A number of people suffering from chronic fatigue have been found to also suffer from sinus disease, an impairment of normal gas exchange through the sinuses. Now, new evidence suggests that humming or crooning your favourite song may prevent or remedy sinus problems once experienced. Studies done have shown that humming improves the output of nitric acid(an indicator of effective sinus function).

Humming is similar to that of chanting, whereby sound waves elicit positive responses from your body and spirit. For better airflow and sound health hum a tune on your way to work every morning.

A popular practice among centenarians is body brushing,using a dry brush with natural bristles to sweep across the surface of the entire body. Besides eliminating dead skin cells and improving skin hygiene, body brushing can also increase small capillary circulation to the skin, boost skin immunity against infection, and promote vibrant skin tone. An alternative to brushing is body scrubbing: use a dry cloth or moist rag to vigorously scrub your body from head to toe.

I have had a few friends tell me to try taking “Melatonin” for menopause symptoms. It is a supplement that is available over the counter in health food stores. Before I tried it I decided to research it. After my research, I can tell you that I will not be taking it any time soon. Here is what I found out.

Melatonin is a hormone made by a part of the brain called the pineal gland. Melatonin helps our bodies know when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. It is at its highest level in our bodies just before we fall asleep.
Melatonin supplements are available in two types: natural and synthetic. Natural melatonin is made from the pineal gland of animals. This form can be contaminated with a virus and is therefore not recommended.

Since insomnia is one of the more frustrating and distressing symptoms that women experience during menopause, melatonin has long been used as a temporary remedy to help establish a normal sleep pattern. There is also evidence that it may have a positive effect on cholesterol levels, increasing the HDL cholesterol, which is the good kind.
But before you go running out to start yourself on melatonin, check with your medical provider. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles, but it is also very active in immune response and blood clotting, among other important processes. If you are on steroid hormones, blood pressure medication, blood thinners, antidepressants or other medications, you will want to check to be sure melatonin won’t interact in a way that could harm you.

Other reported side effects are:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Abdominal discomfort
- Confusion
- Sleepwalking
- Nightmares

It’s thought that taking melatonin for longer than two months may be harmful, and the best dose of melatonin is not known. So……I don’t think I am willing to try this supplement. But I am interested in hearing from anyone that uses it.

I was advised recently by someone (who was not a medical professional) that I should be taking B12 supplements. This is not the first time a layperson has given me this advice. So, I thought it was time to do a little research of my own. Here is what I found out.

B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is commonly found in a variety of foods such as fish, shellfish, meat, and dairy products. It is commonly found in combination with other B vitamins in a vitamin B complex formulation. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.

The human body stores several years’ worth of vitamin B12, so nutritional deficiency of this vitamin is extremely rare. The elderly are most at risk as a result of an inability to use vitamin B12 or absorb it from the intestinal tract. Strict vegetarians or vegans are also at risk as they do not consume foods that contain B12.

A day’s supply of vitamin B12 can be obtained by eating 1 chicken breast plus 1 hard-boiled egg plus 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt, or 1 cup milk plus 1 cup raisin bran.There’s no evidence that vitamin B-12 in any form — including vitamin B-12 injections — enhances weight loss. So there you have it. No need to take B12 supplements. I am interested in hearing from anyone who is taking B12 and what their thoughts are on this topic.

Having a few senior moments lately??

Dwindling memory, decreased concentration and slowed response time associated with aging are largely caused by decreased blood flow to the brain and loss of brain cells. In addition to proper nutrition and exercise, mental fitness activities are essential to preventing age related cognitive decline. Combating these are easy; read and learn new things, find new hobbies, do crossword puzzles or even add up your grocery bill while shopping. All off these activities can stimulate brain cell activities and in some cases even grow new brain pathways.

I am sure you have heard stories of centenarians who attribute their longevity to some sort of quirky practice: eating an apple day, drinking a glass of red wine daily or even saying a certain pray. Although such things are not for all of us, especially those of us who do not have a ritual or practice per say.

It is safe to say that most of us do have a routine or practice that sustain us and nurture us, which does not necessarily fit into a specific framework of any dogma or philosophy; instead it is completely personal – A ritual just for you. Be sure to be attentive to your daily habits.

Learn to distinguish between petty meaningless addictions and practices that actually make a difference in helping you thrive.

A prescription to longevity-Marriage? Who would have thought I would be saying these words, but yes, it is true. Research has shown that couples who are happily married live on average four years longer than single people. Emotional and psychological fulfillment from a gratifying long-term relationship helps people overcome and face life’s challenges without experiencing the depredations of stress.

Psychologists alike attribute the increase in life span to a sense of “interconnectedness” to another individual. According to one study done, nearly 100% of male centenarians(a person of 100 years or more) are married or have only recently been widowed.

Health and longevity do not just stumble upon our door step by chance – they need a little help. Most of us live in a very fast paced environment with pollution, stress, fast food and oh yeah, did I say stress. Unless we “act methodically and stem the tide of aging”, we will be lost.

Be a planner. Write down exactly how you want to be and feel in energy, weight, mental acuity and mood. Do you have symptoms of illness you want to overcome? Set realistic goals for yourself, then start implementing them daily toward fulfilling each and every one.

Once you have reached your goals, set new goals to continue on your path of improvement and progression. Remember there is no limit on how healthy, how well, how energized and how great you can feel. Plan on feeling your best all the time as you continue on your journey to longevity.

Hi Everyone, I recently came across this poem and wanted to share it with everyone. It is by Ralph Waldo Emerson and I think it is offers a wonderful philosophy to carry us through life. Enjoy!

“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

In case you haven’t noticed, stress is a huge contributor to premature aging. Personally, whenever I undergo a particular stressful period in my life, I see a dramatic change in how old I look. So stress is something we definitely need to control if we are truly serious about controlling the aging process.

The problem is that our bodies are equipped with a very antiquated survival mechanism, which is a carry-over from our ancestors who needed to deal only with life or death situations. In today’s society most of our stress is not physical in nature yet our bodies still react to it in the same manner as our ancestors’ did when they were in a life or death situation.
In order to control stress, it is important to understand how our bodies respond to stressful situations. First, there is a massive release of stress hormones, which causes an immediate release of energy reserves that is intended to help us deal with the stressful situation. The problem is that most of this energy comes from stored glucose (sugar) taken from body tissues, including our liver. During stressful situations, broken-down fatty acids from stored fat are used to a much less extent than they are used during non-stressful periods. In other words, our bodies take the quick energy when we are stressed rather than burning fat for energy.

Once these stress hormones (mostly cortisol) are released into our systems they stay elevated for a long time. Functioning in a constant state of stress (which many of us do) results in a constant elevated level of cortisol, which leads to decreased burning of fat storage for energy. Need I say more ……we all no what happens next – weight gain, muscle wasting, fatigue………aging.