Importance of Vitamin D

In the October, 2008 issue of the American Medical Association journal Archives of Neurology, researchers from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta report that men and women with Parkinson’s disease have a greater incidence of vitamin D insufficiency compared with Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy people. The discovery adds another disease to the growing list of the conditions that have been recently associated with reduced levels of the vitamin.

AVOIDING MIDDLE-AGE WEIGHT GAIN

As we age and our metabolisms slow, weight gain is inevitable if we don't do something to control it. Even if you're working out, you may need a new or more intense routine to keep the weight off (especially around the waist). So what can you do??

1. Increase strength training to 2-3 days per week for at least 30 - 45 minutes each session. Use weights, resistance bands, or noodles (in water) to strengthen muscles and bones and reduce fat around the waist.

2. Increase the pace and work harder each session. By increasing the intensity, the heart and cardiovascular fitness is improved.

3. Keep one day at a relaxed pace to avoid burnout. Choose a relaxing exercise for a comfortable pace to let yourself relax and even 'zone out'.

Don't forget that nutrition plays a key role in controlling weight gain. So, don't skip breakfast and maintain a healthy diet to see results. It may not be easy, but it's worth it!

9 Good Reasons Why You Should Get in the Pool

Many believe that swimming and pools are strictly child's play or summer fun and that swimming is not an effective form of weight loss.  This is not true! Even the US Masters Swimming says that swimming is a 'rigorous, effective fitness workout--and fun in the process."

Everyone can benefit from the water. Here are 9 good reasons to start splashing:

1.  Heart Helper--Get cardiovascular conditioning

2. Balance Your Build--Swimming builds longer, leaner muscles and boosts metabolism

3. Cross-training--Avoid injury with a balanced workout routine

4.  Increased Flexibility--Heated pools relax muscles, increase flexibility, and enable important stretching in addition to flushing out toxins preventing muscle tightness and soreness the following day

5.  Strengthen Your Core--Develop core body strength

6.  Endurance--Train for longer periods of time and burn more calories

7.  Adventure--Explore the relaxing joys of clean, indoor and outdoor pools

8.  Social Outlet-- Meet people with mutual interests, find peer motivation and professional coaching to increase your performance results

Finally....

9.  Weight Loss--It's easy to push yourself and get in the water.  Putting on your swimsuit may actually motivate you to shed a few pounds too. 

Swimming and water exercise can add to your quality of life.  Start splashing!!

(Adapted from Active.com article)

Go Organic with 12 Foods

Go Organic!

Reducing exposure to pesticides is increasingly important to maintain health. Make sure you go organic or at least no pesticides with the following 12 foods. They are the most pesticide absorbant foods.

1. Fruits
-Peaches, nectarines
-Strawberries, cherries
-Apples, pears
-Imported grapes

2. Veggies
-Spinach, lettuce
-Potatoes, celery
-Sweet bell peppers

Gas, food, clutter--HELP!

Gas and food prices are climbing. Clutter is taking over our homes. Here are a few great websites to check out:

1. www.couponcart.com or coolsavings.com for deals on frequently purchased items
2. www.gasbuddy.com for the lowest gas prices in your area
3. www.catalogchoice.com to unsubscribe from catalog mailings to reduce clutter and save the environment

New Medicine for Migraines

FDA Approves Combination Sumatriptan/Naproxen Sodium for Acute Treatment of Migraine

NEW YORK -- April 17, 2008 -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a combination pill, sumatriptan/naproxen sodium (Treximet) for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. This is the first and only migraine treatment that combines 2 therapies in 1 tablet -- a triptan and an anti-inflammatory pain reliever -- thereby targeting multiple mechanisms of migraine. The combination pill contains sumatriptan 85 mg and naproxen sodium 500 mg.In clinical trials, a significantly greater percentage of patients achieved migraine pain relief at 2 hours with the sumatriptan/naproxen combination compared with sumatriptan 85 mg or naproxen sodium 500 mg alone. In addition, the combination pill provided more patients with sustained migraine pain relief from 2 to 24 hours compared with the individual components. The new pill will be available in mid May, 2008.

Bad Eating Habits: Skipping Breakfast and Craving Sugar

Bad Eating Habit: You skip breakfast.The Fallout: You’ll probably have a lousy morning, as well as a higher chance of overeating later on. “Blood sugar usually drops overnight, so your brain is running on empty until you eat in the morning,” says Ellie Krieger, R.D. Studies have shown that cognitive skills and memory improve once you’ve fueled your foggy morning brain. Recent research shows that breakfast skippers tend to eat more calories during the day than do people who don’t skip. Eating breakfast may actually help you achieve and maintain weight loss.

The Fix: Breakfast doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair, but try to eat about an hour or two after you get up. Aim for 250 to 400 calories, and include at least one serving of whole grains, a source of protein, and one serving of fruit, says Tara Gidus, R.D. If you’re habitually short on time, stock the kitchen with easy-to-make breakfast foods, keep packets of oatmeal at the office, or place a standing order at a café so you can make a pickup on your way to work.

Bad Eating Habit: You crave sugar. The Fallout: A package of candy may give you a burst of energy, but then you’ll be smacked down by a post-sugar slump. What’s more, a sugary snack is usually empty calories, providing few of the nutrients you need, says Krieger. This, she says, may explain why it’s possible to be both obese and undernourished.

The Fix: You don’t have to go off the sweet stuff completely — just find some good substitutions now and then. Unsweetened dried fruit (like tart cherries or mangoes), peanut M&M’s (a little protein mixed with sugar can help fend off the energy dip), and even a handful of lightly sweetened whole-grain cereal are all good swaps for candy or cookies. And since added sugar sneaks its way into many foods — including bread, cereal, and yogurt — read labels and seek out versions of your favorites with less sugar. Buy unsweetened drinks and add your own sugar. (Presweetened iced tea can contain as much as 10 to 12 teaspoons per bottle.) Or opt for sugar-free.
(Source: Real Simple, April, 2008)