Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Results from a recent large government experiment are lowering the hopes that two common painkillers can prevent Alzheimer’s disease or slow mental decline in older people.The study will be ending early due to not enough data to prove how the drugs act on thinking and memory.

The study showed that the arthritis drug Celebrex and the over-the-counter painkiller Aleve showed no benefit on thinking skills. Earlier results from the same research showed the two drugs didn’t prevent Alzheimer’s, at least in the short term.

The experiment was halted several years early in 2004 when heart risks turned up in a separate study on Celebrex. Researchers also had noticed more heart attacks and strokes in the people taking Aleve in the Alzheimer’s prevention study.

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Government researchers claim that Senior Citizen’s have more money and are expected to live far longer than prior generations.They said the average net worth of older Americans( 65 years of age and older) has increased almost 80 percent over the past 20 years. They also found that those who reach the age of 65 are now expected to live an average of 19 more years, or seven years longer than people who had reached age 65 in the year 1900.

The findings are part a report released on Thursday called Older Americans 2008.The report forecasts that by 2030, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will nearly double to 71.5 million, or 20 percent of the U.S. population, up from 12 percent, or 37 million people, in 2006.

It also found that senior citizens in the United States are far better educated than prior generations. In 2007, 76 percent of those over 65 had high school diplomas, and at least 19 percent had a bachelor’s degree, up from 24 percent with high school diplomas in 1965 and just 5 percent with bachelor’s degrees.

Senior Citizens like many other groups, are getting fatter, the researchers said. In the 2005-2006 study period, 37 percent of women aged 65 to 74 were obese, and 24 percent of women age 75 and over were obese. This is up from the 1988-1994 study period, when 27 percent of women age 65 to 74 and 19 percent of women age 75 and over were obese.

Source: reuters.com

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

According to a recent research study, the happiest Americans are our senior citizens, and that seniors are more socially active than the stereotype of the lonely senior suggests.

The study showed that the odds of being happy increased 5 percent with every 10 years of age.Overall, about 33 percent of Americans reported being very happy at age 88, versus about 24 percent of those age 18 to their early 20s. And throughout the study years, most Americans reported being very happy or pretty happy; less than 20 percent said they were not too happy.

The the artilce at : msnbc.com

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

A recent research study shows that taking methylphenidate could help older people reduce their risk of falling by sharpening their mental function, Israeli researchers report. Methylphenidate is used to treat attention deficit disorder like the drug Ritalin.

Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among older people. It is estimated that half of elderly people who are hospitalized after a fall will be alive a year later, notes a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

To investigate whether methylphenidate might offer a potential strategy for fall prevention, the researchers had 26 healthy, independently living seniors complete tests of fall risk and executive function before and after taking a single dose of the drug.After taking the drug, the participants completed the “Timed Up and Go” test significantly more quickly. In the test, a person gets up from a chair, walks for three meters at a normal pace, turns around and walks back, and sits back down. Fall risk rises with the amount of time it takes a person to complete the test.

Source: reuters.com

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

Eat colorful Fruits and vegetables.Load up on spinach, berries,apples, and carrots are all high in antioxidants and fiber.

Eat Fish. Tuna, and salom are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Try eating 2-3 servings of fish per week.

Do Not Smoke.If you smoke, quit right now. Smoking triples your risk of dying by increasing your blood pressure and making blood more prone to clot, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Within a year of quitting, you will decrease your risk of a heart attack by 50 percent.

Balance exercise and your diet. Try to balance the calories you take in with the calories you burn by physical activity.If you have a bigger middle section, you are more likely to have fat in and around your abdominal organs where it can be released into the bloodstream as dangerous fatty acids that contribute to clogged arteries. For women, a waist size more than 30 inches is a red flag.

Exercise. Aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Exercise – in any form - will lower your blood pressure, reduce stress and boost your “good” cholesterol.

Do not use salt. Keep your blood pressure at 120/80 mmHg or below. As women age, they become more salt-sensitive, which contributes to elevated blood pressure. Women over the age of 50 should cut sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day.

Monday, February 25th, 2008

Signs and symptoms

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke may make it possible for the right care and to get immediate treatment. The signs and symptoms of stroke usually occur suddenly; frequently there’s more than one.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of your face, arm or leg — usually on one side
• Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination
• Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech (aphasia)
• Sudden blurred, double or decreased vision
• A sudden, severe headache or an unusual headache, which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between your eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness
• Confusion, or problems with memory

For most, a stroke gives no warning or signs. One possible sign of an impending stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary interruption of blood flow to a part of your brain.The signs and symptoms of TIA are the same as a stroke, but they last for a shorter period. It can be several minutes and to 24 hours and then go away without any apparent permanent effects. It is possible to have more than one TIA, and the recurrent signs and symptoms may be similar or different.

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

Avocado is a great source of healthy monounsaturated fat that may help to reduce level of a bad type of cholesterol in the body. Avocado is also a good source of vitamin E and can help to maintain healthy skin and prevent skin the skin from aging. Avocado is rich in potassium which helps prevent fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Try avocado on salads or make a fresh guacamole.

Monday, February 18th, 2008

8 ounces sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon fennel seed, roughly chopped or coarsely ground in a spice mill
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3/4 cup reduced-sodium beef broth, divided (see Tips for Two)
1/4 cup dry red wine
2 bell peppers, cut into 1-inch squares
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1. Rub steak with fennel seed and 1/4 teaspoon salt, turning to coat on all sides. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak in a single layer and cook, turning once, until browned on the outside and still pink in the middle, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
2. Add garlic to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup broth and wine, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add bell peppers, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the peppers are tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.

3. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup broth and flour in a small bowl. Add to the pepper mixture, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Return the steak to the pan. Adjust heat to maintain a slow simmer and cook, turning the meat once, about 2 minutes for medium-rare.

Recipe source:eatingwell.com

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Exercise is really the way to “The Fountain of Youth”.

If you don’t beleive me, try following these simple fitness tips and see how you feel.

1. Consistent Cardio. 30 minutes, 5 days a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Work at a pace that allows you to talk freely; if you can sing, you’re not exercising hard enough. To get started, choose an activity you enjoy and do 10 minutes, 5 days a week. Then increase by 5 minutes each week until you’re doing 30 minutes at a time. Dividing your exercise into three 10-minute bouts throughout the day works, too.

2. Intervals.45 minutes, twice a week (moderate-paced cardio exercise interspersed with 1-minute speed bursts every 2 minutes). If you’re just starting out, do 20-second intervals, slowly building up to 1 minute as your endurance increases.

3. Weight Training. 20 minutes, twice a week. Dumbbells is really all you need. You can use light hand weights or weight machines at your gym. Both options are great and only one of them is a must.

4. Yoga and/or Pilates. Try to fit in 2-3 sessions per week. These sessions can help lower your stress levels.

Try these tips for at least 6 weeks followed with a well balanced diet and I bet you will feel GREAT! Please consult with your physician before beginning an exercise and diet plan.

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

According to a survey done by AARP, over 30,000 baby boomers and Matures are going Green! Green Baby Boomers tend to support local retailers that give back to their communities and choose locally produced products. AARP’s research study found that more baby boomers are more prevalent among Matures, and appear to directly correlate with their increasing age. These correlations may forecast that social and environmental consciousness will increasingly shape the purchasing behaviors of baby boomer shoppers.

Key findings from AARP include:

· Almost three-quarters (70%) of baby boomers say that they feel a sense of responsibility to make the world a better place.

· Good customer service is nearly twice as important among Green Baby Boomers as it is to other baby boomers (70% vs. 45%).

· Green Boomers are seeking authenticity and relevance, as well as real information about products in adevrtising campaigns.

· 50 percent of baby boomers at every income level are likely to buy brands that are environmentally safe, those at the lowest income level ($0-$50K) are most inclined to do so (57%).

· Green Boomers are consuming more media, particularly print, and exhibit higher brand loyalty across all categories of products.