Archive for the ‘Disease’ Category
Sex Promotes Cardiovascular Health
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Is sex really that important? As more and more research is done on the subject, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that having healthy sex is essential to a healthy life — and that sex can even help you to live longer. Numerous studies have shown that an active sex life is closely correlated with longer, healthier life which is of special importance for promoting senior health. Specifically, it seems like sex may lower the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular diseases. A European study in the 1990’s found that men who had weekly sexual activity reduced their risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 40%. In 2010, the New England Research Institute conducted a massive study confirmed that weekly sex reduces risk of heart disease by 45%.
Additional benefits of engaging in sexual activity include reduction in stress and lower blood pressure. Another benefit of the oxytocin released during orgasm: it calms the nerves. Studies done on lab rats have shown that oxytocin counteracts the effects of cortisol (a stress hormone). Sex also helps you sleep better. When he rolls over and starts snoring after a good bout in the bed, it’s not just physical exhaustion. Oxytocin not only calms you down, but it also specifically promotes sleep. In conclusion seniors who engage in sexual activity are taking a preemptive aging step that fosters their cardiovascular health.
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Choices for Senior Living after Retirement
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When seniors reach retirement age they have a number of options open to them regarding their choice of lifestyle after retirement. In addition to remaining in their preretirement community or aging in place, they can consider other options. Among those options are a variety of retirement communities that include active adult communities, retirement resorts, independent living for seniors, senior apartments, and retirement resorts. In terms of options that provide a wide variety of health care seniors can choose assisted living facilities, nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, and facilities that provide Alzheimer’s care. Whatever their choice of facility, seniors need to remember that taking their prescriptions as instructed by their physicians is of utmost important to maintaining their senior health.
After senior choose their option for retirement, they need to keep in mind that they need to maintain access to information on those topics that are of critical importance to seniors. The information they need includes senior health, caregiving, money management, real estate, and travel designed for seniors. In particular the information on senior health should include resources that explain Medicare and Medicaid, as well as services that are available to seniors.
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What Does Black Tea Provide for Senior Health?
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Green tea has been getting all the good press about its multiple health benefits which are especially supportive of senior health. Recent research has discovered that black tea provides compounds called theaflavins that complement the health benefits of the polyphenols in green tea. The theaflavins in black tea have grabbed the attention of the folks performing research on human longevity. The theaflavins help regulate the genes that produce inflammatory cytokines which have been implicated in promoting degenerative disease and aging. By interferring with inflammation at its initial stages, theaflavins provide a new way to block inflammation related diseases that include cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Beyond blocking inflammation, researchers have found that the theaflavins can contribute to reversing the effects of coronary artery disease. Additional research uncovered the mechanism by which the theaflavins operate to prevent the blood platelets from sticking together which is the first step in the process of cardiovascular disease. There is good news for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive measures to foster their senior health against inflammation induced degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Highly concentrated and purified theaflavins are currently available in supplement form for use by seniors as part of their preemptive aging regime.
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Can NAC Provide Cancer Chemoprevention?
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NAC is the acronym for N-Acetyl Cysteine which is a double-barreled health promoting compound. It has been known for forty years, but its multiple health benefits have only recently been identified and reported. It regulates the expression of scores of genes in those pathways that link oxidative stress with inflammation. In NAC’s second barrel it supports raising the level of an important antioxidant known as glutathione (GSH) which is particularly important for seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health. With these dual effects NAC can provide a special role in the treatment and prevention of many common diseases. NAC can provide protection against avian and seasonal flu, improve insulin sensitivity in folks with metabolic disorders, battle the stomach infection Heliobacter, and block cancer development at nearly every step in the process.
Today the knowledge that there are strong links between oxidative stress and inflammation that lead to cancer make NAC an obvious choice for a compound that will provide cancer chemoprevention. NAC has many anti-cancer activities which aim at multiple targets resulting in layers of cancer protection against myriad cancers. It turns out that NAC is now available in supplement form. This information is very good news for seniors who are searching for preemptive means to promote their senior health by avoiding cancer in any form.
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Seniors Need an Immune System Boost in Spring!
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When the seasons change from winter to spring many folks seem to be more susceptible to colds and flu viruses. This is particularly the case for seniors, because their immune function typically degrades with increasing age. Although considered “routine,” colds and flu in seniors can quickly progress into dangerous and even fatal upper-respiratory complications such as pneumonia. Seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health can take preemptive steps to achieve an immune system boost. Seniors can take the following vitamins to boost immune system.
The vitamins C and E are two leading antioxidant vitamins that boost the immune system. Senior men need to get the full spectrum vitamin E that is found in foods, because typical supplements only provide the alpha component. Seniors need to add a third vitamin to complete the team. The vitamin that completes the immune system boost team is vitamin D3 the ’sunshine vitamin’.
In addition to the vitamins seniors need to get the immune system boosting minerals, supplements, and foods that complement the vitamin immune system boost team. The minerals are selenium and zinc. The dietary supplement that is known to boost immune system is DHEA. Finally the foods garlic and green tea are both known to inhibit bacteria and viruses. These vitamins, minerals, supplements, and foods can provide seniors with the immune system boost they need to preempt spring colds and flu.
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Can Garlic Breath Save Your Heart?
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In common folklore wearing garlic is supposed to repel vampires, but in our workaday world consuming garlic may have a major health benefit. For some time garlic has been touted as food that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease is of particular importance to seniors. Previous research into how garlic contributes to cardiovascular health focused on its ability to help our bodies synthesize both NO and CO. Garlic apparently helps our bodies boost the levels of both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) so that the heart is better protected against cardiovascular disease. This is good news for seniors who are searching for ways to take preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health, but there is even better news about garlic.
Recent research has discovered that garlic helps our bodies synthesize a third molecule known as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is not as well known as the first two, but which your nose has probably detected. The H2S molecule gives off the familiar odor of rotten eggs. The H2S molecule is the one that is responsible for the infamous ‘garlic breath’ that appears after anyone has eaten anything containing garlic or its extracts. The small amount of H2S that is generated from eating garlic is not toxic and apparently has a beneficial effect on our cardiovascular health. Specifically the H2S molecule produces several physiological effects that benefit cardiovascular health including relaxing blood vessels, promoting the development of new blood vessels, and lowering blood pressure.
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Senior Health Requires Sufficient Magnesium
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When the topic of magnesium deficiency is raised it usually has to do with balancing calcium to ensure healthy bones, but there is much more to discuss. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps to keep heart rhythm steady, it promotes healthy blood pressure, and its role in managing cardiovascular disease is rapidly emerging. Additional benefits for cardiovascular health are provided by magnesium, because of its role in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes which threatens cardiovascular health. In a recent study the participants with a lower level of magnesium showed an increased risk of coronary heart disease greater than 50%.
This is very good news for seniors who are trying to take steps against preemptive aging by making certain that they are getting sufficient magnesium for their general senior health and for their cardiovascular health in particular. It turns out that the foods sources that are high in magnesium are generally popular. The magnesium rich foods include nuts, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are also high in magnesium. Low cost dietary supplements of magnesium are available in the event that folks discover that they are not getting sufficient magnesium from the foods in their diet.
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Are Onions Really a Super Healthy Food?
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Onions and their close cousin garlic have been used since ancient Egyptian times as an integral part of healthy diets and natural medicine. During World War II British and Russian soldiers in the field regularly used onions to heal wounds, because of their reported antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Today we know more details about the health benefits of onions, because many of the phytonutrients have been recognized for their value in the prevention and management of conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Two of the most important chemicals in onions are flavanoids and organosulfur compounds. The organosulfur compounds provide the strongs flavors and the flavanoids color the onions red, yellow, or brown. An outstanding property of onions is their ability to aid in the prevention and management of a number of cancers including prostate cancer.
Another important health benefit provided by consuming onions is they contribute a rich source of bioavailable quercetin. Quercetin is a flavanoid that may be very beneficial for cardiovascular health. Research results suggest that quercetin may contribute to preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) thereby protecting against a major contributor of artherosclerosis. Recent research suggests that onions may protect against high blood pressure which is an important predictor of heart attack. This is good news for seniors who want to take preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health.
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Why Black Beans Are a Super Healthy Food
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Why have black beans which are a plain simple food been a staple in the diet of folks in Central and South America for more than 7,000 years? It turns out that the folks in those regions figured out long ago that this plain simple black bean is a nutritional powerhouse. They are sometimes called the ‘poor man’s meat’, because by combining them with rice or corn which are complementary grains you get a protein that is low-calorie, but it is basically fat-free and full of a large range of nutrients. For example the polyphenols in black beans assist in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol which short circuits artheroschlerosis. This is good news for seniors, because blocking artheroschlerosis is a prime requirement for preventing cardiovascular disease.
In addition to the polyphenols, black beans contribute magnesium that improves circulation of blood and oxygen to the entire body which is another plus for senior’s cardiovascular health. The high fiber content of black beans helps to prevent heart disease and heads off digestive disorders. Their high folate content also helps guard against heart attacks. Finally, another major contribution provided by black beans is their high concentration of cancer-fighting antioxidants. This is certainly good news for seniors who are trying to find preemptive aging means to improve their senior health.
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Senior Men Need Alpha and Gamma Vitamin E
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When folks are younger taking multivitamin supplements that contain vitamin E as one of the vitamins, the supplement usually lists the alpha form of vitamin E which is the most important component for that age group. It turns out that there are a number of other components found in natural food sources of vitamin E. When we age and enter our senior years our bodies change and the vitamin supplements that enhanced our health when we were younger may not enhance our health, but may even degrade it. This is definitely the case with the alpha component of vitamin E. Recent research has shown that senior men need to supplement with the gamma component of vitamin E as well as the alpha component, in order to maintain prostate health.
In one recent large scale test that was designed to resolve the issue of whether or not vitamin E helped to promote prostate health and to preempt prostate cancer the result was negative. That particular test used the alpha component of vitamin E which is why the test produced a negative result. Other research has shown that senior men need to consume the gamma component of vitamin E along with the alpha component in order to promote their prostate health. A number of foods such as asparagus, avocado, almonds and sunflower kernels contain the full spectrum of vitamin E components. Senior men would be well advised to add these foods to their diets or to use supplements that contain the full spectrum of vitamin E including both the alpha and gamma components.
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