FitSugar

Sex Could Be the Secret to Longevity

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Most people don't need another reason to get busy between the sheets, but this might come as appreciated news to those skeptical about the productivity of getting down. Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz visited Good Morning America to talk about the health benefits of sex, and here are the highlights from their bedroom talk.

Women who enjoy sex live longer lives than women who do not.
Men can cut their risk of heart attack and stroke in half by having sex three times a week.
Sex can make women feel two to eight years younger. Men can achieve the same youthfulness by having 150 to 350 orgasms annually.
General pain can be decreased through orgasms.

You know my gal pal DearSugar is excited by this news too.

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5 Signs You’ll Live Longer Than You Think

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

I am always trying to do what I can to extend my own life expectancy. Sometimes I consciously make decisions that I know will keep me around longer (like not smoking), but there are also many things that we all do (some we have no control over), which influence how long we're going to live. Prevention recently listed some surprising signs you’ll live longer than you think. So instead of thinking you need to change up your habits, give yourself a pat on the back for the ones you already do. Check out my favorites from the list in this slideshow.

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Laughter: More Than The Best Medicine

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We have all heard that laughter is the best medicine; well some Norwegian researchers think it might just be more than that. Folks that have a sense of humor, especially in the face of cancer, outlive those who don't find life funny. The study tracked 57,000 Norwegians for 7 years and the larger role humor played in participants' daily lives, the greater their chances for surviving. Check out this article at USA Today for more on this study.

Now another recent study, this one British, found laughter acts as a "social lubricant" and can thereby make folks more altruistic as a group. Participants were shown either serious or comic videos in groups and then asked to "invest" money. They could invest either "privately" with a guaranteed return or "communally" with all participants receiving an equal return, but with no guarantee that it would match the amount put into the investment. Yep, you guessed it - the participants that laughed with their investing partners, who they had never met before, were more likely to invest communally. Laughing together makes people feel like they are more connected. The researchers are postulating that laughter could have evolutionary significance in creating group bonding which increases the group's survival in stressful situations.

Well...laugh and the world laughs with you...and you might live longer...and you might invest your money more altruistically which would make you feel warm inside.

Now if you are looking for a laugh, a chuckle or a guffaw...check out my buddy GiggleSugar. I am sure she has something to help you live longer.

Stop Monkeying Around and Wear Sunscreen

FitSugar — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 05:35:00 -0800

You always tell your husband to stop acting like a monkey, but now you may want to change that tune.

HealthDay News reported that (according to new research in the journal Current Biology) male chimps prefer older females with bald patches, sagging skin and wrinkles over younger females with full fur and well-toned bodies.

That's good news for monkeys since I can't think of one that wears sunscreen and works out regularly. What a different world it would be if human primates felt the same.

For those of us not worried about what our male counterparts think, but who still want to look good for a very long time there is sunscreen. One of the best things you can do to stay looking young and to prevent skin cancer is to protect your skin. I know it's hard to think about in the middle of winter but if you're planning a sunny holiday or ski trip, you should invest in a good sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Remember to apply it 15-30 minutes before going outdoors.

Fit's Tip: Always look for a lotion that protects from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. If you have sensitive skin, look for a sunscreen that contains only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients will provide a barrier against UV rays without your skin chemically taking them in, which in theory is gentler on your skin.

Another Reason to Love the Med Diet: It Fights Depression

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:30:18 -0700

We've been touting the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for a while now - it reduces allergy symptoms, helps with weight control, supports longevity, and is good for vision and heart health. A new study gives us yet another reason to go the way of Mediterranean: it may protect against depression.

Researchers studied a pool of 11,000 Spanish adults over a four-and-a-half-year period and found that those who stuck closely to a Mediterranean diet were 30 percent less likely to develop depression than those that didn't.

It's unclear exactly why the diet acts as a mood lifter, but researches noted that the diet may improve blood vessel function, reduce the risk of heart disease, fight inflammation, and repair oxygen-related cell damage, elements which may be key in warding off depression.

To learn how to eat like a Mediterranean, check out our tips.

FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:50:07 -0700

New research finds that thick thighs might translate into longevity. How big are your thighs?
Start off on a healthy foot with these five ways to kick-start your day.
A little lipo will not make you look like Jennifer Aniston.
Can you guess the calories in popular breakfast sandwiches?
Here are eight tips for getting your body ready for pregnancy.
Do you know your gluten-free foods?
Here are plenty of tunes if you need to update your workout playlist.
Losing weight doesn't need to be tricky. Try these simple diet tips to help shed the pounds.

How Big Are Your Thighs?

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:30:18 -0700

Recently I asked you about the strength of your tummy, but now I want to know the size of your thighs. The reason? Big thighs might be a sign of cardiovascular health and longevity. After focusing on waist size as a risk factor for heart diseases, measuring the thighs seems more than a little counter-intuitive. But a long-term Danish study of 3,000 adults found that thigh circumference worked as an indicator for risk of an early death. Men and women with thighs measuring 60 centimeters, or 23.6 inches, around had a lower risk of heart disease. The measurement is taken at the very top of the thigh, just below the crease of your seat. The research team believes that folks with narrow thighs do not have enough overall muscle mass to properly process insulin, and this increases their risk for type 2 diabetes, which raises their risk for developing heart disease. The lack of leg muscle might also indicate a lack of exercise, which we know is not good for your ticker either.

Health professionals, from cardiologists to obesity experts, find the results of the Danish thigh study interesting but feel the findings need to be corroborated and researched further. I feel thigh circumference, as an indicator of long-term heart health might need to be placed in a ratio with height. Regardless, as a woman with muscular thighs, this is some of the best news I have heard in a while. If you are looking to add some muscles to your thighs, try squats and lunges.

Tell me now, what is the state of your thighs?

Practice Moderation Like World's Oldest Man

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:14 -0700

The world's oldest man is an astounding 112 years old, born in September 1896. Walter Breuning has lived such a long and fruitful life by keeping busy, taking an aspirin, and eating two meals a day, and most importantly, by practicing moderation. To live a long life, he recommends staying active in body and mind, don't eat too much, and be good to people. This is much healthier advice to live by as compared to the world's previous oldest man, Henry Allingham. Before passing away at 113, he jokingly attributed his remarkable longevity to "cigarettes, whiskey, and wild, wild women."

Breuning revealed that longevity doesn't run in his family. His father lived until 50, his mother until 46, and his four brothers and sisters died in their 70s. Walter says he's more grateful for his health than he is for a world title.

When Should You Toss the Food in Your Home?

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When it comes to food expiration, it can be tough to know what to trust: your sense of smell or the use-by date on a product. Both can be helpful guidelines, but there are general time frames that certain foods remain safe for consumption. Make your life a little easier by understanding these umbrella guidelines. How much do you know about the longevity of the food in your freezer, refrigerator, and cabinets? Take the quiz!

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The Power of Positive Thinking: Optimists Live Longer

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Do you see this glass as half full or half empty? Careful now: how you answer could determine the length of your life.

This may not come as much of a surprise, but optimists live longer. Using data from 100,000 women over age 50, the Women's Health Initiative, which began in 1994, found that self-described optimists were more likely to be alive after the first eight years of tracking participants' health. While these optimists were less likely to die from any cause, research found that 30 percent of participating women were less likely to die from heart disease, the leading cause of death in women in the US. Conversely, pessimistic women had a "higher overall death rate," and they were also 23 percent more likely to die from conditions related to cancer.

This, the first study to focus on women and optimism versus pessimism, took many factors into account when determining the longevity of the positive thinkers, and winnowed out factors like income, education, health behaviors, smoking, and physical activity. Researchers believe that optimists in general have larger social networks to turn to during crises, and that they just cope better with stress, which has been associated with heart disease.

So look at that glass again, and try to see it as half full. It will do you a world of good. DearSugar is curious about your state of mind too, and wants to know if you're having a hard time feeling optimistic?

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