Add years to your life
Are you younger or older than your chronological age, based on your health habits? More than a decade ago, Dr. Michael F. Roizen of the Cleveland Clinic devised a way to measure your “RealAge” by scientifically calculating your overall health.
In the February’s BottomLine Personal, Roizen now offers updated information on easy changes you can make to lower your RealAge by nearly 15 years.
Take two baby aspirin daily. It can reduce your risk of heart attack by 36 percent and colon, esophageal, throat and stomach cancers by about 40 percent. (Check with your doctor first.)
Take 600 to 800 micrograms of B vitamin folate. It can reduce breast and colon cancer risk by 50 percent.
Don’t take too many vitamin A supplements. It can cause bone demineralization and increase the risk of liver and lung cancers.
Consume half a cup of tomato sauce weekly. These processed tomatoes release lycopene, which is thought to boost the immune system and also can reduce breast and prostate cancer risk by 50 percent.
Eat a little fat before your meal. Just half a tablespoon of olive oil, six walnuts or 12 almonds can make you feel fuller, reducing your caloric intake by about 7 percent. (Do it at every meal and you’ll lose 10 pounds in a year.)
Eat a high-fiber breakfast of cereal, fresh fruits or vegetables. These also will help you feel full longer so you eat less. A Northwestern University study showed that eating 10 grams a day more of cereal fiber can reduce the risk of heart attack by 29 percent.
Workouts for elderly
Low-impact exercises such as yoga and tai chi can help the elderly stay fit. But many older people can’t afford to join the gyms that offer such classes. One option recommended in the February issue of the Johns Hopkins Medical Letter Health After 50 is to head to the local senior center, where exercise classes are offered free or at a nominal fee.
A second option is the Silver Sneakers program, which is available through some Medicare plans and provides free memberships at certain gyms and community centers. To learn whether you’re eligible, go to www.silversneakers.com or call 800-295-4993.
A risk for new moms
Having a new baby is hard enough without the added problem of postpartum depression (PPD). Three factors can put women at higher risk, according to a report in the February Babytalk.
Assisted reproduction–Women who conceived through in-vitro fertilization are four times more likely to get depressed, according to University of Melbourne investigators.
Shy or anxious personality–A study from the Netherlands showed that these characteristics can increase the chance of PPD.
Sleep deprivation–If you’re logging less than six hours a night or have a baby who gets up three or more times a night, try to find ways to get more shut-eye. Get some daytime help so you can take naps.
Cranberries for teeth
Cranberry compounds may one day be the best way to keep away cavities or plaque, according to researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. A seven-month laboratory study found that the same compounds that help prevent urinary-tract infections also may help keep bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
Someday, the protective cranberry compounds may be incorporated into toothpaste or mouthwashes, says a story in the February issue of The Center for Women’s Healthcare Food & Fitness Advisor. Until that time, don’t overdo meals of cranberry juice or cranberry sauce. These products are full of sugar. And the acidity of cranberries can strip off essential minerals in your teeth.
