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An Exercise Routine That's Right
Any exercise, no matter how small, will help you, so keep at it! You will get the most out of exercise when you enjoy doing it so you should pick an activity that you'll enjoy doing. There will be time to wonder if its the most effective...

Is Exercise A Pain In Your Head?
School had closed for summer and already schedules were clashing. What this means to most moms is that we will finagle and work the daily agenda around our children’s various activities and destinations, but it will take some time to find the...

Looking To Buy Home Exercise Equipment?
Looking to buy Home exercise equipment? Here is how to choose between two of the best selling ones: treadmills and ellipticals Both elliptical trainers and treadmills are two of the most popular home fitness equipment. They are excellent...

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Brain Research Shows That Diet and Exercise are Keys to Living Well

(ARA) - An old adage says that aging is a state of mind, but new research is beginning to prove it.

As brain research advances, experts are finding that some of the physical and mental changes normally associated with aging may not actually be normal at all, but instead, the result of treatable and preventable health conditions. In fact, by some estimates, only 30 percent of physical aging can be traced to our genes. The rest is up to each individual.

According to the AARP Andrus Foundation, developing and maintaining good "cognitive health" is as important to a person's quality of life at any age as maintaining good physical health. A series of four new booklets, "Staying Sharp: Current Advances in Brain Research," provides information and tips based on this new research. The booklets were derived from a series of public forums that were conducted in partnership with the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and featured the country's foremost researchers, scientists and physicians working in the field of aging and the brain. These four booklets provide some of the most up-to-date information available.

One of the key findings of this new research is that diet and exercise are crucial not just for physical well being, but also for mental acuity at any age.

The Importance of Diet

The food choices we make throughout our lives can make a difference in the likelihood for many diseases that cause premature death or disability, including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Three long-term studies being conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health have followed 300,000 people and suggest that:

  • a diet rich in vegetables may help prevent breast and prostate cancer

  • colon cancer is more common among those who eat more red meat

  • high-fat diets increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers

  • a diet with too many refined carbohydrates increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Although there are some nutritional changes associated with aging, for the most part, what was considered a healthy diet at 40 will still be a healthy diet at 60 or 70. Health experts recommend a diet that emphasizes whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables as well as other tips:

  • Drink eight to 10 cups of fluid every day, and make at least five of those water. Limit caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

  • Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet and replace it with monounsaturated fat such as that in olive, canola, sunflower, safflower and soybean oils.

  • When snacking, choose fruits, vegetables or whole-grain products.


  • Make eating fun by sharing dinnertime with family and friends, or joining community functions whenever possible.

The Benefits of Exercise

Many experts believe that regular exercise is the single most important thing anyone can do to improve overall health and well-being. New studies show that aerobic activity increases levels of brain chemicals that encourage the growth of nerve cells, which may be the reason moderately strenuous exercise is associated with enhanced memory skills.

Some ways that exercise can help retain mental capacity include:

  • reducing anxiety and stress

  • improving mood and possibly alleviating depression

  • improving sleep

  • increasing energy levels

  • slowing the rate of bone loss

  • enabling the body to use insulin more efficiently

  • improving cardiovascular health

  • controlling weight and preventing obesity

The National Institute of Aging suggests incorporating four types of exercises into your life. Endurance exercise, such as walking, helps increase stamina. Strength exercise, with free weights or resistance weights, increases metabolism and may help prevent osteoporosis. Flexibility exercise, such as stretching or yoga, prevents and aids recovery from injuries. And balance exercises, such as standing on one foot, help prevent falls.

By following these basic tips, as well as any advice from your physician related to any specific health conditions, it is possible to live well in old age as opposed to just living into old age.

The AARP Andrus Foundation's "Staying Sharp" series can be downloaded from the association's Web site at www.andrus.org/sharp/sharp_pubs.html. Each booklet covers a specific area: Memory Loss and Aging; Depression; Chronic Health Issues and Quality of Life. The booklets also are available by mail from AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049, or by phone at 800-424-3410 and ask for series D17561 to get the booklets in English or D17461 to get the booklets in Spanish.

About The Author

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: The AARP Andrus Foundation provides knowledge and education through research which helps find solutions to the challenges of aging as well as approaches to maintaining independence and dignity throughout life. Established in 1968 as a memorial to Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charitable and educational organization affiliated with the AARP.



 

Exercise at About.com
Offers fitness and exercise related links, articles, information, and discussions.
exercise.about.com
 
American Council On Exercise
Fitness Certification and Education: The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a non-profit organization, promotes active lifestyles by setting certification ...
www.acefitness.org
 
Physical exercise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Physical exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or ... Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Why Exercise Is Cool
Tells why exercise is important and explores the many benefits of physical activity.
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Fitness Fundamentals
It is influenced by age, sex, heredity, personal habits, exercise and eating practices. ... How often, how long and how hard you exercise, and what kinds of ...
www.hoptechno.com
 
MedlinePlus: Exercise and Physical Fitness
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases The primary NIH organization for research on Exercise and Physical Fitness is the ...
www.nlm.nih.gov
 
MedlinePlus: Exercise for Seniors
Pictures/Diagrams; Slide Show: Balance Exercises Improve Stability, Help Prevent Falls (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) ...
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Exercise: A Healthy Habit to Start and Keep -- familydoctor.org
Information about exercise from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
familydoctor.org
 
Welcome to ::-:: Exercise, Fitness and Leisure
Information on various aspects of exercise and fitness and providers of sporting, exercise and leisure equipment.
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ExRx (Exercise Prescription) on the Net
Fitness and exercise information including diet, nutrition, exercise, sports and weight training. Includes a muscle directory.
www.exrx.net
 
Weight Training, Exercise Instruction & Kinesiology
Weight training and kinesiology reference with many animated weight training exercises, stretches, plyometric movements, and illustrated muscles.
www.exrx.net
 
Exercise & Fitness
Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart. Whether it is a structured exercise ...
www.americanheart.org
 
Howstuffworks "How Exercise Works"
Exercise creates a set of responses in your body, whether you work out regularly or not. Find out how these responses can be enhanced by training.
www.howstuffworks.com
 
Exercise and Diabetes - American Diabetes Association
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Exercise works the same way. Taking that first step can be hard, especially if you've been ...
www.diabetes.org
 
NIHSeniorHealth: Exercise for Older Adults - Table of contents
See the Exercise Stories. Exercise for Older Adults Table of Contents. Benefits of Exercise · Safety First · Exercises to Try · Charting Progress ...
nihseniorhealth.gov
 
Exercise to Improve Your Body and Your Brain
My comprehensive exercise guide. ... The key to obtaining the benefits of exercise is to find a program and stick to it. Of course, it is useful to have a ...
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FitnessOnline.com - Exercise Health Nutrition Advice Weight Loss
FitnessOnline.com - expert advice on exercise programs, diets, weight loss, muscle gain, vitamins, supplements & strength training.
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Table of Contents
Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging ... Chapter 2: Is It Safe for Me to Exercise? ... Chapter 4: Examples of Exercises to Do at Home ...
weboflife.nasa.gov
 
Exercise Physiology Page for the MAPP
Aging, Exercise and Short Term Power · Principles of Training- Revisited · The Time Course of Training Adaptations · Understanding Interval Training ...
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