Are you already caught up in the holiday shopping stress? Don’t worry about it.

Shopping can actually be good for you.

One American and one Taiwanese study both showed that shopping is good for you , it can even make you live longer. The reasons are that while shopping we exercise, we stimulate our brain and we increase our self awareness.

A British study showed that women walk on 3,3 km on a average shopping spree, that is 2 miles. Planning your purchases, examining merchandise, making considerations about the products and what you need etc is great stimulation for your brain. In fact your brain makes up it mind about a product a couple of seconds before you’re even aware of it.

Shopping is also  a way of rewarding yourself. The neurotransmitter dopamine is released in your blood when you start planning your shopping trip. Many talk about shopping stress for the holidays but a calm shopping trip can actually release stress. Just be smart and don’t wait until the last moment.

Get more exercise out of your shopping spree

Walk

If you walk the average 2 miles during your shopping you will burn around 210 calories. (at about 140 punds)

Increase your tempo and walk a little faster and you can burn up to 250 calories. That’s not bad.

Lift

The heavier bags you carry the more exercise you get. Make sure to keep a good posture.

Prevent tension in your neck an shoulders by lifting and lowering your shoulders 10 times with you bags in your hands.

Wiggle

While trying on clothes and shoes, move as much and your can. Twist and turn to see yourself in the mirror from all directions.

So this year, make the most out of your holiday shopping.
Image by Steve-h

&nbs

The answer to a young body is written in our chromosomes. By studying the length of telomeres the three corner stones has been identified as the key to a young body.

The study was made on 740 women and it measured the length of their telomeres. It was found that the women in with the longest telomeres got an average of 153 mg vitamin C and 12 mg vitamin E in their diet. A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement also gave less biological aging.

A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration. The length of the telomeres is used as a measurement of biological aging.

The three most important vitamins that where identified to promote Anti-Aging are:

1. Foods high in vitamin C

2. Food high in vitamin E

3. A multivitamin/mineral supplement

Why not try this Rose Hip Soup Recipe that give you plenty of vitamin C plus vitamin E.
Quinoa is also a great anti-aging food since it contains both vitamin C and vitamin E. I use quinoa all the time and my kids prefer it to rice. Here is how to cook quinoa.

Image by jurvetson

The results that you can get from just a little time and effort is amazing.

Check out how you can get fuller lips through easy face yoga. I seriously doubt that it takes a full 10 minutes..

Apples and carrots contain vitamins A, B and E. They also have a high amount of antioxidants that help prevent cancer and slow down the aging process. That’s why it gives you a clear, young-looking skin. Yogurt may also help improve bowel functions.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple
• 50 grams carrot
• 200 ml yogurt

You can use any yogurt flavor that suits your taste.

To prepare, just follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Clean and peel off the skin of apple and carrot.
2. Cut the apple and carrot into small pieces.
3. Blend the apple, carrot and yogurt together.

Your apple carrot juice is now ready to be served. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed mine.

Source: Healthy Juicer Recipes

Image by robbplusjessie.

It is not the fish, seafood or low amount of dairy that makes the Mediterranean diet so healthy.

Several studies have found that the Mediterranean diet improves our chances of living longer. Many thought it was due the fish.

In a recent study by Athens professor  Dimitrios Trichopoulos ts was found that the most important ingredient that promotes longevity is wine.

Moderate intake of wine.

The second more important factor was low consumption of meat and meat products.

Here is the full list of the foods that promotes longevityin the Mediterreneans diet, (the foods are orders after importance):

1. moderate intake of wine

2. low meat consuption

3. high consumption of vegetables

4. fruit and nuts

5. olive oil

Professor Dimitrios recommends to eat meat twice a week.

Image by rpeschetz.

A healthy brain is your most important asset.

You can do a lot of things to keep your brain healthy. But there is 1 single action that is the more important that the rest.

And very EASY.

Write down 5 things you are grateful of.

It is a simple as that. Each day write down five things you’re grateful of.

This will make you happier and if you are happy your brain works better!

image courtesy of ayumi

Why our hair turns gray?

“In essence, the researchers found that the body literally bleaches its own hair. Hair goes gray because there is an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide caused by the wear and tear of the hair follicles. All hair cells produce hydrogen peroxide, and as we age, the amount increases. The peroxide blocks the normal production of melanin, which is the hair’s natural pigment.”

Read more: “Gray Hair: New Study Uncovers Mystery of Why Hair Turns Gray” – http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/gray_hair

Image courtesy of doublebug

This is a high risk zone for women. Pregnancies and our wide pelvis makes is more important for women to watch our abs and back muscles. On top of this many of us get heavier around the hips as we age, making lower abs even more vital.

The good news is that with just 3 months training you can lower your physical age with 10 years!

I’m 36. I’ve never had 6-pack abs and I never will. But that does not make it less important for me strengthen my abs. On the contrary with a history of back ache, 3 pregnancies and a long hours in front of my laptop I should be more concerned about my abs than the average 20-year old who wants to look good in a bikini.

By strengthening your abs you:

1. Lower your physical age
2. Remove back ache
3. Get better posture
4. Create beautiful waistline
5. Burn dangerous fat around your intestines

My solution

I started getting back ache at in my 20-tees. I went to see several doctors and all they every did was give me painkillers. I asked what I could to to make the pain go away permanently and every time I got the answer: “There is nothing you can do, you’re fine, take some pain killers and move on.”

I don’t want pain killers!

I want to find out why I have back ache so that I can do something about it.

Finally I had a series of back massages where I got to hear that my back muscles where really tense. I needed to stretch them out and strengthen them.
Yoga became my rescue. It gave me both the exercise I needed and a powerful piece of mind.

Lately I’ve been trying out more focused strength training. And I’m really impressed by the results you see and feel in very short time. Workouts are going more and more towards fast and efficient today. You don’t need to do 100 boring crunches. By combining effective exercises which strengthens your whole core you get:

1. Fast results
2. In less time
3. With a minimum of equipment

You don’t need expensive equipment.

You can see results in just a couple of weeks.

Other ways

Even if physical exercise is one of the mayor keys to healthy stomach and back muscles there are other factors that can make a difference. For example:

• Stress
• Eating habits

You can support the process by eating foods that remove that stomach fat. Snacks for a Flat Belly.

For Non-responders

Did you know that 50% of all women are so called non-responders? Which means that exercise is not enough to lose weight. For all non-responders and every one who knows that they could improve their diet, the best programs cover both parts diet and exercise.

You can use full body workouts 3-4 times a week to exercise your stomach.

Or maybe 15 min day fits better in to your schedule.

If an exercise plan does not fit in your schedule it’s a total waste of money. But you will NEVER be able to strengthen your back and stomach muscles without making an effort.

It’s never too late

It doesn’t matter how old you are and what you look like to benefit from stronger muscles holding up you body. On the contrary, the more unfit and the older you are, the faster you will feel results.

You can start right now by correcting your posture and tightening your inner abs as you are reading this article.

The best if it all

By increasing your muscles mass you become younger and healthier. You will  naturally lower your blood pressure, your bad cholesterol, and your risk of type-2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Your body’s physical age depends on many factors and your diet is one of them.

By loading your body with lifespan increasing nutrition and boosting it with super foods that fight damage you can quickly see results in Your Body, Your Energy and on Your Skin.

Here are 13 food habits that will make you look and feel young:

1. Drink 2 cups of white tea each day: white tea is loaded with antioxidants.
2. Have a berry smoothie a day.
3. Eat fish twice a week to get vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy fats..
4. Limit your intake of red meat as they increase the risk of cancer.
5. Eat at least 4 serving of proteins each day. Remember there are excellent vegetable proteins.
6. Avoid processed meat as they increase the risk of cancer and have a very high salt level.
7. Never drink more than 1 glass of wine or bier in one evening, as it is filled with calories, it dehydrates you and shrinks your brain.
8. Avoid sweets. A piece dark chocolate a couple of times a week is ok.
9. Drink half a gallon of water and white tea each day to make sure your body can detox properly.
10. Eat 7 servings of fruits each day to get plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
11. Always choose whole grain products for bread, pasta, rice etc as their refined counter parts contain fast carbs and very little nutrition.
12. Eat a handful of raw nuts each day to give your body healthy fats.
13. Supplement with:
    • Antioxidants
    • Probiotics
    • Omega-3

    as most people, even on a healthy diet, do not get enough of these foods.

It is amazing how little you need to change your life!

If you increase your oxygen uptake with 20% you body becomes 15 years younger.

When I first read that I pictured myself for hour and hours in the running track. But if you give it all you’ve got you increase your oxygen uptake very fast.
Just 15 min a week has a significant effect on your lungs, heart and blood circulation.

It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do just as long as you work on 90% of your maximum heart rate (MHR). Which is calculated like this:
220 – your age * 0,9

The easiest way is to simply buy a heart monitor and use it that as you exercise. But another way is to listen to your breath. Above 80% of your MHR you are in general too out of breath to talk.

So run, bike, swim, or choose an exercise you love, as fast and hard as you can for just 15 minutes a week.

Do not attempt this if you are not in good health.