Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

August 12, 2009

EAT MORE SUGAR...AND FIND YOURSELF LOOK OLDER

How dangerous liberal intake of sugar is already well known among health-conscious people. Diabetes type 2,obesity, bla bla bla and the list goes on. Yeah right, the list goes on. Now, it's for youto reconsider how much sugar you're gonna eat today..However, sugar has another VERY unwanted side-effect - it makes you look old before your time!
That’s according to Yahoo’s ‘Skin Guru’ Dr. Leslie Bauman.
I’m no expert in skin care, but I think the explanation is fairly easy to understand. She says…
“Sugar triggers a natural process called glycation, which is the same chemical reaction that turns meat brown when you cook it. The sugars bind with tissues to form harmful molecules, called advanced glycation end products (ironically known as AGEs), which damage elastin and collagen — two substances your skin needs to stay supple and elastic. AGEs also damage the kidneys, brain and other essential organs.”
So it would appear that a high-sugar intake damages elastin and collagen - that’s bad news.
It’s humorous, but also tragic, to watch television commercials marketed at women. One advert will sell the latest must-have skin cream to ‘Defy Aging‘. This is followed by an ad for the latest low-fat ice cream, low-fat cereal bar, low-fat chocolate bars (and on and on and on…..) - all LOADED with sugar.
Their message is clear: Keep your skin looking young with miracle creams, AND, easily control your weight with low-fat, and therefore healthy, products - yeah right!
The unsuspecting female population remains unaware that the 2 advertised products are actually working AGAINST each other.
Not that this only affects women. We live in a time where it’s OK for men to care about how they look, watch what they eat, and even use some cosmetic products if they wish. Aren’t we? It isn’t just me, is it? .
Anyway, Dr.Baumann goes on to say..
“And it’s not just the obvious culprits, like soda and candy, that cause damage; other foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, pasta and potatoes also cause the formation of AGEs, because they are quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream.”
I think the REAL message is this: get on a healthy diet that stabilizes your blood sugar - and do it as soon as possible! You’ll:
Be leaner
Have more energy
Have a better lipid profile
Stay looking younger for longer…
…to name but a few. If you don’t enjoy low-carb diets, a low Glycemic Load diet is what you need

LET'S LIVE LONGER

Work out, stay fitter
Regular exercise keeps the heart ticking, prevents Type-2 diabetes, maintains and builds muscle mass, keeps up energy levels, and also elevates mood in a big way. It has been found that moderate low-impact exercise is the best solution to a long life. Small lifestyle changes like walking/cycling to your nearby destinations for chores, taking stairs, doing household chores, and gardening can go a long way towards prolonging your life. This is what Buettner calls “deconveniencing your home”!
Gardening is one of the few ways of getting exercise in a pleasurable way. It helps develop a nurturing attitude towards nature. Plus, being out in the sun gives a good dose of vitamin D. The benefit of reaping fresh produce from your own garden is quite unbeatable.
Yoga has been propounded as a tool for longevity since centuries. It is low on impact, but high on strengthening the muscles and ligaments, leading to more flexibility as we age. A loss of muscle mass, accompanied by a gain in fat mass, occurs with ageing. Yoga is great for longevity because it strengthens the muscles and ligaments that surround bones and joints without putting pressure on them. Movements become more fluid and less stiff overtime.
T’ai Chi, the Chinese art of choreographed meditative exercises, has been around for centuries. It is not only enjoyable, but also can be performed at any age. When practised for 30 minutes, thrice a week, it helps improve energy and balance, strengthen immunity, reduce stress, better sleep, and keep the body flexible.
Eat better, live longer
There’s plenty of truth in this old adage — “We dig our graves with our teeth.” We are what we eat, so it is no surprise that our diet plays a vital role in how we age. A research done on the centenarians in Japan and China revealed that they ate mostly fish, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, corn, buckwheat, and hardly any meat. Scientists have proven the health benefits of eating a plant-rich, meat-free diet. These geriatrics rarely suffered from heart or liver disease, cancer or degenerative diseases.
Dan Buettner [author of The Blue Zones, a book on longevity] recommends that you donate all the large plates in your kitchen and replace them with smaller plates. This will automatically reduce calorie intake by 30 per cent at least at dinner times.
Eating locally produced organic food is an added advantage. Sardinians swear by red wine as one of the aids to defy ageing, given that red wine is rich in antioxidants, it might as well be true. Drinking enough pure water through the day is also an important part of keeping cells healthy. Herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and pepper have several disease-preventing properties that one could benefit from.
Here are some foods that will help you lead a long healthy life:
Whole grains reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers [whole wheat flour, ragi, oatmeal, jowar, bajra, cracked wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal]
Calcium-rich dairy foods prevent osteoporosis [low-fat milk, dahi, low-fat paneer, and cheese]
Protein from beans and lean meats result in stronger muscles and improved metabolism [dried beans, nuts, and fish]
Fruits provide antioxidants and a variety of vitamins [choose a variety of colours]
Vegetables help reduce the risk of some chronic diseases by providing vital nutrients [green leafy, orange coloured and starchy vegetables].
Grow older, think sharper
Age brings along senility, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s. These can be delayed or prevented altogether. Daily brain workouts like puzzles, chess and sudoku, and a diet rich in essential amino acids, omega-3 and vitamins ensure that you have a razor sharp brain for many years to come.
The following list of foods will keep your brain buzzing for long:
Omega-3 rich fish: Salmon, mackerel and sardines
Nuts and seeds: They are rich in omega-3 and protein
Antioxidant-rich foods: Berries and green tea [2 cups a day]
Choline-rich food: Cruciferous vegetables [cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli], eggs, peanuts, and rajma
Monounsaturated fats: Olive oil, peanuts, sesame oil, flaxseeds and fish oil
Microalgae: Spirulina and seaweed.
Beat stress, live lighter
Follow these simple steps to de-stress
Bond with family and friends
Cut out stimulants like caffeine
Cultivate a hobby and join a hobby group
De-clutter with a passion. Give away anything that you haven’t used for six months
Keep free slots in your daily planner for relaxation, or doing what makes you happy, including doing nothing
Laugh like a child
Give importance to a good night’s sleep
Get a pet. A pet dog can bring you much happiness.
To live a long life full of vitality, you can start at any point, making small changes one at a time to improve for the better. Pursue longevity with a passion, and you will realise that it is not some elusive Holy Grail, but something very much attainable.