Posts Tagged ‘fitness’
Why Adding on a Few Pounds as You Age Might Be Good for You
Putting on a few extra pounds in your 50s may add years to your life — if you start off at a normal weight and your weight gain doesn’t tip into obesity, a new study suggests. But two outside experts cautioned that the findings are not a license to pack on the pounds, as study…
Read MoreGet Moving, Seniors: It’s Good For Your Brain
Want to give your brain a boost? Go for a swim, take a walk, or spin your partner on the living room floor. A new study finds that aerobic exercise can improve older adults’ thinking and memory, even if they’re longtime couch potatoes. This type of exercise increases blood flow to the brain and counters…
Read MoreTime Spent on the Links May Lengthen Life
Grab your golf clubs. Spending a day on the green at least once a month may lower the risk of early death among older adults, a new study finds. About 25 million Americans play golf, which is a sport that can reduce stress and yield exercise benefits. Social in nature and played at a controlled…
Read MoreCards, Board Games Could Be a Win for Aging Brains
Playing cards and board games like chess, bingo and Scrabble might be the mental workout you need to keep your wits as you age, Scottish researchers suggest. People in their 70s who regularly play board games score higher on tests of memory and thinking skills than those who don’t. And 70-somethings who step up their…
Read MoreVitamin D is Key to Muscle Strength in Older Adults
Vitamin D deficiency is linked with poor muscle health in older adults, a new study finds. Maintaining muscle health helps seniors maintain their independence, mobility and quality of life. It also lowers their risk of falls and frailty. Researchers looked at more than 4,100 people, aged 60 and older, in England. About 4 in 10…
Read MoreStaying Healthy Now to Work Into Older Age
While you can take Social Security benefits at age 62 and get 75% of your maximum, waiting until you reach full retirement age (between age 66 and 67 depending on the year you were born) gets you much closer to the full amount. But the age at which Americans can collect the most dollars has…
Read MoreEven Age 80 Is Not Too Late to Begin Exercising
Even seniors who never exercised regularly can benefit from a workout program, researchers say. A new study found that men in their 70s and 80s who had never followed an exercise regimen could build muscle mass as well as “master athletes” — those of the same age who had worked out throughout their lives and…
Read MoreEven Age 80 Is Not Too Late to Begin Exercising
Even seniors who never exercised regularly can benefit from a workout program, researchers say. A new study found that men in their 70s and 80s who had never followed an exercise regimen could build muscle mass as well as “master athletes” — those of the same age who had worked out throughout their lives and…
Read MoreHow to Help Your Heart Weather Extreme Heat
As extreme heat events become more common, you need to know how to protect your heart. Hot temperatures and high humidity can lead to dehydration, which causes the heart to work harder and puts it at risk, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Staying hydrated makes it easier for the heart to pump blood…
Read MoreThe Lifelong Health Benefits of Intimacy
Much research has explored the mental and physical health benefits of maintaining social contacts well into later life. Studies also show that maintaining sexual health can have profound benefits that may include slowing down the aging process. Besides the exercise value of sex, research has found that sexual pleasure and intimacy may help ease everyday…
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