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

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!

How often have you felt like you need some energy? We could all use some extra energy through out the course of our busy day, especially in those afternoon hours after we have just eaten.  No matter what your age a bit of an energy boost can keep us going through all of the demanding tasks we face each day and get rid of the tiredness we might be feeling.  Energy is needed in order to get through the daily exercise we need, like taking a walk or going to the gym. It takes energy to solve a problem or finish a task. It is the enthusiasm or boost our bodies need to tough it out and get going! Does a lack of energy prevent you from accomplishing what you want or need to do? An increased level of energy can definitely contribute to a better quality of life. How do we get the energy we need?  It is vital that you exercise regularly and consume the right diet. Getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, losing those unwanted pounds, cutting out junk food and stopping the smoking will all help in boosting your energy levels.

You may even use a drink, usually with caffeine, such as coffee or an energy drink, to stimulate your metabolism or eat a candy bar for a sugar high. Both of these provide a quick fix but often bring you crashing down or leave you with the jitters or a headache or even nauseated.  There are tons of energy drinks on the market today that can provide that boost or high we are looking for.  Many are extremely powerful. The most obvious benefit of energy drinks is, of course,  the energy or power they provide. But are they all safe? Are they good for you?

Knowing what is in them and what you should be aware of before you purchase these drinks is very important to your health and well being.  Powerful does not always mean they are good for you. The power they provide may raise your blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine is one of the most common ingredients found in most of these drinks. The caffeine in these drinks is usually much higher than what is found in coffee or colas and other soft drinks. Caffeine can keep you awake at night, cause indigestion, anxiety, agitation and irritability.  Sugar is also an ingredient that is common and loaded in most energy drinks. Sugar, as we know, is a quick source of energy. Too much sugar can cause you to be hyper or over active and can increase the possibility of dehydration. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic and promotes dehydration. Both sugar and caffeine can alter your mood as well as your performance.

Be sure to read the ingredients carefully on the energy drinks you purchase.  Look for healthy energy drinks that have no sugar added are not artificially colored or flavored and contain no caffeine. Be sure there are antioxidants included to promote health and well being and all natural ingredients. Stay Healthy Everyone!

ChucknGayle

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

People get cholesterol in two ways. The body produces cholesterol, mainly in the liver, and many of the foods we eat contain cholesterol.  Foods that come from animals contain it. Foods from plants do not contain it. The body makes all the cholesterol we need. We do not need to consume it. If your cholesterol level is high you may need to reduce the amount of certain foods in your diet especially those with saturated fats and trans fat. These fats raise the level of cholesterol in our blood and increase the risk of heart disease.

Natural plant sterols may be the answer to cholesterol reduction.  Over 140 clinical studies have proven that they do lower LDL cholesterol. It is recommended that people with high cholesterol get 2 grams of plant sterols a day. That means you would need to eat about 100 pounds of  whole fruits, vegetables or nuts to get the 2 grams of natural plant sterols needed each day. That is a very taxing goal for anyone to achieve. To overcome this many of our foods are fortified with sterols and stanols by food manufacturers. Some of the breads, cereals, margarine spreads, salad dressings, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, orange juice, milk, yogurt and granola or snack bars that you consume already have been fortified with plant sterols.

In 2000 the FDA gave many food products the status of a “health claim”.  This means that it allows manufacturers to advertise the heart-healthy benefits of their product on their labels.

To help reduce the risk of heart disease and reduce cholesterol, we should be eating 0.8 grams of plant sterols a day as part of a diet low in  saturated fat and cholesterol.  Eat foods containing at least 0.4 grams of  plant sterols twice a day with meals.  The plant sterols help remove cholesterol from the body by blocking cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract. They are very similar to cholesterol physically and compete with cholesterol in the intestine, thus allowing less cholesterol to be absorbed in the body and returned to the liver. Instead of clogging up your arteries the cholesterol is eliminated with the waste.  This helps to lower the LDL cholesterol levels in your body.  Corn, soy, nuts, seeds, legumes and wheat products are good sources of natural plant sterols in very small quantities.

Reducing the cholesterol in your body is as simple as paying attention to what you eat and reading the labels on the foods you purchase.

• Use olive oil, canola oil and plant based oils for cooking and baking
• Stay away from fried foods and baked goods.
• Switch from butter to a tub margarine.  Be sure to read the label to get one with zero grams of trans fat.
• Choose the leanest of meats and low fat dairy products.
• Eat more fish and nuts for those good omega-3 fats. At least one good source daily is a good rule of thumb.
• Always follow your doctor’s advice and go in for a screening regularly.

Stay Healthy Everyone,

ChucknGayle

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

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.

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