Eating Healthy

Recently I met with a group of individuals outside my daily routine, and I was appalled of how unhealthy they eat. While most of us go out of our way to improve our daily nutrition, others just eat with no concerns about what a poor nutrition does to their health.

I love the fact that U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama planted an organic garden at The White House, but have noticed that the Obamas eat animals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/dining/20garden.html

I invite you to please visit the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research. Site index

http://www.pcrm.org/

Guía de Iniciación para una Dieta Vegetariana
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/spanishvsk/index.html

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Maru and Humane Society of the US help Defend Animal Rights with replyforall and funds from our sponsors.

10 Healthy Habits That May Help You Live to 100

10 Healthy Habits That May Help You Live to 100

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100233437&page=1

You don't need to eat yogurt and live on a mountaintop, but you do need to floss.

By Deborah Kotz, U.S. News & World Report

Don't retire

Floss every day

Move around

"Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois in Chicago. "It's like the oil-and-lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bone health. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.

Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast

Get at least six hours of shut-eye

Consume whole foods, not supplements

Be less neurotic

Live like a Seventh Day Adventist
Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and also get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.

Be a creature of habit
Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.

Stay connected
Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise is due to strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Maru and Humane Society of the US help Defend Animal Rights with replyforall and funds from our sponsors.

Transition into Vegan

The following article is from a Farm Sanctuary Campaign:

http://vegforlife.org/howto.htm

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/

Making the Transition:

People adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for many reasons, including the desire to treat animals with compassion, protect the environment and better overall health. Today, making the transition from an animal-dependent lifestyle to a compassionate, vegan way of life has never been easier. Meat substitutes and soy "dairy" foods have turned up at virtually every supermarket. Whole-foods groceries and co-operatives with even wider arrays of healthful plant, soy and dairy-free foods are within reach of most Americans. Nearly any restaurant, from fine dining to fast food, can prepare a flavorful, vegan meal.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Maru and Humane Society of the US help Defend Animal Rights with replyforall and funds from our sponsors.

Water Awareness

Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year 2009!

I am glad that Andrew Weil, PhD published this information concerning water on www.drweil.com. I hope that everyone thinks twice before plunging into the swimming pools!

Are You Showering in Chlorine?

Each Sunday in January we present healthy home tips - enjoy, and pass them along to friends and loved ones.Most Americans - up to 80 percent - drink water that has chlorine in it. While many people now use water filters in conjunction with their faucets for drinking water, many do not consider the amount of chlorine absorbed through a shower. Skin absorbs water; if that water is chlorinated, some chlorine is absorbed as well. To combat the effects of chlorinated water (which may include an increased risk of cancer and reproductive problems), purchase a water filter for your showerhead. Carbon-based filters and KDF filters made of copper and zinc both help to remove chlorine.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

5 Ways to Prevent a Hangover

5 Ways to Prevent a Hangover from Andrew Weil, PhD
www.drweil.com

If you are planning on attending a New Year's celebration, you may want to take a few precautions to lessen your chances of starting the New Year with an alcohol-related hangover. The surefire way to keep a clear head is not to drink at all, and to be the designated driver for your friends who do.

Alcohol is a strong toxin to both the liver and the nervous system, and it irritates the upper digestive tract and urinary system as well. If you do drink, remember:

Moderation is the best way to avoid hangovers - make sure to pace yourself.

Eat food if you have more than a drink or two.

Avoid dehydration (and cut down on alcohol intake) by drinking as much water as possible while you're drinking alcohol.

Take a B-complex vitamin supplement plus extra thiamine (100 mg) to counter the B-vitamin depletion caused by alcohol.

Choose beverages that are "cleaner." Some distilled beverages are rich in substances called congeners - toxic impurities that can greatly add to your woes. Bourbon, rum, and cognac are particularly dirty, while vodka, which is just pure alcohol and water, is the cleanest.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Why Do Women Feel Cold More Than Men Do?

Why Do Women Feel Cold More Than Men Do?
www.drweil.com/drw/u/WBL02119/Why-Do-Women-Feel-Cold-More-Than-Men-Do.html

The proper setting for the thermostat can spark fierce disputes among couples, and while there are exceptions, typically, women complain of cold temperatures more often than men do.
Ironically, this is probably because women are better at surviving extreme cold than are men. Mark Newton, a clothing-industry consultant and researcher at the University of Portsmouth, explains that women have a more evenly distributed fat layer and can more effectively pull all their blood back to their core organs in cold temperatures. While this fosters survival in sub-freezing conditions, it also means less blood flows to their hands and feet, and as a result they feel cold at higher temperatures than men typically do.
There is no simple answer to this disparity; it simply suggests that in cold weather, men and women should be more willing to compromise in the thermostat battle, as their differences are determined genetically - a fact no amount of arguing will alter.

Relationships and Aging
From decreased desire to changing roles, aging has its own issues when it comes to relationships. Learn more about all types of relationships as we age – start your free trial of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging today

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Ultimate Vitamin Cocktail for Healthy Joints

http://www.realage.com/ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/7656

RealAge experts Michael Roizen, MD, and Mehmet Oz, MD, suggest this nifty little combo of nutrients for healthier joints. Make sure you’re getting enough magnesium and calcium as well as vitamins C, D3, and E. This grouping may have the power to minimize inflammation and joint damage.

Just for Joints
Getting your vitamins and minerals from food is best, but if you’re an eat-on-the-run junkie, you may want to add a supplement to your day to make sure you’re getting enough of these joint boosters. Just ask your doctor first about safe doses and potential drug interactions if you’re taking other medications. Use this tool to look up the best food sources for these and other key vitamins and minerals.

More to the StoryWhether you want to prevent arthritis, or stop yours from getting worse, vitamins and minerals are but one key step to keeping joints healthy. Here are a few others:

Know your joints.
Could you already have arthritis? And is it managed properly? Get a clue with this online assessment.

Drop it. The extra weight, that is. It’s just about the single most important thing you can do to reduce wear and tear on your joints. Visit the RealAge More to Lose Center for extra weight-loss help.

Soothe ’em. There’s no reason to live with achy, inflamed, painful joints. The sooner you start treating, the earlier you can start slowing the damage. See if an over-the-counter pain medication might help you.

See the doc. If over-the-counter stuff doesn’t do the trick, find out what other options your doctor can offer. Learn about prescription disease-modifying drugs for osteoarthritis.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/