You had a baby later in life.
If you got pregnant naturally after age 44, you're about 15 percent less likely to die during any year after age 50 than your friends who had their babies before age 40, reports a recent University of Utah study. "If your ovaries are healthy and you are capable of having children at that age, that's a marker that you have genes operating that will help you live longer," says lead researcher Ken R. Smith, Ph.D., professor of human development at the university.
Your pulse beats 15 times in 15 seconds.
That equates to 60 beats per minute—or how many times a healthy heart beats at rest. Most people have resting rates between 60 and 100 bpm, though the closer to the lower end of the spectrum, the healthier. A slower pulse means your heart doesn't have to work as hard and could last longer, says Leslie Cho, M.D., director of the Women's Cardiovascular Center at the Cleveland Clinic.
You don't snore.
Snoring is a major sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes you to stop breathing briefly because throat tissue collapses and blocks your airway. In severe cases, this can happen 60 to 70 times per hour. Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, memory problems, weight gain, and depression. An 18-year study found that people without OSA were three times more likely to live longer than those with severe apnea. If you snore and have excessive daytime drowsiness or mood changes, talk with your doctor about a referral to a sleep center.
You embrace techie trends.
Learn to Twitter or Skype to help keep brain cells young and healthy, says Sherri Snelling, senior director for Evercare (part of United-Healthcare), a group that sponsors an annual poll of U.S. centenarians. Many of the oldest Americans send e-mails, Google lost friends, and even date online. Researchers say using the latest technology helps keep us not only mentally spry but socially engaged: "Stay connected to friends, family, and current events, and you feel vital and relevant," says Snelling.
You started menopause after age 52.
Studies show that naturally experiencing it later can mean an increased life span. One reason: "Women who go through menopause late have a much lower risk of heart disease," says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine.
You make every calorie count.
Researchers in St. Louis reported that men and women who limited their daily calories to 1,400 to 2,000 (about 25 percent fewer calories than those who followed a typical 2,000-to 3,000-calorie Western diet) were literally young at heart—their hearts functioned like those of people 15 years younger. "It's about not just eating less but getting the most nutrition per calorie," says study author Luigi Fontana, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. Study subjects stuck to vegetables, whole grains, fat-free milk, and lean meat and nixed white bread, soda, and candy. If you cut empty calories and eat more nutrient-rich foods, your health will improve, says Fontana.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
12 Surprising Signs You'll Live to 100 [1-6]
You're the life of the party.
Outgoing people are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia, according to a recent study of more than 500 men and women age 78 and older from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Participants also described themselves as not easily stressed. Researchers speculate that their more resilient brains may be due to lower levels of cortisol—studies show that oversecretion of this "stress hormone" can inhibit brain cells' communication. Science-backed ways to cut cortisol levels: Meditate, sip black tea, or take a nap.
You run for 40 minutes a day.
Scientists in California found that middle-aged people who did just that—for a total of about five hours per week—lived longer and functioned better physically and cognitively as they got older; the researchers tracked runners and nonrunners for 21 years. "What surprised us is that the runners didn't just get less heart disease—they also developed fewer cases of cancer, neurologic diseases, and infections," says study author Eliza Chakravarty, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. "Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system young." If you don't like to run, even 20 minutes a day of any activity that leaves you breathless can boost your health, she says.
You like raspberries in your oatmeal.
Most Americans eat 14 to 17 g of fiber per day; add just 10 g and reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent, according to a Netherlands study. Dietary fiber helps reduce total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost weight loss. One easy fix: Top your oatmeal (½ cup dry has 4 g fiber) with 1 cup of raspberries (8 g) and you get 12 g of fiber in just one meal.
Try some of these other potent fiber-rich foods: ½ cup of 100 percent bran cereal (8.8 g), ½ cup of cooked lentils (7.8 g), ½ cup of cooked black beans (7.5 g), one medium sweet potato (4.8 g), one small pear (4.3 g).
You feel 13 years younger than you are.
That's what older people in good health said in a recent survey of more than 500 men and women age 70 and older. "Feeling youthful is linked to better health and a longer life," says researcher Jacqui Smith, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. "It can improve optimism and motivation to overcome challenges, which helps reduce stress and boost your immune system and ultimately lowers your risk of disease."
You have a (relatively) flat belly after menopause.
Women who are too round in the middle are 20 percent more likely to die sooner (even if their body mass index is normal), according to a National Institute on Aging study. At midlife, it takes more effort to keep waists trim because shifting hormones cause most extra weight to settle in the middle. If your waist measures 35 inches or more (for men, 40 inches or more), take these steps:
Work two or three 20-minute strength-training sessions into your weekly exercise regimen to preserve lean muscle mass and rev metabolism.
Eat a daily serving of omega-3s to help combat inflammation and seven daily servings of fruits and vegetables, loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants.
Get 25 percent of your daily calories from healthy fats—such as monounsaturated fatty acids—which protect your heart and may help you store less fat in your belly (for a 1,600-calorie diet, that's 44 g).
You get your blood tested for vitamin D levels.
For optimal disease protection, we need at least 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood, reports a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Nearly 80 percent of Americans have less than that. Vitamin D not only helps bones ward off osteoporosis but may also reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and infection, says lead researcher Adit A. Ginde, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. If needed, you can take a daily supplement to get your numbers up. Doctors can measure your levels with a simple blood test, but periodic monitoring may be necessary—vitamin D turns toxic at 100 to 150 ng/mL.
Outgoing people are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia, according to a recent study of more than 500 men and women age 78 and older from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Participants also described themselves as not easily stressed. Researchers speculate that their more resilient brains may be due to lower levels of cortisol—studies show that oversecretion of this "stress hormone" can inhibit brain cells' communication. Science-backed ways to cut cortisol levels: Meditate, sip black tea, or take a nap.
You run for 40 minutes a day.
Scientists in California found that middle-aged people who did just that—for a total of about five hours per week—lived longer and functioned better physically and cognitively as they got older; the researchers tracked runners and nonrunners for 21 years. "What surprised us is that the runners didn't just get less heart disease—they also developed fewer cases of cancer, neurologic diseases, and infections," says study author Eliza Chakravarty, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. "Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system young." If you don't like to run, even 20 minutes a day of any activity that leaves you breathless can boost your health, she says.
You like raspberries in your oatmeal.
Most Americans eat 14 to 17 g of fiber per day; add just 10 g and reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent, according to a Netherlands study. Dietary fiber helps reduce total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost weight loss. One easy fix: Top your oatmeal (½ cup dry has 4 g fiber) with 1 cup of raspberries (8 g) and you get 12 g of fiber in just one meal.
Try some of these other potent fiber-rich foods: ½ cup of 100 percent bran cereal (8.8 g), ½ cup of cooked lentils (7.8 g), ½ cup of cooked black beans (7.5 g), one medium sweet potato (4.8 g), one small pear (4.3 g).
You feel 13 years younger than you are.
That's what older people in good health said in a recent survey of more than 500 men and women age 70 and older. "Feeling youthful is linked to better health and a longer life," says researcher Jacqui Smith, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. "It can improve optimism and motivation to overcome challenges, which helps reduce stress and boost your immune system and ultimately lowers your risk of disease."
You have a (relatively) flat belly after menopause.
Women who are too round in the middle are 20 percent more likely to die sooner (even if their body mass index is normal), according to a National Institute on Aging study. At midlife, it takes more effort to keep waists trim because shifting hormones cause most extra weight to settle in the middle. If your waist measures 35 inches or more (for men, 40 inches or more), take these steps:
Work two or three 20-minute strength-training sessions into your weekly exercise regimen to preserve lean muscle mass and rev metabolism.
Eat a daily serving of omega-3s to help combat inflammation and seven daily servings of fruits and vegetables, loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants.
Get 25 percent of your daily calories from healthy fats—such as monounsaturated fatty acids—which protect your heart and may help you store less fat in your belly (for a 1,600-calorie diet, that's 44 g).
You get your blood tested for vitamin D levels.
For optimal disease protection, we need at least 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood, reports a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Nearly 80 percent of Americans have less than that. Vitamin D not only helps bones ward off osteoporosis but may also reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and infection, says lead researcher Adit A. Ginde, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. If needed, you can take a daily supplement to get your numbers up. Doctors can measure your levels with a simple blood test, but periodic monitoring may be necessary—vitamin D turns toxic at 100 to 150 ng/mL.
Monday, August 3, 2009
How stress, diet affect your skin
You may feel 40 and fabulous (and you!), But your skin may be over. Lifestyle habits can be broken or the actual age of your skin, then for better or worse. As you care for your people is key, too. You skin friend or foe? Take advantage of our research has proven tips to stop and reverse the premature-aging.
Your Younger Skin Strategy
1. Wash at night. "The most important point for cleaning the person before you hit the sack," said, Doris Day, MD, New York-based dermatologist. Dirt, bacteria, makeup and left on overnight can cause irritation of the skin, clog pores and cause breakouts. Remove this top layer of dirt with a gentle face wash (the skin should feel pleasantly tight for a period of 10 to 15 minutes after cleansing), which also allows anti-penetrate deeper managers to improve results. Since oil production dips to the hormonal changes in your 40, cleaning twice a day can dry out your face and wrinkles appear more pronounced. To refresh your skin in the morning, splash with warm water.
2. Be vigilant about UV protection. Nothing is more important than wearing sunscreen (ideally, SPF 30), if you want a young promising skin. Even 10 minutes of daily exposure UVA "aging" rays may cause changes that lead to wrinkles and blemishes in the sun a mere 12 weeks. If your moisturizer is not formulated with a built-in a broad spectrum SPF-30 sunscreen, be sure to use one as a daily block UVA and UVB rays.
3. Manage stress. Emotional upheaval may make your skin look 5 years older than your chronological age, said New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, and a psychiatrist, MD, author of The Mind-Beauty Connection. Constant anxiety increases the stress hormone cortisol, which causes inflammation that destroys collagen. It also causes a chain of responses that can lead to facial redness and acne outbreaks. To suppress the inflammation, there are antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, oranges, and asparagus. When you feel tense, Wechsler recommends several minutes of deep breathing (inhaling through the nose, hold for 3 counts, and the release through the mouth).
4. Use the retinoid. Studies show that these vitamin A derivatives turnover rate of cells and collagen to smooth fine lines and growth of wrinkles and brown spots disappear. Prescription strength retinoids such as Renova provide quick results, you'll begin to see changes in about a month. To help acclimate to any skin redness and peeling, apply only to pea size drop on your face every third night, the building the night before use. Milder versions of OTC (look for retinol) is gentler, although it may take up to 3 months to see visible results.
5. Update your skin routine. Change one thing about your treatment every 6 to 12 months, jump-starts a dramatic improvement in tone and texture. "In applying the products constantly, your skin slides in maintenance mode after one year," says New Orleans dermatologist Mary P. Lupo, MD. To keep his willingness to rejuvenation, to replace the cream that contains alpha-hydroxy acids for your prescription retinoid twice a week to increase profits. Or Bump your off-retinoid to the Rx formula.
6. Eat omega-3. These "good fats" in foods such as salmon, flaxseed, and almonds boost of hydration, which keeps skin soft and hard. The same is not true for saturated fats in dairy and meat products, which increase free radical damage, which makes the skin more susceptible to aging. Limit saturated fat to 17 grams daily.
7. Exercise regularly. The research found that women who regularly have a good skin than nonexercisers. Reason: Exercise infuses the skin of oxygen and nutrients needed for the production of collagen. To soften the skin, to make time for at least three 30-minute heart-pumping exercise per week.
Your Younger Skin Strategy
1. Wash at night. "The most important point for cleaning the person before you hit the sack," said, Doris Day, MD, New York-based dermatologist. Dirt, bacteria, makeup and left on overnight can cause irritation of the skin, clog pores and cause breakouts. Remove this top layer of dirt with a gentle face wash (the skin should feel pleasantly tight for a period of 10 to 15 minutes after cleansing), which also allows anti-penetrate deeper managers to improve results. Since oil production dips to the hormonal changes in your 40, cleaning twice a day can dry out your face and wrinkles appear more pronounced. To refresh your skin in the morning, splash with warm water.
2. Be vigilant about UV protection. Nothing is more important than wearing sunscreen (ideally, SPF 30), if you want a young promising skin. Even 10 minutes of daily exposure UVA "aging" rays may cause changes that lead to wrinkles and blemishes in the sun a mere 12 weeks. If your moisturizer is not formulated with a built-in a broad spectrum SPF-30 sunscreen, be sure to use one as a daily block UVA and UVB rays.
3. Manage stress. Emotional upheaval may make your skin look 5 years older than your chronological age, said New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, and a psychiatrist, MD, author of The Mind-Beauty Connection. Constant anxiety increases the stress hormone cortisol, which causes inflammation that destroys collagen. It also causes a chain of responses that can lead to facial redness and acne outbreaks. To suppress the inflammation, there are antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, oranges, and asparagus. When you feel tense, Wechsler recommends several minutes of deep breathing (inhaling through the nose, hold for 3 counts, and the release through the mouth).
4. Use the retinoid. Studies show that these vitamin A derivatives turnover rate of cells and collagen to smooth fine lines and growth of wrinkles and brown spots disappear. Prescription strength retinoids such as Renova provide quick results, you'll begin to see changes in about a month. To help acclimate to any skin redness and peeling, apply only to pea size drop on your face every third night, the building the night before use. Milder versions of OTC (look for retinol) is gentler, although it may take up to 3 months to see visible results.
5. Update your skin routine. Change one thing about your treatment every 6 to 12 months, jump-starts a dramatic improvement in tone and texture. "In applying the products constantly, your skin slides in maintenance mode after one year," says New Orleans dermatologist Mary P. Lupo, MD. To keep his willingness to rejuvenation, to replace the cream that contains alpha-hydroxy acids for your prescription retinoid twice a week to increase profits. Or Bump your off-retinoid to the Rx formula.
6. Eat omega-3. These "good fats" in foods such as salmon, flaxseed, and almonds boost of hydration, which keeps skin soft and hard. The same is not true for saturated fats in dairy and meat products, which increase free radical damage, which makes the skin more susceptible to aging. Limit saturated fat to 17 grams daily.
7. Exercise regularly. The research found that women who regularly have a good skin than nonexercisers. Reason: Exercise infuses the skin of oxygen and nutrients needed for the production of collagen. To soften the skin, to make time for at least three 30-minute heart-pumping exercise per week.
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