April 1, 2001- The Home Stretch
Are you keeping your muscles strong through strength training? Be sure to keep them long, too, with a good stretch. Strength training shortens and tightens your muscles, making them more susceptible to injury. To battle the natural loss of flexibility that can come not only with strength training but also with aging, add a 5- to 10-minute stretching session to all of your workouts. Strength training along with proper stretching can help reduce your chances of soft issue injury.  Including muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
SOURCE:  Real Age Health Systems Inc., ©2001

April 8, 2001- Walk On
Think you can't do the cardio required to get your heart into shape? Think again. Even a modest walking program can bring body benefits.
In a recent study involving 40,000 women, study participants who walked as little as one hour per week had a significantly lower risk of heart disease than those participants who were sedentary. Walking one hour per week at a moderate pace can reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 50%. Exercising regularly can help reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of Americans!
SOURCE:  Real Age Health Systems Inc., ©2001

April 15, 2001- Down With Brown
Trading in your milled white rice for whole-grain brown rice not only will increase your fiber intake, but it may help you fight cancer, too.
Recent research reveals that brown rice contains phenols that are not as present in milled white rice, and these brown rice phenols exhibit cancer-fighting characteristics. Both brown rice and rice bran contain the anti-carcinogenic compounds.
Eating a diverse diet, including 6 servings of breads and grains per day, can help decrease your chances of many types of cancer.
SOURCE:  Medscape's MedPulse Inc., ©2001
 

April 22, 2001- Feet of Strength
If you've starting running for the first time this spring, you're probably at risk of developing plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot. To prevent the painful condition, Rick Braver, D.P.M., a New Jersey sports podiatrist, recommends this quick daily routine.
Before getting up in the morning, sit on the edge of the bed and roll golf balls under your feet from heel to toe for 1 to 2 minutes. This will keep the area from tightening throughout the day. (If you have arch or heel pain, you should put a heating pad under your foot to warm up the area before doing the exercise.) At night, ice your heels and arches for 5 minutes to reduce inflammation. Besides preventing plantar fasciitis, this can also help you recover from it.
SOURCE:  Men's Health Systems Inc., ©2001

April 29, 2001- Under Pressure
Want to keep your blood pressure under control?  Adding a banana to your bowl of breakfast cereal is a quick and easy way to start.
According to studies, people who get an adequate amount of potassium in their diets tend to have lower blood pressure than people whose potassium intake is lacking.  A single, medium-sized banana offers approximately 450 of the 3,000 milligrams of potassium needed daily for optimum health.
Increasing potassium intake and reducing your blood pressure can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases.  Remember, your blood pressure should be at 120/80 or less.
SOURCE: Real Age Health Systems Inc., ©2001