7 tips for adding years to your life

If you aren't much into calorie restriction in your pursuit of a long life, there are other practices you can adopt. Mark Liponis, M.D., says in his book Ultralongevity that the best way to live a long and healthy life is to have a healthy immune system. Translation: You want a quiet, peaceful immune system, not an overactive one. In the spirit of longevity, then, here are seven steps for soothing your system.

Breathe. Yes, if you're reading this, you are in fact breathing. But are you doing it right? The goal is to calm your breathing to two breaths per minute or less. Learn how to master this step here.
Eat. Eating is stressful to our immune systems. Germs, parasites, toxins, poisons, and other dangerous stuff gain access to our bodies when we eat. Grazing on healthy foods is the preferred eating pattern. More here.
Sleep. Chances are, you're not getting enough sleep. Bad news, because any lack of quality sleep robs the immune system. Time to learn how to sleep effectively. Keep reading.
Dance. The gym does a body good. So does dancing. There's something about rhythmic movement that is even better than random, non-rhythmic, even aerobic exercise, says Liponis. See what else he has to say here.
Love. Love is some pretty good medicine. Give it a try after you read this.
Soothe. When you feel stressed, so does your immune system. Massage, flowers, a hot bath, calm music -- they all soothe. Give them a try. Here's why.
Enhance. Liponis is talking supplements here -- but only as an adjunct to the previous six steps. See what he recommends here.

Comments

Help stave off the 'sickness for all seasons'

When winter is in full force, you almost expect to catch a few colds. But, with August temperatures reaching the upper 80s on an almost daily basis, a sniffle in the summer seems altogether unusual -- not to mention unfair. Nevertheless, as evidenced by a pretty nasty three-day man cold I got hammered with back in early July, it's abundantly clear colds -- though more prevalent during colder months -- are a sickness for all seasons. Fortunately, there are some dietary steps we can take target-harden ourselves against illness. Here are just a few I felt were worth mentioning. Yogurt - A study showed that people who ate three-quarters of a cup of yogurt daily for a year had 25 percent fewer colds than those who didn't. Because it contains probiotics, yogurt helps strengthen the immune system. Red Bell Pepper - With 130mg more vitamin C than an orange, red bell pepper is a great source for this cold-fighting nutrient. Eggs - High in B vitamins, zinc, and amino acids, eggs boost wh...

Measurable progress

One of the best ways to stay motivated in your workout is to know that you are getting results. In some cases, however, change is not always noticeable in the first month or so. The scale may show a slight improvement, and you may feel more vigor in your daily routine, but your body may unfortunately still looks the same. But looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to body fat. That's where a simple, two dollar measuring tape can make all the difference. Measure the circumference of your waist at the belly button. If the number you're looking at is smaller than it was last month, that probably means that you've already changed pants size by lowering your amount of body fat. Check your arms, chest, legs, and back, and you'll likely find similar results. Because you lose fat from all over (rather than in individual areas of the body), it can sometimes be difficult to observe change with your eyes, but the tape doesn't miss an inch.

Would you buy your child a treadmill?

Would you want your kid running on a treadmill to stay fit? More importantly, would your kid be interested in running in one place? One toy manufacturer says yes to both questions and has developed a couple of new fitness products designed with little ones in mind -- Fitness Fun's My Treadmil l and Glide-a-Stride . But the exercise machines are causing quite a stir, according to Boston.com . On one hand, something has to be done to combat childhood obesity and inactivity. On the other? Dr. David Ludwig, director of the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic at Children's Hospital Boston, says, "We have to remember that children are not just little adults. Kids' bodies and their minds are not designed to spend 20 minutes on a treadmill. [This] reflects, I think, a misguided mentality, where we're trying to make physical activity for children a commodity rather than a natural integrated part of their lives." (You can read more of the debate here .) A few decades ago, ki...

HealthyWeek

Search This Blog