The News Desk

Top 10 Things that Lower Your Libido

Is your sex drive in stuck in Park or Neutral? There may be things going on in your life that is making your libido stall out! Some are obvious while others are not.  Here are 10 reasons:

1. Stress
2. Too little sleep
3. Relationship Issues
4. Alcohol
5. Medication
6. Obesity
7. Self Esteem/Body Image
8. Depression
9. Erectile Dysfunction
10. Low Testosterone

Sometimes a lower libido can be a life-long struggle or last just a couple of days.  Understanding why is a step in the right direction to rectify the issues. There are also a plethora of libido enhancement supplements for men and women available at Everythingantiaging.com that can assist in maintaining a lively libido. A healthy sex drive and a healthy body belong together. Why not begin your journey to improve both today?

Jill Purvis - Everythingantiaging. com

How Daily Affirmations Can Help You!

Affirmations are positive words or statements that encourage the subconscious mind and help to create positive actions and/or results. Affirmations have to be repeated with attention, conviction, interest and desire to help ensure the effectiveness. You might have used affirmations in sporting events, business presentations or anytime you are needing to perform – it’s the “I can do this” message or the famous “I think I Can” which I personally use anytime I am out running and need to conquer a hill that looms ahead.

Many times, individuals defeat themselves by simply repeating negative words in regards to events and situations. Words can either build or destroy opportunities. Deciding on how we use our words and statements can bring great or the not-so-great results.

Much like creative visualization, repeated words or statements help you focus, can transform your behavior, attitude and reactions. In time, you will be able to see how these improvements can actual generate improvements within your life. Getting results depends on several factors, such as the time, focus, faith and feelings you invest in repeating your affirmations, on the strength of your desire, and on how big or small is your goal. It is important to understand that repeating positive affirmations for a few minutes, and then thinking negatively the rest of the day, neutralizes the effects of the positive words. You have to refuse to think negative thoughts if you wish to attain positive results.

Be sure to use positive words. By saying “I am not heavy” or I am losing weight” – you are using negative thoughts. Try to say instead “I am slimmer” or “My weight is improving” . Also, be sure to stay in the present, not the future. Don’t say “I will get that promotion” – say “I have that promotion!”.

Examples of Positive Affirmations

- I am healthy and happy.
- Wealth is pouring into my life.
- I am getting wealthier each day.
- My body is healthy and functioning in a very good way.
- I have a lot of energy.
- My mind is calm.
- I am calm and relaxed in every situation.
- I radiate love and happiness.
- I am surrounded by love.

It is best to repeat affirmations that are not too long, as they are easier to remember. Repeat them every time your mind is not engaged in something important, such as while waiting in line, walking, etc. You may also repeat them in special sessions of 5-10 minutes each, several times a day. The power of affirmations can help you to transform your life. By stating what you want to be true in your life, you mentally and emotionally see and feel it as true and thereby attract it into your life. Also, be sure to help affirm those around you. It’s amazing what the power of positivity can do in a person’s life!

Jill Purvis – Everythingantiaging.com

The Varying Degrees of Vegetarians

Many people practice various forms of vegetarianism. If you are like me, it’s rather puzzling to decipher the definitions of each. Here is a short breakdown list of different types that are out there. I am sure there are more catagories as well as others that will soon be created!

Flexitarian/Semi-vegetarian- “Flexitarian” is a term recently coined to describe those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat.

Macrobiotic – The diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. It also emphasizes on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed.

Pescatarian – all meat and animal flesh, with the exception of fish, are not consumed. More people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

Vegan – Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.

Raw vegan/Raw food diet – A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body.

Vegetarian - When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Those who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg).

Lacto-Vegetarian – Vegetarians who will eat dairy products except for eggs.

Ovo-vegetarian- these individuals are vegetarians that will eat eggs, but will not eat meat or any other dairy products.

There are a lot of great tips on the web on how to become a vegetarian. If you are considering or currently praticing this way of eating, be sure to do your research so you continue to provide all the important protein, vitamins and minerals that your body needs to stay strong, vibrant and healthy!

Jill Purvis – Everythingantiaging.com

Different Types of Muscle Contractions

When it comes to muscle contractions, we generally think of muscle shortening as force is generated (concentric). There are actually 4 different types of muscle contractions that our skeletal muscles perform. Here is a breakdown of the different types.

Concentric Muscle Contractions – this occurs when a muscle is activated and required to lift a load and the muscle shortened.  A good example of this type of contraction is a bicep curl.

Eccentric Contractions – is the opposite of a concentric contraction and happens when the active muscle lengthens. An example would be setting an object down, the arms flexors are required to lengthen in order to control the movement.

Isometric Contraction – this is when the muscle is activated but held at a constant length, such as holding a heavy object out in front of you. Your muscles are activated in order to work against gravity but are not increasing or decreasing in length.

Passive Stretch – this is a muscle “contraction” in which the muscle is being lengthened while in a passive state. Think about the stretch you feel in your hamstrings when you do a standing forward bend.

Understanding muscle contractions and mixing these actions up when it comes to creating your workouts can definitely benefit you as well as help you understand just how your muscles work, even when it comes to the most simple of actions.

Jill Purvis  – Everythingantiaging.com

Fast Twitch and Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers

Have you ever wondered how a track team participant decides if they are best suited for sprints or distance events? Usually the athlete’s muscle fiber make-up decides what the best events are for them and how well they excel at it.

Our bodies’ muscular skeletal are contain two main types of muscle fibers: slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Type II). The differences between the two types help to determine how the body responds to physical activity due to how each type of muscles contract. For the general population, our muscle fibers are generally 50/50 on the two types.

Slow twitch (Type I) muscles fibers use oxygen efficiently and produce more fuel (known as ATP) that fuels the body that helps to sustain more endurance and allows you to go for a long time without fatigue. Think of cross country runners or long distance cyclists.

Fast twitch (Type II) is more anaerobic and generate quick burst of speed and/or strength and fatigue quickly. They produce about the same amount of force as slow twitch per muscle contraction but fire much more rapidly. Fast twitch muscle fibers assist sprinters and power lifters to generate a lot of force quickly.

There is some evidence that specific training can change muscle fiber from one type to the other. Keep in mind that genetic differences may be dramatic at the elite levels of athletic competition, but following the principles of conditioning can dramatically improve personal performance of a typical athlete. With consistent endurance training, muscle fibers can develop more and improve their ability to cope with and adapt to the stress of exercise.

Jill Purvis – Everythingantiaging.com

Benefits of Caffeine 

Coffee Lovers rejoice!  There are definite benefits to consuming your morning cup of Joe. This is also true of tea drinkers and chocoholics. Studies have proven that not all caffeine is bad for you.  One of the first benefits you “feel” after your morning fix may is enhanced mental and physical performance.  Many athletes drink a cup of coffee about an hour before to improve their performance as well as an added mental perk, increased focus and even refreshed motivation.  Even after hearing that caffeine can cause added dehydration, studies have shown there is no changes in core body temperature, urination, sweating or body hydration after caffeine consumption.

Caffeine also assists in breaking down fat which frees fatty acids that helps to aid weight-loss. Consuming 2 cups of coffee a day can also less likely to show evidence of liver damage compared to non-coffee drinkers. In female lab rats, it is shown to peak their sexual drive.

The key, of course, is moderation. But then again, isn’t moderation the key to most things that we enjoy?  Studies have proven that 3 small cups of coffee a day will not hurt us.  One thing to consider is that all caffeine consumed needs to be counted – teas, sodas, chocolate, etc. Caffeine makes us feel alert, increases Dopamine levels in our systems, and gives us much needed energy to help us through our day. This is only if your doctor hasn’t restricted caffeine in your diet! Go pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Jill Purvis  Everythingantiaging.com

Healthy Waist to Hip Ratio

Waist to Hip ratio (or WHR) is the difference between the circumference of the hips to that of the circumference of the waist or   Waist/Hips.  This measurement can actually be used as an indicator in the measure of a person’s health and their risk of developing serious health issues.  WHR is used as a measurement in obesity, but if one has a WHR that is within the norms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that person isn’t obese.

Apple shaped people  (those who carry more weight around the mid-section) tend to be more at risk for developing more health issues than “pear-shaped” individuals  (weight tends to be carried more in the hip area). A WHR ratio of over 0.9  for males and 0.7  for women is consider to be is considered have abdominal obesity. This may increase health risks due to their fat distribution. WHR has been shown to be a more efficient mortality predictor than BMI is in the older population.

For the hip measurement, use a tape measure to find the measurement at the widest part of the hips or buttocks.  The waist measurement is the smallest circumference of the natural waist.  Be sure to wear as little as possible and stand with feet next together keeping your weight evenly distributed and your arms at your side. Stay relaxed and always measure twice.

Having your WHR within normal range strongly correlates with good general health and fertility. Men with WHR around 0.9 experience less prostate and testicular cancers.  Women in the range of 0.7 tend to have lower instances of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and ovarian cancer.

Jill Purvis  - EverythingAntiaging.com

What is the Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic?

This is a common question that I have been asked over the years.  The main difference is the presence of oxygen. The cells of our bodies usually perfer to be fueled by oxygen. This would be working out in an aerobic state, which would be an activity that can be maintained for a longer period of time. Anaerobic state is usually fueled by other reactions that do not require oxygen to fuel muscle contraction. This is a much higher intensity than the aerobic state and may only be able to be performed for a very short period of time. Think about running a 5K race.  If you start out to quick, you can’t hold the pace and usually have to back way down (from anaerobic to aerobic). By pacing yourself correctly, you should be able to run the entire time (aerobic state) and generally perform better.

In a sprint, you would be all out – anaerobic rules! Your body will fatigue quickly due to your muscles producing waste molecules that impair muscle  contractions. Fatigue causes you to experience added discomfort and weakening muscles. Eventually you will need to slow down and lower your exercise intensity.  Slowing down allows the muscles to once again rely solely on aerobic metabolism and support the removal or chemical conversion of waste molecules.

Unfortunately, we are never fully in aerobic or anaerobic states for the most part. In reality, the more intensely we exercise, the greater the need for anaerobic energy production.  Consequently, it is best to view the terms aerobic and anaerobic as transitions in metabolism, where the proportion between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism changes  depending on exercise intensity.
 
So how do these terms relate to you? Well, it depends on your circumstances and goals.  Most of us are non-competitive or non-elite active individuals, who just want to exercise to gain health benefits, feel good and possibly lose weight. Aerobic exercise conditions enable you to exercise for long periods of time, potentially benefiting from the sustained energy expenditure (i.e., calories burned).  Aerobic exercise tends to be less stressful to muscles, joints, and your heart, which may be important for individuals with arthritis, heart disease, or high blood pressure.  However, to more rapidly improve your exercise capacities, tolerance, and performance, some anaerobic exercise training is a necessity. Therefore, performing anaerobic exercise is typically more important for competitive athletes.

Of course when you first start an exercise program, most doctors and personal trainers will have you do low intensity (aerobic) exercise, although the eliptical or stair climbing may quickly put you in an anaerobic state due to your fitness level. Lifting weights is also anaerobic.  That is why muscles fatigue so rapidly with this type of training. So again, anaerobic activity is pretty hard to avoid. Fortunately, we do not need sophisticated equipment to detect when we transition from aerobic to anaerobic exercise.  As we approach and pass our metabolic threshold intensity, we start to breath harder and exercise simply becomes uncomfortable.

Always be sure to consult with your physician before starting exercise. Be sure to listen to your body and start easy
but be persistant!

Jill Purvis - Everythingantiaging.com

Foods that will help to lower Cholesterol

This is a list of heart healthy foods. Adding whole foods to your diet can help you lose weight, keep blood sugar levels, in check as well as high blood pressure. This list will help lower cholesterol naturally!

1. Oats
2. Red wine (in moderation of course)
3. Fatty Fish (salmon, sardines or herring)
4. Nuts (in moderation)
5. Beans (fiber, fiber, fiber!)
6. Tea (try white tea-great for lowering LDL and has cancer fighting anti-oxidants)
7. Chocolate (dark or bittersweet being your best choice)
8. Margerine (with plant sterols)
9. Spinach
10. Olice Oil
11. Garlic
12. Avacado

Consider stocking your fridge and pantry with these wonderful items and naturally lower your cholesterol.

Jill Purvis  – Everythingantiaging.com

Non-Starchy Vegetables

You might have heard the term “non-starchy”.  Here is a breakdown on what non-starchy vegetables are and why we need to eat them.  In fact, eat up! These are great items to add to your daily nutrition and for the most part you can eat all you like.  Now how often do you hear that??

The best source choices are in order for best to least: Organic, fresh, frozen, canned and juice form.  Always look for the ones that have no added sodium, sugar or fat. Sodium can definitely be found in a lot of canned and juices options. One thing you can do if canned is your only option is to drain the vegetables and rinse with water before heating. You should aim for 3-5 servings of vegetables and always try to vary the colors of vegetables you
eat to boost your nutrition. Be sure to use any low-calorie dressing, sauces and butter sparingly if at all.

Here is some examples of Non-starchy vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, baby corn, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, greens, heart of palm, jicama, leeks, mushrooms, onions, pea pods, peppers, radishes, rutabaga, salad greens, sprouts, squash, sugar snap peas, swiss chard, tomato, turnips, and water-cheastnuts.

veggies

Vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Non-starchy vegetables contain less carbohydrates and calories compared to starchy vegetables (like potatoes, corn and peas). Think about incorporating the plate method when eating, filling 1/2 of your plate with non-starchy veggies, this will help keep your calorie count down, fiber high as well as getting plenty of great nutrients instead of the “empty calories” that we should all avoid. Your mom was right! Eat your vegetables!!!

Note: For those of you who struggle with eating your vegetables, try Macro Greens as a healthy veggie substitute!

Macro Greens

Jill Purvis – EverythingAntiaging.com