Food for the brain
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Mood: healthy
Are you having a hard time remembering names or where you placed the car keys? Memory loss is a natural part of aging. It is normal to experience short-term forgetfulness, such as the inability to remember a person’s name you met recently or where you placed certain things, as we age. Thus, it is important to include memory boosting items in our diets.
One protein source associated with a great brain boost is fish which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for brain function and development. Studies show higher dietary omega 3 fatty acids are linked to lower dementia and stroke risks; slower mental decline; and may play a vital role in enhancing memory, especially as we get older. Two servings of fish weekly are recommended for excellent brain and heart health.
Other memory enhancing food items are coffee and chocolates. You are right, Shaun Olmstead, coffee is good for you! They contain caffeine which can energize and help you focus and concentrate. Found in coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, and some medications, caffeine gives you that unmistakable wake-up buzz -- though the effects are short term. A reminder though, too much caffeine can make you jittery and uncomfortable.
Sugar is your brain's preferred fuel source -- not table sugar, but glucose, which your body metabolizes from the sugars and carbohydrates you eat. That’s why a glass of something sweet to drink can offer a short-term boost to memory, thinking processes, and mental ability. Consume too much, however, and memory can be impaired -- along with the rest of you. Go easy on the sugar so it can enhance memory, without packing on pounds.
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The Best Doctors
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Mood: healthy
The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990
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A chuckle a day keeps the doctor away
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Mood: laughing
It is said, time and again, that laughter is the best medicine and an increasing number of researches are supporting this claim.
Researchers at Loma Linda University and Oakcrest Health Research Institute in Yucaipa discovered that a good laugh â€" or even the anticipation of laughter â€" appears to have positive effects on the body's hormones.
During a study, they divided 32 healthy men into two groups. Half were instructed to view a one-hour humorous video of their own selection while the other half simply sat in a room with an assortment of magazines. Blood was drawn before, during and after the trial.
Results showed that the men who watched the humorous video had, on average, 27% more beta-endorphins and 87% more human growth hormone in their blood than the control group even before the video clips started to roll. The levels of these beneficial hormones remained elevated during and after the experiment.
According to Loma Linda University lead researcher Lee Berk, "The benefits of laughter are similar to exercise," He added that "Laughter has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure is lowered overall and resting heart rate decreases. Additionally, the immune system appears to get tuned up."
This study just proves that laughter is no laughing matter! Thank goodness I have a daily supply of hilarious jokes from my friend Shaun Olsmtead! Keep those jokes coming, Shaun!
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Of lemons and limes
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Limes and lemons are nature’s best physician. These citrus fruits relieve many symptoms which no doctor could. Limes and lemons are very effective cure for coughs, cold and influenza. A big glass of warm water, one table spoon honey, half a lemon works wonders. My friend, Shaun Olmstead, who makes it a point to drink at least a glass of this concoction every day, swears he hardly have to visit a doctor.
Limes and lemons destroy the toxins in the body. Typhoid and other diseases die within no time. The juice of these fruits is very effective in destroying uric acid in the body. It is also very effective in destroying bacteria from intestinal tract. Limes and lemons are excellent sources of vitamin C. They are a good source of vitamin B6, potassium, folic acid and flavonoids. It cures constipation, loss of appetite, arthritis, skin diseases, and heart diseases. The high potassium content in them makes these fruits very useful for preventing and curing heart diseases. It strengthens the teeth and gums. It freshens up the breath. It purifies blood and liver.
It stimulates the functions of the kidney, liver and sweat glands. A ripe lime is a good appetizer. It destroys intestinal worms and expels the excessive gases formed in the digestive tract. Regular exercise and lemon juice helps in excreting waste toxins from your body. It purifies blood. Each and every cell of the body is rejuvenated by taking limes and lemons.
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Ten Tips on How to Live Longer and Happier
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Mood: punchy
Living a healthy lifestyle does not only mean sweating it out in the treadmill and having salads and tofu for the rest of your life. There are a lot of fun and pleasurable activities that can help you live longer and happier.
1. Drink one or two glasses of red wine a day to help keep your body young. My friend and wine enthusiast, Shaun Olmstead, says that drinking a glass or two of red wine gives him more than just relaxation. He believes that red wine is good medicine. Research shows that red wine is packed with resveratrol, an antioxidant that work to protect your body against the effects of aging.
2. Eat dark chocolates! They contain large amounts of antioxidants that protect your body from aging. Find good quality dark chocolate, learn to appreciate it, and have a bit of it each day. Eating chocolate may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol while providing an energy boost.
3. Start exercising those facial muscles and smile! Smiling is a great way to change your attitude, connect with people and give benefit to your body. Like relaxation, smiling can work to counteract the effects of stress. By forcing ourselves to smile, we "trick" our body into believing that everything is good, thereby reducing stress. Like a switch, smiling can actually change your mood. So put a smile on, even if you don't feel like it, and pretty soon you'll be smiling for real.
4. Have more sex! And don’t raise those eyebrows yet! Sex and touching are found to be essential parts of health. Sex releases an assortment of beneficial chemicals in the body. Sex and touching help us bond with others, strengthen relationships, and increase our own self-worth. Frequent sex may even extend your life by years, I’m not kidding!
5. Relax. Relaxation helps our bodies to rest, heal and function better. By practicing daily relaxation techniques, you can train yourself to turn off your stress and replace it with calm energy. This will improve your blood pressure, heart rate and ability to cope with life's challenges.
6. Make exercise fun. Physical games and sports are a great way to keep both your body and mind healthy. Simple exercise routines are great for maintaining balance, flexibility, endurance and strength. Group games and sports can give your mind a workout as well, as you anticipate other people's actions and how to work together. Find a game and activity that suits your level of physical ability and play often.
7. Get enough sleep. Sleep is an essential body function. Medications, stress, illness and poor sleep habits all can prevent you from getting between 7 and 9 hours a night. The health benefits of sleep include more energy, better immune function, and more.
8. Spend more time with loved ones. Relationships are an important part of health. Not only do strong bonds with other people mean you will have help when you need it, being connected also means protection from loneliness, depression, and mental illness. Spend time cultivating your relationships with friends and family to improve your health and your life.
9. Give your mind a workout by solving puzzles and playing brain games. Mind games are a great way to stay involved and engaged in the world. Games can exercise different parts of your mind and entice your curiosity. If possible, choose social games like chess or bridge that exercise your brain while keeping you connected with others.
10. Have a positive attitude. Research shows that having a positive attitude about aging can add more than seven years to your life. Avoid the cultural push to glorify youth and regret each passing year. Find ways to pleasure in your increasing age and enjoy greater learning, experience, and control in your life.
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