A new report suggests that Fitness, strength and flexibility do not inevitably fade away with age and it is often a matter of lifestyle choices. The discomforts of middle-age like back pain or stiff joints, are blamed on aging alone. However, a well-rounded exercise routine that includes aerobic activity, strength training and stretching can help people offset the effects of aging, according to the report in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Studies show that regular exercise can lower the risks of chronic ills like diabetes and heart disease, boost immune function, alleviate fatigue and cut the risk of disability in older adults.

The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer. The federal study of more than half a million men and women bolsters prior evidence of the health risks of diets laden with red meat like hamburger and processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts.

A recent US study released Monday found that people who eat more red or processed meat have a higher risk of death from all causes including cancer, while a higher consumption of white meat reduces such risks. The findings appear in Monday’s Archives of Internal Medicine.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great way to start your day! Oatmeal is full of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. This fiber-rich superfood can lower levels of LDL (or bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. Oatmeal is the product of ground oat groats . The term, ‘oatmeal’ can refer also to other products made from oat groats, such as cut oats, crushed oats, and rolled oats.

Meet Wendy:

Wendy is an Athletic Specialist for Fit Seniors. Wendy is a certified yoga teacher (200 RYT) with Yoga Alliance and is dedicating her energy towards ensuring our aging members of society remain physically fit and agile and are living as full lives as possible.

Wendy calls upon her foundation as a yoga teacher in her senior fitness classes. Wendy has a master’s degree in urban planning, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior that emphasized coursework in gerontology.

Elderly women who suffer a broken upper arm are five times more likely than normal to break a hip within a year after the arm fracture, a finding from a new study that might help in efforts to prevent both types of fractures. The study was published in the March issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Healthy older people shouldn’t bother spending money on computer games and websites promising to ward off mental decline, the author of a review of scientific evidence for the benefits of these “brain exercise” programs says. “These marketed products don’t confer any additional benefit over and above being socially and intellectually active in one’s normal daily life,” Dr. Peter J. Snyder of Lifespan Affiliated Hospitals in Providence, Rhode Island, told Reuters Health. “There are some things that we could be doing that have much more rigorous data to support their application.”

Researchers find no evidence that multivitamin use helps older women ward off heart disease and cancer, the top two killers of women, respectively. This yet another huge blow to the supplement industry.

Other recent studies have suggested that supplement forms of vitamins B, C, D and E, along with folic acid and beta carotene, don’t seem to have cancer-fighting abilities, especially in women.

And just last week, other researchers reported that many healthy U.S. children and teenagers may be popping vitamins and mineral supplements they don’t need, even while children who may actually need the supplements aren’t getting them.

We are Celebrating Fitness!!!!! 

Join us every Thursday at 10:30 am for our 6-week fitness series at Cranbrook Senior Living for our 6-week Fitness Series starting Feb. 19th.

Located at: 1262 Bryan Ave. Tustin, CA
Please RSVP: 949.933.1681

While the age-defying powers of yogurt never have been proved directly yogurt has a ton of benefits. Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis. It also contains “good bacteria” that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness. Choose low-fat plain yogurt to avoid the added sugar in flavored yogurt.

new study by Consumer Reports finds there are a surprising number of foods that contain excess sodium. The hidden salt in these unexpected sources — unexpected because the foods don’t taste salty — contribute to health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

After reviewing 37 supermarket staples, Consumer Reports found large quantities of sodium in foods one wouldn’t necessarily suspect, such as Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, 350 milligrams of sodium per cup; Prego Heart Smart traditional Italian sauce, 430 mg per cup; and Pepperidge Farm whole grain white bagels, 440 mg of sodium each.