need to find an exercise program that you will stick to, one that matches your abilities and expectations as well as one you will enjoy. Start slowly, build up endurance and work toward a specific goal. If you have medical problems that preclude certain types of activities, eliminate them as choices for your exercise plan. Low impact exercise may be just right for you where a more high impact exercise like running may work if you are already relatively fit.  There are even programs for those that are of limited mobility, or perhaps confined to a wheelchair. You can sit and be fit at the same time.  We found that music helps distract us from some of the boredom and routine of exercise. We added our favorite music and singers to our iPods to match our workout routines.  Time just flies by. We see people reading on the stationary bikes and treadmill and many are plugged into the TV stations for news, entertainment and soap operas. Sometimes just meditating, perhaps while swimming laps or walking, is all you need to relax and enjoy the exercise time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1580-Cv-DHg[/youtube]

I hope you are motivated to begin your exercise program today. Here’s one more idea to try this year.  Plan an active vacation.  Learn a new sport or go walking or biking in a new and beautiful area.

Remember to take water with you when you exercise. A good guideline is to drink 8 ounces about every 15 minutes. Your body needs to stay hydrated when you exercise. An easy way to calculate how much water you need each day is to divide your weight by 2 and use that as the number of ounces you need each day.  I weigh 115 pounds, therefore, I would need 57.5 ounces of water each day.

Before implementing any changes in your physical activity consult with your doctor. Counsel from your doctor will help you to choose the  most appropriate types of exercise for your age and physical condition. Fitness varies from person to person. Fitness is influenced by many factors; sex, age, heredity, exercise, and nutrition. You have the power and ability within you to take charge of your fitness through exercise and a healthy diet.

Happy Walking Folks!

Chuck and Gayle

Exercise can help you take charge of your health and maintain the level of fitness necessary for an active, independent lifestyle. Regular exercise and physical activity are very important to the health of older people. Not exercising is risky business. In fact, once you pass the ripe old age of 25, your total body strength decreases by about 4% every ten years. By 30 bone mass has peaked and you begin to lose it at the rate of 1-2% a year after that. At age 40 muscles begin to shrink. In order to combat the loss of muscle strength and bring back endurance and flexibility it is important to engage in regular physical exercise. It is indeed one of the best anti- aging secrets for both men and women by far.
An intriguing study on physical activity and anti-aging, conducted by the University of Nevada Las Vegas adult exercise program, found that there was a dramatic decrease in factors associated with aging compared to the normal population that does not exercise. Many of the studies show, bones get denser, muscles get stronger, and joints become more flexible.

We know for a fact that getting started is the hardest part of keeping fit and planning an exercise program. However, studies show that even moderate daily exercise will help slow down the aging process and reduce the risk of heart attacks and disease up to 50%. That knowledge in itself should get you up off the couch and moving. It is never too late to start looking and feeling better with an exercise program designed specifically for you. It is also never too late to start an exercise program. You will reap the benefits no matter what your age. The goal for all of us should be, “Active For Life”.

Exercise does not have to be a chore or boring. If you think of exercise that way, challenge yourself to think differently, make it an enjoyable pastime. You are more likely to make a lifelong commitment to fitness if you shift your thinking and begin your program with something you enjoy. Walking, biking, jogging, swimming, dancing of any kind, kayaking and skiing, just to mention a few, are all great fun and terrific aerobic exercises.  Tai chi, pilates and stability ball techniques improve balance, strength, flexibility and range of motion. Recognize the fact that regular physical activity can provide more than just physical benefits. It is a way to keep you actively engaged in the world doing things you love to do. Feeling involved in this way, connecting with others and being passionate about things will help you live a longer and healthier life!  People who wake up in the morning with a motivating purpose (something fun to do or a reason to live) age better than those who don’t.
Senior citizens and baby boomers are well aware of the importance of exercise, yet 85% do not exercise on a regular basis. Fact is, the more fit you are in your 30s and 40s, the easier it will be to maintain your fitness in your 60s and 70s. Regular activity will actually keep you young, in every cell of your body, perhaps even a decade younger than your sedentary peers. Anyone who exercises daily sidesteps heart disease (in most cases) and will live nearly 4 years longer than inactive people. Exercise truly is a fountain of youth and a way to extend your life.

Carol Bollinger pointed out in her article, “The Fitness Formula “for Prevention Magazine in October 2007 the many ways regular exercise benefits your health. “Count the ways: In study after study, regular workouts have been proven to insulate you from heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke and diabetes. Exercise lowers blood pressure, reduces body fat, raises “good “ cholesterol, lowers “bad” cholesterol, improves blood flow, keeps intestines and the colon healthy, and regulates key hormones.” Four important cornerstones of age prevention should be part of your ultimate anti-aging exercise plan.  In order to reap the benefits for your health and add years to your life you should include; consistent cardio, intense intervals, weight training and Yoga.

Your body is meant for movement, and just like an automobile, it needs to be used to keep working properly and functioning at its best and healthiest.  Treat your body right, have fun doing it, and you will unlock the key to anti-aging.  You cannot stop getting older but you can keep yourself from prematurely aging. Take care of your body,
keep it functioning correctly despite your age.  Any activity is better than none, some are much better than others.  Get up, get moving and never stop trying. Exercise keeps you young in many ways; it boosts your mood, helps you fall asleep, burns up calories and helps control your appetite, it firms up sagging muscles and boosts your libido to energize your sex life.

[youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JvomWcK4lRU[/youtube]

The time to start is NOW, you will be surprised at what
your body can do!
Happy Anti-Aging 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

When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift anyday.  ~Marty Bucella

Mental and emotional health is extremely important to healthy aging and maintaining your youth. Depression, stress and anxiety can affect your ability to recover from illness.  Spiritual, mental and physical aspects of life all influence longevity.  Living a healthy lifestyle and learning new things can keep your brain functioning optimally. A healthy mind is part of a healthy body. If you are in a good state of mind you are better able to make the best decisions for yourself about your lifestyle and your health. Longevity depends on a healthy brain and attitude. One of the most important things you can do as you age is to maintain a healthy sharp brain.

There are many things you can do to keep your mind healthy and sharp and in peak condition.  Did you know many of these things are also key to maintaining a healthy body as well?

• Reduce the stress in your life. Stress can damage the brain.
Relax, meditate and treat yourself once in a while. Managing
the stress in your life improves your memory, makes you less
sensitive to pain and more able to cope.

•  Practice the art of positive thinking. Develop a positive attitude
about yourself and the world around you. To ensure longevity
in the brain keep a positive sense of purpose and a healthy
optimism.

“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are
famous preservers of youthful looks.”
Charles Dickens

• Take time to do the things you enjoy. Pursue leisure activities.
Read books and magazines, take a walk, play golf, knit with a
friend, enjoy a movie together. Leisure activities can reduce the
risk or delay the onset of dementia.

• Stay in touch with family and friends. Staying connected and being active helps us to live longer and retain mental sharpness. Build strong social networks to help the brain tolerate told age. Lonely individuals are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Volunteer and donate your time to something worthy. It allows you to use your brain and try new things.  It is intellectually stimulating and you meet new people.
Several studies have found that people who volunteer live longer than those who do not.

• Get enough sleep.  Getting enough sleep increases your
concentration and is critical for memory and information
processing.  Sleep is when your brain sharpens new skills and
solves problems.

• If you feel depressed or anxious get help from a professional.
Depression is one of the most common conditions seniors
face.

• Free your mind and body of harmful drugs and alcohol. Stop
smoking and cut down on alcohol consumption.

• Use your mental muscles, working out your brain strengthens
neuronal pathways and builds new ones. Train your brain to
improve memory skills, reasoning and visualization efficiency.
Active learning through out your life will keep your brain
healthy later in years.

• Get regular exercise it is the best way to improve brain health,
improve memory, concentration and abstract thinking. Exercise
increases blood flow to the brain, which nourishes the brain
cells and allows them to function more efficiently. Certain areas
of the brain shrink as we age. Walking can reverse this affect. A
University of Illinois study of adults ages 60-80 revealed that
walker’s brains looked 2-3 years younger than others their
age. Walk everyday!

• Eat nutritiously to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and age-
related cognitive decline. Remember what you eat can affect how you think.

A man is not old as long as he is seeking something.  ~Jean
Rostand

Some of the myths about aging and the brain are just not true. We can all acquire new knowledge, sharpen our skills and learn new tricks no matter what our age. Learning new things can help maintain mental functions and sharpen your mind. Researchers have learned that our older brains are quite capable of learning new things. We continue to learn as we age and we gain wisdom. Older people learn things just as well as younger people.  It may take a bit more time or effort but, yes, you can teach “an old dog new tricks”.

Do a crossword puzzle, Play a game, take on a new hobby, study a language, take a college course about a passion of yours, learn a new sport, learn how to play an instrument, take dancing lessons or cozy up with a good book. Reading keeps your mind sharp for life and provides an intellectual boost, especially when reading great literature. Research believes that people who read develop a brainpower reservoir that may lessen the risk of dementia.

All of these new experiences help stimulate the area of the brain that produces dopamine.  Dopamine is a chemical involved in memory and learning.  Learning and doing new things builds brain mass and increases your mental agility. Don’t be afraid of challenging and expanding your horizons with fresh and new
activities. You do not have to excel in your new pursuits to reap the many benefits.

I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now.  ~Author
Unknown

Contrary to popular belief the brain does not lose brain cells everyday, rather it grows new brain cells and reshapes itself through the experiences you encounter and the learning you do. As you challenge your brain, new brain cells sprout and the brain carves a new neural pathway keeping the brain vital and sharp.  When stimulated by new activities the brain is capable of regeneration.

One of the major keys to defying your age is staying mentally active and sharpening your brain. Get out there and train your brain for longevity. You will be glad you did and smarter for it!

First you are young; then you are middle-aged; then you are old; then you are wonderful.     Norman Vincent Peale

Be Wonderful Everyone!  Happy Anti-aging!

Chuck and Gayle