Have You Tried Salmon and Asparagus Salads? You Should

Caesar, chef and Chinese salads may be the top mixtures at most restaurants, but there are so many other variations that you should consider. Although the combination sounds unusual, creating a salmon and asparagus salad gives you a world of different nutrients to benefit from. If you haven't tried this salad before, it's time to retreat into the kitchen as you discover its incredible features.

A Basic Recipe

Chop up several of your favorite veggies, including green onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Mix them up with a handful of asparagus, garlic and ginger. Drizzle walnut oil, lime juice and honey onto the mixture. Toss the salad to combine everything. Grill or broil your salmon before placing it carefully on top of the salad. This meal has complex flavors that will only leave you feeling full and satisfied. You can always alter some of the ingredients to your taste, such as adding in different vegetables. As long as you're happy with the mixture, you'll eat it on a regular basis.

Omega-3 Perks

You'll find omega-3 fatty acids in the salmon. By eating this dish once or twice a week, you can consume a fair amount of omega-3 nutrients to keep your good cholesterol high while fighting off the bad type. Because omega-3 fatty acids improve your cholesterol numbers, the cardiovascular system becomes protected with fewer occurrences of heart disease in people who consume these nutrients on a frequent basis. In addition, salmon also offers a metabolism boost that's critical to weight control as you grow older. 

Glutathione

Within the asparagus component is glutathione, which is an antioxidant. It's found in many plants, and it contributes to cellular repair and protection. With this fact in mind, glutathione is often associated with cancer-fighting properties. If you're entering retirement, you want to ward off every disease, including cancer of any type. Glutathione operates in the body as a free-radical eliminator as it fights oxidation across the tissues.

Critical Vitamins

Asparagus may appear benign, but it has an amazing amount of vitamins packed into those stalks. With one serving, you'll benefit from chromium, vitamins A, C, E, K and folate. When you combine asparagus's nutrients to the rest of your meals in a given day, this vegetable is one of the most dense foods on the table.

Additional Ingredient Benefits

Garlic and ginger are often used together in many cuisines, such as Chinese meals. Their taste combination is alluring, and they also offer important health benefits. Both of these ingredients fight off inflammation. Your body wants to avoid inflammation because that reaction can trigger more issues to arise, such as pain and poor flexibility. Ginger and garlic are also contributors to cancer fights and infection control. Enjoying retirement is much easier when you have garlic and ginger in your system to combat any ailments.

Be sure to pick a salmon fillet that's completely devoid of bones. Most salmon is sold without bones, but it's possible to pick the wrong cut at some point. Your salad should be easy to eat with a forkful of salmon, veggies and dressing all at once. After trying a salmon and asparagus salad one time, you'll be hooked on its taste and health benefits.

3 Tricks to Get Yourself Exercising

At any age, you might find it difficult to exercise on a regular basis. Work, family and other responsibilities simply take priority in life. During the retirement years, you have more time on your hands that can be dedicated to exercising. Ideally, working out for about 150 minutes a week is optimal. Get this time in by using these basic tricks and get yourself exercising. Feeling and looking younger than ever is a reward for every 50-something.

1. Do it First Thing

One of the most common reasons why workouts don't happen is the time factor. You promise yourself to exercise in the afternoon, and shopping or babysitting gets in the way. For most of the week, you hope to exercise but nothing occurs. Trick yourself into exercising most days of the week by simply doing it first.

Get up in the morning, brush your teeth and head to the gym. When you make exercise a priority with breakfast and dressing yourself, there are no other excuses to create and miss that workout. You'll feel energized afterward, which helps with every other task during the day. It might be necessary to wake up a little bit earlier than normal, but the effort is worth the rewards. As you grow into the senior years, exercise becomes a critical activity for your overall health. Add in aerobic and resistance training to round out your morning regimen.

2. Make it Social

By nature, humans are social animals. Every task in life can be social, from cooking dinner to solving a problem. Exercising is another activity that definitely benefits you from a social perspective. Find a friend that encourages and inspires you. Commit to a weekly workout goal together. It's much harder to skip a workout when your friend is urging you to join him or her. 

During the buddy workout, each person offers their own challenges to the other participant. The faster person inspires the other one to pedal harder on the bike or to run faster on the treadmill. These small challenges make each workout more fun than the next one. Because you'll notice a more toned body as a result of the challenges, you'll want to exercise even more with the friend. This scenario continues on its cyclical pattern as you get healthier each day.

3. Create a Reward System

You may have heard of reward systems before and wondered about their value. Many people perceive a reward as a fatty snack or food, which negates the health benefits of the workout in the first place. Think of a reward that's not food based, such as watching a favorite movie or buying art supplies for a project. These rewards cannot be achieved in any other way besides working out on a regular basis. 

As soon as you complete the workout, reward yourself. The brain responds to this situation by associating exercise with a positive outcome. Although a healthier body should be the reward, it helps to have a more tangible prize to focus on. Continue to reward yourself so that a pattern emerges in your mind. The workout habit will be ingrained in the mind after only a few sessions.

Don't forget that household chores can count toward your exercise goals. Vacuuming the entire house is essentially an aerobic routine. Consider all of the activities that you perform in a given day so that you can add up the exercise time. You may be more active than you first thought.

Six Tips For Healthier Hair

Improving your personal appearance can be quite good for your self-esteem, your professional prospects and your personal life. Healthy hair is one of the most important qualities that contributes to pleasing personal aesthetics. Your hair is one of the things that really defines you as a person. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep the appearance of your hair within acceptable parameters. If you think that all you have to do to have healthy hair is to wash your hair every day, you've got a lot to learn about this subject. Here are four ways you can keep your hair healthy and lustrous:

1. Trim your hair often to get rid of split ends. Generally speaking, split ends make your hair look sloppier and more unkempt. To keep split ends in check, trim your hair at least a quarter of an inch every six or eight weeks. 

2. Despite what you may think, you shouldn't wash your hair every day. Just because you're showering, that doesn't mean you have to wash your hair as well. If you wash your hair thoroughly every other day, you'll maintain a perfectly clean head of hair. Too much washing strips the natural, healthy oils that keep your hair looking great.

3. These days, people are more conscious than ever about shampoo ingredients. Of the ingredients commonly found in shampoos, sulfates are uniquely controversial. Though sulfates produce a pleasing lather and do clean your hair, sulfates aren't necessary for a great shampoo. Sulfates are the cause of the stinging sensation that occurs when shampoo gets in your eye. More worryingly, sulfates can cause itchy scalp and overly dry hair in sensitive individuals. If you experience any of these issues, simply use sulfate-free shampoo. 

4. Deep condition your hair periodically for an unforgettably lustrous shine. After washing, squeeze all of the water out of your hair and dry your locks with a bath towel. Next, apply a good deal of your favorite conditioner into your roots. With a broad-toothed comb, spread the conditioner through the length of your hair. After pulling up your hair and clipping it, allow the conditioner to soak in for anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. Now you're ready to rinse the conditioner out of your hair. Afterwards, you'll be amazed at the incredibly silky and lustrous texture of your hair. 

5. Heat is never good for your hair. If you routinely curl, dry or straighten your hair, you will experience hair damage. Fortunately, there are several ways to change the look of your hair that don't involve applying heat in any way. If you must use a curler, use coconut oil, almond oil and conditioner to treat your hair afterwards. 

6. If you want great hair, be sure to eat a hair-healthy diet. Your hair loves foods with complete proteins and plenty of amino acids. Foods and beverages that fit the bill include whole milk, greek or regular yogurt, soy, peas and all types of cheeses. It's a good idea to consume at least 12 mg of iron each day. Studies have shown that it is far better to get your iron from food instead of supplements. Because of how your digestive system works, a lot of the vitamins and minerals in supplement pills are wasted. Foods with lots of iron include leafy green vegetables, pumpkin seed, beans, chickpeas and cereal. Besides providing iron, fish can improve your health in a number of ways.

The Role of Breakfast in Keeping Down Weight Gain

Popular thought in the past used to include skipping meals as an effective way to lose weight. However, this strategy usually backfired as people ate voraciously at subsequent meal times. Science has proven that eating a healthy breakfast is one of the best ways to lose weight and keep it off. As you enter your 50s and beyond, look at the benefits to eating breakfast so that you can prioritize it each day.

Energy After the Fast

The term "breakfast" comes from the concept of breaking an overnight fast. You've slept for six or eight hours, and now it's time to start the day. The body doesn't have any energy at this point. It requires food to jump start your metabolism. By eating within the first, two hours of waking up, you're offering the body key nutrients. You won't feel hungry until well into the late-morning hours, which keeps your weight under control.

Blood-Sugar Control

Unless you have diabetes, being aware of your blood-sugar levels isn't a daily concern. You probably feel the differences as you move from a satisfied sensation to a craving for a favorite food during the day, however. By eating breakfast, you're leveling out your blood-sugar levels. The body feels stabilized as it uses the breakfast energy. When you skip breakfast, the body is suddenly destabilized. You'll crave every fatty and sugary food around you because the body is simply seeking out homeostasis. As a result, you'll probably eat a snack or meal that's high in calories with weight gain on the horizon.

Better Food Choices

Researchers have discovered that people who eat a balanced breakfast will make better food decisions for the rest of the day. These decisions are based on steady, blood-sugar levels. You don't feel deprived of any nutrients so cravings are kept largely at bay. The result of these behaviors is food selections full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fatty and calorie-laden foods are ignored for the most part.

Feeling Fuller For Longer

When you choose foods that are high in fiber or protein, your body needs time to digest those items. Because the digestive system is busy working on those foods, you'll feel fuller for a longer time period. Eating foods that are full of empty calories, such as pancakes with syrup, will only leave you hungry a few hours later. Eggs, oatmeal and vegetables are better choices.

Making the Time

Because you're entering your retirement years, there should be some extra time for a real breakfast each day. Pick out healthy items, such as eggs and whole-grain toast, so that you have enough calories to make it to lunch. Oatmeal is another option that many people enjoy. Ideally, pick foods that require some chewing so that the process takes some time to digest. You'll feel more satisfied afterward.

Keep ample fruits, cereals and oatmeal in the house so that you aren't tempted to skip breakfast. Filling a bowl of cereal, fruit and milk takes only a few minutes. It's possible to make and eat your breakfast in less than 10 minutes. This small commitment works wonders on your body as weight remains controlled through the retirement years.

Gaining Muscle Weight vs Fat

Muscle weighs more than fat. For this reason, the scale may not reflect your real progress as much as you expect it to do. People who take up serious fitness training sometimes report that although they lost several inches around the waistline, they only lost a small amount of actual weight.

But building muscle is not just about working out. A large part of it is about eating right and taking proper care of your body. 

You Need Protein
Muscle is mostly protein, so it takes protein to make muscle. Good sources of protein include lean meats, eggs, milk, cheese and legumes. Egg whites are a source of nearly perfect protein for the human body. This is why competitive body builders used to drink raw eggs to bulk up, before there were protein powders and shakes. You should try to get one gram of protein for every pound of body mass. If you weigh 120 pounds, you should shoot for 120 grams of protein per day. 

You Also Need Carbs
Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy to burn. If you aren't getting enough calories from carbohydrates, your body will use protein for fuel. So, you can only turn protein into muscle if you are making sure the body has enough fuel to burn as well. Healthy carbs come from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 

You Need a Steady Supply of Fuel
If you go for too long between without eating, your body will start burning internal resources to cope. When it does this, it burns muscle first, not fat. Thus, frequent small meals and healthy snacks are necessary to make sure the protein you consume has a chance to be converted to muscle.

It Takes Down Time
Many critical processes happy while you sleep. This is the body's time for maintenance. It takes a lot of work to build muscle. That work is not happening while you are doing other things. It happens when you are resting. Make sure to sleep a good seven to eight hours a night to help your body build muscle. 

You Need Enough Water
The body is mostly made of water. When you fail to stay adequately hydrated, you interfere with many bodily processes. When trying to put on muscle, you need to get enough to drink before, during and after your workout. For every pound you weigh, you should be drinking one half to one ounce every day. If you weigh 120 pounds, you need 60 to 120 ounces of fluids daily.

Resistance Training is Key
In order to put on muscle, you need to engage in resistance training. Weight lifting is one example of resistance training, but it is not the only way to add muscle. Cardio workouts tend to add long, lean muscle and help with losing fat. They don't tend to add muscle mass. Cardio and resistance training are somewhat in conflict because they lead to different kinds of muscle being formed. To some degree, the body has to choose one or the other. 

If you want to be fit, you need to put on muscle. Some ways to foster muscle gain include getting enough protein, healthy carbs, and water, plus eating frequent small meals and getting enough sleep.

5 Strangest Effective Workouts in 2017

 

Jazzercise became a household name in the 1970s and 1980s, which practically heralded in the exercise era based out of your living room. As time wore on, gyms and fitness gurus have come and gone. There's always a fitness trend to follow or evaluate. In fact, scientists have gotten into the act in order to find the best exercises for your fitness level. Currently, there are dozens of different workouts that can possibly make a difference in your life. Consider the strangest and most effective workouts for 2017. You might be surprised by several of these choices.

Underwater Spinning

Spin classes have been around for many years. They consist of stationary bikes packed into a small room where a fitness trainer guides your journey. The workout that's defining 2017 is underwater spinning. Picture a standard spin class, but add the bikes to the pool. Adding the water component essentially increases the resistance against your legs as you pedal. Your head remains above water as the rest of your body pushes against the pool's dense volume. Your resulting physique is toned with many calories being burned at one time.

Sand Balancing

You don't have to be near a beach to participate in the newest craze. Sand balancing involves a plank, such as a surfboard, perched atop a mound of sand. It can be located in a sandbox for all intents and purposes because it's the unsteady surface that you're looking for during this exercise. Stand on top of the board placed on the sand, and perform squats or other bodyweight movements. Your muscles compensate for the unsteady surface, which makes the exercise an efficient one for calorie burning.

Yoga Boxing

Picture yourself in a yoga pose with your lower body. Add in a few punches with the upper body, and you have yoga boxing. This workout encourages strength and balance at the same time. Raise your heart rate to an optimal level without creating impacts with your lower body. This particular exercise is addicting once you try it out.

Virtual Workouts

It seems like everyone has a device in their hands during a daily outing. The virtual world is big business, and it can be used to improve your health with online workouts. Log into these workouts, hop onto your exercise machine at home and you're instantly transported to a group-exercise program. You receive all of the benefits associated with a group exercise, but without the commute time to a gym. Remain with the same group or graduate to a different one when you feel ready. Flexibility is part of the virtual world.

Wellness Retreats

A strange and effective workout is one that's based on a vacation getaway. In the past, most people pictured vacations as periods where you do as little as possible. During 2017, many people want to change their lives on vacation. They might take a wellness retreat where they experience different exercise programs and meal choices. Several studies show the benefit of changing habits while in a new location because the mind accepts it better than if you were at home. Expose yourself to any workouts, and you might keep up with the exercise habit when you return home.

Today's trends also include personal observation. It's critical to pay attention to your body, such as noticing soreness and other workout repercussions. Take time out of your schedule to relax if you're experiencing too much stiffness and uncomfortable sensations. Working out should leave you with a positive rush and not a painful souvenir.

Why Is Greek Yogurt So Delicious?

What Is Greek Yogurt?

When you are shopping at a supermarket, there are several varieties of yogurt, including Greek yogurt. This type of yogurt is strained with filtering devices to remove the whey. This process leads to a thicker yogurt that still has a distinctive flavor. Some Greek yogurt manufacturers also add powdered milk, butterfat or other ingredients to this food to give it a thicker texture. A processing plant may boil milk to reduce its moisture content in order to make a thick variety of Greek yogurt. 

Greek Yogurt Contains Less Lactose and Sugar 

There are several additional benefits from Greek yogurt, including a reduction in its lactose. Many individuals are sensitive to lactose, leading to digestive problems or intestinal distress, so they are eager to buy a yogurt that contains less of this ingredient. The straining process will also reduce the yogurt’s sugar content, but some food manufacturers add sugar to certain types of Greek yogurt. 

You Can Use Greek Yogurt As a Substitute Ingredient

It is possible to use Greek yogurt as a substitute ingredient in some recipes that require sour cream. Some varieties of Greek yogurt have reduced amounts of fat, making it an excellent substitute when someone is on a diet. With its lower amount of lactose, anyone who is sensitive to this type of sugar is still able to prepare her favorite recipes. The removal of the whey from this type of yogurt leads to a richer consistency that you might enjoy, and food manufacturers typically add fruit or vanilla to the Greek yogurt products. 

Greek Yogurt Has Less Whey Protein 

Some individuals are also sensitive to whey protein, making it impossible to consume regular types of yogurt. Whey protein can cause an assortment of health problems, including: 

• Liver damage
• Kidney dysfunction
• Osteoporosis 
• Risk of diabetes mellitus
• Headaches
• Higher cholesterol levels
• Abnormal heart rhythms 
• Acid reflux

If you can’t consume high levels of whey, then Greek yogurt is a great option to ingest protein, calcium and iron. In addition, Greek yogurt contains probiotics that can improve the health of your digestive tract. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that can increase the health of your immune system to prevent foodborne illnesses, urinary tract infections and inflammatory bowel disease. 

The Health Value of Eggs vs Egg Whites

You do your level best to remain as healthy as you can. You keep track of your calories, exercise on a regular basis and throw away your egg yolks to make a vegetable omelet. Wait, you throw your egg yolks away? Did you know that whole eggs do not necessarily reduce your risk of heart disease? In fact, it may be far worse for your health not to eat your egg yolks. 

Egg yolks and all other sources of saturated fat and cholesterol were first given a bad rap in the early 20th century. Nikolai Anichkov, a Russian pathologist, performed an experiment in which he fed rabbits high levels of pure cholesterol. The arteries of the rabbits became clogged with plaque, leading Anichkov to surmise that cholesterol leads to heart disease. However, it is widely known that the liver makes about 75 percent of the body's cholesterol. This vital nutrient is required by every single one of your 37.2 trillion cells to create their protective membranes. There is a very small flaw in Anichkov's theory: the cholesterol he fed his test subjects was synthetic. Also, rabbits and humans are fundamentally different in their make-up. As vegetarians, rabbits do not consume cholesterol in their natural diet. 

Despite these facts, the research performed by Nikolai Anichkov and Ancel Keys spurred the start of a witch hunt geared toward demonizing foods containing saturated fats. After studying the eating habits of seven different countries, Keys claimed that those who consumed the greatest amounts of animal fat all died from heart disease. Although his data did show a correlation between fat consumption and heart disease, he was unable to prove that the relationship was causal. Also, while mortality rates for heart disease were higher, deaths from nearly every other cause were significantly lower, resulting in longer life expectancies. 

More recent findings regarding egg whites and egg yolks have shed additional light on the subject. A set of 21 studies collected and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that saturated fat was not associated with an increase in the risk of heart disease. Instead, the true risk comes from the inflammation caused by chronic stress and regular consumption of vegetable oils and processed foods. 

If you have been avoiding egg yolks for fear of endangering your heart, you are missing out on a world of nutrition. Egg yolks are an excellent source of vitamin A, a nutrient that is critical for healthy and vibrant skin. Other nutrients include B vitamins and choline. The saturated fat present in egg yolks is needed for balanced hormone production and vitamin/mineral absorption. 

Egg whites contain the largest percentage of the protein found in an egg. One egg white, on average, contains the following:

• 4 grams of protein
• 1.3 micrograms of folate
• 6.6 micrograms of selenium
• 2.3 milligrams of calcium
• 53.8 milligrams of potassium

Egg yolks, on the other hand, contain the following nutrient profile:

• 2.7 grams of protein
• 30 micrograms of selenium
• 21.9 milligrams of calcium
• 18.5 milligrams of potassium

The yolk itself has more nutrition than the white, but consuming the whole egg will give you a more complete nutrient profile. Eggs are among the most nutritious food on earth. Because eggs provide all the nourishment needed to grow a chick, this statement makes perfect sense.

As long as you maintain the overall number of calories you consume each day, eating whole eggs will not affect your weight. Remember to check with your health care provider or a nutritionist for more information on how to balance fat levels and fitness goals. 

Tips to Protect Yourself from Ticks and Bedbugs

The weather may be getting warmer so you want to spend more time outdoors. Spring and summer are fun-filled days for humans, but they're also a prime time for bugs too. Insects thrive in warm weather because they're coldblooded; they depend on the warmth to loosen up their bodies for reproduction purposes. In particular, ticks and bedbugs tend to be common in most parts of the United States. Learn how you can protect yourself from these bugs as you head outdoors to enjoy the weather.

Keep Clutter to a Minimum

Both ticks and bedbugs look for hidden areas to hide and reproduce. Your home's exterior should be free of any clutter, such as mounds of wood or rusted items. Ticks will replicate in these areas and possibly hop onto you. Bedbugs also look for such opportunities in furniture and linens within the home. Between mattresses is the most common location for bedbugs where they can hide during the day and emerge at night. Removing and disturbing any cluttered areas simply forces the population to be found and eradicated. 

Vacuum Your Furniture

Vacuuming is one of the single most important things to do when ticks and bedbugs are in season. Consider a household-wide cleaning session of every upholstered item. Vacuuming physically removes a large population of bugs. You may not eradicate every bug, but it's still effective.

Spraying insecticides instead of vacuuming an area can actually be counterproductive. You might kill off many bugs, but they'll eventually become immune to the chemicals. Vacuuming removes them without giving them a chance to evolve from a chemical perspective.

Inspect Your Animals

Your home might be filled with furry friends, including both dogs and cats. These animals tend to be transports for ticks and bedbugs. On a regular basis, take a close look at your pets' furry bodies. Pull back the fur in several places so that you can see the skin below. If you notice any ticks, remove them one by one. Bedbugs are more difficult to visually pinpoint. Look for any reddened areas on the pets' skins in order to narrow down a possible infestation traveling on your furry friends.

Wear Pants

A simple yet effective way to protect yourself from any bugs is by wearing pants outdoors. As you walk through any brush or grass, bugs can latch onto your legs. By wearing pants, they don't have access to your skin. Be sure to shake or wipe the pants off before you go indoors, however. Once indoors, the bugs might detach and hide in other areas. Protecting your skin is the easiest way to avoid any bites.

Apply DEET Products

For an added level of protection, wear repellents with at least 20 percent of DEET. This particular chemical is safe for humans, but wards off most bugs. Be aware that it needs to be reapplied in a timely fashion. Bugs that come into contact with it will refrain from biting you entirely. If you miss a skin area, however, the bugs will make use of this opportunity. Be thorough about your application so that the bugs simply look for other targets.

You may be inclined to scratch your bites, but refrain from doing so. As you grow older, your wounds at the bite site may become infected if you scratch the area too much. Gently rub around the bite if you must, and apply an anti-itch cream. In most cases, the bites will fade away in time.

Is Running Good or Bad for the Joints?

You might wonder if running is a good type of exercise for your joints, and the answer to that question depends on your age and overall health. As you get older, your body’s joints will begin to degrade, making running more difficult. If you have been running for most of your lifetime, then running may not bother your joints’ components. However, if you are a baby boomer who has never exercised, then beginning a running exercise program is not a good plan. Running is also not recommended for anyone who is overweight or for someone with an arthritic condition. 

Running Can Damage Your Knees With Wear and Tear Injuries

There is new research that reveals that running is good for an individual’s knees, but this study was performed with test subjects who had been running for many years. If you have lived a couch potato lifestyle but want to begin an exercise program, then running is not the best choice because it will lead to having pain in your hips, knees and ankles. To understand why running is not a good form of exercise for everyone, it is important to learn more about your body’s joints.

What Are the Joints In Your Body?

Your body has over 350 joints, but most of those are not weight bearing joints. The joints that are most susceptible to damage from running include the joints in your feet, ankles, knees and hips. Joints are composed of several materials, including:

• Fibrous tissue
• Cartilage tissue
• Synovial fluid

How Physicians Diagnose Joint Problems

If a bone has a problem, then a nearby joint might be the primary cause of the problem, or the joint might have a secondary problem. Each type of joint is unique and complex, making it difficult for a physician to determine what is wrong with it when you are in pain. In order to diagnose a problem with a joint, a physician will perform a physical examination and request an X-ray along with other diagnostic tests.

You Can Damage Your Joints By Running Incorrectly

Some individuals will run for exercise for many years and have no joint injuries, but other individuals may incur one or more joint injuries that will sideline them from the sport. Running incorrectly by using the wrong form or wearing poor-quality footwear can damage the joints in your lower limbs. It is important to warm up with stretches before running to get your body’s tendons, muscles and ligaments ready for running. In addition, running is a high-impact sport, but if you have stronger ligaments, muscles and tendons, then you are less likely to damage a joint’s cartilage.

How To Protect a Joint That Has a Previous Injury While Running

If you have had a previous joint injury, then you may need to wear a supportive brace. You can find elastic compression braces in a drugstore, or a specialist can make customized devices. A personalized brace is made from durable materials, and it is molded to support a joint precisely to prevent a new injury.

Instant Pot Watermelon Rinds

Summer always inspires the most creative of us to make all kinds of delicious drinks and treats. Whether you are interested in enjoying something cold or sweet, there are all types of recipes that you can enjoy with your friends and family on a hot summer day. Instant pot watermelon rinds are some of the most delicious snack options you can make. They can be perfect by themselves, or you can change up the recipe to add a little something extra to the original composition.

To make this delicious recipe, you just need to pick up a few key ingredients. Make sure that you have a small watermelon for a basic serving. Have four lemons, each sliced thinly with all of the seeds removed. Also gather four teaspoons of salt and sugar, and make sure that you have two teaspoons of your favorite hot sauce. You can always add more hot sauce to taste, depending on what type of rinds you want to make. Keep around additional flavorings and ingredients as well, such as strawberries, if you are interested in changing up some of the flavor. 

Once you are ready to begin, do your best to peel the watermelon. This can seem like a daunting task, but using a Y-shaped peeler can be all that you need to be left with the rinds. Once the watermelon has been properly peeled, make sure to quarter the melon and run the blade where the pink meets the white. Slice as deep and as far as it is possible. Once you have done as much as you can, proceed to use a spoon against the rind, scraping off as much of the fruit as you can. You can reserve the watermelon flesh for later recipes, but you should be left with the rind when you are done.

Once all of that is done, you can slice the rind into different-sized strips according to what you and your company may prefer. Make sure to remove the stem ends and then place the strips into an Instant Pot or inside of a pressure cooker. Set them there with your lemon slices and then sprinkle with sugar, salt and hot sauce. When ready to begin, cook this mixture at a high pressure for about 10 minutes before manually releasing. The combination of ingredients should be ready now! Pour all of the contents into the appropriate lidded container and then let sit to cool. When done, eat the watermelon and keep the lemon around as a condiment or snack for later. You can also shake the brine over ice for all types of dishes in the future. Invite your friends over to make this dish for a special occasion!

.Taking Care of Your Kidneys

What Are Your Kidneys?

You have two kidneys inside your body that are designed for filtering your blood before manufacturing urine. By releasing this urine, you are removing the toxins and excess water from your body. These bean-shaped organs are located on the right and left side of your upper abdominal area. 

Conditions That Affect Your Kidneys

Kidney disease is common, but you can protect these organs in several ways. Some of the conditions that can affect your kidneys include:

• Urinary tract infections
• Kidney stones 
• Chronic disease
• Renal cysts
• Cancerous tumors

If you have a problem with your kidneys, then it can be a temporary condition that is treatable, or it can become a chronic problem that is irreparable. In some cases, your kidneys will malfunction, requiring you to undergo dialysis to remove the toxins from your blood. 

Six Ways To Care For Your Kidneys

There are several ways to care for your kidneys to avoid developing a health problem that requires dialysis, medication or an organ transplant. Here are the ways to care for your kidneys.

1: Reduce Your Sodium Consumption

If you consume a lot of sodium, then your kidneys must work harder to remove the substance from your blood. Sodium also increases your blood pressure leading to water retention, and both of these problems can also damage the functions of your kidneys. 

2: Maintain Your Body’s Cholesterol Levels 

When you have a high cholesterol level, this sticky substance collects on the interior surfaces of your blood vessels, making it more difficult for your kidneys to remove toxins from your blood. 

3: Control Your Blood Glucose Levels

Researchers believe that high blood sugar is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes mellitus, then you must control your blood glucose levels by consuming the right foods along with injecting insulin appropriately. 

4: Take Your High Blood Pressure Medication

When your physician prescribes high blood pressure medication, make sure you take it to protect your kidneys. If you have high blood pressure, then it damages your body’s blood vessels. As your blood vessels harden, your body struggles to transport blood through your kidneys. 

5: Don’t Gain Weight

When you are overweight, you will have excess fat, making it more difficult for your kidneys to function properly. If you are obese, then you are more likely to have other health problems that lead to kidney disease, including diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. 

6: Protect Your Heart 

To prevent kidney disease, you must protect your heart because your heart pumps the blood that travels through the blood vessels to reach your kidneys. If your heart is not working correctly, then your body’s blood may not reach the kidneys so that the excess water and toxins are removed. 

Vegan Chocolate Mousse and How to Make It

Veganism is a great way to lose weights, and if you believe books like "The China Study," to potentially extend your lifespan and prevent illness. If you grew up vegan or come from a culture that cooks food that lends itself to vegetarianism (there are great Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian and Indian dishes that fit the bill here), then making the switch to a fully vegan diet may be a simple matter of making a few dietary tweaks or of dropping a few of your recipes off of your list. If you have grown up in a meat and potatoes family, the concept of a vegan diet may seem very restrictive and difficult to maintain. Luckily, it's not as hard as it might appear to be, and the changes you make can be fun.

It can take some work to learn how to cook new food, but it needn't mean that you never get to eat anything fun. Just because you have decided to go vegan doesn't mean that you have to get rid of your most favorite, decadent foods. There are a number of foods that can serve as substitute staples. Tofu makes a great cream substitute, and soy and almond milk can work as milk. Xantham gum can be a binder that works like eggs and jackfruit is a great meat substitute. 

Chocolate Mousse is one recipe that you can easily make with vegan substitutions. This recipe traditionally calls for cream and eggs. Instead, it uses silken tofu and almond milk. Chocolate chips are one item that you won't need to substitute if you go with dark chocolate; in many cases, chocolate chips are already vegan. Read below for one great recipe adapted from Food.com: 

What You Need
12-ounce package of firm or extra firm silken tofu
3/4 cup of almond, coconut, or soy milk
1 cup of vegan chocolate chips 
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Optional enhancements
chili powder
mint leaves 
peppermint oil
coconut oil and shredded coconut

Step 1: Heat milk and chocolate
You can do this on the stovetop or in the microwave, so long as you are stirring constantly as you warm. Either stir over a low stove or microwave for about 2 minutes at a time, stir, and add a bit more time. The exact amount will vary with the time out of the microwave and the power of your oven. You should have a rich chocolatey milk when you are done. Let this cool before proceeding to step 2. 

Step 2: Blend with remaining ingredients
Take all of the ingredients plus the optional enhancements of your choosing and blend them together. Make sure you taste this when you are done. If you still taste tofu, you can add a splash more of an enhancement or more melted chips, but don't add more milk or it won't properly set. 

Step 3: Chill to set
This is the final step in the recipe. Pour the mousse into a bowl (or a set of smaller, individual ramekins for best results) to set. Let it chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours. When it is done, you can garnish with your favorite items: mint leaves, shaved vegan chocolate, sea salt, candied flowers, and cinnamon are all great choices. 

While it takes some work and some reteaching of your culinary skills to learn to cook delicious vegan food, learning some basic retakes on your favorites will go a long way toward having a successful vegan diet. 

The Amazing Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting

By now, the positive health benefits related to intermittent fasting are firmly well-established. For most of the past century, the mainstream medical community showed little interest in the benefits of fasting. Although fasting is a traditional practice in many religions and cultures, some would argue that fasting goes against the grain of the "more is better" ethos of our modern, technology-focused lifestyle. Fortunately, more and more people are learning firsthand about the incomparable benefits of intermittent fasting. 

Although there are several different types of intermittent fasting, they are all based around the idea of alternating short periods of fasting with periods of normal eating. One good method is to eat normally one day and eat nothing but a light breakfast on the following day. Weight loss is one of the most visible and striking effects of intermittent fasting. However, this is far from the only benefit of fasting this way. When you avoid eating for a while, some of your fundamental physical processes start to change for the better. Firstly, your blood insulin level drops, which immediately causes you to burn fat at a faster rate. Your body starts to repair your cells by eliminating cellular wastes. Almost immediately, your body begins emitting more human growth hormone (HGH), which is quite beneficial. Temporarily, the HGH production in your body can expand by 500 percent. 

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, fasting can spur changes in your gene expression. This can benefit your whole-body health and increase your longevity. Although human testing is still in its early stages, researchers have clearly demonstrated that when they limit the amount of calories that research mammals eat, the mammals live for much longer than one could reasonably expect. This effect is quite pronounced when you cut the subject's calorie consumption by 50 percent. Of course, this is too much of a calorie reduction for most ordinary people. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that you can increase your longevity by reducing your calorie intake by at least 20 percent.

Beyond simply lengthening your life, it seems clear that fasting can improve your quality of life. For example, fasting can reduce your chances of suffering from diabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation are two things that can contribute to your risk of experiencing a wide variety of diseases. 

During your periods of intermittent fasting, your metabolism increases by as much as 14 percent. According to available research, intermittent fasting doesn't merely cause you to lose weight. This type of fasting seems to cause disproportionate fat loss in your waist or abdominal region. Muscle loss is less pronounced than in nonstop calorie restriction plans. Particularly for older people, it can prove quite difficult to lose abdominal fat under ordinary conditions. All in all, the benefits of fasting are wholly remarkable. Collectively, the effects of intermittent fasting deserve serious recognition from ordinary people and the mainstream medical community.

5 Healthy Uses for Natural Sweeteners

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Natural sweeteners are defined as a number of plant or animal-derived items that provide sweetness in an unprocessed form. They are a great way to get all of the flavor of sugar or corn syrup without the level of processing that both of these items require. There are a number of different sweeteners to try. Here are five popular sweeteners and a healthy use for each one. 

Dates
This fruit that comes from the palm tree is a sweetener that has popularity dating back before Ancient Egypt. Dates are an excellent sweetening choice for baked goods. Dates can be separated from the pit and blended into a sweet paste. They can be mashed and added to cinnamon or granola bars to provide a sweet, decadent treat. 

Honey
One of the best-known natural sweeteners, honey has a number of great uses. It can be used to sweeten drinks and salad dressings. Raw, unpasteurized honey also serves as an antimicrobial in food preservation and wound care. Eating local, raw honey every day has also been shown to help to reduce the severity of seasonal allergies.

Agave
The syrup in the agave plant is the precursor to quality tequila when fermented and an excellent honey or maple syrup substitute when used in its raw form. Agave comes in both light and dark formulations and can be used like white and brown sugar or dark and light molasses. It offers a mild taste and is a great choice for marinades, as it can help flavors to stick to the meat without causing a lot of charring and burning over a grill. 

Stevia
This sweetener is the lowest-calorie of all of the known natural sweeteners and is often used as a sugar substitute for those who want to purge sugar from their diet. It is most commonly eaten as a powder, like sugar, but it is very light and more similar to powdered sugar. It can be used in drinks and baking, but be aware that it is actually much more sweet than sugar, so you need much less of it in your coffee or tea. If you are doing a cleanse that includes lemon water, a pinch of this can help to make it taste more like lemonade. 

Maple Syrup
Another of the best-known natural sweeteners, maple syrup is a staple on breakfast tables worldwide. It is important to note that natural maple syrup is not the same as artificial brands, which consist of maple-flavored corn syrup. Maple is an excellent sweetener substitute in pies, a good glaze base for meats, and a good addition to salad dressing. 

Making the Switch
If you are unsure which kind of sweetener is best for you, it's a good idea to experiment. For some, you may find that you can easily make the switch with some things but other foods are not as good with a sugar substitute. Other people may be trying to remove most of the sweet things from their lives, and this is a way to wean off of the addictive nature of sugar a little bit more easily. 

Remember that not all sweeteners taste quite the same. If you don't like the flavor of one, keep trying others until you find a taste that you enjoy. Even as you experiment, in increase in your energy levels and a reduction in your waistline may help to tip the scales in favor of your new sweetening regime.

Taking Care of a Pet is Great for Your Mental Health

A cat or dog running around the house is either a blessing or burden in your mind. Although pets take some effort on a daily basis, their presence is largely positive. As you grow into your senior years, you'll notice marked changes in your mind and body. By having a pet in your life, it's possible to improve your mental health without any medications in sight.

Fighting Off Stress

Stress affects everyone at any age. As you grow older, however, stress can be more serious than it was in your 20s or 30s. Taking care of a pet changes this scenario. Try petting your furry friend for a few minutes. The sensation of the fur, warmth and possible purring contributes to a relaxed state of mind. There's an actual rhythm to this motion, which also creates less stress. Focusing on the animal's needs takes your worries away for a moment. Relieving stress for only a few minutes a day is enough to make a difference in your life.

Encouraging Physical Activity

Pets will jump, run and walk around your home and yard with pride. Play with your furry friends to feel and look young. Throw a ball, and follow your pet around the yard. They'll love the engagement while you benefit from the positive, health effects. Dogs definitely get you moving because they require daily walks. Take them out on a leash so that they can use the bathroom and enjoy the fresh air. The outside air also improves your outlook on life as you soak in the vitamin D from the sunlight.

Warding Off Loneliness

Loneliness is a reality for many seniors. Their children and grandchildren may be in other cities, or spouses can be ill. A pet can quickly fill the day with happiness and love. These animals love you unconditionally. They'll be thrilled to see you arrive home at the end of the day. Feeling lonely creates mental decline over time as you seek out social situations otherwise. The pet makes you feel good so that you're more inclined to be social with others as loneliness becomes a distant memory.

Breaking the Ice

You might have a shy personality, which makes social situations difficult. Let your pet do the socializing as you meet new people. The pet draws in a new person, and you're given the chance to start a conversation. You might go to a dog park or beach as a way to meet other people with pets. Use this common attribute to forge bonds that will last for many years ahead. Leaning on friends and your favorite pets is a great way to stay mentally alert.

Bringing On the Laughter

It's a fact that laughter is good medicine. A good laugh releases positive hormones throughout your body. These hormones directly affect your brain. You'll feel happy with the day even if some setbacks are present. Your pet might do funny things throughout the day, which brings on laughter on a regular basis. Allow yourself to feel the humor, and your mental health improves as a result. People who live in an unhappy bubble without pets in their life can easily succumb to depression and other mental decline.

Typical pets are the furry types, but you might have a different animal in mind. Almost any animal can help you on a mental level. Care and play with it each day so that the feelings are mutual. Your mental happiness will grow exponentially in response.

Marathons: Risk or Reward

Current workout trends include the traditional marathon that's a little over 26 miles long. People across the world will train and try their luck at these marathons. It's not just young people trying their will against these challenges either. Seniors in large numbers are giving their best as they walk or jog all or most of the marathon course. However, there are definitive risks and rewards to marathon running. Get familiar with these important points so that you can make a smart decision about your next workout session.

Improved Cardiovascular Functions

By elevating your heart rate during a marathon, you're improving your cardiovascular functions. Your heart needs some exercise to maintain its strength and rhythm. As you pick up speed during a workout, blood flows throughout your tissues as well. Sending more oxygen and nutrients through your body will only improve your overall health. You can ward off chronic illnesses and even the annual common cold. Healthy, cardiovascular systems also ward off mental decline into your senior years because the brain receives enough nutrients to remain alert.

Risk of Mechanical Injuries

As you run down a paved street, the impacts of your weight during the motion are magnified across the body by a factor of three. These impacts are somewhat supported by the joints' natural cushions, but damage does occur over time. Your ankles, knees and hips take on the brunt of the marathon's impacts. It's not uncommon to suffer from mechanical injuries in these locations. Strains, sprains and other ailments strike at any time, especially as you grow older.

Enhanced Sense of Self

Marathon runners often tout about the mental benefits to marathon running. They achieve a sense of pride with each completed mile. Feeling good about yourself is an important aspect of life. As you enter the senior years, declining health issues might be your top priority. By challenging your body with a healthy pursuit, you gain mental and physical strength. Good hormones flowing through the body will only improve your life over time.

Considering Overexertion

Running more than 26 miles during one workout is incredibly stressful on the body. Marathon runners have been known to pass out from overexertion, such as from heat exhaustion or dehydration. Currently, studies show that potential heart benefits might have a limit when it comes to long-distance running. Although you need to exercise your heart with aerobic activity, too much strain causes tissue damage. Scientists have observed heart membranes being actively damaged by enzymes generated during stressful workouts. Heart damage can easily lead to a heart attack or other critical ailment.

If you've caught the running bug, be safe with your workout regimen by visiting with your doctor. Discuss your goals and current health situation. Your doctor might set limits on your workout intensity based on your medical conditions. With your doctor actively supporting your marathon goals, you can set out on a future run with confidence.

Are Adult Martial Arts Programs for You?

Your children and grandchildren may take martial arts classes, such as karate, and you're curious about the sport too. This skill and technical sport is actually a perfect activity for nearly any age group, including seniors. As you consider an adult martial arts program, explore the perks to learning this complex sport.

Increasing Your Confidence

As you grow older, you might be concerned about your safety walking to and from your home. You want to feel comfortable being yourself with some self defense ready if trouble erupts. Learning martial arts increases your confidence about yourself. You'll be able to hold your ground if a person threatens you. In fact, you might scare off a person by just holding your martial-arts stance on the street. Feeling good about yourself benefits the entire body, which leads to a healthier lifestyle in your senior years. 

Concerning Bone Health

One caveat to the benefits of martial arts programs is bone-health concerns. These exercises sometime require you to balance on one leg for an extended time period. Although this requirement may seem benign, seniors with bone issues may see complications. Osteoporosis and other ailments might be aggravated with balancing exercises. Ideally, speak to your doctor about any bone concerns before taking up a martial-arts program. If you have a clean bill of health, your bones will only grow denser as a result of the martial-arts effort. Brittle bones from a chronic condition may indicate that low-impact sports might be in order, such as swimming.

Growing Lean Muscle

When you consistently perform martial arts, you'll develop more muscle tone. Your body will actually use itself as a resistance tool. Balancing, kicking and punching will encourage muscle growth. These muscles can increase your metabolism, which leads to fat-burning benefits. As a senior, you're probably losing muscle when exercise isn't part of your daily routine. Taking on martial arts gives you a chance to build muscle where it helps your health, especially at the cardiovascular level. Your heart health improves because it's receiving a workout as you move across the fitness mats.

Improving Your Physical and Mental Focus

Performing martial arts requires intense concentration. As you focus on your opponent, your mind is improving with the enhanced thinking. Because you're practicing these focus techniques, brain cells create new pathways to deal with the situations. A sharp mind in your senior years can ward off mental decline, such as dementia. Keep your mind sharp by continuing in martial-arts classes. Every new skill that you learn will create a new, nerve-signal pathway that only helps your daily clarity.

Creating Lifelong Bonds

As you enter a martial-arts class, you'll form instant bonds with other learners. Because you're a beginner, everyone in your class will have the same skill level. Practice together, discuss strategies and let the sport permeate your conversations. Bonding with others is an important part of mental health as you enter your senior years. By feeling connected to the community, you reduce your chances of fighting depression and other ill effects. These friendships can last a lifetime when you nourish them with supportive banter and helpful criticism. 

Many cities and towns have local martial arts classes that you can try out. Ask the facility manager about beginning classes and other details surrounding the class. Reputable trainers are thrilled to welcome any beginners regardless of age. In a matter of months, you'll be kicking and punching like a professional.

Colon and Rectal Cancers on the Rise

From the moment that you turn 50, your doctor will automatically test you for colon or rectal cancers. Several decades have passed with this statute in place, and millions of seniors have benefited with early cancer detection and remission. However, researchers report that colorectal cancer rates are actually increasing in the population. Take a close look at the rise of colorectal cancer and possible solutions.

The Young at Risk

Cancers centered in the colon or rectum are normally associated with age. As your body enters the senior years, certain tissues age at varying rates. With this fact in mind, it makes sense that colorectal cancer tends to develop in people who're at retirement ages. Startling statistics are showing otherwise, however. Twenty-year-olds are being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancers at greater rates than before. Doctors are concerned with this rising rate because there's no clear reason for the change. Researching this cancer even further will be the only way to find a specific reason.

Overlooked Diagnoses

Doctors are concerned about young people developing colorectal cancer because it's largely overlooked during standard office visits. These cancers present themselves with basic symptoms, including upset stomach, diarrhea and other intestinal issues. Professionals simply write off the complaints as a stomach flu or bowel problem. During this time period, the cancer has a chance to grow and develop further. As a result, young people find themselves fighting a cancer that's normally discovered early on in older people. Today's doctors need to consider more diagnoses than before as cancer risk rises among the young adults.

Possible Contributing Factors

Researchers can only guess at the causes of colorectal cancer in young people today. Common factors that contribute to cancer are normally a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, excess alcohol consumption and poor diets. People with chronic ailments, such as diabetes, also have a higher risk of cancer. However, none of the young people presenting with colorectal cancer have a clear connection between their habits. More research must be done in order to understand the relationship between young age and this particular cancer.

Preventive Care

The best way to prevent colon and rectal cancers is through colonoscopies. These tests are invasive, but they shed a light on any growths within the digestive system. When young people complain of chronic digestive issues, doctors should take that extra step to order a colonoscopy. These tests find polyps that are just barely forming, which can save a person's life. Seniors may want to go to an appointment with their younger loved one in order to support them through the process. It's an important test to complete so that the doctor has all of the necessary information for a diagnosis.

Surgical Options

If a young person's cancer is found to be advanced in nature, surgery is an option. Removing the cancerous parts of the colon and undergoing chemotherapy are often used as a combination therapy. Doctors must remove or eradicate all of the cancer so that it cannot continue to spread. Patients normally visit the doctor consistently after any surgery because possible recurrence must be discovered as soon as it develops.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any unusual issues with the digestive system, bring up this fact with your doctor. Professionals are more aware than ever that cancer isn't entirely impossible in young people. Catching any cancer in its early stages gives anyone a better chance at survival.