21 Great Tips To Help You Have Optimal Health
Tip #1
ROTF, LMAO - Laughing not only eases stress, promotes social bonding, and lowers blood pressure, it may also boost your immune system.
Tip #2
Don't Skip Breakfast - Fiber in the morning means less hunger late in the afternoon, when you're most likely to feel tired and gorge yourself on sugar. An early start on eating also keeps your metabolism more active throughout the day; breakfast eaters are thinner than people who just rush out the door. *Try this: steel-cut oatmeal, usually mixed with raisins, walnuts, and flaxseed oil.
Tip #3
Hit the Sack - Seven hours of sleep a night not only helps you live longer, but also lowers your stress, sharpens your memory, and reduces cravings for pants-splitting foods. Set a bedtime and stick to it. My target is 10:30 p.m.
Tip #5
Don't Pamper Your Bad Back - Even if you're hunched over in agony, taking to your bed will only make a bad back worse. The latest research shows that bed rest weakens back muscles and prolongs the suffering. Married men may suffer more than single men because of all the pampering. A better solution is to take a pain reliever and GET UP!
Tip #6
Taste the Colors - Foods with bright, rich colors are more than just nice to look at. They're also packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, powerful compounds that bind the damaging free radicals in your body, lowering inflammation. Eat nine fistfuls of colorful fruits and vegetables each day and you'll reap the benefits without having to give up other foods. Whenever shopping the produce aisle, these foods are often more powerful than the drugs sold in pharmacies. Favorites are arugula and blueberries.
Tip #7
Brushing is Not Enough - If you plan to spend your later years eating more than yogurt and applesauce, invest in some floss. No matter how thoroughly or long you brush your teeth, you're missing a good portion of their total surface. The dangers of skipping floss go beyond hygiene: The bacteria that linger can increase your risk of heart disease.
Tip #8
Take a Deep Belly Breath - Do this anywhere, anytime. Push out your bellows and suck air through your nose until your lungs are full. They'll fill with nitric oxide, a chemical found in the back of your nose that opens up blood vessels. The dose of oxygen will make you feel happier and more alert. A good technique for calming down.
Tip #9
Join a Yoga Class - Yoga eases stress, lowers blood pressure, slows heart rates, and increases flexibility. And there's nothing mystical about it. Loosening your muscles will make them more adaptable, so you may be less likely to injure yourself playing sports. Sure, some of the poses may look ridiculous, but that's for a reason you'll learn quickly enough. Yoga can reach and work muscles that are ignored during routine sports and daily life.
Tip #10
Don't Be an Island - Ever wonder why women live longer than men do? One major reason: They form tight networks and actually talk about their problems. If you face life's stresses alone, you will make yourself older. With another person's love and support, that inner aging can be reduced
Tip #11
Avoid Fad Diets - The secret to weight loss is not to avoid carbs, fats, yellow foods, or solid foods... The real trick is to lower your daily intake by about 100 calories. You'll hardly notice, but it'll add up to a loss of about 10 pounds in a year. Calorie restriction has been shown to lengthen life (in rats and monkeys). Cut back once a year to reset my appetite and tastebuds.
Tip #12
Be a Smart Patient - Your doctor can help keep you in good health, but the responsibility ultimately falls on you. Seek a second opinion before undergoing any procedure, because 30% of the time, that opinion will change the diagnosis or plan. Keep a written medical history, and educate yourself about any family problems, even if that means calling extended family members. You might even consider signing onto Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health, so your files are accessible in case you find yourself in trouble away from home.
Tip #13
Lose the Big Belly - Most men fasten their belts below their waists. It's just another way of avoiding the truth about that gut. Grab a tape measure and put it around your body at the level of your belly button. That number should be less than half your height. So for a 6'1" frame, keep your waist under 36.5".
Tip #14
Go Green - Drink green tea three times a day. It's packed with heart-boosting polyphenols that black tea doesn't offer. (These beneficial chemicals are lost when it's fermented.) Green tea also delivers a boost of alertness, but from a smaller dose of caffeine than black tea. Green tea can even fight dandruff, just pour it directly onto your scalp.
Tip #15
Sweat Till You're Wet - If you can work up a sweat for just 1 hour a week, you'll enjoy a range of benefits: reduced risk of heart attack, better mood, and lower blood pressure. Try interval training on the elliptical, with 15 pullups and 15 dips every 10 minutes. Your muscles will become more efficient, so you'll have more stamina for more enjoyable activities that also work up a sweat.
Tip #16
Put It in the Bank - Most people rank personal finance as their number one stressor, usually because they feel powerless. Stress not only shortens lives, it also drives people to habits like smoking, drinking, or bingeing on food. Keep some money in a special bank account, safe from your lust for a new television, and you'll establish an emotional comfort zone with major health benefits.
Tip #17
Know Your Numbers - Your heart's vital signs. These include blood pressure (which ideally should be below 115 over 75), LDL cholesterol (under 100), resting heart rate (under 70), and fasting blood sugar (under 100). If your numbers aren't ideal, change your diet until they improve.
Tip #18
Add Some Weights - Just 30 minutes twice a week spent lifting weights can build significant muscle mass. What's more, working all that muscle burns tons of calories, making it a great way to lose your gut, too. Don't have weights? Try lifting yourself: Pullups are the most valuable muscle-building exercises to do. Trainer, Bob Greene, pointed out that pullups work the back, pecs, arms, and belly all at once.
Tip #19
Grab Some Nuts - Nuts are among the best sources of healthful fats and protein around. Keep a bag of walnuts in my fridge and use their massive dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Half of a handful eaten about 30 minutes before a meal will temper your appetite and help you avoid the drive-thru.
Tip #20
Hit the Dance Floor - Crosswords and card games aren't the only way to keep your brain razor sharp. It turns out that any kind of dancing with complex moves is stimulating enough to give your neurons a workout. Even the simplest moves provide some physical exercise. As a bonus, dancing may help you with tip No. 17.
Tip #21
Some Pills Should Be Popped - The indoor life gives modern man protection from the elements, unfortunately, roughly half of us are deficient in vitamin D which the sun is a major source. This crucial vitamin may aid in fighting cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. I take a 1,000 IU supplement each morning.
from Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips
http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/essential_health_tips/Dr_Oz_Tip_25.php
Hi Kat,
You, like me, enjoy these Nutrition, health type articles. Below, I'll list the ones that were of special interest to me. As a side note, my Wife watches Dr. Oz, sometimes I join in;
.
Tip #3
Hit the Sack - Seven hours of sleep a night not only helps you live longer, but also lowers your stress, sharpens your memory, and reduces cravings for pants-splitting foods. Set a bedtime and stick to it. My target is 10:30 p.m.
Comment: Actually including naps, at least seven hours of sleep, nine would be better. Repair of muscle, growth, and the burning of body fat takes place while sleeping. I can't seem to sleep more than 71/2 hours at night, but I take a power nap of 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours daily. It's a routine, love my naps, especially on Days Off. The reason why we can burn body fat during sleep is because the body produces more Growth Hormone in deep REM Sleep, hence the burning of fat and calories. The central nervous system benefits from a sound sleep.
Tip #2
Don't Skip Breakfast - Fiber in the morning means less hunger late in the afternoon, when you're most likely to feel tired and gorge yourself on sugar. An early start on eating also keeps your metabolism more active throughout the day; breakfast eaters are thinner than people who just rush out the door. *Try this: steel-cut oatmeal, usually mixed with raisins, walnuts, and flaxseed oil.
Comment: It's probably for most people, preferable to eat a wholesome breakfast, although I prefer the Protein/Fat type: Eggs, Bacon,toast variety, however, some people like me do poorly if eating too soon in the day. Their seems to be some controversy as to the division of your daily caloric intake. There's evidence that it doesn't matter if you eat earlier in the day, as long as your daily calorie intake doesn't exceed the amount you use. I tried eating breakfast on a regular basis and personally did poorly, it didn't curb my appetite during the rest of the day. Perhaps my schedule has something to do with this preference, working the Afternoon Shift, most of my Life.
JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT(no pun intended), Great Thrread, some good tips.
Thanks, Samson.
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Topic: 21 Great Health Tips! (Read 16602 times)