Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Healthy Aging: Ways to Boost Memory

Maintaining the mental faculties is of great concern to many people as they get older, so when we look at healthy aging are there ways to boost memory and stay mentally alert in our senior years? There are many natural solutions we can employ that will help us stay mentally sharp as we age. We all have lapses in memory from time to time, no matter what age we are, but just thinking about growing old and having more than the normal lapses is scary to most of us. Whereas occasionally being forgetful or confused may not be so bad, Alzheimer's and dementia are paths that no one wants to go down. Between those two extremes there is a vast area that any of us could fall in. Here are some healthy aging tips that can help boost memory and help us maintain brain health.

Feed Your Brain
One of the most important things we can each do to reduce our risk of memory loss is to support a healthy brain. Many things in our environment today, such as pollution and pesticides, increase our exposure to toxins. The blood brain barrier works to protect the brain from toxins and allow in the nutrients it needs. Oxygen, water and glucose are able to pass through the blood brain barrier, whereas other molecules can be accepted or rejected. 

The human brain requires oxygen and a high concentration of nutrients. The brain's main source of energy is glucose. It also needs protein however and proteins are not able to pass through the blood brain barrier until they break down into amino acids. Research has shown that poly unsaturated fatty acid and especially DHA are vital for brain development. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, important nutrients for a healthy brain, are also able to permeate the blood brain barrier. AFA bluegreen algae has the amino acids that are the building blocks of healthy nerve cells and neurotransmitters needed for the brain to function properly. It also provides a perfect balance of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and helps maintain normal, healthy blood chemistry that feeds the brain.

According to Tiffany Hughes, PhD, research assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, eating a diet that is heart healthy is also a healthy brain diet. Your heart needs to be healthy in order to pump blood and oxygen to your brain. This type of diet would include lean protein sources, lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains, and only the healthy fats like monounsaturated fats. Fruits and veggies loaded with antioxidants are especially important for brain health to protect brain cells from damage.

Keep Moving
Part of healthy aging is to stay active. Keeping involved in activities such as hobbies, community projects or organizations, and social engagements all help keep us moving forward, keep our brains working and staying sharp. Research studies have shown that seniors that have less involvement with other people have greater risk of memory loss than those that have strong social networks. Keeping your brain and mental processes working goes a long way towards maintaining your healthy aging quality of life. Exercise your brain with mind puzzles, games that involve thinking strategies, learning new skills or whatever you enjoy that will give your brain a work-out.

Physical exercise is another important component. Aerobic exercise can keep the mind sharp and has also been shown to increase brain tissue. Exercise is also good for increasing blood flow to the brain and supports nerve cells that control memory in the brain. Your health care provider should be consulted before starting any type of exercise routine or program to make sure there are no limitations you should be observing, and then get moving. Whether you go for walks, join an exercise class, take up yoga or Tai Chi, or swim, find the type of body movement that you enjoy, is physically easy for you to do and that you will do regularly and keep your body moving.

Coping With Memory Loss
If you find yourself dealing with some occasional memory lapses, there are strategies you can put into place now that will help you into the future. Using index cards with key phrases as reminders during meetings or social functions, getting in the habit of writing notes to yourself as soon as you think of something you need to do or when making an appointment, using alarms as reminders, emailing yourself reminders, beginning a habit of not agreeing to anything until you are near your calendar and can check for conflicts and can write a reminder on the calendar, and starting to establish particular places for important items to be kept and making sure you ALWAYS put them back there are all ways of coping. Having coping techniques in place can help reduce the stress that comes with those times of forgetfulness. When we are under stress, our bodies produce stress hormones which can be detrimental to memory. If you find yourself dealing with chronic stress, find a release that works for you to relax and keep your stress under control.

Supplements to Support Memory
One supplement we find useful for healthy aging combines bluegreen algae, eleuthero, Ginkgo biloba, Lion's Mane, bee pollen, wheatgrass juice, and noni. The blue green algae is a good source of whole food nutrition, bee pollen is reported to have a high amino acid content useful for stimulating memory and concentration, wheatgrass juice has been found to provide nutrients that support brain health and clearer thinking, and Gingko biloba has been used for a long time to promote increased memory and mental concentration by increasing circulation and providing increased oxygenation of brain cells. With all these combined, you can see how this combination is perfect for the support of brain health in healthy aging.

Instead of sitting around dreading old age, get proactive now and start using some of these healthy aging tips to boost memory and pave the way to have an active and enjoyable time in your retirement years.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products  on our website.


Source:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/7-brain-boosters-to-prevent-memory-loss




Thursday, February 22, 2018

5 Ways to Avoid Emotional Eating

Here's a quick quiz for you: when you feel emotional and stressed out, what kinds of food do you eat?

If you're like most of us, your answer might be sugar, caffeine, salty foods, or nothing at all. It's the strangest paradox of all. When we're emotionally stressed out and really need good nutrients, we reach for foods that have the least nutrients of all. We fall into the trap of emotional eating, which actually causes us to feel more stressed than ever, even if we feel a bit better in the moment.

For instance, caffeine and sugar can cause your blood sugar to plummet after an hour or two. Plus, caffeine can cause increased stress in your heart rate, respiration, muscle coordination, and thought processes. Emotional eating helps you feel better in the short term, but can really cause a serious physical and emotional crash later.

Stress and nutrients are closely intertwined. When we're stressed, eating right can help us get rid of that stress, since stress increases the need for certain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And when we eat right, we're less likely to get stressed because our bodies and minds have all the nutrients they need to handle stressful situations.

How can you take simple steps to eat right and avoid emotional eating? Check these quick fixes for stress reduction and good nutrition:

1. Avoid Heavy Sweets
If you've got a sweet tooth when you're stressed, try eating sweet fruits such as bananas, peaches, and melons instead. Or, try a cup of honey-lemon tea with plenty of honey. Honey won't strip your body of vital nutrients and lemon has a refreshing zing that will keep you awake. As a bonus, during the winter honey is actually warming to the body while sugar makes you feel cold. Honey also satisfies your sweet tooth when you feel the need for emotional eating.

2. Make Wise Choices Automatic
When you feel highly emotional it can be hard to slow down and choose the best foods to eat. It is more tempting to reach for the nearest snack foods, which are usually loaded with sugar or caffeine. To avoid this temptation, bring healthy snacks with you to eat during the day, including apples and peanut butter or celery with cream cheese. Even string cheese and a handful of nuts are better for you than a candy bar. Or try out this nutritious snack bar with algae and sprouted grains and greens.

3. Hydrate
Drink pure water to refresh and cleanse your body and brain. Water is essential to every function in your body, and the more stressed you are, the more water you need. If you drink coffee, drink two cups of water for every cup of coffee. The same formula holds true for sodas. If you have trouble drinking enough water, try adding lime or sea salt to improve the taste. If you feel the urge for emotional eating, drink one glass of water first, then stop and consider your foods choices. The water will give you a feeling of fullness and give you a little extra time to prevent a food binge.

4. Digest
No matter what you choose to eat, taking food enzymes with every meal will improve your digestion and help you get the most out of everything you eat. Better digestion leads to higher energy, which means you won't feel so stressed. Less stress in turn helps you avoid emotional eating.

5. Get Enough Green

Eating green foods can give you a serious nutritional boost because chlorophyll plays a huge part in your body's health. For instance, research shows that chlorophyll is effective in rebuilding the blood, stimulating liver function, strengthening immunity, and detoxifying chemical pollutants. Numerous recent studies have also indicated that chlorophyll has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. In short, getting enough chlorophyll can help you feel more vital and less stressed, which equals less emotional eating. Chlorophyll is found in highest concentrations in green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as wheat grass and blue-green algae.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.



Thursday, February 15, 2018

Flat Belly Foods to Help You Get That Flat Stomach

Having a flat stomach is about much more than just looking good and feeling good about how our bodies look. The excess belly fat that is common among many Americans creates health risks too. Belly fat leads to increased risk of cardiovascular and other diseases more so than fat in other places such as our hips and thighs. No matter what we eat, the formula for a flat stomach has to include the number of calories consumed being somewhat equal to the number we burn off. Food is simply fuel for the body. If we put more in than our bodies can use up, then it stores up as fat. The alternative is to increase our activity level and use up more. There are some foods though that have been shown to be helpful in getting that flat stomach. Eating flat belly foods can help us get that flat stomach and improve our overall health. What are flat belly foods? Here are some of the types of food that can help achieve our goal of a flat stomach.

Monounsaturated Fats
It may sound strange to say that eating fat will help keep you from getting fat, but many researchers have found just that. That doesn't mean all fats, it applies specifically to monounsaturated fats. . Stay away from the greasy fast food and other foods with trans fats. The Institute of Medicine recommends that 20-35% of your calorie intake be these foods with the "good" fats.

Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention and Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, former nutrition director at Prevention recommend in their book, Flat Belly Diet, that sticking with 1600 calories a day will help you get a flat stomach and still have energy, a healthy immune system, and keep muscle strong. Part of the secret of this diet is eating foods with monounsaturated fatty acid in every meal as they indicate that these types of fats actually help reduce belly fat. This is the type of good fats found in foods like peanut butter, olive oil, and avocados. They also emphasize eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, seeds, lean protein, and very little red meat and avoiding processed foods.

Fiber
There is research that reports eating foods loaded with soluble fiber can help get you that flat stomach. Eating fiber makes you feel fuller so you don't need to eat as much to feel satisfied. Less calories in of course mean less calories to burn up. Foods high in fiber include beans, fruits, whole grains and vegetables. Some of the foods with the highest amounts of fiber are artichokes, split peas, lentils, black beans, raspberries and barley.

Probiotics
Your digestive system needs healthy friendly bacteria to digest your food. If you do not have enough of these bacteria working for you, your digestion is slowed and bloating occurs as well as having undigested food causing belly bulges. Flat belly foods that are good sources of probiotics vital to this digestion process are yogurt and kefir. When buying yogurt or kefir, make sure you read the labels and get ones with live active cultures. You can also add a full spectrum probiotic supplement to your diet. Our favorite probiotic supplement has twelve key good bacteria that are microblended with bluegreen algae.

Protein
You need protein to build strong muscle and maintain muscle integrity and strength. This doesn't mean chowing down on lots of steaks and hamburgers though that have a lot of fat if you are seeking the flat stomach. Good proteins come from lean sources such as beans, soy, and dairy, and if you need a meat fix then opt for white meat chicken or seafood. Be sure to take the skin off the chicken before cooking as it contains lots of saturated fat. If you notice that you are losing weight, but not dropping in waist size, this can be an indication that you need more protein or need strength training, according to Alan Aragon, a nutritionist in Westlake Village, California (http://ow.ly/qkrkZ).

Protein powder drinks are another good source of protein. Studies such as one in The Journal of Nutrition are showing benefits of choosing whey powder over soy. In this study it is reported that those who added whey protein to their diets showed less body fat and smaller waists than those that used soy protein.

Personally, I love getting protein with smoothies. They are easy and fast to make, and easy to take with you when you are on the run. I can add in fruit or veggies for some extra fiber and antioxidants, some yogurt for probiotics and protein and my favorite organic whey protein powder for a real boost.

Metabolism Boosting Foods
Increasing your metabolism can also help burn fat and get you closer to your goal of a flat stomach. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that creates a sensation of heat from irritating nerve endings. It is mostly found in various types of peppers and has been found to give a boost to metabolism. Green tea is another metabolism booster. Some studies have reported an increase in metabolism of 4-10% when drinking two to four cups of green tea a day. Staying hydrated also helps keep your metabolism working at its peak. Being even mildly dehydrated can slow down your metabolism, so be sure you are drinking plenty of water.

For a natural and healthy way to keep your metabolism high and your fat content low, add enzymes to your regimen between and at meals. Enzymes help boost your metabolism. These enzymes contain amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease, and lactase for more efficient digestion to avoid the after-meal energy slump. These enzymes with an extra boost contain cayenne and other substances to increase metabolism, burn fat, digest a broad spectrum of substances, and clean up waste in the body.

Calcium
We typically think of dairy foods as being fattening, but not getting enough can actually lead to your body making more fat. This is explained in a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition as calcitriol, a compound that increases fat cell production, being stimulated by a lack of calcium. You can actually go further towards getting a flat stomach by making sure you get extra calcium.

Snack Bars
Yes, I know there are lots of snack bars out there that vary in protein, calories and overall nutrition. You really have to read labels and compare to make sure you are getting one with the right nutrients to fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied, but without adding a lot of extra calories or unnatural ingredients that you'll have to now burn off. My favorite snack bar is made with high-quality, organic ingredients, is fortified with sprouted grains, greens, and bluegreen algae so I know I'm getting good nutritional value from it. It also has almond butter for a smooth texture and is sprinkled with minced almonds which helps make it great tasting as well as nutritious and convenient when I'm busy or on the run.

Now that you know some flat belly foods to get you on the way to a flat stomach get started on burning away that belly fat for a healthier you.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.


Sources:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/advice/health/flat-belly-diet#slide-1
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/flat-belly-diet
http://www.oprah.com/health/3-Rules-to-Eat-By
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/core-health

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

5-Minute Methods to De-Stress Your Way to a Healthy Lifestyle

Yeah, yeah ... we know. You have a crazy life and your smart phone schedule gives you exactly 5 minutes of "blank space" to de-stress your life. And yet, you want to live a healthy lifestyle, too, because you know stress has a seriously negative effect on your immune system, digestive health, and just about every other part of your body, mind, and soul.

So what do you do?

Simple ... read on! Follow these proven 5-minute methods to de-stress your way to a healthy lifestyle. You've got 5 minutes to de-stress, and we've got natural solutions for you that really do work!

Healthy Lifestyle Tips That Really Do Work in 5 Minutes
You'll be surprised at these simple 5-minute fixes that really can get you back on track for a healthy lifestyle, no matter how stressful your life is on a daily basis. These natural solutions have been tested by some of the most stressed and busiest people we know, so we know these approaches work. All you have to do to de-stress is try one or all of these approaches in that tiny open slot in your schedule. Ready? Let's go!

Healthy Lifestyle Tip #1: Active Meditation
A lot of busy and stressed people object to meditation for two reasons. First, slowing down is difficult for people who are busy and have very active minds. Second, many stressed people actually fall asleep during meditation, and find they awaken from such "naps" groggier than ever. Deepak Chopra and other meditation experts don't object to falling asleep during meditation, since they claim that people who fall asleep during meditation really need the rest. However, if your goal is to stay active and alert, falling asleep during your 5-minute meditation isn't really going to help you reach your goals.

Instead of a sitting meditation, try an active meditation. For instance, try a 5-minute power walk. On the first 2 1/2 minutes of the walk, you get to ask questions, talk to your guides or angels or higher powers and beings. Whatever you call the "higher force" in your life, connect with that force on the outbound part of your walk. Talk about your goals, ask for help, discuss your worries ... whatever you want. Then, on the way back (again, just 2 1/2 minutes), you get to listen. Listen for messages, look for signs from higher powers and beings, or just allow a sense of peace to enter your being. When you get back to your starting point, voila! You have completed your active meditation, and completed a natural solution for de-stressing your life. Try it ... many people tell us this form of meditation works very well!

Healthy Lifestyle Tip #2: Eat 10% Less
Here's an equation to ponder:

Digestion takes a ton of energy, and your brain is the most energy-hungry organ in your body.

So what does this mean to you, as a super-stressed and super-busy person? It means that if you tend to over-eat, even just a bit, then you are taking energy away from your brain and sending it straight to your stomach. Cultures known for long-lived people have long histories of eating light. So if you eat less, you'll not only live longer but you'll have a sharper brain as well! You will also have a lot less stress.

If you tend to overeat or even just indulge a bit too much in junk food, then cutting back your food intake by 10% can reduce the amount of energy your body spends on digestion. If you already eat the right amount of food for your height and weight, then try substituting 10% of your junk food intake with healthy foods. It's not that difficult to adjust your diet by just 10%, right? Plus, this healthy lifestyle adjustment won't take more than 5 minutes. In fact, just skipping that candy bar will SAVE you more than 5 minutes!

Healthy Lifestyle Tip #3: Get Enough Sleep
Lots of super-busy people don't get enough sleep because they can't turn off their brains and bodies at night. Research shows that people who don't have enough sleep tend to stress and worry more than people who do get enough sleep. So, if you take just a few minutes to prepare yourself for sleep, you'll tend to sleep better, which means you will wake up refreshed ... and voila! Less stress. Now we know that 8 hours of sleep is more than a 5-minute fix, but preparing yourself for a good night's sleep can be just a 5-minute fix. Check out these tips for ways to get a better night's sleep: http://bit.ly/13H9SlE

Most of all, take the time--just 5 minutes--to live a healthy lifestyle even during your super-busy day. You will appreciate that investment in your health later in life (no matter your current age or lifestyle)!



If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.



Thursday, February 8, 2018

How to Support Your Memory with Natural Solutions

How's your memory? Where did I put my keys? What did I come in here for? Who was I supposed to call? Do any of these sound familiar? Probably. Most of us have memory lapses from time to time. Memory loss can range from occasional forgetfulness to Alzheimer's and dementia for a variety of reasons.

What Causes Memory Loss?
Memory loss can come from many different sources including
  • disease
  • head injury
  • lack of sleep 
  • depression
  • alcohol and drug use
  • medication
  • strokes
  • loss of brain cells
  • stress
Nutrition and Memory Loss
The brain needs a diet that includes high quality fats and proteins to function properly. Vitamin B1 and B12 are especially important to prevent memory loss. For good brain health you need a diet with foods that provide amino acids and nutrients the brain needs to function well. These include peanuts, eggs, grains, soybeans, potatoes, legumes, almonds, beets, milk, fish, meat, bananas, yogurt and cheese.

Natural Solutions for Memory Loss
Although no one natural solution has been found to completely combat all types of memory loss, there are several supplements that have been found to improve memory, reduce the risk of severe memory loss or benefit memory recovery to some extent. Some of these include:
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Omega-3 
  • Acetyl-L carnitine (amino acid)
  • Vitamin E
  • Asian ginseng
Healthy Brain
The most important thing we can each do to reduce our risk of memory loss is to support a healthy brain. Many things in our environment today, such as pollution and pesticides, increase our exposure to toxins. The blood brain barrier works to protect the brain from toxins and allow in the nutrients it needs. Oxygen, water and glucose are able to pass through the blood brain barrier, whereas other molecules can be accepted or rejected. 

The human brain requires oxygen and a high concentration of nutrients. The brain's main source of energy is glucose. It also needs protein however and proteins are not able to pass through the blood brain barrier until they break down into amino acids. Research has shown that poly unsaturated fatty acid and especially DHA are vital for brain development. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, important nutrients for healthy brain, are also able to permeate the blood brain barrier.


How Algae Supports Brain Health
Studies have shown that AFA blue-green algae can help reduce stress. It also contains beta-carotenes and antioxidants that can help protect the central nervous system from oxidative stress.

Brain tissue is mostly made of lipids which are especially sensitive to oxidative damage. "Beta-carotene offers powerful anti-cancer, anti-aging, and antioxidant properties without the toxic risks of taking fat-soluble vitamin A." (Jeffery Bruno, Edible Microalgae). Studies have shown that beta-carotene may provide protection against memory impairment and general brain damage. Microalgae is one of the richest sources of beta-carotene.

This form of bluegreen Algae is the heart of the algae with the cell wall removed and is an abundant source of raw materials for enhancing brain activity. Amino acids found in this type of algae is the building blocks of healthy nerve cells and neurotransmitters needed for the brain to function properly. This type of algae also provides essential omega-3 fatty acids and helps maintain normal, healthy blood chemistry that feeds the brain.

How to Support Your Memory with Natural Solutions - The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and nuts that also includes dairy, fish, poultry and olive oil has been shown to be optimal in supporting a healthy brain. Add exercise and learning new things to this type of diet and, of course, eat your algae, and you will be on your way to good brain health.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.


Thursday, February 1, 2018

On the Road to Healthy Aging

Aging happens to all of us, but it doesn't have to be so obvious. There are steps we can take to continue to look youthful, feel good, and stay productive on into our senior years. What are the top 3 causes of aging?
  • Cell and tissue damage from free radicals because the body lacks antioxidants
  • Reduced immune response
  • Enzyme depletion

Did you know that you can reverse the effects of aging with very simple nutritional and lifestyle changes? Here are some basic ways to get started:

Regular exercise for circulation, strength and flexibility
  • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Drink plenty of pure water every day
  • Add bluegreen algae to your diet
  • Limit the amount of meat, butter, eggs and dairy you eat
  • Eat whole, organic foods whenever possible
  • Laugh and be happy (stress causes aging)
  • Take the probiotics acidophilus and bifidus to improve immune response
  • Use enzyme therapy to clean up waste in the body and cells

Remember that our cells don't really age - they are constantly being replaced by new cells. If you simply support your body's natural processes by using the guidelines above, staying youthful is easy!

Not a believer yet? Here is a bit more about how these tips have been shown to work for anti-aging.

Controlling Stress
Chronic stress increases levels of cortisol. Cortisol can affect bone density, add fat buildup in the tummy area and lead to reduction of lean body mass. Stress can also be tied to a variety of diseases linked to aging such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Stress also reduces your level of IgA, a protein that is part of the immune system and helps fight off infections by preventing invaders from getting into the body.

There are numerous ways to deal with chronic stress and you need to try a variety until you find what works for you. One of the simplest is laughing. People who have more enjoyment out of life tend to show less signs of aging. Laughter can decrease stress hormones, increase immune cells, release endorphins and increase blood flow by improving blood vessel function. Laughing, social activities, music, yoga, meditation, sports, exercise, deep breathing, and massage are a few things to try out to reduce stress. Reducing stress or learning methods of coping with stress can go a long way towards healthy aging.

Enzymes
The food we eat needs to be properly digested for the body to get the nutrients it needs from it. When this happens, all the body organs and cells get the nutrition they need to stay healthy. To get enzymes from our foods, we need to eat lots of raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fruits and chew them completely. Overcooking and processed foods that so many of us have in our diets do not provide the enzymes we need for proper digestion. If this is the case for you, using a high quality enzyme supplement may be in order.

Nutrition
This is a biggie. From the types of food you eat, to the amount and everything in between, good nutrition is a key ingredient in healthy aging. Food is where we get our energy and nutrients to keep the body working optimally, to keep skin looking youthful and elastic, to keep our brains properly nourished and sharp; all things important when it comes to healthy aging. You probably know already the types of foods to be eating, whole grains for fiber, fruits and vegetables for antioxidants, lean protein, and essential fatty acids for healthy brain function. What you may not know is that as we age it is better to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day than to have the normal breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is because of changes in hormone levels and our metabolism is slower. Eating smaller meals throughout the day helps keep the metabolism stable.

Antioxidants in the diet are especially important in healthy aging. Foods high in antioxidants include bright colorful vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, blueberries, carrots, and leafy greens. Antioxidants are the body's protection from free radical damage. Particular antioxidants do even more for us as we age. For example, the antioxidant vitamin C can help reduce the chances of macular degeneration which can lead to blindness in older adults and helps skin look more youthful. Another antioxidant, resveratrol, found in grapes and red wine, can help in reducing risk of cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

When choosing the best anti-aging antioxidants you can look at the ORAC value of each antioxidant. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity, and measures the ability of an antioxidant to slow aging and neutralize free radicals. Blueberries, for example, have an ORAC value of about 26. Blue green algae has an ORAC value of 128! Blue green algae is also effective at very low concentrations, so you don't have to add huge quantities to protect your cells. To make sure you are getting all the antioxidants you need to help with healthy aging, you should absolutely eat enough fruits and vegetables and in a perfect world that would be enough. But very few of us live in a perfect world and the truth is we don't get enough antioxidants from our foods. That is when supplementing with blue green algae can really help out. Our favorite blue green algae comes in a whole complete algae supplement for overall physical well-being and a version with the cell wall removed which is especially helpful for brain functioning.

Exercise
Exercise on a regular basis such as walking or aerobics can slow down muscle decline, and increase balance and coordination according to a study reported in the British Daily Mail in 2008. Other types of exercise useful for healthy aging include:
  • weight training or strength training to firm up saggy skin and work on muscle tone
  • cardio exercises for heart health
  • yoga to improve circulation, reduce inflammation and stress, and for bone health as it has been shown to increase bone density and improve balance.
  • fat burning exercises help maintain a healthy weight and prevent conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure
  • exercises such as fast walking, weight lifting, weight bearing type exercises and flexibility type exercises are all good for bone health

Ideally, we should get 30 minutes of regular exercise a day for circulation, strength and flexibility. If you can't do that, then at least do something that involves movement every day. Moving the body filters down to creating movement on the cell level. Exercises, such as particular yoga exercises, can help keep the digestive tract in good working order, tone up the arms, flatten the stomach, improve muscle tone, increase energy, and increase flexibility. Don't wait until you start to see signs of aging though. Start now before the signs of aging kick in.

Attitude
The internet and social media sites are full of stories of people in their 80's and 90's doing remarkable things such as complex yoga routines, bicycling long distances and dance routines requiring a lot a flexibility. I have a friend in his 90's who bustles around doing fundraising and a variety of work for area non-profits that I have a hard time keeping up with. With age often comes a better understanding of who we are and a letting go of limitations and inhibitions that once prevented us from doing certain things. Often it brings an increased sense of confidence. It's a time when how we look and what others think of us is not as important as it used to be and we've learned to set boundaries. Having the attitude of "you're only as old as you feel" can help keep us active and youthful. Seeing aging from this perspective instead of as a downward slope to decline goes a long way toward keeping us active, alert, happy and productive.

Skincare
The state of our skin is a reflection of the state of our general health, so some doctors can literally tell the quality of your diet based on the condition of your skin. Plus, how our skin looks often is our first sign of aging when looking in the mirror and realizing that age is catching up with us. Dehydration is one of the major causes of aging skin. If you want healthy skin, drink plenty of water. In addition to keeping skin healthy and rejuvenated, drinking enough water also supports the body in flushing toxins, preventing water retention, and keeping our internal organs functioning at top efficiency.

Eating foods rich in essential fatty acids helps skin stay elastic rather than sagging. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are the most important essential fatty acids for our skin. To have healthy skin, you need foods that have 3 to 4 times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids. Most Americans get just the opposite--eating foods that give them 10 to 20 times as much omega-6 fatty acids as omega-3 fatty acids! You can get the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs by eating seafood (especially deep-water fish like salmon and tuna), fresh fruit, dark-green leafy greens, micro-algae, seeds and nuts, and flax and olive oil. Adding just a little of each of these foods to your diet can make a significant difference to the appearance of your skin. AFA bluegreen algae has the exact ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making it one of Earth's perfect foods for healthy skin!

Your skin cares about what you feed it, whether it's nourishment from the inside out or from the outside in. With its powerful antioxidants and immune support, this antioxidant lotion helps provide natural plant-based topical protection from the challenging elements you encounter every day.

Bone Support
As we age, there is a double problem that can result with bone health. First we start losing bone at a faster rate than we can regenerate and replace it. That makes our bones more fragile. Second our muscles, joints and balance can all become weaker meaning we are more likely to have falls which can lead to breakage of these more fragile bones. That is why bone health is an important area to consider in healthy aging. Keeping muscles strong increases your ability to stop yourself if you start to fall and can reduce your risk of falling in the first place. Taking the recommended amount of calcium, Vitamin D, getting flexibility and weight bearing exercise regularly, cutting down on caffeine, and getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can go a long way to giving you the bone support needed for healthy aging.

If you are ready to seriously start on an anti-aging campaign, these are the points to consider and hopefully these tips will help you get started to finding your own fountain of youth.

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Sources:
http://www.oprah.com/food/Eating-and-Secrets-to-Healthy-Aging-Aine-McAteers-Blog/1
http://www.prevention.com/beauty/beauty/new-rules-aging
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/anti-aging-diet