Posted by Healthy Choice Naturals on Fri, Mar 27, 2009
Are you feeling old? If so, you're definitely not alone. According to new research done at the University of Virginia, our mental abilities begin to decline from the age of 27, after reaching a peak at age 22.
The study followed 2,000 men and women aged 18 to 60 over a seven year period. The people involved, who were mostly in good health had to solve visual puzzles, recall words and spot patterns in letters and symbols.
These tests are similar to those frequently used to diagnose mental disabilities and diseases, such as Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.
Professor Timothy Salthouse, led the research which was reported in the academic journal Neurobiology of Aging. It found that in nine out of twelve tests that were preformed, the average age at which the top performance was achieved was 22.
Performance was significantly lower than the peak scores at age 27 — for three tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualization. The decline in Memory was shown to occur from the average age of 37. In the other tests, poorer results were shown by the age of 42.
Salthouse said the results suggested that therapies designed to prevent or reverse age-related conditions may need to start earlier, long before people retire.
You’re never too young or too old to start taking care of your health. The key to good health and longevity is maintaining and healthy diet and exercise program. Daily supplements are also a great way to make sure you are getting all of the nutrients your body needs. Healthy Choice Naturals Full Spectrum Daily Multi-vitamin provides every essential vitamin and mineral your body needs to support its overall health and well-being.
Posted by Healthy Choice Naturals on Fri, Mar 27, 2009
Can understanding the GI Index help you manage your blood sugar levels?
All the carbohydrate foods we eat cause a release of glucose into the bloodstream and a rise in insulin, but some raise glucose more than others. The glycemic index was created to differentiate those foods from each other: It's a system of ranking foods containing equal amounts of carbohydrate according to how much they raise blood-glucose levels.
By understanding what it is and how it works it can help you choose foods that have a gentler effect on blood-glucose levels.
How it Ranks
The glycemic index (GI) categorizes foods based on how much a food containing 50 grams of carbohydrate raises blood-glucose levels after eating. A food with a GI of under 55 is considered low, while anything more than 70 is high. An even more precise measure is a food's glycemic load (GL), which considers both a food's GI and how much carbohydrate the food contains in a standard portion.
Most vegetables, whole grains, beans and other high-fiber foods are lower on the glycemic scale, while foods containing refined starches are higher. While it is good to use the GI as a guideline it is also important to keep in mind blood-glucose responses to foods can vary widely from person to person, especially people with diabetes.
The GI system is a helpful guide that can give you some general direction for making better choices among different carbohydrate foods, but keep in mind you don’t always need to refer to a ranking system to know what foods are good for you to eat. Simply use your good judgment. You know that whole grains, vegetables, beans and other high-fiber foods are great choices and that a Snickers bar, donut and other processed foods are not.
Healthy Choice Naturals Glucose Factors can also help manage your blood sugar levels. It provides 13 essential herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals known to be effective in supporting and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Posted by Healthy Choice Naturals on Thu, Mar 19, 2009
According to a new to a new study which was the first-ever comprehensive "health report card" of the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. and was based on key factors including health status, nutrition and exercise, mental health and life balance, San Jose topped the list as the healthiest city in America.
The Western U.S. dominated the top of the list and California alone had five cities in the top 10.
The healthiest cities in America for 2008 are:
- San Jose, Calif.
San Jose tops the ranking as America’s healthiest city based on its outstanding scores in the areas of health status, lifestyle choices and diet. In the separate categories, residents of San Jose reported the study’s best scores in mental wellness, rate of cigarette smoking and consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C. surprisingly took second-place, scoring well in all five major categories, including the top score in mental wellness. Those living in Washington reported feeling well physically, mentally and emotionally and had high scores in dental care and BMI scores.
- San Francisco
San Francisco took third showing strong scores in all major categories except mental wellness. Its residents had the study’s highest scores in BMI and dental care and scored high in the physical activity category.
- Seattle-Bellevue-Everett
The Seattle metro area had the study’s best scores in the areas of physical activity and lifestyle pursuits. Respondents here reported the highest level of vigorous exercise.
- Salt Lake City-Ogden
Salt Lake City had its highest scores in the mental wellness and physical activity categories, and all the major categories were above average.
- Oakland, Calif.
Like the others, Oakland earned above-average scores in all five major categories. Oakland was particularly strong in health status, with low smoking and good dental care.
- Sacramento, Calif.
Sacramento was above average in four of the five major categories, ranking low only in mental wellness. Residents there also had one of the top scores for exercise.
- Orange County, Calif.
Orange County was very strong in the categories of mental wellness, lifestyle pursuits and physical activity. However its health status scores were weak, with high rates of arthritis and hypertension. It also had the study’s highest rate of occasional smoking.
- Denver
Denver was strong in all major categories, with the exception of the health status category. Denver residents reported one of the best BMI scores. They also reported a high level of physical activity.
- Austin-San Marcos, Texas
Austin received one of the highest scores in the category of physical activity, but one of the lowest in health status. Residents had one of the highest scores for vigorous activity and in the number of gyms and health clubs per capita.
Posted by Healthy Choice Naturals on Thu, Mar 19, 2009
Most people have an understanding of cholesterol levels and know the importance of keeping it under control to prevent the risk of heart disease. However, when cholesterol is tested, a second test is usually measured for a fatty substance called triglycerides. When high levels of triglycerides circulate in the blood they also become a health and heart risk.
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, you may have high triglycerides.
What's considered normal?
A blood test can reveal whether your triglycerides fall into a healthy range.
- Normal - Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter
- Borderline high - 150 to 199 mg/dL
- High - 200 to 499 mg/dL
- Very high - 500 mg/dL or above
What's the difference between triglycerides and cholesterol?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of fats that circulate in your blood. Triglycerides provide your body with energy, and cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. Because triglycerides and cholesterol can't dissolve in blood, they circulate throughout your body with the help of proteins that transport the lipids, called lipoproteins.
What's the best way to lower triglycerides?
- Lose excess weight.
If you're overweight, losing the excess pounds can help lower your triglycerides.
- Cut back on calories.
Remember that excess calories are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat. Reducing your calories will reduce triglycerides.
- Avoid sugary and refined foods.
Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods made with white flour, can cause a sudden increase in insulin production. This can increase triglycerides.
- Limit the cholesterol in your diet.
Avoid the most concentrated sources of cholesterol, including meats high in saturated fat, egg yolks and whole milk products.
- Choose healthier fats.
Trade saturated fat for healthier monounsaturated fat, found in olive, peanut and canola oils. Eat plenty of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel and salmon and limit or omit red meat.
- Eliminate trans fat.
Trans fat can be found in fried foods and many commercial baked products, such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. You can tell that a food has trans fat in it if it contains partially hydrogenated oil.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol is high in calories and sugar and has a particularly potent effect on triglycerides. Even small amounts of alcohol can raise triglyceride levels.
- Exercise regularly.
Try to excercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week. Regular exercise can boost "good" cholesterol while lowering "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides.
High triglycerides can lead to serious health problems, but making these lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your triglyceride levels and protect your overall health.