Live Longer Now » Living Well http://www.livelongernow.net Helping humans maximize their lives. Thu, 19 May 2011 14:20:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Secrets To Lose Belly Fat And Have Great Ab Muscles http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/secrets-to-lose-belly-fat-and-have-great-ab-muscles/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/secrets-to-lose-belly-fat-and-have-great-ab-muscles/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:07:42 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=161 Belly fat consists of excess fat and toxins, and here are seven healthy ways not only to lose belly fat, but also develop great-looking ab muscles, and have a general sense of well-being.

For instance:

Belly fat is fat that most often contain toxins, so the first order of the day is getting rid of it by drinking the right water. Drink Bio-Electronic Vincent (BEV) water or water filtered through the reverse-osmosis filtration method. This water attracts the heavy toxins from fat and pulls it out the body. The less minerals and metals in the water, the more the water can remove the dense stuff from your belly!

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 ]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/secrets-to-lose-belly-fat-and-have-great-ab-muscles/feed/ 0 Prevent heart disease by brushing at least twice a day, study says http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/prevent-heart-disease-by-brushing-at-least-twice-a-day-study-says/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/prevent-heart-disease-by-brushing-at-least-twice-a-day-study-says/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 08:48:21 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=152 The results of a new large population-based study indicate that those who brush their teeth at least twice a day have a 70% decrease in cardiovascular disease risk.

Researchers examined self-reported oral hygiene habits and coronary disease in 11,869 adults aged 35 and older (with a mean age of 50) from the Scottish Health Survey—a study conducted once every three to five years—between the years 1995 and 2003. The team, led by Cesar de Oliveira, a research fellow in epidemiology and public health at University College London, followed up with subjects after an average of eight years to see if they had had a heart attack or coronary disease.

Even though the researchers found that those who reported brushing their teeth less than twice a day were more likely to be male, older, smokers and to have other health issues (such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity), the team controlled for those variables and others and still found that tooth brushing is associated with cardiovascular disease.

Also: help in heart attack recovery.

]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/prevent-heart-disease-by-brushing-at-least-twice-a-day-study-says/feed/ 0 Foods that effectively fight aging, disease and fatigue http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/foods-that-effectively-fight-aging-disease-and-fatigue/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/foods-that-effectively-fight-aging-disease-and-fatigue/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 08:03:41 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=134 Foods are not all equally able to provide us not only basic nourishment but also important antioxidants to stave off disease and to delay the onslaught of aging

. So here’s an awesome list of foods that have been shown to build muscle, enhance your brain’s powers, strengthen your immune system, and lets you overcome inflammatio

n–all naturally.

Can you really find a place in your daily diet for superpower foods such as almonds, flaxseeds, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, rosemary, and good ol’ wild salmon? Well, you should, if you want to remain on top of this game called life.

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]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/foods-that-effectively-fight-aging-disease-and-fatigue/feed/ 0 10 Healthy Sandwich Recipes http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-healthy-sandwich-recipes/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-healthy-sandwich-recipes/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:50:08 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=119 Not all sandwiches are calorie-laden turd-bags from Obesity Hell. With a few smart choices, certain key ingredients, and knowledge of what’s healthy and what’s not can enable you to enjoy a good delicious lunch without sacrificing your health. Here are 10 awesome and healthy sandwich recipes

you can actually use.

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]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-healthy-sandwich-recipes/feed/ 0 Your Kitchen May Be Making You Fat http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/your-kitchen-may-be-making-you-fat/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/your-kitchen-may-be-making-you-fat/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:42:41 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=116 If you’re more on the chubby side, you probably should blame your kitchen and what it contains. From the size of your platter, to your kitchen layout, to your pantry pace, even the clarity of your HUGE cookie jar matter — these contribute to make you eat more.

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]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/your-kitchen-may-be-making-you-fat/feed/ 0 How Lack Of Sleep Can Kill You http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/how-lack-of-sleep-can-kill-you/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/how-lack-of-sleep-can-kill-you/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:00:11 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=104

New research suggests what we’ve already understood as truth: lack of sleep

can not only make you an unpleasant human being, but it can also actually kill you

.

From the obvious health-related effects of lack of sleep, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and shorter lives. There’s even new findings that lack of sleep causes Alzheimer’s disease plaques, albeit in mice. Worse, long-term lack of sleep may cause changes in the brain that may stay permanently, which may predispose people to mental disorders like depression.

Just one night of short sleep has been shown to increase levels of inflammatory chemicals in the blood (SN: 10/11/08,p. 14) and increase hunger-promoting hormones. A week of getting just two hours less sleep per night than usual changed the way people in one study responded to glucose, mirroring a change seen in people who develop diabetes.

And lack of sleep can also have immediate injurious or fatal consequences: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that drowsy-driving crashes result in about 40,000 nonfatal injuries and 1,550 deaths each year, probably a conservative estimate. Now, scientists are trying to understand not only how sleep deprivation affects driving performance, but also why one sleepy person might drive fine while another becomes a road menace.

]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/how-lack-of-sleep-can-kill-you/feed/ 1 7 Diseases Doctors Miss That Can Kill You http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/7-diseases-doctors-miss-that-can-kill-you/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/7-diseases-doctors-miss-that-can-kill-you/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:53:02 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=87 Doctors make mistakes, too. And often, such mistakes come by way of making a diagnostic miss. These are the top seven diseases that doctors miss, and they can just kill you

.

1. Cancer.

Being diagnosed with cancer can be terrifying, but not being diagnosed if you have it is far worse. A Harvard study found that cancer, primarily the breast and colorectal types, is the most commonly misdiagnosed disease, and experts say this is due to doctors failing to stick to screening guidelines. In fact, singer Kylie Minogue reported that her breast cancer was initially misdiagnosed.

2. Infection.

The same Harvard study found that infection was the second most misdiagnosed disease, in part because many infections share symptoms that are similar to those of other conditions. Some of the most commonly misdiagnosed forms include ear infection, yeast infection, sinus infection, and pertussis infection (whooping cough).

3. Aortic dissection. With this potentially life-threatening condition, there is bleeding into and along the wall of the aorta, the major artery leaving the heart. But the disease frequently gets misdiagnosed as heartburn because of sensations felt in the chest. It is believed that actor John Ritter died of an aortic dissection that had been misdiagnosed.

4. Clogged arteries.

When the arteries become clogged with fatty deposits called plaque, it leads to coronary artery disease–the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Despite its prevalence, though, doctors often misdiagnose the condition because they attribute symptoms, such as shortness of breath, to the side effects of being overweight rather than to clogged arteries.

5. Heart attack. How could a heart attack be misdiagnosed? Well, they’re not always as obvious as the ones we see on TV; sometimes, the only symptoms are a sense of fullness in the chest and nausea. A study conducted by the New England Medical Center in Boston found that one in every 50 heart attack victims are mistakenly sent home by emergency room doctors, and other studies suggest that misdiagnosis rates may be even higher.

6. Celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by eating the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, and many other foods containing wheat, barley, or rye. It is most frequently misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or even chronic fatigue syndrome or depression.

7. Bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis causes a swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, and it can kill its victims in hours. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright lights, sleepiness, confusion, rash, and seizures. From this list, you can guess how it could be easily mistaken for influenza.

]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/7-diseases-doctors-miss-that-can-kill-you/feed/ 0 Live Longer By Eating Less http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/live-longer-by-eating-less/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/live-longer-by-eating-less/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:12:31 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=65

Scientists have known for a long time that rats, mice, and worms that eat very little live longer than those that eat normal diets. Now, the results of research on humans are starting to emerge. It may take decades to prove that people who carefully regulate their calories and eating patterns extend their life span, but at the very least, some scientists say, these people may avoid many health problems associated with aging.

This spring scientists issued a report documenting the health benefits on a small group of people between ages 35 and 82 who decided to severely restrict their calorie intake simply on the basis of what is known about laboratory animals. These people have a lower risk of heart disease, as well as reduced chances of having a stroke or getting diabetes. Incidence of these three conditions generally increases markedly as people age.

John O. Holloszy of the Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri, and his colleagues cataloged what they call “profound and sustained beneficial effects” of the calorie restricted diet.

Over a three-year period, Holloszy’s team at Washington University compared 18 people who had, in hopes of slowing the aging process, independently eaten a calorie-restricted diet for at least six years, and 18 healthy, non-obese study participants who ate typical Western diets. Their findings appeared the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

The study volunteers consumed from 2,000 to 3,550 calories per day, and the calorie restriction group consumed between approximately 1,000 and 2,000 calories per day.

The dietitian-approved meal plan is carefully balanced: The calorie restriction group consumed about 26 percent of their calories from protein, 28 percent from fat, and 46 percent from complex carbohydrates. The fare was enlivened by a nutrient-dense array of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

“Calorie restriction is not about starvation,” says Chhanda Dutta, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland. “It’s about lowering caloric intake, minus malnutrition.”

The calorie-restriction subjects scored vastly better on all major risk factors for heart disease including total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. Each of these tends to increase with advancing age. They also have very low amounts of body fat compared to the average person in the control group, who had about 25 percent body fat.

This quality protects the calorie restrictors from the type 2 diabetes associated with obesity, Holloszy says.

In addition, three people in the calorie restriction group had familial high cholesterol when the study began. According to Holloszy, calorie restriction reduced their cholesterol levels, and they no longer take cholesterol-lowering medication.

“The amazing thing is that regardless of their genetic background, they all showed the same response,” he says.

And their blood contained negligible amounts of the protein (CRP) known to cause inflammation, which is increasingly believed to be a factor in diseases.

]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/live-longer-by-eating-less/feed/ 0 10 Ways To Live A Longer, Healthier Life http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-ways-to-live-a-longer-healthier-life/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-ways-to-live-a-longer-healthier-life/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:18:30 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=60

Here are 10 tried and tested ways to help you live a longer, healthier life.

1. Don’t oversleep:

Studies show that people who sleep more than eight hours per night had a significantly higher death rate

than normal. Meanwhile, researches say that sleeping less than four hours also increases death rates. People who sleep between six and seven hours per night were shown to live the longest.

2. Be optimistic.

Optimistic people

have a 50% decreased risk of early death compared with their pessimistic counterparts. Those with a positive outlook on life are probably less stressed, better equipped to deal with adversity and, therefore, healthier. Optimists also tend to have lower blood pressure than pessimists, which, again, is most likely related to how positive thinkers respond to stress.

3. Have more sex

:

Having sex helps keeping us healthy, and thus increases our longevity. However, say researchers, it’s not necessarily the actual biological response generated by sex that makes us live longer, but that having intimate sex means you are less stressed, happier and better rested–all factors that can lower blood pressure and protect against stroke and heart disease. A study published in the April 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association found that “high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer.”

4. Get a pet:

People who own pets, especially dogs, have been shown to live longer. They are less stressed and require fewer visits to their physicians than non-owners. Survival rates for heart attack victims who had a pet have been shown to be 12% longer than for those who did not have one. Pet owners have also been shown to have lower blood pressure. The reasons for these findings are most likely related to an array of psychological factors, such as the facts that owning a pet decreases loneliness and depression, encourages laughter and nurturing, and stimulates exercise.

5. Get a VAP:

VAP is a cholesterol test

that is more advanced than traditional ones, and therefore, much better at detecting risks. The VAP test measures important metrics, which traditional cholesterol tests miss completely. Unlike a regular test, which only detects half of the people with heart disease, the VAP has been shown to detect 90% of heart disease patients. That’s important because lipid abnormalities can most often be rectified with medication and dietary changes. And since the danger of the abnormalities is cumulative, the sooner you start making changes, the better. This simple blood test can be done in most doctors’ offices.

6. Be rich

Generally, population groups that suffer the worst health status are those that have the highest poverty rates and the least education. One possible explanation for this is that higher incomes permit access to better food and housing, safer neighborhoods and increased medical care. Higher incomes also increase the opportunity to engage in health-promoting behaviors. That’s not to say that being very wealthy is always better for longevity–after all, being a chief executive certainly exposes you to a high level of stress that can decrease life expectancy. But according to the data, striving to be financially comfortable is a good goal for aspiring centenarians.

7. Stop smoking

Alright, smoking’s negative effects on health isn’t news, but it still has to be said: not smoking can significantly improve your prospects of living a long life. Middle-aged men who are long-term, heavy smokers face twice the risk of developing more aggressive forms of prostate cancer than men who have never smoked. Cigarette smoking has been clearly linked to the most common causes of death in the elderly.

8. Relax and chill out

Those who are often angry and stressed out are three times more likely to develop premature heart disease than those with lower anger responses. These “angry people” are also six times at risk ofhaving a heart attack by age 55. One possible explanation for these dramatic findings is the correlation between anger and high blood pressure, a condition that commonly develops in highly stressed individuals.

9. Eat your antioxidants

Antioxidants, special substances that are found in foods ranging from cinnamon and cloves to blueberries and artichokes, have the ability to scavenge free radicals, compounds whose unstable chemical nature accelerates the effect of aging on our cells. Until these excess free radicals are quenched by antioxidant molecules, cellular damage accumulates. This contributes to an array of degenerative diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and cancer. Research shows that certain types of beans are among the best sources of antioxidants, while blueberries and other berries follow close behind.

10. Marry well

Apparently, longevity genes can be inherited. According to a February 2005 study in Mechanisms of Aging and Development, exceptional longevity and healthy aging is an inherited phenotype across three generations. So, for the bachelors out there deciding between a few women, pick the one whose grandparents are still alive. Of course, this won’t make you live longer, but it might help your children.

]]> http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/10-ways-to-live-a-longer-healthier-life/feed/ 0 Happiness Can Also “Spread Like An Infection” http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/happiness-can-also-spread-like-an-infection/ http://www.livelongernow.net/living-well/happiness-can-also-spread-like-an-infection/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:50:46 +0000 admin http://www.livelongernow.net/?p=42 Harvard University and UC San Diego scientists have demonstrated in a study that happiness can spread “like an infection” through social networks of family members, friends and neighbors.

Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself, the study found. A happy friend of a friend increases your odds of happiness by 9.8%, and even your neighbor’s sister’s friend can give you a 5.6% boost.

“Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don’t even know,” said Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and medical sociologist at Harvard who co-wrote the study.

The research is part of a growing trend to measure well-being as a crucial component of public health. Scientists have documented that people who describe themselves as happy are likely to live longer, even if they have a chronic illness.

The new study “has serious implications for our understanding of the determinants of health and for the design of policies and interventions,” wrote psychologist Andrew Steptoe of University College London and epidemiologist Ana Diez Roux of the University of Michigan in an accompanying editorial.

Christakis and UCSD political scientist James H. Fowler examined the relationships of nearly 5,000 people who were tracked for decades as part of the landmark Framingham Heart Study.

They discovered that happy people in geographic proximity were most effective in spreading their good cheer. They also found the happiest people were at the center of large social networks.

In many regards, they concluded, happiness is like a contagious diseas

e.

“We know people who are most susceptible to HIV are people who have lots of partners,” Fowler said. “This is the same thing.”

This isn’t the first evidence that emotions can spread like a virus. Studies have found that waiters who offer service with a smile are rewarded with bigger tips. On the flip side, having a mildly depressed roommate made college freshmen increasingly depressed themselves.

Fowler and Christakis thought they could document the spread of happiness more convincingly by studying the copious records of participants in the Framingham study, a massive effort launched by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 1948 to find common causes of cardiovascular disease. Participants gave researchers the names of their parents, spouses, siblings, children and close friends, including many who were also study volunteers. That allowed the researchers to track multiple relationships for each participant out to several degrees of separation.

More references on how to be happy and live well:

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