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Home / Archive: October 2008
Quit Smoking
If you don’t smoke you can pat yourself on the back. Smoking is the number one enemy for undermining any fitness program. Around one in every six deaths in the US is related in some way to smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in the U.S. in 1999 295.5 deaths per 100,000 were ’smoking-attributable’. Circulatory problems caused by smoking can lead to amputations, heart disease and strokes. Breathing problems, like bronchitis and emphysema, are caused or made worse by smoking. It’s never too late to stop smoking even if you’ve tried and failed before. If you only pick one fitness step from this list, pick this one.
Get Fit with Daily Exercise
You don’t need to look far to find a world of information about exercise plans. Some magazines and websites talk of little else so an exercise plan may seem like a complex and unappealing option. Stripped to its bear essentials you really need a system that gets you working for about 30 minutes, three times a week. Exercise need not be a formal activity, it can be built into your normal everyday life, such as walking briskly rather than strolling, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Anything that is aerobic, such as walking, running, jogging, swimming, rowing, rope skipping, dancing, racket sports, and cycling, helps keep the heart healthy. Ideally, build up to a point where your exercise breaks you into a sweat but not so hard that you can’t hold a conversation.
If you are overweight, or have a medical condition, it is a good idea to seek medical advice before you embark on any exercise program. Exercise, combined with weight loss and a good diet, is the most effective way to get healthy and stay fit.
Get Fit with Tooth Care
You may think this a strange addition to a get-fit plan but consider for a moment the impact good dental hygiene can have on you and other people. Regular check-ups help to prevent dental decay and gum disease. Good dental routines, such as brushing and flossing, helps prevent bad breath and reduces the chances of extractions. One of the first things people look at during a meet-and-greet is teeth. Great teeth can make you a more appealing person to talk to and look at.
Fight the Flab and Get Fit
You’ve been away a long time if you haven’t heard that we’re generally overweight and eating the wrong stuff! Even of you’re not overweight you might consider whether your diet is as balanced as it might be. Obesity puts pressure on the heart and is implicated in cancers, varicose veins, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure and strokes. Reducing fat, sodium, sugars and calories and increasing fiber through vegetables and fruit are good basic guidelines. Coupled with exercise, you are on a sure path to losing weight and getting fit.
Increase Body and Health Awareness
In general terms men are pretty unaware of their bodies and how health and welfare work together. Many men have no idea of their current health status, how to measure it, what to look for or where to turn to for advice if they need it. Men will put up with levels of discomfort or concern that most women find extremely puzzling. The fact that you are reading this suggests you may not be in this category. Keep it up - knowledge is power.
Dealing with Tension Tactics and Fitness
When the pressures of life outstrip a person’s abilities to deal with them, we call this stress. Stress is a normal fact of life but if left unchecked can lead to psychological and/or physical illness. Understanding what causes stress may not make it go away but it can achieve a sense of mastery and therefore control over your life. Stress can have the effect of exaggerating problems and making them appear too complex to manage. Some people find relief from stress reducing methods like relaxation, yoga or exercise. You may need to speak to your doctor for some guidance. Avoid tobacco, alcohol or drugs (unless prescribed).
Tai Chi & Tai Chi Benefits :-
Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art. It is often promoted and practiced as a martial arts therapy for the purposes of health and longevity. Tai Chi is considered a soft style martial art, an art applied with as much deep relaxation or “softness” in the musculature as possible, to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles.
Variations of Tai Chi basic training forms are well known as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice every morning in parks across China and other parts of the world.
Traditional Tai Chi training is intended to teach awareness of one’s own balance and what affects it, awareness of the same in others, an appreciation of the practical value in one’s ability to moderate extremes of behavior and attitude at both mental and physical levels, and how this applies to effective self-defense principles.
Tai chi, sometimes called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pausing.
Anyone, regardless of age or physical ability, can practice tai chi. It doesn’t take physical prowess. Rather, tai chi emphasizes technique over strength.
Stress reduction through tai chi :-
(1) Reducing anxiety and depression.
(2) Improving balance and coordination.
(3) Reducing the number of fall.
(4) Improving sleep quality, such as staying asleep longer at night and feeling more alert during the day.
(5) Slowing bone loss in women after menopause.
(6) Lowering blood pressure.
(7) Improving cardiovascular fitness.
(8) Relieving chronic pain.
(9) Improving everyday physical functioning.
Pregnancy & Tai Chi:-
Tai Chi is also beneficial for pregnant women who have never done any forms of exercise before as it reduces the chances of these women injuring themselves. Other exercises, even yoga, involve a certain amount of moving that could be a problem for pregnant women in later trimesters.
Coping with changes in body size, lifestyle and work can be stressful for a pregnant woman. This is where the mediation portion of Tai Chi kicks in. Deep breathing and helping the mind to focus on the slow repetitive movements of the breathing, provides relief to these external changes. Tai Chi also teaches patience and enhancing such a quality would be beneficial especially when the baby arrives.
Cancer & Tai Chi :-
Those who promote the use of tai chi say that it helps to balance qi or chi - the vital energy or life force of the body. Balanced qi is said to prevent illness, improve health, and extend life expectancy. Tai chi also is based on the ancient theory of yin and yang and those who promote the use of tai chi for cancer patients say that balancing yin and yang helps patients to achieve inner harmony.
Do you know what threatens men’s lives the most? The list is surprisingly short.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2003, just over a million American men died. Nearly 80 percent of them died of heart disease or one of the nine other leading causes of death among American men.
Here’s a snapshot of the 10 leading killers of American men in 2003, the most recent year for which these statistics are available from the CDC:
Rank Cause Percentage of male deaths
1 Heart disease 28.0
2 Cancer 24.0
3 Unintentional injuries 5.9
4 Stroke 5.1
5 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 5.1
6 Diabetes 2.9
7 Influenza and pneumonia 2.4
8 Suicide 2.1
9 Kidney disease 1.7
10 Alzheimer’s disease 1.5
Total 78.7
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2003
These CDC statistics show men are at higher risk of death than are women in most of these categories. As a result, the average American man lives 5.3 fewer years than does the average woman. In 2003, male life expectancy was 74.8 years. Female life expectancy was 80.1 years.
It’s unclear why men have a shorter life span than women do. Inherited traits and male sex hormones may play a role, affecting such characteristics as body fat distribution. Specifically, men are more likely to accumulate fat around the abdomen (apple-shape obesity), which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to put on extra weight around the hips (pear-shape obesity). While unhealthy, this type of fat distribution is not linked as closely to potentially fatal conditions.
Socially sanctioned “male” behavior also may predispose men to premature death. CDC statistics show men are more likely to smoke, drink, use illicit drugs and engage in casual sex than are women — all of which can increase their risk of serious diseases. Males are also more likely to take risks and behave aggressively, which may partly explain why they have a higher risk of dying from accidents, suicide and homicide. Young men are especially at risk. In young men, accidents, suicide and homicide are among the most frequent causes of death. In young and middle-aged men, AIDS is on the top 10 list.
While experts are continually working to understand the underlying causes of death in men, one thing is clear: By recognizing the leading threats to your life, you can take steps to reduce your risks — and avoid the leading causes of death.
No. 1 — Heart disease
According to the American Heart Association, in 2004, over 410,000 men died of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in both sexes. Because men usually develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than women do, they’re more likely to die of it in the prime of life. About one-fourth of all heart-disease-related deaths occur in men ages 35 to 65.
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthier lifestyle choices and getting appropriate treatment for other conditions that can increase your risk of coronary artery disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
* Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Have your cholesterol tested.
* If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
* Get regular blood pressure checks.
* Take a daily dose of aspirin, if your doctor OKs it.
No. 2 — Cancer
In 2003, the CDC recorded nearly 288,000 men who died of cancer, the second-leading cause of death for both sexes. Lung cancer — 90 percent of it caused by cigarette smoking — is the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. In 2003, 89,964 men died of lung cancer.
The CDC also notes that prostate cancer and colorectal cancer are the second- and third-leading causes of cancer death in men.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
* Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Limit your exposure to sun and use sunscreen.
* Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
* Be aware of potential cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in your home and workplace, and take steps to reduce your exposure to these substances.
* Have regular preventive health screenings.
* Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.
No. 3 — Unintentional injuries
In 2003, accidents killed 70,532 men, according to the CDC. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause. More than twice as many men as women died in traffic accidents. Male drivers involved in such accidents were almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated. To reduce your chances of a fatal crash:
* Use your seat belt every time you drive.
* Don’t exceed speed limits.
* Don’t drive after drinking alcohol.
* Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs.
The CDC recorded poisoning as the second-leading cause of fatal unintentional injury to men in 2003 — 13,176 men died of it. In comparison, 6,281 women died of poisoning that year. To reduce your risk of poisoning:
* Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near bedrooms in your house.
* Have fuel-burning appliances inspected each year.
* Store household products in their original containers.
* Read and follow label instructions for household products.
* Turn on a light when giving or taking medicine and follow label instructions.
* Ventilate areas in which you use chemical products.
* Post the poison control number, 800-222-1222, by each telephone in your home.
Falls and drowning were the third- and fourth-leading causes of fatal unintentional injury to men. In 2003, falls caused 8,910 deaths among men, compared with 8,319 deaths among women. Drowning accounted for 2,632 deaths among men and 674 deaths among women.
Common-sense precautions such as using a safety ladder, placing nonskid mats in showers and tubs, and never swimming alone in a large or unfamiliar body of water can reduce the risks.
Workplace accidents — which include some vehicle crashes, poisonings, falls and drowning — are a significant cause of fatal injury to men, partly because men are concentrated in dangerous occupations such as agriculture, mining and construction.
No. 4 — Stroke
In 2004, over 58,000 men died of stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Although stroke affects equal proportions of men and women, men have better chances of surviving than women do. You can’t control some stroke risk factors, such as family history, age and race, but you can control the leading cause — high blood pressure — as well as contributing factors such as smoking and diabetes.
Additional preventive measures:
* Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. Get your cholesterol checked.
* Get regular blood pressure checks, and if it’s higher than normal, take measures to control it.
* Don’t smoke.
* Control diabetes.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Manage stress.
* Limit alcohol consumption.
* Talk with your doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin.
No. 5 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In 2003, according to the American Lung Association, 60,714 men died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of chronic lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s strongly associated with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The main cause is smoking. Men who smoke are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who’ve never smoked.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke.
* Avoid secondhand smoke.
* Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals.
No. 6 — Diabetes
The American Heart Association reports that in 2004, 35,000 men died of diabetes, a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Excess body fat, especially around the middle, is an important risk factor for diabetes. About 80 percent of people who have the disease are overweight or obese.
The diabetes complications most likely to be fatal are heart disease and stroke, which occur at two to four times the average rate in people with diabetes. Men with diabetes haven’t benefited as much from recent advances in heart disease treatment as have men without diabetes.
An estimated one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don’t know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop complications such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), nerve damage causing pain or loss of sensation in the hands or feet, vision loss, or kidney disease.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.
* Know your family’s diabetes history and discuss it with your doctor.
No. 7 — Influenza and pneumonia
In 2003, 28,778 men died of pneumonia and influenza, according to the CDC. These lung infections are especially life-threatening to people whose lungs have already been damaged by COPD, asthma or smoking. The risk of death from pneumonia or influenza is also higher among people with heart disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system due to AIDS or immunosuppressive drugs.
You can reduce your risk of complications and death from pneumonia and influenza by getting immunized. A yearly flu shot is up to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by more than half.
No. 8 — Suicide
In 2003, the CDC noted 25,203 men committed suicide. Men commit suicide four times as often as women do, partly because they’re more likely to use deadlier means — such as firearms — when they set out to take their own lives. Depression — which is estimated to affect 7 percent of men in any given year — is an important risk factor for suicide. But male depression is underdiagnosed, partly because men are less likely than women are to seek treatment for it. In addition, men don’t always develop standard symptoms such as sadness, worthlessness and excessive guilt. Instead, they may be more likely to complain of fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances and loss of interest in work or hobbies. Alcohol or drug abuse — which is more common in men — can mask depression and make it more difficult to diagnose.
People at risk of suicide may:
* Be depressed, moody, socially withdrawn or aggressive
* Have suffered a recent life crisis
* Show changes in personality
* Feel worthless
* Abuse alcohol or drugs
* Have frequent thoughts about death
* Talk about death and self-destruction
If you find yourself avoiding others, feeling hostile and worthless, thinking about death and using alcohol and drugs to numb your pain, talk with your doctor. In an urgent situation, an emergency room or crisis center can help. Friends or family members may be the first to notice your uncharacteristic behavior. Take their advice and seek help. If you or someone you love is depressed, remove any access to firearms in the home. Don’t expect to be able to overcome the feelings of depression without medical help. This is a disease, not something you can “snap out of.”
No. 9 — Kidney disease
Kidney failure, most often a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure, took the lives of 20,481 men in 2003 says the CDC. Control of diabetes and high blood pressure can prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease. Another cause of kidney failure is overuse of medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) that are toxic to the kidneys.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* Exercise regularly.
* Maintain your proper weight.
* Don’t smoke.
* Get checked regularly for diabetes and high blood pressure.
* Limit your use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
* Take all medications only as directed.
No. 10 — Alzheimer’s disease
About 4.5 million older Americans — both men and women — have Alzheimer’s disease. In 2003, 18,335 men died of Alzheimer’s, which usually develops in people age 65 or older. But statistically there are more women who have the disease, because women live longer than men — and the older you are, the more likely you are to have Alzheimer’s. The American population has more and more older adults each year. Consequently, the number of people with Alzheimer’s has more than doubled since 1980 and continues to increase. As men live longer because of improved treatments for other conditions, they are more likely to die of Alzheimer’s.
Although experts are doing promising research into preventing Alzheimer’s, currently there’s no proven way to prevent the onset of the disease. Taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health may help:
* Lose weight if you’re overweight.
* Exercise regularly.
* Control your blood pressure.
* Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges.
While there is some controversy about whether it’s effective, some research indicates doing intellectually challenging activities may help delay the onset of dementia. It certainly can’t hurt — and it may help maintain your mental fitness.
Putting health risks into perspective
It’s important to understand that this ranking of health risks applies to the entire population of American men, no matter what their age. Although heart disease is the No. 1 lifetime health threat to men, it tops all other causes of death among men in only two age groups: ages 45 to 54, and age 65 and over. From childhood until age 44, accidents are the most significant threat to men’s lives. Cancer emerges as the leading killer only in men ages 55 to 64.
The top killers also vary somewhat among men from different ethnic groups. Black men, whose life expectancy is shorter than that of men from other races, are at higher risk of death by homicide and AIDS. American Indian men are more likely to die of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. More white men die of Alzheimer’s disease than do men from other groups. In men of Asian or Pacific Island descent, the top two killers are the same as for men of other ethnic groups, but their order is reversed — they are more likely to die of cancer than of heart disease. Hispanic men are at higher risk of death by accidental injury, at least partly because the population of Hispanic men is younger than average.
The bottom line: Be concerned about health risks, but don’t panic. Do all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle — eat healthy foods, stay physically active, don’t smoke, get regular checkups and guard against accidents. By making these preventive measures a way of life, you’ll increase your chances of staying vital and active into your 80s and 90s — well beyond the statistical average of 74.8.
Do you know what threatens men’s lives the most? The list is surprisingly short.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2003, just over a million American men died. Nearly 80 percent of them died of heart disease or one of the nine other leading causes of death among American men.
Here’s a snapshot of the 10 leading killers of American men in 2003, the most recent year for which these statistics are available from the CDC:
Rank Cause Percentage of male deaths
1 Heart disease 28.0
2 Cancer 24.0
3 Unintentional injuries 5.9
4 Stroke 5.1
5 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 5.1
6 Diabetes 2.9
7 Influenza and pneumonia 2.4
8 Suicide 2.1
9 Kidney disease 1.7
10 Alzheimer’s disease 1.5
Total 78.7
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2003
These CDC statistics show men are at higher risk of death than are women in most of these categories. As a result, the average American man lives 5.3 fewer years than does the average woman. In 2003, male life expectancy was 74.8 years. Female life expectancy was 80.1 years.
It’s unclear why men have a shorter life span than women do. Inherited traits and male sex hormones may play a role, affecting such characteristics as body fat distribution. Specifically, men are more likely to accumulate fat around the abdomen (apple-shape obesity), which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to put on extra weight around the hips (pear-shape obesity). While unhealthy, this type of fat distribution is not linked as closely to potentially fatal conditions.
Socially sanctioned “male” behavior also may predispose men to premature death. CDC statistics show men are more likely to smoke, drink, use illicit drugs and engage in casual sex than are women — all of which can increase their risk of serious diseases. Males are also more likely to take risks and behave aggressively, which may partly explain why they have a higher risk of dying from accidents, suicide and homicide. Young men are especially at risk. In young men, accidents, suicide and homicide are among the most frequent causes of death. In young and middle-aged men, AIDS is on the top 10 list.
While experts are continually working to understand the underlying causes of death in men, one thing is clear: By recognizing the leading threats to your life, you can take steps to reduce your risks — and avoid the leading causes of death.
No. 1 — Heart disease
According to the American Heart Association, in 2004, over 410,000 men died of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in both sexes. Because men usually develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than women do, they’re more likely to die of it in the prime of life. About one-fourth of all heart-disease-related deaths occur in men ages 35 to 65.
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthier lifestyle choices and getting appropriate treatment for other conditions that can increase your risk of coronary artery disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
* Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Have your cholesterol tested.
* If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
* Get regular blood pressure checks.
* Take a daily dose of aspirin, if your doctor OKs it.
No. 2 — Cancer
In 2003, the CDC recorded nearly 288,000 men who died of cancer, the second-leading cause of death for both sexes. Lung cancer — 90 percent of it caused by cigarette smoking — is the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. In 2003, 89,964 men died of lung cancer.
The CDC also notes that prostate cancer and colorectal cancer are the second- and third-leading causes of cancer death in men.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
* Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Limit your exposure to sun and use sunscreen.
* Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
* Be aware of potential cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in your home and workplace, and take steps to reduce your exposure to these substances.
* Have regular preventive health screenings.
* Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.
No. 3 — Unintentional injuries
In 2003, accidents killed 70,532 men, according to the CDC. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause. More than twice as many men as women died in traffic accidents. Male drivers involved in such accidents were almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated. To reduce your chances of a fatal crash:
* Use your seat belt every time you drive.
* Don’t exceed speed limits.
* Don’t drive after drinking alcohol.
* Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs.
The CDC recorded poisoning as the second-leading cause of fatal unintentional injury to men in 2003 — 13,176 men died of it. In comparison, 6,281 women died of poisoning that year. To reduce your risk of poisoning:
* Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near bedrooms in your house.
* Have fuel-burning appliances inspected each year.
* Store household products in their original containers.
* Read and follow label instructions for household products.
* Turn on a light when giving or taking medicine and follow label instructions.
* Ventilate areas in which you use chemical products.
* Post the poison control number, 800-222-1222, by each telephone in your home.
Falls and drowning were the third- and fourth-leading causes of fatal unintentional injury to men. In 2003, falls caused 8,910 deaths among men, compared with 8,319 deaths among women. Drowning accounted for 2,632 deaths among men and 674 deaths among women.
Common-sense precautions such as using a safety ladder, placing nonskid mats in showers and tubs, and never swimming alone in a large or unfamiliar body of water can reduce the risks.
Workplace accidents — which include some vehicle crashes, poisonings, falls and drowning — are a significant cause of fatal injury to men, partly because men are concentrated in dangerous occupations such as agriculture, mining and construction.
No. 4 — Stroke
In 2004, over 58,000 men died of stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Although stroke affects equal proportions of men and women, men have better chances of surviving than women do. You can’t control some stroke risk factors, such as family history, age and race, but you can control the leading cause — high blood pressure — as well as contributing factors such as smoking and diabetes.
Additional preventive measures:
* Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. Get your cholesterol checked.
* Get regular blood pressure checks, and if it’s higher than normal, take measures to control it.
* Don’t smoke.
* Control diabetes.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Manage stress.
* Limit alcohol consumption.
* Talk with your doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin.
No. 5 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In 2003, according to the American Lung Association, 60,714 men died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of chronic lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s strongly associated with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The main cause is smoking. Men who smoke are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who’ve never smoked.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Don’t smoke.
* Avoid secondhand smoke.
* Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals.
No. 6 — Diabetes
The American Heart Association reports that in 2004, 35,000 men died of diabetes, a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Excess body fat, especially around the middle, is an important risk factor for diabetes. About 80 percent of people who have the disease are overweight or obese.
The diabetes complications most likely to be fatal are heart disease and stroke, which occur at two to four times the average rate in people with diabetes. Men with diabetes haven’t benefited as much from recent advances in heart disease treatment as have men without diabetes.
An estimated one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don’t know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop complications such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), nerve damage causing pain or loss of sensation in the hands or feet, vision loss, or kidney disease.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
* Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
* Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.
* Know your family’s diabetes history and discuss it with your doctor.
No. 7 — Influenza and pneumonia
In 2003, 28,778 men died of pneumonia and influenza, according to the CDC. These lung infections are especially life-threatening to people whose lungs have already been damaged by COPD, asthma or smoking. The risk of death from pneumonia or influenza is also higher among people with heart disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system due to AIDS or immunosuppressive drugs.
You can reduce your risk of complications and death from pneumonia and influenza by getting immunized. A yearly flu shot is up to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by more than half.
No. 8 — Suicide
In 2003, the CDC noted 25,203 men committed suicide. Men commit suicide four times as often as women do, partly because they’re more likely to use deadlier means — such as firearms — when they set out to take their own lives. Depression — which is estimated to affect 7 percent of men in any given year — is an important risk factor for suicide. But male depression is underdiagnosed, partly because men are less likely than women are to seek treatment for it. In addition, men don’t always develop standard symptoms such as sadness, worthlessness and excessive guilt. Instead, they may be more likely to complain of fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances and loss of interest in work or hobbies. Alcohol or drug abuse — which is more common in men — can mask depression and make it more difficult to diagnose.
People at risk of suicide may:
* Be depressed, moody, socially withdrawn or aggressive
* Have suffered a recent life crisis
* Show changes in personality
* Feel worthless
* Abuse alcohol or drugs
* Have frequent thoughts about death
* Talk about death and self-destruction
If you find yourself avoiding others, feeling hostile and worthless, thinking about death and using alcohol and drugs to numb your pain, talk with your doctor. In an urgent situation, an emergency room or crisis center can help. Friends or family members may be the first to notice your uncharacteristic behavior. Take their advice and seek help. If you or someone you love is depressed, remove any access to firearms in the home. Don’t expect to be able to overcome the feelings of depression without medical help. This is a disease, not something you can “snap out of.”
No. 9 — Kidney disease
Kidney failure, most often a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure, took the lives of 20,481 men in 2003 says the CDC. Control of diabetes and high blood pressure can prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease. Another cause of kidney failure is overuse of medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) that are toxic to the kidneys.
Some preventive measures you can take:
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* Exercise regularly.
* Maintain your proper weight.
* Don’t smoke.
* Get checked regularly for diabetes and high blood pressure.
* Limit your use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
* Take all medications only as directed.
No. 10 — Alzheimer’s disease
About 4.5 million older Americans — both men and women — have Alzheimer’s disease. In 2003, 18,335 men died of Alzheimer’s, which usually develops in people age 65 or older. But statistically there are more women who have the disease, because women live longer than men — and the older you are, the more likely you are to have Alzheimer’s. The American population has more and more older adults each year. Consequently, the number of people with Alzheimer’s has more than doubled since 1980 and continues to increase. As men live longer because of improved treatments for other conditions, they are more likely to die of Alzheimer’s.
Although experts are doing promising research into preventing Alzheimer’s, currently there’s no proven way to prevent the onset of the disease. Taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health may help:
* Lose weight if you’re overweight.
* Exercise regularly.
* Control your blood pressure.
* Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges.
While there is some controversy about whether it’s effective, some research indicates doing intellectually challenging activities may help delay the onset of dementia. It certainly can’t hurt — and it may help maintain your mental fitness.
Putting health risks into perspective
It’s important to understand that this ranking of health risks applies to the entire population of American men, no matter what their age. Although heart disease is the No. 1 lifetime health threat to men, it tops all other causes of death among men in only two age groups: ages 45 to 54, and age 65 and over. From childhood until age 44, accidents are the most significant threat to men’s lives. Cancer emerges as the leading killer only in men ages 55 to 64.
The top killers also vary somewhat among men from different ethnic groups. Black men, whose life expectancy is shorter than that of men from other races, are at higher risk of death by homicide and AIDS. American Indian men are more likely to die of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. More white men die of Alzheimer’s disease than do men from other groups. In men of Asian or Pacific Island descent, the top two killers are the same as for men of other ethnic groups, but their order is reversed — they are more likely to die of cancer than of heart disease. Hispanic men are at higher risk of death by accidental injury, at least partly because the population of Hispanic men is younger than average.
The bottom line: Be concerned about health risks, but don’t panic. Do all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle — eat healthy foods, stay physically active, don’t smoke, get regular checkups and guard against accidents. By making these preventive measures a way of life, you’ll increase your chances of staying vital and active into your 80s and 90s — well beyond the statistical average of 74.8.
Last Updated: 02/21/2007
© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fungus expert Joan Bennett did not believe in so-called toxic mold — the cause of “sick building syndrome” and many lawsuits — until her New Orleans home was flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
When she got a whiff of the foul air that the black goo had created in her home, she decided to change her research focus and try to find out how and if the fungi that took over most of the flooded homes on the Gulf Coast might make people ill.
“The overwhelming obnoxiousness of the odor and of the enveloping air made me start to believe in something that I had never believed in before — sick building syndrome,” Bennett, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, told a news conference.
But it has been more difficult than she thought.
Bennett believes that molds could potentially cause illness in certain susceptible people via volatile organic compounds — gassy versions of chemicals produced as the organisms metabolize food.
She has been unable to show this in the lab so far. But she told a joint meeting of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
She has tested various molds on the laboratory roundworm C. elegans. “Sometimes the worm swims away and sometimes the worm does nothing and sometimes the worm eats the fungus,” Bennett said.
“I am actually looking for something that has never been discovered by methods that have never been worked out.”
Yet hundreds of lawsuits have been filed — and some won — by people claiming mold in their homes or workplaces has made them ill.
Dr. David Denning of the University of Manchester in Britain said it is plausible that molds and fungi would emit volatile organic compounds.
GENETIC SENSITIVITY
If these can be found, they could form the basis of diagnosing fungal illness as well — perhaps using a breath test. People with fungal infections of the lungs, such as aspergillosis, would release these chemicals when they breathed.
“A certain group of severe asthmatics — about a million people — are sensitive to a number of different fungi,” Denning told the news conference. These include Aspergillis and Candida.
“This is almost certainly a genetic issue,” he added. “If you have (a) predisposition (to asthma), you probably have an additional predisposition to fungal sensitization.”
Dr. David Goldman, a pediatrician in the Bronx, New York, said asthma rates in his borough are disproportionately high, and he blames in part Cryptococcus neoformins, a microbe found in pigeon droppings that causes disease in immune-compromised people.
“We believe this fungus contributes to asthma by modulating the immune response,” Goldman told the news conference.
Both Goldman and Denning said treating patients with antifungal drugs such as itraconozole and fluconazole helped relieve the symptoms of patients with severe asthma. This supports evidence that fungi are contributing to symptoms.
All three experts agreed it would likely take a combination of factors — including a person genetically susceptible to molds and unusual fungal activity — to cause any disease.
“It is probably a relatively temporary disease, not a life-threatening disease,” Denning said.
“As we sit here we are probably breathing in hundreds of spores,” Bennett added. “Usually we only get sick if our immune systems are compromised or if we have this genetic susceptibility to allergy.”
(Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by Julie Steenhuysen and Philip Barbara)
- MONDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) — The overall cost of drugs for type 2 diabetes almost doubled between 2001 and 2007, yet whether these newer drugs improve care and outcomes isn’t known, a new study finds.
In that time period, total spending went from $6.7 billion to $12.5 billion, say researchers from the University of Chicago and Stanford University.
In 2002, diabetes accounted for more than 10 percent of U.S. health-care expenditures, and that number is expected to increase as the number of people with type 2 diabetes grows, the researchers noted.
“We found dramatic changes in the treatment patterns for diabetes during the past decade,” said study author Dr. G. Caleb Alexander, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. “This includes a remarkable change in drugs, as well as significant increases in costs.”
Whether these changes in diabetic care positively impact outcomes isn’t known, Alexander said. “The jury is still out as to whether these changes are worth it,” he said. “The million dollar question is: Are these changes going to lead to overall significant improvement in the outcomes that matter to patients and their doctors?”
The report was published in the Oct. 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The dramatic increase in cost is due to the high cost of commonly prescribed newer drugs. For example, sitagliptin (Januvia) costs $160 per prescription and exenatide (Byetta) costs $210 per prescription. That’s eight to 11 times higher than older, generic drugs such as metformin, Alexander said.
These drugs are marketed as being more convenient and offering better control of blood sugar than the older medications. In addition, doctors are using these new drugs as an alternative to insulin, Alexander said. In fact, insulin use dropped from 38 percent in 1994 to 28 percent in 2007.
Another factor fueling higher costs of diabetes care is that an increasing number of people are being diagnosed. In 2004, 4 percent of the U.S. population were diabetics; that number is expected to increase to 7 percent by 2050, the researchers said.
In addition, diabetic patients are receiving more aggressive treatment. Diabetic patients are often prescribed more than one medication. In 1994, 82 percent of diabetics received one drug; by 2007, only 47 percent of patients were receiving just one drug, the researchers found.
Alexander admitted that many of the new drugs target different pathways of disease. “There are some real innovations here,” he said. “But we don’t know enough about the comparative effectiveness of these medicines compared with older medicines to make a final verdict.”
One of the concerns is that drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they have been tested on thousands of people, Alexander said. “All too often, physicians and patients may tend to adopt newer therapies without sufficient evidence of their superiority or benefits over older, less expensive, more time-tested alternatives,” he said.
Recently, the diabetes drug Avandia has been linked to an increased risk for heart attack resulting in the FDA’s adding a “black box” warning to the label.
Dr. Stuart Weiss, an endocrinologist at New York University Medical Center, thinks newer medications are more effective than the older ones, but they don’t replace the need for a healthful diet and exercise.
“Spending money is bad, and diet and exercise is the best thing we can do for our diabetic patients, but they are not very comfortable accepting diet and exercise as the treatment for diabetes,” Weiss said.
Using the older, generic medications is “good enough if your expectations are very low,” Weiss said. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and drugs such as metformin fail over time, he said. “The cheap drugs are not so good,” he said.
“The newer drugs have a very nice effect on the progression of disease in diabetes, and they don’t lose efficacy after a few years,” Weiss added. “I don’t know whether they are going to fail over time. There is no medication that can’t be overwhelmed by a bad diet.”
Saving money by not using the newer drugs is not the answer to the growing diabetes epidemic. Even the most expensive drugs are cheaper than untreated diabetes, Weiss said. “If people think that giving cheap drugs will be the solution to the growing problem — I think they are making a huge mistake.”
Representatives of the drug industry were unavailable for comment on Monday.
LONDON (Reuters) - Doctors baffled by an unexplained rash on people’s ears or cheeks should be on alert for a skin allergy caused by too much mobile phone use, the British Association of Dermatologists said on Thursday.
Citing published studies, the group said a red or itchy rash, known as “mobile phone dermatitis,” affects people who develop an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobile phones after spending long periods of time on the devices.
“It is worth doctors bearing this condition in mind if they see a patient with a rash on the cheek or ear that cannot otherwise be explained,” it said.
The British group said many doctors were unaware mobile phones could cause the condition.
Safety concerns over mobile phones has grown as more people rely on them for everyday communication, although the evidence to date has given the technology a clean bill of health when it comes to serious conditions like brain cancer.
“In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear, depending on where the metal part of the phone comes into contact with the skin,” the group said in a statement.
“In theory it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons.”
Nickel is a metal found in products, ranging from mobile phones to jewelry to belt buckles and is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, according to the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
Earlier this year Lionel Bercovitch of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and colleagues tested 22 popular handsets from eight different manufacturers and found nickel in 10 of the devices.
The most common symptoms of the rash (allergic contact dermatitis) from poison ivy, oak, or sumac are:
* Itching.
* Red streaks or general redness where the plant brushed against the skin.
* Small bumps or larger raised areas (hives).
* Blisters filled with fluid that may leak out. In rare cases, some people develop blood-filled blisters that can turn black and become shiny dark spots.
The rash may have several stages, and its severity can also vary. It usually appears 8 to 48 hours after you have contact with the plant oil (urushiol). But it may occur up to 15 days after the contact.1 The rash will continue to develop in new areas over several days but only on the parts of the skin that first had contact with the plant oil or those parts where the oil was spread by touching. Blister fluid cannot spread the rash. Areas where the skin is thick, such as the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, are less sensitive to the oil.
People who are highly allergic to the urushiol in these plants can develop more serious symptoms that may require medical treatment. Serious symptoms may include:
* Swelling of the face, mouth, neck, genitals, or eyelids (which may prevent the eyes from opening).
* Widespread, large blisters that ooze large amounts of fluid.
Other conditions with similar symptoms
Other kinds of plant rashes can look like a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash. These include rashes caused by:
* Other plants, such as the ginkgo tree, which contain urushiol or a similar oil.
* Irritant plants, such as stinging nettle. These rashes are not caused by allergic reactions.
* Phytophotodermatitis, which may happen when you touch certain plants and then go into the sun.
Skin conditions that may look like the rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac include:
* Scabies, an itchy skin condition caused by mites.
* Shingles (herpes zoster), a viral skin infection.
* Impetigo, a bacterial infection of the skin.
Insect bites, exposure to nickel and other metals, and exposure to chemicals found in fabrics, lotions, or laundry detergent may also result in a similar skin rash.
A lot of us are out there watching what we eat and exercising, but still not making a dent in our bellies and body weight. There are a few things we are probably not doing, or doing too much of, that would mean major improvements in our health.
Get more sleep. After a very short period of time (about 6 nights), studies show that your glucose levels can rise if you get only 4 to 7 hours of sleep each night. New parents are excluded, but everyone else should try to hit the 8 hour mark as often as you can and get to bed BEFORE midnight. Every hour of rest before 12 a.m. is twice as valuable as the hours after midnight: Our cortisol levels are lowest before midnight therefore our recovery is the highest.
Eating fewer refined and processed foods. Avoid fast and fried food and try to consume as many real foods as you can. It’s also imperative to get enough fiber (helps with elimination); fruits and veggies are a great way to fill up.
Avoid sugary drinks and reach for more water. Water is great for so many things like digestion, eliminating toxins in the body, and transporting important nutrients to our cells which need energy to burn calories. Americans drink 20% of their calories, so be careful of that silent pitfall.
Get to know your kitchen. I realize it takes more work, but the simple truth is we eat out or order in too often. There is a greater opportunity to control what is in your food if you cook it yourself.
Slow down. When you do sit down to a meal, don’t wolf it down. Our culture encourages eating while driving or sitting at our desks. The only time we seem to sit down and enjoy our food is at Thanksgiving. The monks chew each bite of food 100 times (which is excessive), but they also eat only until they are full. They recognize that chewing their food more makes it easier for the body to digest.
Breathe. There are so many days that I don’t breathe deeply. In the morning, mid-afternoon, and at the end of the day take a 10 conscious, belly-deep breaths. Close your eyes, pull that air deep into your stomach via your nose and let all the junk out through your mouth. Whether its a stressful day, or you just want to start and end your day on the right foot, breathing is important.
Don’t starve yourself. Oddly enough some of you may not be eating enough, and the lack of calories is putting your body into save mode. Our bodies are so brilliant, and if they aren’t getting enough food, your metabolism will tell your body to store each and every calorie it receives or to make energy from whatever muscle tissue you have. Not good. Oh and by the way, don’t skip breakfast. People who skip breakfast are over 4 times more likely to be overweight.
Do more than exercise. Even if you are working out, you can’t eat and drink whatever you want. It really is a three sided puzzle: balancing exercise, food, and (oh yes) the spirit (which stress and happiness play into).
I wish you the greatest of success, and remember, being healthy is like making your bed. It really is something we have to work at everyday.
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of eating breakfast. Studies show that people who take time for a morning meal consume fewer calories over the course of the day, have stronger cognitive skills, and are 30 percent less likely to be overweight or obese. Beyond that, people who skip breakfast are more likely to drink alcohol and smoke, and they’re less likely to exercise.
But just because breakfast is the most important meal of the day doesn’t grant you permission to go into a feeding frenzy. But that’s exactly what many of the country’s most popular breakfast joints are setting you up for, by peddling fatty scrambles, misguided muffins, and pancakes that look like manhole covers.
These foods are loaded with unhealthy fats, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates, which catapult your blood sugar, sap your energy levels, and tell your body to store fat.
To help you avoid the morning mishaps, we searched out the good, the bad, and the greasy, and uncovered some of the worst breakfast foods in America. We’ve presented a sampling of the worst offenders below. It’s like a lineup down at the local police station, except in this case, they’re all guilty as charged.
Worst Side Dish
Burger King Hash Browns (large)
620 calories
40 g fat (11 g saturated; 13 g trans)
1,200 mg sodium
60 g carbs
Yes, you’re ingesting more than a meal’s worth of calories from a side dish, but the real cause for concern here is that these little potato cakes pack seven times more trans fats than you’re supposed to eat all day! Until BK learns to cut out the partially hydrogenated oils, avoid encounters with potatoes of any kind at that fatty food joint.
Eat This Instead!
Burger King Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich
300 calories
17 g fat (6 g saturated; 2 g trans)
740 mg sodium
26 g carbs
Worst Breakfast Sandwich
Hardee’s Monster Biscuit
710 calories
51 g fat (17 g saturated)
2,250 mg sodium
37 g carbohydrates
When they say “Monster,” they mean it. This 700-calorie behemoth should be enough to scare anyone: It contains nearly a full day’s worth of sodium and saturated fat. Instead try the Sunrise Croissant with Bacon. It’s not exactly diet-friendly, but if you’re stuck at Hardee’s, it’s a way to escape without too much damage.
Eat This Instead!
Hardee’s Sunrise Croissant with Bacon
450 calories
29 g fat (12 g saturated)
900 mg sodium
28 g carbs
Worst Kids Meal
Denny’s Big Dipper French Toastix with margarine and syrup
770 calories
71 g fat (13 g saturated)
107 g carbs
As important as it is for mom and dad to eat a good breakfast each morning, it’s even more critical that their kids do. After all, breakfast affects their energy levels, metabolism, and performance in school. Better think twice before feeding them these dubious little sticks. For more healthy kids’ choices, check out Eat This, Not That! for Kids.
Eat This Instead!
Kid’s D-Zone Smiley Alien Hotcakes
340 calories
12 g fat (5 g saturated)
49 g carbs
Worst Pastry
Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll
813 calories
32 g fat (5 g trans fat)
117 g carbs
You wouldn’t start your day with three brownies, would you? As far as your body knows, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing if you wake up with this cinnamon-swirled disaster area. In fact, because Cinnabon offers no healthy alternatives, you’ll have to invite friends (or enemies?) to share the risky roll, or steer clear of Cinnabon altogether.
Worst Smoothie
Smoothie King Grape Expectations II (40 oz.)
1,102 calories
256 g sugars
740 mg sodium
Why Smoothie King would even offer a 40 oz. serving size is beyond us. With more than half the calories you need in a day and the sugar equivalent of 12 Haagen Dasz ice cream bars, this “drink” should be renamed “diabetes in a glass.” Just goes to show you the importance of drinking responsibly.
Drink This Instead!
Smoothie King Low Carb Strawberry Smoothie (20 oz.)
268 calories
3 g sugars
176 mg sodium
Worst Combo Meal
McDonald’s Deluxe Breakfast
1,360 calories
64 g fat (22 g saturated)
2,325 mg sodium
160 g carbs
49 g sugars
With four vehicles for refined carbohydrates (biscuit, hash browns, hotcakes, syrup), this “deluxe” disaster will send your blood sugar soaring. Why blow nearly an entire day’s calories under the arches, when a perfectly satisfying Egg McMuffin will save you more than 1,000 calories?
Eat This Instead!
McDonald’s Egg McMuffin with coffee
310 calories
12 g fat (5 g saturated)
820 mg sodium
30 g carbs
3 g sugars
Worst Omelet
IHOP Big Steak Omelet
1,490 calories
(No additional nutrition information available)
IHOP doesn’t provide nutritional information aside from calorie counts, but with a boatload of steak, a bucket of cheese, and handfuls of hash browns, this omelet’s fat and sodium numbers are surely just as appalling.
Eat This Instead!
IHOP For Me Garden Scramble
440 calories
The Worst Breakfast in America
Bob Evans Stacked and Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes
1,543 calories
77 g fat (26 g saturated; 9 g trans)
2,259 mg sodium
198 g carbs
109 g sugars
It’s not a good sign when it takes you nearly five seconds to spit out the name of your breakfast. This bad boy packs in more than 75 percent of your calories for the day, along with more sugar and fat than nine glazed Dunkin’ Donuts, and nearly as much sodium as five Bloody Marys.
Eat This Instead!
3 Scrambled Egg Beaters with 2 slices of bacon and fresh fruit
314 calories
19.5 g fat (5 g saturated)
700 mg sodium
21 g carbs
18 g sugars
The beginning of autumn means that we’re entering apple season, which will be a time of cider, desserts, and the crisp, wholesome goodness of the fruit freshly picked from your local orchard. Apples have been a staple of healthy eating for many years, and the often-repeated line of an apple a day keeping the doctor away is far from a myth. Apples really do have a wonderful variety of nutritional benefits, and are a tasty addition to any diet of good health and longevity.
Of all of the fruits we eat, apples are the best source of pectin, a natural fiber that has several health benefits. Apples also contain phytochemicals, quercetin, tannins, and antioxidants, all of which have different healthy properties. Below is a list of the top five benefits of making apples a standard part of your daily diet.
1. Apples improve the bowels. Pectin is a source of dietary fiber and a very handy nutrient to have in one’s diet. While it is also found in citrus fruits, plums, and other fruits, apples have the highest concentration of them all. Pectin works to increase the stool’s volume and resistance of fluids and is therefore helpful in treating constipation, diarrhea, and generally improving the health of the bowels. Studies have also found that apple pectin reduces the incidence of colon tumors, and that has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
2. Apples lower cholesterol. A study on nutrition and heart disease found that eating three apples a day for three months can help you to drop your cholesterol by at least 20 points. How does this happen? Apple pectin, that miraculous source of dietary fiber, helps to draw bad LDL cholesterol out of the system. Not only that, but the antioxidant quercetin that is found in apples inhibits the LDL cholesterol from even accumulating in the body’s bloodstream. When it comes to lowering one’s cholesterol, apples provide a cocktail of nutritional benefits that are hard to pass up.
3. Apples reduce the risk of cancer. Apples do not stop at merely preventing colon cancer. The high amounts of quercetin, other flavonoids, and phytochemicals found in this fruit deliver potent antioxidant activity to all who eat an apple, and with that inhibit the actions of free radicals. In addition, the phytochemicals may act against carcinogens, which will likewise help to prevent cancer. This means that apple eating prevents cancer of the prostate and lung, as well as other parts of the body.
4. Apples slow the aging process. There may have been many generations of explorers that sought the fountain of youth, but all they had to do was fight the daily stresses of life with a tasty apple! The phytochemicals that come from the bright colors you find in the skins of your favorite apple variety, along with aiding the apple’s ability to lower cholesterol and fight cancer, also inhibits the onset of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other conditions that lead to potentially debilitating situations in old age.
5. Apples help to prevent hair loss. If keeping a full head of hair will help you to age more gracefully, then chow down on some apples. Chinese medicine considers hair loss to be a sign of a depleted kidney essence, and apples are on the list of fruits and vegetables that will help you to restore this essence and nourish the blood that flows to your hair follicles.
I hope you eat your apples, and that you really do keep the doctors away. As always, I encourage you to share your own favorite longevity foods and other tips with me.
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
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