“Good Genes.” The Key to Longevity?
If your parents lived to their 90s, does that mean that you will also enjoy a long life? An interesting study investigated this question, and the answer is, “It depends.” Researchers at UC San Diego’s […]
Friends Have REAL Benefits!
What is the secret to lifelong fulfillment? As a fitness professional, you’re probably guessing that I’m going to say, “exercise” but no! The key to being, and staying, happy and healthy, is good relationships. Certainly, […]
A Reason To Live!
“Find your purpose!” The long-lived people of Okinawa, Japan, call it ikigai, which translates as “a reason to get up in the morning.” A landmark study found that having this sense of meaning reduced mortality […]
Ultraprocessed Food Could Be a Cause of Early Death and Cognitive Decline
Two new studies from Brazil suggest that in addition to being bad for our waistlines, junk food may contribute to premature death and cognitive decline. Using national food consumption surveys, demographic and mortality data and […]
Drinking Water May Help You To Live Longer
Here’s another Longevity tip that might surprise you – drinking water may help you live longer. A new study has concluded that people who are better hydrated appear to live longer and develop fewer chronic […]
Exercise Snacks
Exercise Snacks Here’s a novel New Year’s resolution – Exercise Snacks! I just love this term for adding brief (and I mean brief – 2 minutes is fine) exercise bursts into your daily routine because […]
Longevity Boosters: Exercise and Friends
According to a study of approximately 123,000 men and women, you can potentially extend your lifespan by an additional 12 to 14 years if you: Exercise regularly Stay Social Eat a healthy diet Drink only […]
Better Posture = Better Breathing!
Try this: Sitting in a chair, look down and slouch forward so your torso and head are rounded forward and take a deep breath. Easy? Hard? Now. Pretend that there is a hook in the […]
Strength Training – It’s Not Just About Looking Buff!
If you walk regularly for exercise – good for you – but! In addition to “cardio” training, new research is showing that strength/resistance training is key for warding off heart disease, stroke, and type 2 […]
Brittle Bones
About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 48 million have low bone mass density, or osteopenia, which can be a precursor for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious condition because it makes your bones brittle, increasing […]
Got Arthritis? MOVE!
Got Arthritis? MOVE! If you have arthritis, one of the best things you can do to maintain joint function is to move. “Moves that specifically target arthritic joints can help you preserve strength and flexibility […]
Power Up!
Power UP! You probably know that strength training is good for you, but guess what? There’s something even more important than simply working on muscle strength (though that is still important!). It’s called Power Training. Power Training […]
HOTTIE!
Just how hot is it in your neighborhood these days? We are sizzling! Not-so-fun-fact: Your body’s ability to cool off diminishes with age. That’s why older adults are even more susceptible to heat related ailments […]
Sweet Dreams… Timing is Everything!
Ah, sleep……. As someone who has struggled with insomnia since childhood, this topic is near and dear to my heart, so I am happy to share a few simple “timing” tips I learned about how […]
Fat Chance!!
I just read a fascinating article by registered dietician Matthew Kadey in the June 2019 issue of Idea Fitness Journal concerning some common myths and realities about fat in foods. You might be surprised by […]
It’s Never Too Late!
I just read an article in the October 2020 Harvard Magazine that’s an excerpt from a terrific new book by Daniel Lieberman called Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding […]
Food For Thought!
Although I’m not a registered dietician, and therefore am not qualified to give nutritional advice, I read an article in the July 2020 Berkeley Wellness Report that I am excited to share with you. The […]
Exercise – What’s in it for me?
What comes to mind when you think about the benefits of exercise? Many of us think “weight loss – if I could just lose that last 10 pounds……” True, regular exercise can help with weight […]
Squats 101
Even though their name is somewhat mundane, squats are one of my favorite exercises. Squats are one of the most practical and functional ways of improving your lower body strength, which is key to fall […]
Losing Your Marbles
I don’t know about you, but many folks, including me, are terrified of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. Happily, new research suggests that a healthy lifestyle that includes good diet and exercise can push back the onset […]
Dance!!
In addition to providing physical, psychological, and social benefits, did you know that dancing is also really good for your brain? In a new study from Germany in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, researchers divided healthy […]
Love Those Lunges!
Lunges are some of the most functional strength training exercises. Lower body strength is crucial for fall prevention and longevity, and for simply being able to do the things we want to do in everyday […]
Depression: A Treatable Medical Illness
The August 2020 issue of Focus on Healthy Aging from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York City had an excellent article about the various risk factors, and treatments for depression. Here’s […]
The “Other” Vaccine
A dear friend of mine just contracted the shingles virus, and she, like everyone else that I’ve talked to that has had it, describes the pain as excruciating. The side effects can be wicked, because […]
High Intensity Interval Training – great for folks of all ages!
High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is a very popular exercise regime, but many people have assumed that it is only for elite, highly trained athletes. Not so! Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found […]
What’s even better for your brain than crossword puzzles?
If you’ve been doing wordle, crossword puzzles or Sudoku to sharpen your cognitive skills, (or even if you haven’t!) you might be interested in the recent research review that examined 72 studies (including literature reviews […]
10,000 steps…….. or not!
You have probably heard of the recommendation to walk at least 10,000 steps each day. This is a commendable goal, but if we don’t reach that target, it’s tempting to simply give up and throw […]
Cod liver oil: D-Licious!?!
Maybe not so much! I promise that I won’t try to convince you that cod liver oil is a scrumptious treat, but I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal today about vitamin […]
Considering Knee Replacement Surgery? Timing is Everything!
For millions of Americans, knee replacements have enabled people who would have been incapacitated by painful arthritis to enjoy years of active life – walking, swimming, cycling, and more. No wonder almost 1 million knee […]
Have a HEART!
As you may know, February is American Heart Month. Do you know the signs of a heart attack? Do those dramatic scenes in a movie come to mind where the man clutches his chest and […]
NEAT!
If you are one of the millions of people that don’t enjoy traditional exercise, take heart! You’ll be happy to hear about the NEAT term, which stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. (Big word, so I […]
Can Exercise Help Your Vision?
Perhaps! There’s an intriguing article in the January 2022 Berkeley Wellness Letter that looks at a number of meta-studies about the relationship between exercise and cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The evidence shows that being […]
Tai Chi – Give it a Try!
Full disclosure – I’m writing about something I know very little about, but I keep reading about the benefits of Tai Chi for older adults in very reputable publications, so just had to pass this […]
Happy New You!
(Helpful hints to help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions) It’s that time of year again, where we vow to make some sort of fitness related resolution, only to have abandoned our best intentions […]
“I’m HORRIBLE at Names!”
“I’m Horrible at names!” Have you ever muttered this to yourself? We all know how important it is to remember someone’s name, but it can be so challenging! Give these simple tips a try and […]
Be FAST!!
Stroke Risk and Cold Weather I just learned something new about stroke risk, and since I am writing in December when, for some readers, the temperature drops significantly. I thought it would be a good […]
Home Safety Checklist
Home Safety Checklist Floors Clear pathways of furniture. Remove clutter from the floor. Remove low chairs that are difficult to get out of easily. Remove throw rugs or secure with double-sided tape. Coil cords and […]
Holiday Fitness Tips
You know you “should” keep active all year long, but when you add holidays to the mix, many of us find exercise becomes less of a priority. However, staying active in some way will give […]
Your Brain and Booze
I just read a sobering (pun intended!) article in the June 2020 UC Berkeley Health and Wellness Alerts about how alcohol affects our memory. The key takeaway? As you might have guessed, moderation is the […]
Walking Workout Tips
Surprisingly, there are lots of ways to make your walking routine more interesting and beneficial. Warm Up Gradually If you’re going to go for a “power walk,” be sure to start off at a more […]
Junk Food Makes You STUPID!!
I always hesitate to write about nutrition because I am not a registered dietician, but I read an article in the March 2020 edition of the magazine “The Week,” that I just couldn’t resist sharing […]
The Surprising Benefits of Colorful Produce!
I just read a fascinating article about the benefits of colorful produce in one of my favorite health publications – Berkeley Wellness. I don’t pretend to be a registered dietician, but I thought you might […]
“Strength Training is Good For You”…….. Who Knew?
I know, I know – shocking news, right? We all obviously know that strength training is important, but I thought you might be interested to learn about two big studies that confirm what we already […]
Don’t Fall For It: What To Do If You Fall
Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, you still might fall. If this happens, take a few deep breaths, and lie still for a few moments. This will give you a chance to get over the initial […]
Don’t Fall for It – Menacing Medications
Here’s another article in the “Don’t Fall For It” series: – important information about preventing falls. As an expert in older adult fitness, balance, and fall prevention, my passion is to help older adults thrive. […]
Don’t Fall For it – DANCE!!!
Did you know that dancing may reduce your risk for falls in older age? In a study published in JAMA Network Open, (the Journal of the American Medical Association) Sept. 25, 2020, researchers reviewed data […]
Don’t Fall for It – Inner Ear Mysteries Revealed!
One of the three sensory systems that our bodies use to maintain balance is located in your inner ear, called the vestibular system. When you turn your head, a fluid sloshes against tiny (microscopic!) […]
Don’t Fall for It – Eyes and Feet!
You might be surprised to learn that your eyes and your feet have a huge impact on your balance. Here’s why: Your body uses three different sensory systems to maintain balance: Vision – I’m sure […]
Don’t Fall For It – “Sit to Stands” are Grand!
I met with a new home client yesterday who told me that he falls all the time but assumed that this was a normal consequence of his clumsiness. Goodness NO! As you probably know, […]