Although it is termed a “vitamin”, vitamin D is actually more of a hormone, one which regulates literally hundreds of different functions in the human body. It is no wonder, then, that this nutrient affects health and disease outcomes in so many ways.
The piece of research discussed in the following article gives us a broad idea of the usefulness and importance of vitamin D - it improves overall longevity. (more…)
Exercise and physical activity boost health and increase longevity. For many of us, though, in particular those who have reached a certain age, there might be a bit of the “too little, too late” mentality.
Well, there needn’t be, because a recent study has found that beginning a good exercise program in one’s latter years can raise one’s level of longevity to that of counterparts who had been exercising all along. Read more in the article below. (more…)
Smoking has already emerged has one of the major killers in the world today. Evidence, though, is growing that excess body weight is very harmful to health, too.
And research highlighted in the following article suggests that just being overweight can shorten one’s life significantly, with the effects perhaps being as bad as smoking. So, it’s not just obesity which kills, but even excess weight of a smaller degree. (more…)
When we make lifestyle changes to try and improve our health, we often focus a lot on what we eat and what we drink. Indeed, the quality and purity of our food and water play a great role in our state of health.
But there’s one thing we often overlook - and that’s the air we breathe. Without oxygen, we die within minutes, if not seconds. As the following article suggests, cleaner air can translate to longer lives. (more…)
The connection between one’s mind, emotions and body is one which is still not very well understood by humans, but yet is definitely a very important one. Emotional trauma, stress, unhappiness, grief and other unresolved mental and emotional issues all have a great part to play in the disease process.
On the flip side, a positive attitude and bright outlook are, in essence, great tonics for health. Indeed, staying positive and being optimistic is arguably the most important thing you can ever do for your health, perhaps even better than all the healthiest foods in the world. (more…)
No man is an island, and humans are social, emotional creatures. Here, an interesting study describes how caring for a sick spouse helps to boost one’s longevity.
Whether it is because it makes us feel useful, or it makes us happy, or it gives us a purpose in life, or some other reason, this gives us evidence of a very tangible health benefit of loving, sharing, caring and giving. (more…)
Do you have the habit of speaking to older folks, especially those who may be ill, in a simplistic and child-like manner, in much the same way you speak to a baby or little children?
If you do, you may want to reconsider having such a habit, as doing so may have a negative impact on the health of elderly folks, as revealed in research. (more…)
The health benefits of exercise are numerous and undeniable. But some doubt has always existed on whether persons with heart disease can safely partake in exercise.
The Norwegian study discussed in the following article has revealed that coronary heart disease patients can safely exercise, too; in fact, physical activity helps to lengthen their lives. (more…)
An American study has shown a positive link between running and health of elderly persons.
This study dispels myths about how running may be damaging for older persons by potentially causing injuries. (more…)
Want to increase your life expectancy?
Exercise certainly helps a great deal. And a Swedish study has found that golf is one specific activity which could help you achieve this goal. (more…)
We all know that smoking increases one’s likelihood of getting a host of serious diseases, and that it shortens lives. What a recent study has further revealed is that its negative effects impact people of all social classes.
In addition, it found that the adverse effects of smoking do not spare either females or rich people. (more…)
Don’t you just love the feeling of being in amongst nature, enjoying the serenity and fresh air? I most certainly do, and, compared to the polluted and noisy cities, it really feels like a different world altogether.
And it’s not just about feelings, too. There are clear, quantifiable health benefits, as the following studies outline. (more…)
Religion – there is possibly no other topic which can evoke as much discussion and debate as it. And a recent study, termed the “The relationship between religion and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in the women’s health initiative observational study”, has found that people who attend religious services regularly for a sustained period were one-fifth less likely to die from any reason, as compared to those who did not.
The study, published in Psychology and Health, looked at the health status of over 90,000 women for a mean period of over 7 years. Data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term study which followed women aged 50 to 79 years from 40 different locations in the United States, was used. (more…)
Did your parents live past 100 years of age? If so, then you have better odds of being healthy and living longer too, a recent study has revealed.
The study, conducted at Boston University and Boston Medical Center, looked at over 600 older adults in the United States and found that children of those who lived past 100, or “centenarians”, were also likely to live longer and had greatly lower likelihoods of getting diabetes, a heart attack or stroke over a period of 4 years. (more…)
A study published in the October issue of Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences has revealed a certain “formula” for older folks to “thrive”, or enjoy excellent health, in their latter years.
The study, conduced by the Portland State University, the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Oregon Health & Science University, and Statistics Canada, had followed 2,432 Canadians for a period of ten years. “Thrivers” were those who enjoyed great health throughout the entire decade. (more…)