Longevity | Living a Long and Healthy Life

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Many people would like to achieve a ripe old age. The good news is that more and more now have a chance of achieving that ideal. Weakening health problems such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and arthritis can be overcome if one opts to make lifestyle changes. It's never too late so if you want to increase your chances of living a long and healthy life, here are some tips:

1. Weight Liftingweight lifting

Some studies from Tufts University in Boston confirmed that muscle and bone loss could be stopped and even reversed through weight training. The reduced rate of decline in bone mass helps to slow down the development of osteoporosis and related problems such as increased susceptibility to fractured bones.

2. Walking

walkingA brisk half-hour walk three times a week improves stamina and helps maintain muscle tone and balance. A morning walk at least twice a week reduces the risk of sustaining a fall. Hip fractures in the elderly caused by falls increases the risk of mortality, such as dying of pneumonia after being bedridden for some time.


3. Quit Smoking
smoking
Studies have shown that men who quit smoking at 65 can still add up to two years to their life expectancy compared to those who continue to smoke. The risk of serious diseases steadily diminishes and breathing becomes easier. The appetite will increase and one will enjoy better health.


4. Go for nutritious diets

vegetable omelet
Include in your diet the following:
  • dark-green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, taro leaves and lettuce leaves (iron, folate and beta-carotene, calcium)
  • sweet potatoes (folate, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and fiber)
  • papaya, guava, mango, orange and pomelo (vitamin C, iron and fiber)
  • soy products such as tofu (protein and flavinoids)
  • beans (iron and a high-fiber form of protein)
  • whole grains (higher in fiber than refined grains, with more B vitamins, vitamin E, selenium and zinc)
  • Nuts (eating them more than five times a week could reduce death rates from heart diseases.
  • Salmon, tuna and other cold-water fish (omega-3 fatty acids may reduce or prevent inflammation of the joints due to arthritis and protect older people from degeneration of eyesight.
5. Take a vitamin pill

vitamin supplementsAs people age, their bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients, as well as their diets change. Often older people choose soft foods, which may be high in energy and fat but low in fiber and vitamins. So a multivitamin with minerals will help set the balance right, though it's no substitute for a healthy diet because foods contain important components like fiber.

Older people need to boost their intake of calcium as its absorption has been reported to decline with age due to the reduction in gastric acid in the stomach and low intake of vitamin D. Also there is accumulating evidence that they may have a greater need for vitamins B12, B6 and folate due to reduced absorption.

6. Unclog your brain

New research indicates that a low-fat diet can protect your ability to learn and remember.

7. Just enough sleep

sleepWhile too little sleep can leave you exhausted, too much isn't healthy either. According to University of California, San Diego researchers, people who snoozed eight hours a night had up to 13 percent increased mortality over those who slept seven hours, while those who slept four hours had a risk of death that was as much as 17 percent higher.

8. Challenge your mind

gamesStimulating mental activities like learning a foreign language, reading a challenging book, playing chess or attending a lecture may keep you mentally alert as you age. Being mentally active will definitely help to prevent and delay the onset of intellectual decline.

9. Keep the faith

More studies indicated that those who went to a temple, mosque or a church were healthier than their non-attending counterparts and tended to live longer.

10. Pick a pet

dogs Seniors who own pets are less likely to be depressed than those who don't, according to a study. Pets can provide companionship, a sense of purpose and even health benefits. Stroking a warm-blooded, furry animal has shown to reduce blood pressure.

11. Stay out of stress

One quality most centenarians share is an ability to not dwell on difficulties. As long as you have food to eat, don't argue with people, and live a peaceful life, you will be happy. Stress provokes a physiological response that's hard on the body. Your body pumps out adrenaline and cortisol, which are meant to help you cope with danger in the short term but which are capable of damaging your immune system, heart and brain when you're constantly keyed up.

12. Reach out and touch someone

chessIf you can't stand to exercise and refuse to swear off fatty foods, a mind game like chess with your friends may be equally beneficial. In a study participated by people aged 65 and up in a range of activities over years, it had been found out that social engagements may add as much to your life span as healthy measures such as cutting cholesterol or lowering blood pressure.

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Ghost Chili | Ghost Pepper

Thursday, August 6, 2009

ghost chili - spiciest chili in the worldThe picture shows a farmer plucking "Bhut Jolokia," also known as "ghost chili" pepper from a field at Changpool, India. Bhut Jolokia, a thumb-sized chili pepper with frightening potency, was recently rated the spiciest chili in the world by Guinness World Records.

Still wanna try this ghost chili pepper? It's used actually as one of the natural remedies but be careful. If you don't want to end up dying, check the video first before you attempt.


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Mesothelioma Patient

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

mesothelioma | asbestos lung cancer

Photo credit: www.mesothelioma-picture.com

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals used in fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, and drywall joint compound. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura or the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall, but it may also occur in the peritoneum or the lining of the abdominal cavity, the heart, the pericardium, or tunica vaginalis.


Mesothelioma patients were mostly people who have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.


The symptoms that mesothelioma patients experience include shortness of breath due to chest wall pain and general symptoms such as weight loss.


People affected with mesothelioma can claim compensation for health damage by filing lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and employers who neglected to implement safety measures.


Read more about mesothelioma.


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