Samuel Bender, 100, is still quite the gym bunny. Bender likes to keep fit with a variety of exercises, including swimming, and also credits a happy 73-year marriage (and good food) for his long life. . . . Another resident, Elsa Zopfi, is still spunky as ever at 104. She still gets her hair dyed and says she doesn’t like to go overboard these days when it comes to fitness. Zopfi’s main form of exercise is walking as much as she can. Robert Kenyon, 102, is said to be an avid reader and tries not to think too much about how old he is. But even with their differing interests, there’s one similarity between the three. They are all said to have a great sense of humor and they all make sure to stay social in their community.
Source
health
Healthy Lifestyle ~ Get Social
In an effort to ward off the loneliness that followed his wife’s death, a 94-year-old man in Minnesota decided to install a swimming pool in his back yard for the neighborhood children. His back yard is now a hub of activity in the summer, filled with laughter, splashing children, and their parents and grandparents. And he’s no longer alone. While not everyone would be willing to go to such extreme lengths to make social connections, contact with other people should still be a top priority. Chronic loneliness does more than just make you bored; it can actually harm your health. “The experience of being lonely appears to be bad for one’s health,” says Dr. Nancy J. Donovan, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an associate psychiatrist at the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Loneliness is associated with depression, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, declines in mobility and daily function, and increased risk of early death.
Source
S
Healthy Living ~ It’s Go Time for Green Tea
Drinking all-natural green tea is an excellent way to boost your weight loss and your health. Not only does it have the power to stoke your metabolism, but it also contains the highest concentration of catechins, antioxidants found in plants that have been found to protect against heart disease and even some cancers. Sip on a few cups of green tea throughout the day to get all of its amazing benefits.
Source
Longevity Tip ~ It’s Siesta Time
Take naps.
Birthday girl Flossie Dickey became a viral internet sensation on her 110th birthday when she wasn’t interested in being interviewed by a TV crew. It seems she’d rather be sleeping. Dickey said she naps as often as she can, which is also one of the habits of the people in Ikaria, Greece. The small island has been dubbed a “Blue Zone” where an unusual number of people live to 100. Researchers say it’s not uncommon to see shops close up around midday so people can indulge in a little restful shuteye. Naps are said to help give you a second wind to stay productive and also they help give you a break from the stresses of daily life.
Source
Longevity Tip ~ No Excuses, Make Going to the Gym a Daily Habit
A review of research published online April 24, 2017, by the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that physical exercise may help improve thinking skills in adults ages 50 or older, regardless of their mental performance when they started exercising. . . . All exercise types but yoga appeared to have benefits for the brain. The authors say the exercise regimen with the biggest brain boost was a combination of both aerobic and resistance-type training, of at least moderate intensity, for at least 45 minutes per session on as many days of the week as possible. The takeaway? Start exercising, and incorporate resistance training into your weekly routine.
Source
Healthy Living Tip ~ Sleep on It
The old saying ‘you snooze, you lose’ couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to shedding pounds. According to Dr. Oz, depriving your body of sleep can speed up the aging process and deter your weight-loss efforts. “The brain craves carbohydrates when you’re tired, so you could unknowingly sabotage even the best laid plans,” he says. Aim for a good seven hours (minimum) of shuteye every night to allow your body to restore and to protect vital organ functions.
Source
Longevity Tip ~ Are You Getting Enough Protein?
Power up with protein
Most people probably get enough protein through their regular diet, but be mindful of protein intake when you’re doing weight training, as your body uses the components of dietary protein to build muscle. A 2015 study in the journal Nutrients suggests a daily intake of 1 to 1.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for older adults who do weight training.For example, a 175-pound man would need about 79 to 103 grams a day. If possible, divide your protein intake equally among your daily meals to maximize the body’s ability to create muscle, says Vijay Daryanani, a personal trainer with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center. Also, consume about 20 to 40 of those daily grams after a workout to help with muscle repair.
Source
Healthy Living Tip ~ G is for Green & Good
Drinking all-natural green tea is an excellent way to boost your weight loss and your health. Not only does it have the power to stoke your metabolism, but it also contains the highest concentration of catechins, antioxidants found in plants that have been found to protect against heart disease and even some cancers. Sip on a few cups of green tea throughout the day to get all of its amazing benefits.
Source
Longevity Tip ~ Get An Attitude
Research shows that having a reason to wake up can help us live up to seven good years longer. Through mindfulness and purpose workshops, we teach people how to shed stress, live in the moment, and connect with their innate gifts. Then we help them find opportunities to match their passion with commitment to deepen their sense of purpose.
Source
Healthy Living Tip ~ Ditch the Blues
Feeling lonely, gloomy, uncertain? Nearly everyone has had the blues at one time or another. You can get stuck in these feelings so much that they drag you down.You don’t have to be stuck! You can overcome the blues and beat depression. GET OUT OF BED: One of the most important things you can do is get up at about the same time every morning (even weekends). Preferably, that means about 7 a.m. or earlier. You might not feel like it but Get Up. Such regularity helps your body function more normally so you’re more likely to feel normal.
Source
