Healthy Boomers

Snooze Power

Most mornings, once I'm fully awake, I usually have lots of energy and itching to jump into my day. But regardless of how high my energy level starts out in the morning, by mid-afternoon I'm usually longing for a quick nap. Napping always feels kind of weird though, because they're equated with laziness, babies and oldsters, at least in our culture.

So when I saw a teaser on the Sunday morning news about naps being good for you, I listened with great interest.

Wow! Turns out naps reduce our risk of heart disease by 30 percent!

In the largest study to date on the health effects of napping, led by Dimitrios Trichopoulos of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Trichopoulos reports the study revealed you are 30 percent less likely to die of heart disease if you nap for 30 minutes three times a week.

This means that you could potentially add an extra 10 years over the next 30 by napping this way. That's pretty impressive, especially considering the fact that heart disease is the leading killer in the U.S. If you need an excuse to grab a nap in the middle of the day, this is it!

Oh, by the way, most participants of this 6-year study were in their 50s.

After I heard this, it got me wondering What other health benefits come from napping?

• Napping may enhance information processing and learning.
• Taking a nap after learning a difficult task might help you perform better.
• Naps can improve alertness, productivity, and mood.
• Napping may help deal with the stress of daily living.

Daytime napping has long been part of other cultures, especially those in warmer climates. Mediterranean-style diets that include fruits, vegetables, beans and olive oil have long been credited with contributing to relatively low rates of heart disease in those countries, but Trichoupoulos wanted to see if napping also plays a role.

The research team that conducted this study say further study is needed, but my feeling is that if you feel like napping and you have the opportunity, go for it. What could it possibily hurt?

New Evidence Says Sunshine is Good for You

SSurfing my favorite blogs this morning, I came across this article on Dr. Mercola's blog I want to share with you. I've always doubted all the hype about the sun being so harmful and now there's evidence that it's actually good for you.

This comes as no surprise to me. I love the sun — it makes me feel great! I grew up and lived in southern California until three years ago when I moved to Arizona. Because the weather is so great most of the year, I've spent most of my life outdoors and have never had any problems with the sun, except maybe a few freckles. Big deal!

As a kid and teeny bopper, Newport or Huntington Beach was our destination of choice. My friends and I would spend the entire day down there… we loved it. And in spite of being pretty fair skinned, I've had no problems. Oh sure, a few sunburns here and there, but only because of my own stupidity.

Sunscreen never appealed to me because it's loaded with chemicals I personally don't want in on or in my body. Yep, I've just always believed that anything that can make you feel so good can't be all bad.

So read this article… and decide what's best for you.

©Copyright 2006 Dr. Joseph Mercola. Printed with permission.

An American study scheduled for a June release compared the health of some 1,200 female patients, some of whom took a vitamin D supplement while others didn't.

The number of patients who reduced their risk of cancer by taking a vitamin D supplement -- 60 percent -- was so unexpectedly high that some initially believed it to be a typographical error.

This study, and many similar ones, may force conventional medicine to re-evaluate its vitamin D recommendations. A deficiency in vitamin D figures into many diseases in addition to cancer. One researcher pointed out, "We don't really know what the status of chronic disease is in the North American population, until we normalize vitamin D status."

Globe and Mail.com April 28, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I just love when I do a major controversial video -- like the one I did on how sunlight can reduce your risk for cancer by 50 percent -- that many said was not true, and a few weeks later a MAJOR study is published confirming precisely what I was saying. 

This has been a regular pattern now for many years. The truth is obvious and as plain as day, and most of the time it does not line up with conventional thinking on the topic. But given time, science seems to catch up to the obvious as they have in this case.

So, after many clashes over countless years, conventional medicine may finally be on the verge of acknowledging the true value of vitamin D and how it can help you reduce your cancer risks.

As I pointed out in a video posted last month, there is a relationship between latitude, sun exposure and mortality rates associated with cancer, of particular importance to folks living in Canada and the Northern United States (hence all the interest paid to this critical health issue in a Toronto-based newspaper).

The best and safest way to get the right amount of vitamin D is through exposing your body to the right and safe amount of sunshine. Should you need to take a supplement or cod liver oil to get the vitamin D you need, however, please have the vitamin D levels in your blood checked often to avoid overdosing.

At least 21,000 Americans die each year from cancer associated with inadequate vitamin D levels, and that number is probably an underestimate. The real number very likely exceeds 50,000. And those numbers refer solely to cancer; they do not even take into account the many other illnesses associated with a vitamin D deficiency.

The economic cost for treating these illnesses has been estimated as being as high as $56 billion in the United States each year, compared to just $6 billion for treating illnesses caused by overexposure to sunlight.

You might want to think about that the next time someone tells you that sunlight causes cancer -- while there are some cancer risks associated with getting enough sun, they are far outweighed by the incredible cancer-prevention benefits.

Good for the Brain, Good for Your Body

Aging is no fun. Aches… pains… weird changes in your body… unwelcome changes in your life. What the heck happened to that young, vibrant person who used to wink back at you in the mirror?

If you are a baby boomer and you care about staying young and alive, stick around. You’ll enjoy the topics and discussions that happen here. They are widely varied… some are lively, some controversial, some are just plain fun, and I’m certain you’ll discover something to help you live a healthier, happier, more balanced life!

To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here are the main categories covered.

• anti aging
• healthy eating
• nutrition
• lifestyles
• spirituality
• healthy sex
• meditation & yoga
• a few surprises!

Each category will have lots of related articles and discussion. Feel free to join in any old time.

If you’re looking for something a little different, check out www.Boomer-Life.com (coming soon!). It covers trends, culture, resources, issues, comments and discussions by and for baby boomers. It’s a pretty cool place!

Anyway, back to this site.

It’s often said that you can’t stop the aging clock. Maybe not. But studies show — and I happen to be a strong believer — that there are lots of ways to slow it down. One of the ways you can do this is through your thoughts… what’s inside your head.

For example, if you think of yourself as old, that may be your reality. Would you like a different reality? Adjusting your attitude might make all the difference.

That isn’t to say a simple attitude adjustment will make you young again. I’m simply suggesting that what’s good for the brain is good for the body. There’s plenty of science to suggest that good brain fitness can promote good physical health.

That makes a lot of sense. Think about it… do you know anyone with a gloomy attitude who is vibrant, healthy and happy? Hmmm…

We’ve all had days or even longer periods when we felt blue or angry about something. Have you noticed that frame of mind is usually accompanied by some sort of physical malady? It even zaps your energy supply. But amazingly, as soon as your mood lifts, the physical aches and pains disappear and energy is restored!

I don’t know about you, but I find it pretty strange to be in mid-life. Although there are lots of perks and I like being part of the baby boomer generation, it’s hard to believe the age shown on my driver’s license is correct!

You may feel old sometimes, but don't fall prey to those negative thought patterns. Instead, keep your mind focused on staying young and vibrant. It will make a huge difference.

Where in the World Did My Memory Go!

Greetings Fellow Baby Boomers!

This is the first post of what is sure to be many to come. What kind of topics will we cover here? Pretty much everything related to the health and happiness of baby boomers everywhere. Your comments are encouraged, as are your suggestions. If you're anything like me, no doubt you have plenty of opinions and much that interests you.

So here goes! If you like this blog, tell other boomers about it. They'll appreciate you for it!