Archive for March, 2011

The type of healthy and wholesome diet recommended for elderly people is very different from that of a young individuals. The main factor that decides the amount of nutrition in a diet meant for the seniors is the body composition. As the body grows old, the body muscles, tissues and bones tend to weaken and the whole body functions slower than normal. This is the main reason why older people gain weight quickly.

The good health of a senior person is influenced by many external factors like environment, and health disorders. Here are a few good tips for all those aging and those who wish to stay healthy even after 70ies.

Water
The water content in the body of an individual reduces as he or she ages. They either dont feel the urge to drink water or literally dont have the stamina to get themselves a glass of water. This is why it is a healthy practice to drink a minimum of one ounce of water for every 2.2 pounds of weight.

Protein
Protein is vital source that boosts the immunity system and that puts off the muscle wastage. This is why it is important to take protein rich diet even in 70ies. Eggs, lean meats, poultry, and fish are some of the protein rich sources that should be included in ones diet.

Carbs and fiber
Young or old, everyone needs adequate amount of carbohydrates to stay active and healthy. Carbohydrates is a good source of energy that provides stamina to ones body. Bread, cereals, pasta, and other grain products are some of the sources rich in carbohydrates. A fiber rich diet helps one avoid gastric and constipation problems.

Fat
Seniors should take adequate amount of fat content not more, not less. Lean meats,
low fat dairy products helps in curbing unnecessary fat. The correct recipe and the right preparation can make food rich in vitamins and minerals and have less of calories too.

Iron
Iron deficiency is one of the most common disorders in the older generation. Iron is a source of blood and thus the level of iron should always be maintained. Lean meat and breakfast cereals are a good source of iron that should be included in ones daily diet.

Zinc
Zinc is another vital nutrient that supports the body in various ways. However, the common complaint in older people is the poor zinc absorbing power. So, one should have meat, poultry, and fish in their diet to get the minimum amount of zinc in their body.

Calcium
Calcium is a nutrient required by people of all ages. Calcium supports our teeth and bones and the lack of calcium can be a great threat to ones life. Many believe that milk may upset their stomach and thus do not drink adequate amount of milk that is a rich source of calcium. Yogurt, low fat cheese, and broccoli are a good source of calcium and can be substituted for milk if one does not like to include milk in his/her diet.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps in its own way to support a human bodys working. The intrinsic
Factor produced in the stomach helps to absorb the B12 benefits. However, people in their old age suffer from B12 deficiency that is medically called the atrophic gastritis.

Each of the nutrients mentioned here should be had in sufficient amount depending on factors like age, gender, and occupation. Staying healthy in old age is not only a bliss to oneself but also to people around us as they may consider a sick, old person a burden in their lives. A good diet and proper care can help a 70 year old person as young as a 25 year old individual.

Lifestyle Changes Does it Help in Heart Disease Prevention?

Heart disease is not a health condition that develops rapidly. Heart disease takes place as a result of poor diet and lifestyle, and it takes a long time before the heart gets affected.

People with a family history of heart problems are more prone to getting heart diseases as they grow older. However, on the brighter side treatment and prevention is possible even for people who are inclined to heart problems. If you are diagnosed to be at high risk of experiencing heart diseases, then you must start some heart disease prevention therapy at the earliest.

Consult with a doctor with regards to heart disease prevention and accordingly change your lifestyle. Very small lifestyle changes can do a great deal with regards to heart disease prevention.

The Process of Getting Started

Lifestyle changes are the first step to coronary heart disease prevention. Quitting smoking is the first step to change your lifestyle. Besides heart diseases, smoking can cause many other illnesses. So, smoking is not worth risking your health.

Quitting smoking is very difficult, especially if you are a chain smoker. However, if you have the determination to do it, it will be easy. Anyone who gives some value will quit smoking and look into the methods of heart disease prevention. If you are worried on how to quit this habit, then there are many people who have come out of this habit by various quite smoking programs.

For more ways that are effective and that would help you to quit smoking, you must consult with a doctor. A doctor would be able to recommend you to an expert in this field.

The manner in which you live must be changed apart from quitting smoking. Your relaxation period in front of your television set must be forgotten. An inactive life is only going to make you get obese and make you get more prone to experiencing heart diseases.

This does not indicate that you have to go out partying every night. If you are a person who is serous about your heart disease prevention, then you must know that partying is not at all an option, and in fact it is worse than watching television all night. You must take on a relaxing hobby instead of partying or watching television all night. This is because your body needs to get enough rest from a busy day at office.

For the purpose of de-stressing you must take on some relaxing and soothing activity when you get back home. For example, you can take up yoga classes instead of sitting back and watching television. Yoga is not just useful for relaxation but also tone up your muscles.

The signs of experiencing a stroke are chest tightness, pain below the breast bone, lightheadedness, nausea, sweat, and tingly pain down the left arm. Since it is women heart disease symptoms can differ from an individual, age, gender, as well as lifestyle.

On the medical front women heart disease symptoms are difficult to assess, other than testing through an ECG. In this you are made to walk on a treadmills and the doctor checks the monitor that you are wearing to see view the strained areas. In this way you can also find out the clogged arteries that come as a result of high cholesterol to check if the blood flow is difficult.

Researches have proven that women heart disease symptoms show up later than in men provided it is not a genetic cause where it might show up earlier than expected. Young women do not realize the risks that come with heart disease. This is because they are normally told that they would get heart disease only when they start getting older and they must only look into breast cancer while they are still young. However, the fact is that breast cancer does not top the list but heart disease does in women as well as in men.

The Important Factors to Keep in Mind

The other factors that are important to keep into account in women heart disease symptoms are obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol, as well as genetic reasons. For all the above-mentioned causes medications can be provided to reduce the probability of a heart attack or a stroke. You must ensure that you give importance to your entire body like you give to your heart muscles. If you do not exercise regularly, daily walks can help you pump the blood through your heart.

Certain tests have proven that with any women heart disease symptom, the younger people have not bothered to find out the cause and label their chest tightness as indigestion. You need not pay too much of attention or get worried if you have a women heart disease symptom. Go for annual checkups to increase your life span.