Physical Activity - September 2012 - Volume 4 Issue 5

/
Two years ago (August 2010) our newsletter was on the topic of anti-aging strategies. New information is becoming available all the time, so I thought an update would be a good idea. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer and that you find this information interesting and helpful. Aging affects our bodies and our minds to a certain extent, but it’s becoming more and more evident that our minds, i.e. how we think, can strongly affect how our bodies and minds actually age. Pessimistic beliefs about aging generate negative health outcomes whereas positive beliefs result in positive health outcomes. Of course, we also need a healthy diet, adequate sleep, physical and mental activity, and social engagement to age well. A recent British survey finds that people now consider middle age starts at 55 (as opposed to much earlier in previous surveys) and lasts until almost age 70. However, almost 20% thought middle age only began at age 60, and 20% said that middle age is a state of mind, not something that begins at a certain age.
Read More

Fats - April 2009 - Volume 1 Issue 2

/
This is the second monthly newsletter, and like the first, it deals with nutrition - specifically the different types of fat in our diet. However, the newsletters will deal with a wide range of topics, including disease prevention, physical activity, aging well and many other subjects. You can contact me at ramila@ramilas.com. I welcome your comments and suggestions! For many years, researchers focused on the total amount of fat in the diet, but now it's clear that the type of fat we eat is more important to heart health, and many other aspects of our health, than just the overall amount. Every living cell in the body needs essential fatty acids (polyunsaturated fats). They are essential for rebuilding and producing new cells. They are also necessary for the production and balance of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances, which regulate all body systems and functions, including the cardiovascular, immune, reproductive, and central nervous systems. Essential fatty acids are found in high amounts in the brain where they assist in the transmission of nerve impulses; they are necessary for normal brain function. Japanese researchers have verified that a deficiency of essential fatty acids can result in an impaired ability to learn and recall information.
Read More