Fighting the aging process may seem like a lost cause But simple
habits suchas taking o walk and reading o book can improve your chances
of living a long and healthy life,
No matter how old you are or how old you feel, there is always
something rejuvenating about spring--who doesn't feel like a kid this
time of year?
That doesn't mean, however, that Old Man Winter hasn't done any
damage.
Winter takes a hidden toll on the body. Heart attacks are more
common in the winter months than in the rest of the year, and the immune
system tends to slow as the days grow shorter, enabling diseases to do
their worst. There's no better time than the spring to begin taking steps
to stop or reverse the effects of aging on the body and spirit.
Beginning an exercise routine is one place to start. A recent study
conducted by researchers at the University of California at San Diego
suggests that people who exercise are less likely to be depressed than
are those who don't exercise. More interesting, those who continue to
exercise into old age retain their edge over depression. On the other
hand, people who stop being active seem to become just as susceptible to
depression as those who never exercised at all. Therefore, once you get
on the treadmill, stay on it.
Another avenue to rejuvenation is through creativity. Brain
researchers have long thought that the brain stopped developing once a
person reached adulthood, but new research shows that certain brain cells
grow over time. And acetylcholine, a key chemical involved in thought and
memory, is produced in response to intellectually stimulating activity.
We know that exercise builds muscular strength, and in the same way,
people who use their minds creatively are rewarded with more youthful,
supple brains.
People also look to nutritional boosts to turn back the hands of
time. Folic acid, fish oil and the hormone DHEA have been popular
supplements for fighting the aging process. And there is some evidence to
back up the claims: Research indicates that, for instance, taking vitamin
E can protect against atherosclerosis and delay the onset of Alzheimer's.
You can get vitamin E naturally through food, but at a price--foods that
contain vitamin E, such as nuts and oils, are generally high in fat.
That's why dietary supplements are recommended for people who want to get
more of the nutrient.
Youthful Wonders
Supplements pave the way to a younger you
A positive outlook can do wonders, but to help stave off the
effects of aging, some experts recommend taking natural supplements that
target specific points of deterioration. For example, adding
phospholipids--fats that are found in the membranes of brain cells--is
thought to help counteract the effects of stress and aging on the brain.
Other experts suggest that boosting levels of human growth hormones,
which steadily decline as we age, may give a youthful look to skin, hair
and muscles. And bones and tendons may be strengthened by adding
glucosamine and chondroitin. For information on aging products such as
Secretagogue-One, see maxperformance.com, senior-moment.com and
windmillvitamins.com.
PHOTOS (COLOR): PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE DEPRESSED
THAN OTHERS
Tags:
aging process,
better time,
boosts,
brain researchers,
brains,
exercise routine,
muscular strength,
rejuvenation,
taking steps,
time of year,
treadmill,
university of california at san diego
