Everything Anti-Aging

Pomegranate Benefits

The health benefits of pomegranates have been in practice for centuries by the cultures of Israel and India . The Mediterranean culture is one of the healthiest on earth and for years, the rest of the world has been trying to pinpoint what exactly makes the people so resistant to heart disease and other ailments. Maybe the answer lies in the unassuming pomegranate or perhaps its just good genetics. No one knows for sure, but whatever it is, it’s working.

A pomegranate is a fruit-bearing shrub native to the Middle East, ranging from Iran to the Himalayas in India. Pomegranates are also cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and in California since 1769, when the Spanish first introduced the fruit to North America. The fruit is round and about the size of a very large apple. Breaking open the thick skin reveals a multitude of tiny, ruby red seeds. The riper the fruit, the sweeter the edible seeds are, although some people might like the tangy, sour taste of a fruit less ripened. Pomegranate juice is another product of this fruit quickly gaining popularity for its alleged health benefits.

The pomegranate juice is said to be rich in antioxidants, quite possibly more antioxidant properties than red wine or green tea. Other benefits of pomegranates list the fruit as a source of folic acid (beneficial to pregnant women), potassium, niacin, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and are a rich source of fiber. It’s true that other fruits contain many different types of antioxidants, but the pomegranate is the only one to contain the three major antioxidants: tannins, anthocyanins and ellagic acid. Antioxidants are what help to boost the body’s immune system. These high concentrations of antioxidants help to protect the body from the damaging effects of pollution, cancer diabetes and many other debilitating diseases. In some cases, increasing the body’s level of antioxidants is rumored to slow the aging process.

With such a high concentration of antioxidants, it’s no wonder that researchers believe that the major pomegranate benefits would help reduce heart disease, clogged arteries and hypertension.

No single food on its own can cure cancer. However, if the benefits of pomegranate juice are used in conjunction with other types of treatments, it could prove useful. Since antioxidants are reputed for preventing damage to cells, pomegranate benefits might be a part of the cure for lung, breast or skin cancer.

One study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed pomegranate juice as capable of genetically altering the cancer cells and causing them to die.

Other studies done around the world with pomegranate seed oil indicated the pomegranate was a way to treat skin cancer and tumors in the body, particularly the colon. Pomegranates contain “ellagic acid”, which has previously been said to contain antioxidants that specifically target cancer cells.

Pomegranates are among the types of plants, like black cohosh, that contain estrone. Estrone is a naturally occurring form of estrogen, which is widely used today as an alternative to artificial hormone replacement treatment during menopause. Many women seeking to avoid the side effects of the artificial hormones are turning to natural remedies to get them through the change of life. Menopause is difficult enough without having to deal with nasty side effects and pomegranate benefits look like a pleasant alternative.

Pomegranate benefits might also include relief from impotency and protection against prostate cancer. When men suffer from atherosclerosis, thickening of the blood vessels occurs throughout the body. The decreased blood flow can result in impotency. Antioxidants, especially the ones found in pomegranate juice, help to increase the blood flow and decrease the chances of hardening arteries.

Pomegranates also contain a compound that lowers the levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Some researchers report that when taken daily and used in conjunction with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and other forms of prostate cancer treatment, pomegranate juice helped to dramatically decrease the levels of PSA. The prostate cancer cells also decreased in growth. Pomegranate juice is beneficial to men without prostate cancer as well, simply for the chances of keeping the PSA levels low to begin with.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check out our amazing antioxidant supplements at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Bad, Healthy Foods - there is such a thing

When most people think about losing weight, they first think about altering their diets. i.e. switching out candy bars for those healthy granola ones. Sadly though, things just aren’t that simple! So many manufactures are twisting the nutritional content labels and words to trick people in a sense into eating their foods that they promote as being “healthy”. With the steady rise of the every day consumer’s nutritional knowledge, food makers are finding new ways to misconstrue product labels to benefit their profits. We as consumers need to be more careful to make sure we’re buying what we think we’re buying!

Here are some basic examples of the point I’m trying to make. These are examples of foods that have good-looking labels, but are not what they seem!

Granola Bars
200 Calories
15 g Sugar

Try eating this instead:
1 oz cheddar cheese with Triscuits
150 calories
5 g sugars

Am I the only one who has ever wondered what keeps a granola bar together? The answer: High-fructose corn syrup, which quickly raises blood sugar and cancels out most of the potential benefits that the granola, almonds and oats might give you. Switch over to good old-fashioned cheese and crackers, and you’ll trade sugar and calories for protein and fiber.

Yogurt Cup with Fruit on the Bottom
190 calories
30 g sugars

Try this instead:
Plain yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in
110 calories
15 g sugars

Yogurt and fruit can be a great way to start your day, but do it yourself by mixing a cup of nonfat plain yogurt with a half cup of mixed berries.

Bagel with Cream Cheese
700 calories
40 g fat
13 g saturated fat

Try this instead:
Cheese omelet
425 calories
18 g
6 g saturated

Bagels are wack! The bread is bad enough, containing 300 calories and 60 grams of carbohydrates, but the excessive amount of cream cheese that most places add to a bagel turns your harmless breakfast sandwich into a monster! (A bagel with several tbsp. Of cream cheese can be deadlier than a Whooper!) The omelet swap will save you nearly 300 calories, plus provide a surge of metabolism-boosting protein.

Dried Fruit
175 calories
45 g sugars

Try this instead:
Fresh fruit, like an apple, peach or berries (Freeze them for a frozen treat!)
70 calories
15 g sugars

OK, so dried fruit won’t totally derail a day of good eating, unless you down the whole bag of banana chips or craisins, but it’s far from being a harmless snack. First, because the dehydrating process sucks most of the volume from the fruit, you can eat cups of the stuff, and 600 calories later, still not feel any fuller. More troubling, though, is the fact that Sun-Maid and Ocean Spray add sugar to the fruit, making craisins closer to candy than Mother Nature’s original intention!

Fish Sandwich
600 calories
30 g fat
11 g saturated

Try this instead:
Grilled chicken or fish sandwich
300 calories
13 g fat
4 g saturated

Fish is good for you, except when it’s battered, fried, smothered in cheese, and bathed in massive amounts of tartar sauce! Make sure your next fish or chicken sandwich is grilled, dressed with fresh produce, and topped with a low-cal barbecue sauce, or even ketchup and mustard. (Or you could just leave it alone and eat it plain!)

Stick margarine (1 Tbsp)
100 calories
11 g fat
2.5 g saturated
2.5 g trans fat

Try this instead:
Whipped butter (1 Tbsp)
50 calories
6 g fat
1.5 g saturated

In their haste to remove saturated fat from butter, margarine makers created the margarine monster, which is a dangerous lipid called trans fat, with more dangerous links to heart disease than saturated fat! Pick up whipped butter instead; by whipping air into the spread, manufacturers decrease the caloric density of a tablespoon of butter, and they make it easier to top your toast. If you buy margarine, make sure it’s the type found in the tub, hopefully with an added bonus like omega 3’s  folded into the mix.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check us out today at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Staying Fit For 40

Staying fit isn’t easy. If you’re like me, then you’re most often envious of those people who can pretty much do nothing and lose weight. Where as with me, I have to work my butt off every day of every week in every month and so on, and still don’t see the results I’d like to. As you age, don’t think it will get any easier, as a matter of fact, it only gets harder! If it’s this difficult for you to drop the pounds now, then imagine what it’s going to be like in 10, 20, 30 years from now. Try and find your inner fitness groove now, and you’ll set yourself up for success in the future. The bottom line is whether you’re right out of college or funding your children’s tuition, the moment to launch your lifetime fitness plan is now! Then simply adjust your workouts throughout the years to give your muscles, bones, and heart what they need to keep working well enough to keep up with you and your life.

Around the age of 45, most women who don’t lift weights regularly start losing a significant amount of muscle, most of it from the lower body. Less junk in the trunk may sound like a good thing, but decreased muscle mass leads to a rapidly slower metabolism, which is a horrendous thing to think of!

Maintaining muscle power requires fast, explosive movements. Keep your power levels high with a basic jump squat. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms hanging at your sides. Keeping your torso as upright as possibly can, quickly bend your knees and lower your hips back and down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Then immediately jump straight off the floor as high as you can. Land as softly as possible, sinking back down into your original squat position. Repeat the jump. Do three to four sets of six reps, resting 1minute in between sets.

Some sleep studies have shown that women over 40 spend more of their nights tossing and turning and uncomfortably sleepless than 20-somethings. Experts aren’t sure why exactly, but one thing is clear you need sufficient amounts of rest to be able to kick yourself into gear and get those workouts in!

One cure for insomnia: Exercise before work. You’ll be rejuvenated, refreshed and have energy for the workday ahead of you. If you feel too groggy to work out then make yourself a bowl of instant oatmeal with half a cup of fat-free milk before your morning workout. Your brain takes up to 2 hours to wake up, so kick it into jump-start mode.

Cardio is a good way to protect your heart and easily burn calories, but you’ll lose weight only if you’re burning more calories than you’re taking in, duh! Your metabolism is starting to slowly put on the brakes as a result of deteriorating muscle mass, so continue hitting the sidewalks, or treadmills. If you get bored with the same old routine then trade in a day or two of cardio for a mat class and try yoga!

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Browse our easy to use online catalog at www.everythingantiaging.com.

Cinnamon Basil Zested Peaches

Ingredients:

1 – 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

3 strips lemon zest, (1-by-2-inch strips)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 – 3 inch pie cinnamon stick

3 ripe but firm medium peaches, halved lengthwise and pitted

1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

Directions:

Combine water, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and cinnamon stick in a large non-reactive saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. Add peach halves. Return to a brisk simmer, cover the pan and simmer, turning the peaches occasionally, until they are tender when pierced with a skewer or paring knife and the skins are loosened, 20 to 25 minutes (depending on the ripeness of the peaches). Transfer the peaches to a plate with a slotted spoon.

Return the liquid to a boil and cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in basil and let cool to room temperature, about 40 minutes.

Slip off and discard the peach skins. Place the peaches in a storage container and strain the cooled syrup over them. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check us out today at www.everythingantiaging.com.

Energy Reserve

Just picture it, you’re in the middle of a long workout and wondering how in the world you’re going to muster up enough energy to finish. All exercisers have been there. It’s as though someone has unscrewed the cap and let all the fuel out of your tank.

There are few things more essential to maintaining performance than staying hydrated throughout your workout. Water is an obvious first choice, but you may need extra energy in the form of carbohydrates to get through a particularly long or strenuous exercise session. If this is the case, energy bars or gels and sports drinks may be the answer to your depleted energy supply.

Water - is a calorie-free source of the fluid your body needs to keep going 24/7. There is no better way to compromise performance than to exercise while you’re dehydrated. Research shows that your heart rate increases eight beats per minute for every liter of sweat lost during exercise. This can occur in as little as 30 minutes of exercise, depending upon the environment and your intensity.
This increased heart rate, combined with inefficient cooling, causes your temperature to elevate. This not only compromises performance, but can lead to heat illness as well. Most experts recommend drinking at least a cup (4 to 10 ounces) of water every 15 minutes of exercise.

Energy gels -  are a relatively new alternative to traditional sports drinks or bars. They feel similar in texture to pudding and are easy to eat and easy for your stomach to digest. They typically contain about 70 to 100 calories and may also include caffeine and other ergogenic aids. Energy bars have been around forever and are eaten more often as a snack than as an energy replacement during exercise. Today, the market is saturated with numerous flavors and types, each with a different ratio of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

Sports Drinks – Activities lasting longer than one hour can leave your body wanting more than just water. Sports drinks, which typically contain about 50 to 70 calories, plus vitamins and minerals, are an easy answer to both the fluid and carbohydrate drain that comes from prolonged activity. Research shows that runners and cyclists who consume a sports drink during races not only finish more quickly, but rate their exertion levels lower than those who consumed a placebo beverage. It is important to realize, however, that this was true only during longer-duration activities. You should be able to complete your 30-minute run or 45-minute step class without the aid of additional carbohydrates.

Natural Energy Supplements - Most natural energy supplements contain potent safe herbs and vitamins that will increase energy levels, endurance & stamina while also enhancing your mood & mental clarity. Natural energy products can do all this, while being healthy with little to no side effects. Natural energy supplements are healthier & digested better if you take them with food like they’re part of a meal or snack. Also, don’t mix them unless you know what you’re doing, find one or two that work well and leave it at that.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Need energy? Grab one of our many natural energy supplements today at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Animal Flex

Joint health care should be very important to those young and old alike. Many of us look back on our younger years and wish we could have seen the damage we were doing to our joints through sports, certain jobs and exercising or lifting weights improperly but, hind sight is 20/20. This is where Animal Flex by Universal Nutrition is so helpful as a powerful joint care supplement.

The one area we have no real control over is aging but, with today’s joint health care supplements, like Animal Flex, we may be able to reverse some of the earlier damage done to our joints and begin living a more pain free lifestyle.

Animal Flex by Universal Nutrition consists of several key joint protection complexes to help strengthen your core foundation:

- A potent joint construction complex to help repair connective tissue;

- A lubrication complex to help cushion the joints from lifting;

- A support complex to help promote rehabilitation and reduce soreness

- A key vitamin/mineral support blend to underscore optimal joint health.

Joint Care Supplements are an excellent choice to help prevent joint injury, daily wear-and-tear to them and rebuilding of joints. 

Check out www.everythingantiaging.com for our great variety of all natural Joint Health Care Supplements, like Animal Flex by Universal Nutrition, available for those who want an alternative to prescription drugs.

Is it ok to continue exercising even if I am pregnant?

Q: I am 18 weeks now and really starting to pack on extra pounds, and I was wondering if it is really ok that I continue working out throughout my pregnancy?

A: Of course it is! It isn’t only healthy for you but for your beautiful baby too!

For many moms-to-be, the news of a pregnancy is filled with excitement, anticipation, anxiety and a newfound commitment to do everything right for the growth and development of a healthy baby. The question of whether to continue or begin an exercise program to optimize health for both mom and baby often arises. The first step to help answer this question is a visit to your doctor. While exercise during pregnancy is usually encouraged, under some circumstances exercise can be detrimental to both the expecting mother and the growing fetus. Only after a thorough clinical evaluation can a physician determine your exercise risks, if any.

Exercise during pregnancy offers many physical and emotional benefits. For example, a good exercise program may help relieve common problems associated with pregnancy, such as excessive weight gain, swelling of your hands and feet, leg cramps, varicose veins, insomnia, fatigue and constipation. You also can look forward to improved posture and circulation, reduced backaches, and increased mood and energy. Plus, you’ll feel better knowing you’re doing something good for yourself and your baby.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women who have been cleared to exercise by their physicians engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week. Walking, swimming, cycling and moderate-intensity aerobics are highly effective and generally safe during pregnancy, even for beginners. Running, racquet sports, and strength training when done in moderation are safe for pregnant women who had been participating in these activities prior to pregnancy. While strenuous activity may be associated with intrauterine growth restriction, under physician guidance it may be safe for athletes to continue a vigorous program.

When designing your exercise program, take into account the changes you’re experiencing —new body alignment, different posture, reduced strength and endurance, and extra weight (up to 25 to 40 pounds), which places stress on your joints and muscles and makes your heart work harder. The key is to let your body be your guide. You know you’re at a good intensity when you can talk normally and not become exhausted too quickly.

After the first trimester, all pregnant women should avoid exercises that require them to lie on their backs in a supine position. This can cause you to feel dizzy when you stand up and it also decreases blood flow to you and your baby. Also avoid sports and activities with increased risk of trauma or falling, such as ice hockey, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, horseback riding and downhill skiing. Scuba diving can be fatal for a developing fetus.

Since you’re exercising for two, you should pay close attention to signs that something is not right for either you or your baby. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop exercising and call your physician:

- Vaginal bleeding

- Shortness of breath before exercising

- Dizziness

- Headache

- Chest pain

- Muscle weakness

- Calf pain or swelling

- Preterm labor

- Decreased fetal movement

- Amniotic fluid leakage

Julie MED RD LD

Check us out at www.everythingantiaging.com.

Struggling to do push-ups?

The key to success in this exercise is correct form and also selecting a variation that is best suited for your current ability level. In doing so you will be able to complete this exercise both safely and effectively.

Push ups may not be the newest or most creative exercise known to man, but the reality is this no equipment necessary exercise is tried and true when it comes to strengthening the chest, shoulders, arms, and core.

Just starting out? A great beginner level option to start with is the bent knee push up technique. This variation allows you the opportunity to become more familiar with proper technique while still reaping the same muscle strengthening benefits as the traditional version of the exercise. If you notice any discomfort in the wrists you may opt to use dumbbells or grip handles instead of placing hands directly on the floor when completing this exercise in order to reduce the amount of stress being placed on the joints. Another great option that also helps to reduce joint strain is wall push ups which are completed in a standing position, but can be as effective as regular ones.

As you develop strength and become more comfortable with the mechanics of the above mentioned variations you may choose then to progress to the full version of the push-up.

For those looking for an increased challenge and twist on the traditional push-up, trying adding a single leg raise to the exercise or perhaps considering incorporating a portable piece of equipment, such as a stability ball.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check us out now at www.everythingantiaging.com.

Raspberry, Avocado & Mango Salad

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries, divided

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup red-wine vinegar

1 small clov garlic, coarsely chopped

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

8 cups mixed salad greens

1 ripe mango, diced

1 small ripe avocado, diced

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/4 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts, or sliced almonds, optional

Directions:

Puree 1/2 cup raspberries, oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a blender until combined.

Combine greens, mango, avocado and onion in a large bowl. Pour the dressing on top and gently toss to coat. Divide the salad among 5 salad plates. Top each with the remaining raspberries and sprinkle with nuts, if using.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Kid’s Fitness… What’s a Parent To Do?

It’s no secret that obesity has taken this country by storm and is a contributing factor to serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Syndrome X, hypertension and others. What is most upsetting is that this epidemic is seriously affecting our kids.  Serious issue enough that some people are even saying that this may be the first time parents will out live their children. Obesity is caused by a combination of over nutrition, inactivity and genetic predisposition. What can be done to protect our children from the terrors of this condition? Since there’s not much that can be done about the genes we’re born with, parents must focus their education and energy on the two elements they can control, eating and activity. This article will focus on the activity side of the equation.

When it comes to fitness, kids are not miniature adults. They have specific physiologic differences that make them unique. Therefore, their fitness programs and activities must be specific to their developmental stage and not just a watered down version of an adult’s. So, what’s a parent to do? Chronologic age is a difficult marker to use when deciding on fitness activities for kids. Children develop in stages. Some children reach a particular stage earlier than others.

2-5 Years of Age
Kids between the ages of two and five need social, physical, and intellectual interaction and development. These years are called the building block years, as they lay the foundation from which subsequent skills will grow. Free play, exploration, creativity, song and exposure to a variety of experiences is critical. Ever wonder why kids at this age can’t seem to sit still? They’re learning about their bodies and how to control them within the space they live. Instead of restricting this, confining them to a couch with a video playing, or enrolling them in extensive structured activities, channel the energy in a positive way and watch your young ones soar. They will tire out and eventually need a rest.

5-8 Years of Age
At this age, kids are building on the foundations that were created in the previous years and moving on to more complex movements and skills. Moving from hitting a stationary ball to one that is thrown, bouncing a ball with two hands to bouncing it with one, and progressing from a bike with training wheels to one without, are all milestones that are accomplished here. Kids at this age can play longer and harder than those at the earlier stage of development. They can actually follow multi-task directions (e.g., run to the cone, jump up and down three times, then run back to me) and enjoy playing in a group more.

Get out there and get your kids active and have a good time!

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check us out at www.everythingantiaging.com.