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Archives for July 2013

Keys to a Happy and Healthy Retirement

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After devoting decades to your work, you now have the freedom to attack life with gusto. You can live wherever you want; you can revive the pursuit of your passions that may have fallen by the wayside because of work, family and other responsibilities that are no longer on the table. Retirement offers so many possibilities and the chance to live your life exactly as you want.

But, for many, the transition to this new stage of life is anything but glorious and exciting. It is wrought with feelings of loss, lack of purpose and plain old boredom. A study last year by Harvard University found that people who retired were 40 percent more likely to have suffered a stroke or heart attack compared to people still in the workforce—these health problems were particularly prevalent in the first year of retirement. But, other studies have shown retirement has brought improvements in health or had no effect at all. These mixed results may suggest how a particular individual approaches this new phase of life can make all the difference. Generally, you want to look at retirement not as a single event, but as a process. Here are some tips for being happy and healthy in these years.

Maintain a Strong Social Network

Retirement may mean a change in your social landscape. You probably had your work friends, but now that you are not going to the office every day, you will need to make a greater effort to maintain those relationships. Reach out about setting up standing get-togethers, such as a weekly lunch. Look into volunteer opportunities and other activities where you are likely to meet people who share similar interests as you. If you are considering moving to a new location, you may want to consider a retirement community, where you will be surrounded by other retirees—these communities also tend to organize social events for the residents.

Keep Fit

Not only will keeping fit help you enjoy a happier and healthier retirement, you can stretch your nest egg a bit farther when you do not have as many health problems. If exercise is not already a part of your regular routine, it is time to change that. Lack of time can no longer be an excuse, and the good news is, you do not have to worry about strenuous workout routines or hauling yourself to the gym every day. It is more about regular physical activity in any form. Ever notice something about the studies examining longevity in different parts of the world? The healthiest people tend to have jobs that involve lots of regular physical activity—they are not pumping iron or hitting the treadmill at the gym. They may be doing something as simple as walking a few miles a day while herding their sheep. Also, working out in three 10 minute increments is just about as beneficial as a straight 30-minute workout, so if you need to ease in slowly, aim for these three short bouts before moving on to longer sessions.

Keep Your Brain Active

Harvard University conducted a 73-year study on aging, and one of the most common threads in the happiest and healthiest retirees was a commitment to learning and keeping their mind active. You can take classes at the local college or purchase some Rosetta Stone software to learn a new language. Learn how to knit or build something. It does not matter what it is, just as long as it engages your brain.

Find a Sense of Purpose

One of the struggles of retirement is feeling a lack of purpose; for many, they found that through their work, and now that it is gone, it is easy to feel a bit lost. Finding purpose when we are younger is easier—you embark on a certain career or have children. When you are retired, you may feel like there is nothing out there for you. But, no matter who you are, you can find a sense of purpose. Think about what matters to you, what issues are important to you, what your passions are. It may take some time to find something that really clicks, but you will eventually if you keep at it.

Kelli Cooper, writing for Lakewood Manor, is a freelance writer who blogs about a variety of issues related to retirement and aging.

 

Steps to Staying Healthy Even at Home

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You don’t have to spend all your time and money in the gym to stay healthy. While it may seem impossible, there are numerous ways to improve your health even at the comforts of your own house.

So if you’re a stay-at-home mom, a retiree, an individual who works from home, or simply someone who can’t find time to hit the gym after work, here are a few practical steps to stay and remain fit and healthy even at home.

1. Set a schedule

For improved health, everyone is recommended to spend at least 30 minutes of daily exercise–whether it’s jogging, or any other cardio workout. If you start the day really early, you can set your exercise time during the afternoon. For instance, if you’re a mom who prepares breakfast and sends kids to school, you can start with your regimen when everyone else is out of the house. If you find it hard to spend 30 minutes straight workout, you can divide them into sets of 10 so that it won’t feel long.

2. Stick to your schedule

Starting a workout regimen is quite easy; sticking to it is the hardest part. There are many factors that can disrupt your exercise program and the most common factor is laziness. Once you’ve started exercising, try your best to stick to your promised schedule everyday. Once you give in to laziness, you’d find many other reasons to quit. A good idea is to workout in short periods of time, so that you won’t get bored easily. Thirty minutes isn’t that long!

3. Have workout tools at home

If you can afford to transform an entire room into a home gym, lucky you. If you can’t, however, investing on the basic fitness equipment is fine. There are many workout equipment in the market today that offers more functionality and lesser space. Some of these equipments roll cardio training, core strengthening, and weight lifting into one. Buying instructional DVDs is also a great investment. This way, you’d be able to see how a certain exercise is performed to ensure positive results and less injuries.

4. Turn household chores into exercise

If you find running on your treadmill a weary endeavor, why not spice it up? There are numerous ways to break a sweat at home, and most of them involve household chores. Set three days a week keeping your home squeaky clean. You can have gardening on Mondays, scrubbing the floors on Wednesdays, and cleaning the garage on Fridays. Without noticing it, you can burn more calories than you can imagine. This exercise regimen is also twofold. You can break a sweat and keep the house clean at the same time.

5. Eat healthy

Exercise won’t work if you still eat unhealthy food. Remember: a healthy body is the result of exercise and proper diet. Although it may be hard not to be tempted by food (especially if the kitchen is only a few steps away), try to take the step towards a healthier lifestyle by following a diet program. This doesn’t mean starving yourself or doing a crash diet. Instead, start replacing the junk food you have in the fridge with something nutritious such as fruits and vegetables.

With a positive outlook and by following the steps above, you’ll surely have an improved lifestyle even at home. Do you have any other tips to share?

Melissa Page is a health writer and health buff who’s always on the lookout for low-cost health insurance plans for her family and friends. When she’s not writing, she plays bowling.

New Rules Proposed by FDA for Apple Juice

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(CNN) — Arsenic in apple juice. It’s a scary statement — one that’s received a lot of attention in recent years, although some say the concern is unwarranted.

After prodding from consumer groups, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted their own investigation and is proposing a maximum limit for arsenic levels in apple juice. The FDA plans to limit the amount of inorganic arsenic to 10 parts per billion — the same amount the Environmental Protection Agency allows in drinking water.

This is the first time the FDA has set limits for arsenic levels in food or drink products. The move comes two years after an episode of “The Dr. Oz Show” raised public concern about the amount of arsenic in children’s apple juice. The show tested three dozen samples of five brands of juice and found some contained arsenic levels between 11 and 36 parts per billion. Shortly after, Consumer Reports released a study that analyzed 88 samples of apple and grape juice. The researchers found about 10% of the samples had arsenic levels higher than 10 parts per billion.

There are two types of arsenic: inorganic and organic. Inorganic arsenic has been classified as a human carcinogen by the EPA. The FDA describes organic, or naturally-occurring arsenic as “essentially harmless.”

“This chemical element is found in the Earth’s crust,” Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, wrote on the government agency’s blog. “It’s everywhere in the environment and can be found in water, air and soil, in both organic and inorganic forms. Human activities also can introduce arsenic into the environment.”

Although the FDA’s new rules are not yet in effect, the agency says parents shouldn’t be worried. Last year they analyzed the arsenic levels in 94 samples of apple juice. The analysis showed that 95% of the samples tested were below 10 parts per billion for both organic and inorganic arsenic; 100% of the samples were below 10 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic.

“Apple juice producers, as well as the FDA, want people to know they can be confident that apple juice is safe,” Rick Cristol, president of the Juice Products Association, said in a statement, noting that juice companies routinely test their products.

“Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the environment and may be found in the air, soil and water. It is commonly found in harmless, trace amounts in many crops and naturally sourced foods. Humans have been exposed to it for thousands of years.”

Long-term exposure to arsenic, which is odorless and tasteless, has been linked to cancer of the bladder, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver and prostate, according to the EPA. Scientists also know that arsenic can affect the nervous system, causing headaches, numbness and tremors, and can damage your blood vessels. There is also some evidence that frequent exposure could lower children’s IQ levels, the CDC says.

The association also notes in the statement that holding apple juice to the same arsenic guidelines as drinking water isn’t appropriate because people consume more water on a regular basis.

In 2011, Consumer Reports released a study that analyzed 88 samples of apple and grape juice. The researchers found about 10% of the samples –including ones from well-known brands — had arsenic levels higher than 10 parts per billion. Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, has advocated since then for a 3 parts per billion limit but said in a statement that it is happy with the FDA’s “reasonable first step.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies under 6 months of age not drink any type of juice, and that children 1 to 6 years old should have no more than 4 to 6 ounces a day.

The FDA has to accept public comments on their proposal for 60 days before these recommendations can be implemented.

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