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Showing posts from 2018

Immune Function As We Age

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     Normal functions of the immune system include defense against infections and detection and destruction of malignant or autoreactive cells. As the immune system ages and these capabilities decline, there is increased susceptibility to infections and cancer and an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders.       Your immune system helps protect your body from foreign or harmful substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or tissues from another person. The immune system makes cells and   antibodies   that destroy these harmful substances. AGING CHANGES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM As you grow older, your immune system does not work as well. The following immune system changes may occur: The immune system becomes slower to respond. This increases your risk of getting sick. Flu shots or other vaccines may not work as well or protect you for as long as expected. An  autoimmune disorder  may develop. This is a disease in which the i

Beet Supplements

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Benefits of Beet Supplements Beetroot has been gaining in popularity as a new super food. Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Many studies indicate that eating more plant foods, like beetroot, decreases the risk of obesity, overall mortality, diabetes, and heart disease and promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, and overall lower weight. Heart health and blood pressure : A 2008  study  published in  Hypertension  examined the effects of ingesting beetroot in healthy volunteers and found that  blood pressure  was significantly lowered after ingestion. Researchers hypothesized this was likely due to the high nitrate levels contained in beets and that the high nitrate vegetables could prove to be a low-cost and effective way to treat cardiovascular conditions and blood pressure. Another study conducted in 2010 found similar results, concluding th

What is a DASH diet?

DASH stands for Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. DASH diet has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure within 2 weeks in individuals following the diet. It is not only known to help manage the blood pressure but is also designed for weight loss programs, helps to prevent heart diseases, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Who should follow a DASH eating plan? In fact, a DASH eating plan can be a part of any healthy eating plan. Not only, will it help lower blood pressure but it will offer additional heart health benefits including lowering LDL cholesterol and inflammation. How does the DASH eating plan work? The diet consists of foods that are low in sodium and consists of a variety of foods that are rich in nutrients like potassium, calcium and magnesium are known to help lower blood pressure. The diet is rich in fiber that again helps to lower blood pressure and knock off the extra pounds which will in-turn assist in lowering blood pressure. What shoul

Exercise and Health

Did you know: Twice as many adults in the U.S. are physically inactive than smoke cigarettes. Approximately 35% of coronary artery disease deaths are due to physical inactivity. $117 billion in health care costs are associated with inadequate physical activity. So how much exercise am I supposed to do ??? 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week PLUS 2 days of strength training are needed to maintain health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.  150-200 minutes per week of moderated physical activity is needed to prevent weight gain. 225-420 minutes per week are needed for long term weight control. Health Benefits of physical activity on Obesity: Weight loss / maintenance  Improves body composition and prevents muscle loss during weight loss Health Benefits of Regular Exercise: Arthritis: increases strength, range of motion, physical function, decreases disability, pain and stiffness Decreases blood pressure Exercise may be as effective

9 Benefits of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

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Great article I found on Coenzyme Q10 at     https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coenzyme-q10.    S omething we all should be taking.  I take mine daily as well as my son, who has congenital cardiomyopathy / heart failure (a serious heart condition).  Visit my store at www.WellnessMike.com .    Search for this one, as this is the one we take:                             Thanks, Mike!   9 Benefits of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Written by Arlene Semeco, MS, RD on October 12, 2017 .  from: Healthline 1. It May Help Treat Heart Failure Heart failure is often a consequence of other heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure. These conditions can lead to increased oxidative damage and inflammation of the veins and arteries. Heart failure occurs when these problems affect the heart to the point that it is unable to regularly contract, relax or pump blood through the body. To make matters worse, some treatments for heart failure have undesirable side

Flu or Cold?

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It is now the time to receive a Flu shot, if you are able to.  But how do you know if you have a 'cold' or the 'flu' ?  Below is a great reference from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Typically, the Flu season goes from late September to about March.  Remember to keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands often to help prevent the spread of cold or flu viruses. Stay healthy and shop for your supplements on my site at www.WellnessMike.com

Breakfast: Are You Fueling for Health or Disease

Breakfast: Are You Fueling for Health or Disease Eat a healthy breakfast. It sounds simple enough. But what exactly does that mean? While there is no definition of the “perfect breakfast,” it makes sense that there are ideal and less than ideal ways to energize your body. So let’s compare typical breakfast options to various types of fires and ways to fuel your morning right! The Cooking Fire This fire is the equivalent of a stove range. It burns slowly, evenly and can literally last all day. The breakfast equivalent? A breakfast that will keep you energized all day with stable blood sugar levels should always have lean protein as its base. Like seasoned firewood, lean protein is a slow burn fuel. It improves glycemic response, inhibits the secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates the secretion of the satiety hormones peptide YY (PYY), glucagonlike peptide 1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CKK) [11]. The net effect? You feel more satisfied and have fewer food cravings,

Good Healthy Habits

Good health is of prime importance to all of us. We need to be healthy, filled with abundant energy, sound sleep, and fit and disease free body, which will give us a sense of overall well being. In order to be fit and healthy we need to practice healthy living styles with proper food habits and exercise. We cannot be healthy if we are lazy and lethargic. We need to work hard both physically and mentally to be fit and healthy. Besides exercise, we also need to eat healthy foods avoiding junk foods, which make us lethargic and dull. If you are over weight and obese you will suffer from health problems. So you need to maintain an optimum body weight to be healthy. You need to follow healthy and positive habits. Positive thinking is very essential in order to be healthy. You need to clear out your mind and fill it with positive thoughts. You will have to remove all the depressing and negative emotions and thoughts from your mind and replace it with healthy and positive thoughts. These p