7 Tips You Can Apply for a Healthier You!

7 Tips You Can Apply for a Healthier You!
What you don't know can hurt you. BUT, what you know but don't do will hurt you more!


1. Everything should be done in moderation – eating, working, resting, playing, maintaining hobbies, socializing, and so on.


2. You should sleep for at least eight hours every night. A siesta in the afternoon, if possible, is also a good idea and certainly refreshing for your brain.

3. Exercise regularly. Go for a short run every morning. Do Yoga. Exercise your eyes regularly, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Dance around! Do what you love!


4. Stop smoking.


5. Alcohol in moderation can actually be good for you. Going back to #1, everything should be done in moderation. This doesn't apply to #4 though.

6. These days, we all suffer from various degrees of stress. Reduce stress! Balancing work and family lives can be difficult, and financial and social difficulties can make life a struggle. Try to recognise when you are suffering from stress. Common symptoms include headaches, irritability, difficulty sleeping and poor concentration

7. Live. Laugh. Love.

Over The Hill Doesn't Mean It's Over

Happy New Year Everyone!!! New Year, New age! But, over the hill doesn't mean it's over!

When you picture the life of an average person, it looks like a small hill; rising at first, then descending into a slope once you get older. Are you over 40? Have you hit your peak? Over the hill doesn’t mean it’s over.

The hill only stops being a hill once you stop seeing yourself falling off the slope. Over the hill doesn’t signify the end --- there’s still the other-half equivalent of the years before you hit your peak.

What can’t you do? What can you do? Obviously, dressing up like you were in high school and trying to pass off as a teenager is out of the question. Here are a number of ways you could pass the time, while trying to finish up the rest of that hill.

Get a Hobby – It’s never too late to be into anything. There are people who are older than 40 who still engage in hobbies like running in marathons, rock climbing, writing, building models and acquiring collectibles. Are you still fit enough to run several kilometers in one go? Do you still have the clear eyesight to keep small model parts from being lost? It’s never too late to get a hobby, not only is it a productive and enjoyable way to pass the time --- it also keeps you young!

Learn – Learning never stops --- everyday is an opportunity to know better than what you knew yesterday. It’s just a matter of having the willingness to learn. What will you use your new knowledge for? It might make things easier for you in the workplace, thus, leaving more time for you, --- or, you may just want to pass along the knowledge to your children.

Live! – It’s always a good time to be alive --- there’s no more hesitation, parts of life are within reach --- and it’s up to you to grab them. Try new things! Visit new places! Eat exotic food! The only question you should concern yourself with is --- are you going to hike down the hill, or reach the ground tumbling? Over the hill doesn’t mean it’s over.

You should fight! Let's stand besides the saying, "Over 40 and Fighting!"

An Ounce Of Prevention is Worth A Poind of Cure

Let’s not sugarcoat things: after you hit the big 4-0, life only gets a lot more complicated. Alzheimer’s, Macular Degeneration and Heart Diseases start sounding like everyday concerns, on top of thinking about the bills, the kids or the PTA meeting.

All three of the diseases mentioned above are going to be your biggest concerns when you are over 40, for the reason that, there is no widely-available cure for any of them. Should there be, then by the time you are reading this, it will still be in the experimental stages, or its price range is going to be out-of-reach for people like us.

Here are a couple of tips to fortify your defenses against those diseases with.

Alzheimer’s – Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, which is, in essence, permanent damage to the brain. To date, there is still no known cure for this disease and the number of factors for contracting this disease simply hits most of us like a random flash-flood. We’ll never know. The best ways for staving off Alzheimer’s disease is by mental and physical activity. This strikes people who don’t undergo physical or mental challenges on a daily basis. Sociable interaction is also a plus. Foods that carry antioxidants, and vitamins C and E are also linked to lesser known cases of Alzheimer’s.

Heart Disease – There are several forms of heart diseases --- but most of them can be stopped by restraint. Restraint from living a relatively physically inactive life, restraint from cholesterol and restraint in front of alcohol or tobacco is all that is needed to lower the risks of getting heart disease. Love your heart and it will love you back.

Macular Degeneration – Unfortunately, there are still not enough studies to completely fight off macular degeneration. However, in the few guaranteed controlled observations concerning macular degeneration, a smoke-free and a fruits-and-vegetable-rich lifestyle has been shown to be less likely to develop the severe effects of macular degeneration.

It’s especially frightening to know that there are diseases that we are completely vulnerable to after 40, but the knowledge of lessening risks is key to living a disease-free life that doesn’t need cures --- for there will be no sickness.

What Cardiovascular Diseases Will I Be Prone To?

Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels; a heart attack or stroke may be the first warning signs of cardiovascular diseases.

How scary does cardiovascular disease have to be, for a heart attack to be a warning sign? Cardiovascular diseases are absolutely terrifying. Cardiovascular diseases may develop from years of tobacco use, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity --- combine that with your 40s and you become a volatile cardiovascular disease surprise.

According to the World Health Organization, “Over 80% of cardiovascular disease deaths take place in low-and middle-income countries and occur almost equally in men and women. Cardiovascular disease risk of women is high particularly after menopause.”

Here are the top three causes, and what cardiovascular disease you may expect from them.

Tobacco User/ Smoker – At first you’d be surprised to find this at the top of the cardiovascular disease list, because for one, you’d expect cigarettes to harm your lungs, not your heart, and for two, it isn’t immediately obvious to people that smoking is bad for the blood.

There’s the carbon monoxide --- it interferes with the transportation of oxygen, and less oxygen means a higher potential for cardiovascular disease. There’s nicotine too --- it decreases the amount of good cholesterol which makes fat become deposited on the walls of an artery. If you’re a long-time smoker, you’re at risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

Unhealthy Diet – An unhealthy diet gives you the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The heart and the blood vessels stop working properly if an unhealthy diet leaves a build up of fat deposits on the inside lining of the blood vessels. These fat deposits cause the blood vessels to become narrow, thereby blocking off the blood flow.

Of the cardiovascular diseases that may get someone with an unhealthy diet, a stroke is most likely. Someone who experiences a mini-stroke while being overweight still has a potential for full recovery, but it would involve losing weight to prevent further cardiovascular disease.

Physical Inactivity – Currently there are studies being performed linking physical inactivity to cardiovascular disease. It’s not a direct result of the sedentary lifestyle, but it would still affect you indirectly. Long bouts of physically inactive bodies might develop arterial stiffness, and for the body to develop a resistance to insulin. It has also been found that cases of these happen to people in their 40s.

The metabolic dysfunction that follows is closely-tied to cardiovascular disease. No doubt, there is an increasing need for regular physical activity while you’re young, since the metabolic dysfunction only develops after years of inactivity. A heart attack or a stroke’s risk is high among people living highly inactive lifestyles.

Keeping the Fire in Your Belly

Fires. Bellies. I think keeping the fire in your belly denotes that you are a dragon, and that keeping that fire alive is a priority.

I think a more succinct interpretation of that statement is keeping the spark alive for when you’re over 40 --- the passion for life and living --- the thing that keeps us going. Rather than let it get blown out like a birthday candle off a cake for every birthday we get, we keep on fanning the flames to nourish the fire.

What can you do to keep the fire in your belly alive?

TLC – Tender loving care. Scratch that --- TLC is the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet. It’s for people who have heart disease, have a high risk of getting it, or just have high cholesterol. Even if you don’t have them, it’s better to be prepared than to be catching up when it’s all too late. It means having less than 7% of saturated fat DAILY, with 25-35 percent of the day’s meals solely for the calories from fat. It means having to have enough cholesterol to be able to maintain a healthy weight.

Become the “Cause” – In cause and effect, are you often standing in the effect side of the situation? Are you riding life based on reactions? Become proactive, this is part of keeping the fire in your belly. Will you let situations ride you, and not the other way around? This means taking action and taking responsibility for them. You are never a victim of circumstance.

Define your life’s mission statement – Its funny how most people go through life without knowing who they really are --- and in keeping the fire in your belly, you have to be able to define who you are. It could be a tag line, for who you wish to be seen as. It helps you stop procrastinating, and will make you focused on the more important goals. It could be as simple as, “Being the one who looks after the family.”

My Midlife Health Concerns

In my 40s, I find that the more I try to fend off my midlife health concerns from the world; the biggest fears come from me instead. Not that I’m not careful about my personal health, it’s that I’m not entirely the “super-health-lifestyle” guy.

I’m trying my best to keep track of what my body takes in on a daily basis. I find that all the worrying about health only serves to make me even more worried about the threats my midlife health concerns couldn’t predict. So I trimmed down the list of concerns:

Regular Check-Ups – Before, medical check-ups were things to be taken for granted --- I mean, if you don’t feel sick, there’s no reason to go for a test, right? Unfortunately, some of the more deadly midlife health concerns are the quiet ones, the ones you wouldn’t see coming; the ones you don’t expect. You may live a health-oriented lifestyle, but you have to admit your age --- you may be sick and not know it yet.

Preventive Meds – It is absolutely crucial, that, after those check-ups, you find out if there’s any sort of preventive measure to be taken. This includes preventive medicine like statins, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, etc – and you better remember to take ‘em.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – If you’re a smoker, make it a point to stop now. If you’ve quit smoking entirely, there’s still the issue of second-hand smoke --- it’s even worse than if you’ve had the cigarette --- avoid smoking areas at all cost, not for the temptation, but to shield you from all the burnt poison that you might inhale.

Diet and Exercise – Set up a diet and follow it religiously --- if you can, exercise at least 3-5 times a week --- these activities are healthily tedious, but doing so proves to be a much cheaper alternative to being hospitalized. Both of them work by preventing obesity and/or diabetes, some of the very real culprits behind your midlife health concerns.

Risk Factors – Get informed. Talk to your family about your health concerns, and they may do the studies for you. Not only will this lead to a healthier lifestyle for you, it also encourages an even healthier lifestyle for the rest of your family. Know what’s right for you and cut down on your possible risk factors.

There you have it --- some of my weekly midlife health concerns --- because sometimes, we all need a little reminding from time-to-time.

What Should I Watch Out For When I Get Over 40?

When you get over 40, there’s this obvious risk of getting any disease. Some are even surprising --- the people who have don’t ingest toxic substances suddenly getting sick?! If we ourselves have a drink or a smoke from time-to-time, how safe are we? What should we look out for?

Tobacco smoke – This is the silent and deadliest killer. The media has informed us repeatedly that cigarette smoking is bad for the health --- I mean, even the packs of cigarettes themselves have the warning --- so how could it still creep up on us? If you’re over 40 and you still smoke, then maybe it’s time to quit, or even lessen the number of cigarettes you light up daily. If you’re not a smoker, remember: second-hand smoke is oftentimes more dangerous than first-hand smoke. Better stop hanging out with friends who smoke, or walking through smoking areas --- it’s toxic!

Alcohol – We can make up all the excuses like red wine being good for the heart, but alcohol is still alcohol --- have too much and it’ll haunt you for the rest of your years. You could claim that you’re not an alcoholic, that, instead, the alcohol follows you, but you should take responsibility when you drink. When you’re over 40, binge drinking is harder to recover from, and is harder to escape. If you have an alcohol problem, it can contribute to higher triglycerides, cancer or heart disease. Enroll yourself in a program if you can’t handle it on your own, or, better yet, condition yourself to drink less.

Weight – When you’re over 40, it’s harder to notice that your metabolism has slowed down to a crawl. You may claim that it’s just the beer weight, but any additional weight is just added load to your heart. Plus, chances are, if you start gaining weight, it means that you might possibly have higher blood pressure, higher blood cholesterol, and a higher risk for diabetes or a heart condition. It may also signify inactivity, are you moving less? Join a weekend exercise class, or jog before going into the morning shower --- it’ll do your body good, too, with the endorphins.

More info about your health? read other blogs posted here or go to over40andfighting.com

Enjoying Life Over 40

Quit your job! No one should have just a job when they are over 40. It’s time for fun --- and it’s not just me saying that. Doing so will be good for your self-esteem.

Life over 40 sure is different. Some days, it feels like your kids, (and I love mine) are ingrates. Some days, I feel like I don’t want to pay the bills anymore. Some days, I feel like my job isn’t as important as I once thought it was, seeing fresh-grads taking over the big, active jobs in the office.

Do you ever think like that? Well, you’re not alone. We are running on the tightrope of midlife, and the damages we’ve done to ourselves are manifesting their cracks now that we’re over 40.

What do we do about it? Well if you’ve gotten over 40, then you must’ve learned about being patient along the way. Being patient is crucial, because now, you’ll make plans for the rest of your life.

Open up a notebook --- time to reassess your goals. Write up the years ahead on the top, and write down your goals for that year. If you’re over 40, you find that the years just seem to go by faster than when you were a kid, which also signifies that there’s no time to waste.

So, say, for 2009, your plans are “Healthy Body 2009” --- after that year, you recheck your notebook if you’ve gotten that goal down. Of course hoping won’t do the work alone, you’re over 40, you should know this by now. This includes eating more organic foods, getting proper rest, daily exercise, drinking 8 or more glasses of water, finding time to relax after stress, enjoying life with family and being happy.

Did you get your wish? If you didn’t get what you wanted exactly, reassess your goals for the next year if its doable, and slowly, you’ll be finding the ways to make that goal come true. Future projection is pretty important too --- your goal must be REALISTIC for you. Would you be left in a state of “unbelief” once you do get to drive that Ferrari? If you don’t believe it can happen to you, then it’s not REALISTIC for you.

Life may get easier over 40, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a slacker. Time’s running and your goals and dreams are now, more than ever, within your reach. Time to put it down to writing -- Being over 40 doesn’t mean you have to stop being a dreamer.

http://over40andfighting.com/

What Are You Fighting For?

With obligations hanging over our heads on a daily basis, it’s tough to find time for what you’re really fighting for --- you!

It shall be noted that I will use the word “fight” throughout this entire article with it pertaining to image of the raw, survivalist instinct it invokes, not “fight” as in brawl.

We fight for someone everyday. When we stand up for an officemate being abused, or when we say we’ll fight for love, or, in times of desperation, there’s a fight for your life. But do you really have to be in times of desperation to fight for yourself? That’s what is lacking in most people nowadays --- a relationship with themselves.

When you think of yourself as a fighter, it means you possess enough inner strength and scrappiness to face tough issues ahead. Here are some of the important things to fight for:

Fight for your rights. According to the World Health Organization, "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being..." It is your absolute right to be healthy. Should you feel someone is hindering that goal, then it’s time to fight for your basic rights. If you didn’t know the basics about your health rights, then part of the hope is lost --- people may be taking advantage of you already.

Fight for food. Well, not literally. Everyone deserves a good well-balanced meal, and not live off on fast foods, junk snacks and sodas. You deserve what you get --- you should never, ever feel bad about spending for food. Not only is eating one of the most basic joys of being alive, it’s also our main source of energy, to fight for the next day.

Fight for the truth. News reports about the latest health miracle shouldn’t be considered the pure and absolute truth. Think about it … is televised news 100% accurate all the time? So what should happen, should they introduce health risks and hazards --- are you going to believe them, no questions asked? A feeling starts from signals from the brain. If you listen to your television 100% of the time, you’d be too petrified to leave your house, in case viruses were on the loose.

Fight for youth. When you fight for your life, your adversaries (the bad habits) are just one thing to think about, you get older too; Slower reflexes, memory problems, and a blurring eyesight --- is this what you want? Probably not. Rather than stay laser-focused on the issues everyone gets when growing old, why not fight it? Fight for life. When you fight aging, you are committed to making yourself better, not only will you remain youthful, you also ward off diseases that come from a lifestyle of excess.

There you have it. These are the things we have to fight for in our lives if we haven’t been doing so already. We owe it to ourselves to put a smile on, and fight for the new day.

Go to Over 40 and Fighting website now!

7 Risk Factors That Are Killing Your Heart

“How at risk am I?” That’s the question you should be asking yourself on a daily basis. There are three major risk factors that cannot be changed --- age, gender and heredity. If you are older than 40, belong to the male gender or have someone in your family suffer heart problems, you are more at risk of a coronary heart disease.

How at risk is that? Let’s say that’s 30% of a heart disease … and that’s assuming that you are at 100% health, adding more risk factors would increase that risk and put your life in danger.

Here’s a list of the 7 risk factors that are killing your heart --- for each one you have, add 10% to the 30% you already have.

Smoking – Smokers tend to have 2-4 times the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease as compared to people who are non-smokers. Exposure to the poisons of smoke can increase the risk factor of a non-smoker, even.

High blood cholesterol – The percentage of blood cholesterol that a person has is directly proportional to the added risk he’s putting on his life. This can also be affected by age, gender and heredity.

High blood pressure – Not to be confused with blood cholesterol, a higher blood pressure increases the workload of the heart, making for a more dangerous living.

Too much alcohol – Fun fact: moderate drinkers have a lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. Too much, however can contribute to obesity, depression and/or accidents, which are also fatal.

Physical inactivity – A sedentary lifestyle is a contributor to heart disease. Participating in vigorous physical activity may even help curb the effects of the other risk factors, such as blood pressure.

Obesity – People who are overweight are twice as likely to develop heart disease. It raises blood pressure, and may sustain a diabetes in the long run.

Stress – Studies have noted the relation of stress to a person’s well-being. This is truly a risk, not only for heart disease, but for a person’s mental breakdown.

What was the total of your risk factor? “How at risk am I?” can now finally be answered.

Do you have a heart problem? Or perhaps, do you want more tips on how to prevent them? go to
http://over40andfighting.com/theworld.asp

Do Nutritional Gaps Affect You?

Every diet is a bust. No matter how careful you plan them --- there won’t be enough x-mineral or x-vitamin to fill up the daily recommendation.

The vast majority of us don’t get enough Vitamins A through E on a daily basis, let alone the omega-3s and fish oils. It’s gotten to the point where deficiency testing has become such a staple in your doctor’s check-up.

These gaps make way for damaged DNA, or the support for cellular growth. This leads to premature aging and diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

There is such a thing too, as overdosing on certain vitamins to reduce the chances of a disease. It has recently been found that Vitamin B DOES NOT directly affect the risk of heart attack in high-risk individuals.

The disappointing thing is that we know so little about how certain vitamins and minerals from food interact with others upon consumption --- so yes, in a way, nutritional gaps affect you.

The best way to curb the gap is by a diet that is both varied and nutritious. Mix up fruits, vegetables, fish, carbohydrates, low-fat meat and chicken. Add in some whole grains and low-fat dairy products. For those of us who are slightly older than the rest who need a little more nutrition need to take up supplements that are perfectly balanced, for an excess may lead to an amount of antioxidants that are slightly toxic in the body.

My Battles With Daily Temptation

Everyday is a good day to be alive.  Not that the world becomes perfect overnight --- it’s just that the amount of possibilities is staggering.  So does the daily temptation.

Being a little older than some of my colleagues, it’s easier to see why things seem easier for me.  I know better, and that “last” bottle of beer?  I know it’s going to haunt me --- if not in the morning, but for months or years to come.

It’s easy to think back to easier times, when, after a day of solid work, I’d go thinking how a couple of bottles of beers, cigarette breaks or a heavy meal might do me some good --- but now, these things are part of the daily temptation I try so hard to avoid.

 

Alcohol – I never believe in alcohol abuse.  The alcohol doesn’t abuse the body of the drinker, but when the drinker decides to abuse the alcohol, that’s when things go horribly wrong.  Part of the daily temptation is knocking back a few after a hard day’s work.  I used to think that I deserve that shot, or that bottle --- but now I consider that I deserve MORE.  I deserve my health, for what lifestyle changes I put my body through.

Smoking – I tried it when I was younger.  My advice is, if you don’t smoke already, don’t even try it.  It’s a nasty habit that leaves your teeth stained and your hands constantly smelling like burnt excess.  Daily temptation is storming out of a conference call and lighting one of these up in the designated smoking area.  Most buildings have designated smoking areas that just make you feel bad about smoking, like an empty rooftop.  If that wasn’t a sign enough already, consider your health.  I considered mine.

Heavy meals – A good meal is something to be valued, treasured, even --- for a meal only happens once in your life.  But constantly binge eating only reinforces the bad habit as instant gratification.  It makes your body ill and makes you think less of yourself.  I can’t think of a time when something deep-fried or buttered isn’t a daily temptation, and I’m not bound to try and decode why --- I don’t want to confess these sins from a hospital bed, see.  :D

Do YOU want a healthy heart?

“Do I want a healthy heart?”  Not to be crude, but … well, duh! 

With the current trend of a lifestyle of excesses, it’s easy not to care what the heart has to say, when you’re puffing that smoke, downing that drink and chewing that glorious piece of red meat.  Even though studies have shown that men have a greater risk of heart disease, women should be equally concerned.  Heart diseases can start from palpitations, a mild discomfort in the chest, followed by a running pain down your shoulders … and well, that’s it.

In order to keep safe, you follow a few simple tips.  Some of which may be hard to follow, but remember to ask yourself, “Do I want a healthy heart?”

Learn to Breathe

Take deeper breathes.  No, really.  The deeper the breathes, the more amount of oxygen is taken in, which is just important for the heart.  Get one of those air purifiers for your home while you’re at it.

Laugh out loud

Laughter has been proven to increase immune functions, boost endorphin release and whatnot --- but the deeper reason for choosing it is simple: stress is a killer.  Stress causes palpitations, arrhythmia and other heart disturbances.  Try watching funny movies at least twice a week, or read the funny papers before heading to work --- it’ll do you a world of good.

Exercise

A strong heart is a healthy heart --- just like any other muscle in the body, it must get the exercise it needs to get the blood pumping.  Not enough time to work-out?  Use your environment --- choose the stairs over the escalator the next time you’re in the mall.  Take a walk in your afternoon coffee break. 

Supplement

Eat as many organic fruits and vegetables that you can --- this is bar-none the best thing you could do for your heart.  If you can, eat them fresh and uncooked, as some of the nutrients are lost once a fruit or vegetable is cooked.  Eat fresh fish twice a week, and get more omega-3’s from a fish oil supplement.

Limit

Avoid any kind of toxic exposure for the body.  Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats or anything cooked in hydrogenated oil.  Stop that cigarette habit.  Quit the binge drinking!  All of these contribute to you getting a higher blood pressure, which is always linked to heart disease.

May you live long, strong and happy!

Crucial Vitamins and Minerals for People Over Their 40's

It’s shocking that a number of people over their 40’s don’t realize how many diseases and conditions can be caused or even exacerbate by vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

I mean, in your 40’s, it’s pretty easy to give up. It’s always easier to choose fast food rather than make up complicated nutritionally-balanced meals. This won’t be about making the best possible meal combination for you; this article is about how to help yourself.

Free radicals, when left unchecked, cause oxidation damage, which, in turn causes damage to healthy cells in the body. For that, eating fruits and vegetables are the best. They contain beta carotenes plus vitamins A, C and E. These vitamins are crucial in helping to keep the cells healthy. Take note of daily recommended dosages for your age on these three vitamins --- they’ll help you feel and look younger. When you stop cell damage, you reduce the risks for developing heart diseases and some cancers.  

Vitamin D is also important --- this is the vitamin that assists the body in the absorption of calcium. Rather than stay out in the sun to catch some rays of it, you could consume dairy products instead.

There are studies that have found that a lack of Vitamin K is linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Before you forget, grab a few leafy green vegetables to get your dosage of Vitamin K. These include: spinach, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. Avocado and kiwi are also great sources.

Dr. Linus Pauling, two times Nobel Laureate, said "one could trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency".

As important as vitamins are, there are also several minerals that are crucial for people our age.  

Calcium --- as milk commercials would have you believe, it strengthens the bones and teeth and helps nerves function correctly. A glass or two of milk, or a bowl of your favorite cereal would give you what you need.

Zinc is also important --- it helps keep the immune system working well. Without zinc, the carbon dioxide outflow won’t happen fast enough to keep humans functioning properly.

Potassium regulates the body’s water balance and sodium. As anyone would tell you, too much salt is bad --- having a less than optimal amount of potassium can and will result in fluid retention, which is bad for the body overall.

There you have it --- the most important vitamins and minerals for people in their 40’s. As they say, prevention is better than –insert-cliché-here. If meal planning is beyond your means, try and get a health regimen figured out with a physician. There’re usually all-in-one supplements that help keep these things in check.

More info about Nutrition and Age-Related Diseases

Healthy habits for those in their 40's

When you’re older, you tend to realize that every feature about prolonging health on a magazine or television special almost always leads back to diet/exercise combo.

Old age may be quite a gift --- but along with that gift comes the many health problems and brand-new health risks for you. Proper diet and exercise? Those are a given. Here’s a few more tips that’ll probably double what you may consider to be “old age.”

6 Glasses of Water a Day – Six?! Wasn’t it eight? Water cleanses the body and helps the heart to function well. It wards off potential kidney and bladder problems. You’d have to drink at least six glasses a day, since you get 2-3 cups of water from your meals.

Take Supplements - Fish oils, alpha-lipoic acids and acetyl L-carnetine will help in maintaining your energy. 

Take a walk – Daily, if possible. Instead of starting up the car and wasting gas, try walking down the block if your errand is within walking distance. This light exercise reduces the likelihood of diabetes, cancer, depression and dementia.

Be happy – Play with your kids! Watch funny movies and shows. Getting angry increases the risk of congested arteries.

Visit your doctor – In our age, we should look after our health. We may feel okay most times, but let a professional be the judge of that. Follow any health suggestion / precaution by your doctor.

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Loud, proud and over 40? Here's the forum for you! > Over 40 VS The World

40: Time to get serious about your health

We love living an unhealthy lifestyle because it needs no effort AT ALL. Eating fatty foods, high dosage of sugar, infinite number of junk foods and the list goes on and on. But if you reflect on this particular sign below, we all know that being 40 years of age is not bad start to have a healthy lifestyle.

Do you get angry when your husband or wife drink a lot or eat unhealthy foods? Look at it this way, think of how hard you can change yourself and you will realize how impossible it is to change others.

Here are 3 serious yet simple tips that can jump start yourself to a healthy lifestyle:

1. Exercise – It’s easier said than done as always. If you don’t have the energy to exercise, procrastination always sinks in. Hey! Walking is also a form of exercise. Walk around the block for a set of time everyday and avoid using your car when going to nearby places. Save the environment and save yourself.

2. Eating habit – This is one of the hardest habits to control. I have to admit I am a slave of this habit. When hunger kicks in, this is where I don’t procrastinate. Avoid dining out and going to eat-all-you-can buffets! That will kill you faster, believe me. Also, drink vitamins everyday.

3. Attitude – believe me or not, this is a serious health factor. When you are always grouchy and unhappy, it will affect your internal organs normal function. I am pretty sure you had experienced being depressed and unable to eat or so mad that you can’t digest your food normally. Well, that is an evidence that it does affect your health.

Even if you are now at the 50th mark, it is not yet too late. Nothing is too late unless life ends. In fact, if you are 50, you are just 10 years away from when your life started!

3 ways to make the most out of your 40's

Being 40 isn’t for the weak of heart. Think about it: your kids are growing up, your younger colleagues at work speak and act a little more cautiously around you, you tend to forget things, your eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be.

On top of that, you’d have to deal with how people react to these things like it’s your fault! Like you wanted the memory loss, the bad eyesight, the rebellious streak your kids are developing, etc.

Those concerns serve no greater purpose other than for you to stress yourself over nothing. If you raised the kids right, even if they rebel, they’ll seek the path which makes their parents proud. Your younger colleagues aren’t ignoring you on purpose, they’re being respectful; to which you can always ask to be part of their jokes, you might’ve picked up some by your 40’s! The health thing? If you live a healthy lifestyle, dieting, work-out, you won’t have to worry about that. What you should worry about? Being ordinary.

Why should you be? You made it this far, it’s time to make the most of your 40’s! Here’s a few ways how:

Create a Masterpiece
You might’ve had distractions before you got to complete that book, that painting or that sculpture --- now that that’s all out of the way, it’s time to make the world a better place after you’ve gone through with it. Not enough time? Try and start up a blog --- that’s what I did, and it’s a great way to release stress. Remember: when you make something, it’s a way of living forever; it might be remembered or referenced long after you’re gone!

Take Up Sports
Know what? If you’ve spent much of your youth playing sports, chances are, those old reflexes are still there, and probably at a more optimal condition than the rest of the people your age. If you’re not too sure, try running or golf. Remember to consult a doctor before trying a certain sport, like jumping off a cliff and hang-gliding.

Love Thy Family
Spend as much time with your family as you can. If ever you were a young parent like I was, and have made it this far, with family intact, consider yourself lucky. Make Sundays into grand family gatherings, lunch at your home. It’s a good way to impart parts of yourself to the younger members of the family.