Health Articles For Seniors
A Ticket To A Better Lifestyle
A Ticket To A Better Lifestyle
Dancing An Excellent Way To Fitness
Looking for a great form of fitness instead
of a traditional exercise program? Try Dancing!
It is an excellent form of exercise, that is becoming the in thing. In the last few years dancing has become more and more popular featured on numerous television programs, DVD's and group exercise at fitness centers use dance form of aerobics, says Andrea Wyatt, who is a certified personal trainer with an extensive background in strength and conditioning.
Many styles of dancing from Ballroom to Hip Hop styles are being used to produce and excellent cardiovascular workout.
It is a challenging yet fun way to a fit lifestyle. The different moves done during dancing is surely a beneficial cardiovascular exercise. Depending on how much you challenge yourself, will also determine how many calories you burn.
On average a dance class where the participant is moving the entire time can burn 300 to 400 calories for a 55 minute class. this form of cardiovascular exercise is excellent because you are constantly moving and use your entire body.
There are many people that can keep a elevated heart rate during a dance exercise session, simply because they are not thinking of it as an exercise, but just having fun. Also it is exciting for participants to learn new dance moves and choreography.
Even though dancing provides an excellent workout, it should not be your only form of exercise. If you attend a dance class only twice a week, you still need two or three days more of an additional type of cardiovascular and strength and flexibility training.
Studies Report Neural Stimulation In
Older Brains Of First Time Internet Users
Live Science reported that studies show that older adults, who have had no internet training or experience, show changes in their brain activity, after using the internet for just one week.
Findings suggest, that older adults who participate in Internet training, can activate a neural activity pattern, which has the potential to enhance brain function and cognition in older adults.
A variety of functional and structural changes takes place, which including decay, atrophy, reductions in cell activity, yet increasing in complicated changes like deposits of amyloid plaques and tangles. This can affect the cognitive function.
Research has revealed that mental stimulation which mimicks that of individuals who frequently use the internet, may have an effect on the efficiency of cognitive processing and alter the way the brain encodes new information.
"We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing internet searches for even a short period ofd time, can change brain activity patterns and enhance function," Dr. Gary Small, study author and professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institue for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, said in a statement.
A team of 24 neurologically normal volunteers between the ages of 55 and 78, were chosen and worked with the UCLA team. Before the study, one half of participants used the Internet daily. The other half had very little or no experience at all. There were significant similaries between the two groups which include gender, age and educational level.
Web searches were performed by each participant, while also undergoing a functional magnetic imaging scan, that recorded subtle brain-circuitry changes experienced during the activity. The fMRI scan tracks brain activity by measuring the blood flow level in the brain during cognitive tasks.
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20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables, Whole Grain and Dairy
To get the most nutrition out of your calries, choose foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients-and lower in calries. Pick fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy more often. Be awre of portion sizes. Even low-calorie foods can add up when portions are larger than you need.
1. Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini
2. Get saucy with fruit: Puree berries, apples, peaches or pears for a thick, sweet sauce on grilled or broiled seafood or poultry, or on pancakes, French toast or waffles.
3. Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and banana.
4. Heat left over whole-grain rice with chopped apple, nuts and cinnamon.
5. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.
6. Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite dip or low fat salad dressing.
7. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green peppers and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
8. Banana split: Top a sliced banana with a scoop of low fat frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of chopped nuts.
9. Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges
10. Prepare instant oatmeal with low-fat or fat-free milk in place of water. Top with dried cranberries and almonds.
11. Stuff and omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
12. "Sandwich" in fruits and vegetables. Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumbers and tomato as fillings.
13. Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
14. Stock up: Fill your fridge with raw vegetables and fruits-nature's fast food"-cleaned, fresh and ready to use.
15. Top a baked potato with beans and salsa or broccoli and low-fat cheese.
16. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup for a quick afternoon snack
17. "Grate" complement: Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.
18. Stuff a whole grain pita with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
19. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas or edamame (fresh soybeans). Top with a low-fat dressing.
20. Try this recipe for an easy, healthy snack. Surprise! Popcorn is whole grain.
For a referral to registered dietitian and for additional food and nutrition information visit www.eatright.org
The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy
Authored by: American Dietetic Association staff registered dietitians
1. Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini
2. Get saucy with fruit: Puree berries, apples, peaches or pears for a thick, sweet sauce on grilled or broiled seafood or poultry, or on pancakes, French toast or waffles.
3. Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and banana.
4. Heat left over whole-grain rice with chopped apple, nuts and cinnamon.
5. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.
6. Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite dip or low fat salad dressing.
7. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green peppers and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
8. Banana split: Top a sliced banana with a scoop of low fat frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of chopped nuts.
9. Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges
10. Prepare instant oatmeal with low-fat or fat-free milk in place of water. Top with dried cranberries and almonds.
11. Stuff and omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
12. "Sandwich" in fruits and vegetables. Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumbers and tomato as fillings.
13. Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
14. Stock up: Fill your fridge with raw vegetables and fruits-nature's fast food"-cleaned, fresh and ready to use.
15. Top a baked potato with beans and salsa or broccoli and low-fat cheese.
16. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup for a quick afternoon snack
17. "Grate" complement: Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.
18. Stuff a whole grain pita with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
19. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas or edamame (fresh soybeans). Top with a low-fat dressing.
20. Try this recipe for an easy, healthy snack. Surprise! Popcorn is whole grain.
For a referral to registered dietitian and for additional food and nutrition information visit www.eatright.org
The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy
Authored by: American Dietetic Association staff registered dietitians