Is it really possible for anyone to live happily to 100? The good news is that your body was designed to be 100 – you just have to get out of the way.

Getting out of the way means taking an honest look at the habits and lifestyle you are living with today. Most of us have developed habits that limit our true health potential.

But don’t let these bad habits of the past discourage you – it is never too late to make new choices. What you did in the past can be changed, and your body will respond in kind. What matters is what you do from this moment forward. Read the rest of this entry »

It was recently discovered that middle-aged men and women who engage in too much physical activity might be at risk for developing arthritis.

According to a study that was released during the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), it was found that those with higher physical activity levels were at a greater risk for developing knee abnormalities, which could lead to osteoarthritis. Read the rest of this entry »

Understanding osteoporosis means understanding what the disease is, what its risk factors are, and what can be done to prevent it.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decrease in bone density. This leads to fractures and other bone problems.

One of the first things to do to prevent osteoporosis is determining if you are at risk for developing the disease. Read the rest of this entry »

Spider veins are the lesser form of varicose veins, but they can be nearly as devastating to the appearance.

Women who suffer from spider veins are more likely to hide their legs behind long skirts or stockings in order to avoid the embarrassment of showing off their marked veins. This problem is preventable, though.

Spider veins tend to appear mainly on the legs, although technically, they could occur on any part of the body. They look like a fine web of dark red, purple or even blue lines under the skin and are not as pronounced as varicose veins. Read the rest of this entry »

Proper nutrition is always important, but eating right is absolutely vital for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or even just trying to get pregnant.

Eating right prior to a planned pregnancy is essential, since most women will not know their pregnancy status until many weeks after conception.  Proper levels of certain vitamins like folic acid can prevent many common birth defects, so the best pregnancy diet is one that starts even before conception.

Eating right during pregnancy means eating more, but it is important to make each of those extra calories count. Women who are currently pregnant should plan on consuming approximately 300 extra calories per day, but it is important that those extra calories come with extra nutrition and not just empty calories.

It is also important for pregnant women to take the prenatal vitamins prescribed by their doctors – these vitamins will provide important extra nutrients for the growing baby.

Pregnant women should be sure to eat a wide variety of foods in order to ensure proper nutrition.  Both mother and child will need to consume a variety of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in order to ensure proper nutrition.  And since that growing fetus is dependent on mom for nutrition, it is essential for her to eat plenty of nutritionally dense foods.

A good rule of thumb for pregnant women is to consume from 7 to 11 servings of grains and breads, four to five servings of fruits, another four to five servings of vegetables, three or four servings of dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt and three servings of protein, including meats, fish, eggs and poultry.  Fats and sweets should both be consumed sparingly, since they can add many additional calories with little nutritional value.

When selecting foods it is a good idea to choose foods that are high in fiber.  Not only will this help to improve overall health but it will also help women deal with the constipation that often accompanies pregnancy.

The healthy diet established at the start of a pregnancy should of course continue throughout the entire nine months.  It is important for mom to eat right for the entire pregnancy, as this will help the baby grow and develop properly.  Many common birth defects can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, and that is why proper nutrition is so important for all stages of pregnancy.  By eating a healthy diet and taking the prescribed prenatal vitamins mothers to be can get their babies off to a great start and avoid many problems down the road.

What does your diet do for your skin’s health? If you are eating a well balanced diet, you may be impressed with the quality of your skin.

The two interact with each other, just like every other organ in your body performs only as well as the nutrients it is provided. When it comes to eating healthy, there are several things to keep in mind in terms of what you should eat to help improve your skin quality.

In fact, your skin is a direct reflection of the quality of foods you do consume. Read the rest of this entry »

The first thing you should know, if you don’t already, is that women LOVE to be touched. Touch is very important to all humans, but it is, generally, much more important to women, and they respond very strongly to touch.

It is a powerful reward to a woman when you touch her, and it can instantly make her feel great. Now, of course, some women are more reserved about it…some are more formal and are not comfortable feeling such good feelings with someone until they know them well. Read the rest of this entry »