Fitness exercise diet and healthy lifestyle tips

Fitness Classic Nutrition Dilemmas Diet Concepts
Exercise Ideas Strength Training Healthy Mind Fitness Opinions

Fitness Exercise Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Tips

Part of keeping sharp as you age may be a simple matter of movement. Research shows that regular exercise can offset declines in cognitive function that are a normal part of the aging process. Compared to people who had low fitness levels, the very fit people in a study who completed a mental task showed more activity in key brain regions related to cognitive performance.

If you need to focus better on the task at hand, grab your walking shoes. Improving your cardiovascular fitness through brisk walking or jogging can help boost your mental acuity. In a study, people who regularly participated in cardiovascular exercise were able to focus better on a target compared to people who performed only stretching and toning exercises.

Don't let a mild case of the blues put your heart health at risk. More and more research is suggesting that depression can impact heart health. Now a recent study in postmenopausal women revealed that even a mild case of the blues may increase the risk of developing heart disease down the road. When you feel a blue mood coming on, cut it short by spending time with good friends or going for a brisk walk.

Getting softer as you get older is not an inevitable part of aging. Although gradual muscle loss is a natural part of the aging process starting at about middle age, it's not something you have to accept. Research shows that regular exercise, and particularly strength training, helps to halt age-related muscle loss in both men and women and helps them maintain their strength late in life.

If you're feeling spiritual these days, you may start feeling better about your health, too. Taking time to nurture your spirit may be a path to better health, according to some researchers. An assessment of the health perceptions of older adults revealed that the people who reported being the most spiritual also tended to rate their health more highly, compared to people who did not consider themselves to be spiritual.

Are you a hot head? A less hostile outlook may help keep your heart rhythms steady. Studies in men revealed that men who are generally hostile or often openly angry may have as much as a 30 percent greater risk of developing irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke.

If you're searching out the pepper with the most vitamin C, head toward the red hues. Sweet red and yellow bell peppers contain almost twice as much vitamin C as green bell peppers. An ample supply of vitamin C in the diet has been credited with reducing the risk of stroke, one of the most common causes of death and disability in the United States and other developed countries.

Sipping on a cup of hot tea may be a safeguard against cancer. Population studies have linked the consumption of tea with a reduction in risk for several types of cancer. Researchers speculate that the polyphenols in tea may inhibit certain mechanisms that promote cancer growth. Both green and black teas have been credited with cancer-inhibiting powers.

Don't just walk your way to fitness. Swim, bike, and dance, too. A recent survey revealed that many people who walk for exercise don't walk often enough to maximize the health benefits. A comprehensive exercise program with several different activities in addition to walking, such as swimming and calisthenics, may help people better meet their minimum physical activity needs.

Fitness Classic Nutrition Dilemmas Diet Concepts
Exercise Ideas Strength Training Healthy Mind Fitness Opinions