Five Tips For Aging Backwards

By Jackie Silver

I like to think of myself as the "anti-aging Petri dish." I try as many of the latest, greatest products, services and procedures for turning back the clock as I can — and I tell everyone what works for me. As a correspondent on a syndicated TV show, a contributor to a weekly radio program, and a blabbermouth — I have plenty of opportunities to spread the word.

Getting older may be beyond our control, but how we age is not. I, personally, am Aging Backwards. I am almost 50 years old and I still get asked for ID to buy wine — something I consider a real compliment!

I like to find unique ways to look at ordinary situations — and I've compiled my secrets, tips and shortcuts into my forthcoming book, Aging Backwards. Here are a few tips you can try right away that will start you on your way to rediscovering your youth.

1. Keep your brain sharp. According to the Mayo Clinic,1 "The secret to memory improvement may be something you already know is good for you: exercise." According to researchers, "Exercise can increase your brainpower, help put off normal aging-related memory loss and, perhaps, even prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease." That's powerful stuff.

You've also heard that working crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, and other brain teasers can help keep your brain sharp. Here's one you may not have thought of: memorize numbers. I spend a lot of time in my car, so I like to take the opportunity to train my brain at the red lights.

With the advent of cell phones and PDAs, we don't have to remember phone numbers the way we did only 10 or 20 years ago. When I get to the red lights, I memorize phone numbers on the billboards. I’m not going to call them — it’s mostly realtors and personal injury attorneys where I drive, but I keep my brain sharp by practicing memorization.

2. Give back for health and longevity. Sir Francis Bacon, philosopher and statesman, said way back in the 1500s, "The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express." Volunteering makes us feel wonderful on the inside and that inner glow radiates to the outside.

Studies show that giving back can have numerous health benefits. The Corporation for National and Community Service released its most recent report on the health benefits of volunteering, which showed that, "States with higher volunteer rates also have better health and that there is a significant statistical relationship between states with higher volunteer rates and lower incidents of mortality and heart disease."

3. Ease into better eating habits. The best way to achieve weight loss and optimal health is with a diet rich in protein and healthy fats and consisting of low glycemic carbohydrates. If your eating habits are way off, here's a way you can ease into changing your diet for the better — start with portion control. Portions in America are way too large and that has been shown to contribute to the obesity epidemic.

A study conducted by nutritional experts found that, "The largest excess over USDA standards (700%) occurred in the cookie category, but cooked pasta, muffins, steaks and bagels exceeded USDA standards by 480%, 333%, 224%, and 195%, respectively."

Instead of "super-sizing," try "half-sizing." I knew a girl in high school, Frederica, who lost 50 pounds over the summer break. I asked her how she did it and she told me, "I just ate half of everything I wanted." It all starts with portion control.

4. Use visualization and keep stress levels low. Can what we think actually affect our bodies? It’s called the “mind/body connection” and according to researchers it can have a real effect on our health. The American Academy of Family Physicians’4 web site lists a number of ailments that can be attributed directly to stress, including back pain, chest pain, high blood pressure, insomnia, stiff neck, and shortness of breath, to name a few.

One of my best secrets for keeping my stress level low is to use earplugs. I carry them wherever I go. Not only do they block out stressful surroundings and noise levels, but they also allow me to focus on my breathing, a proven meditation technique.

5. Trick yourself into exercising. I'm one of the lucky ones — I love to exercise. But even I can fall into the "couch potato rut" every now and then. When that happens, I put on my cutest workout outfit and tell myself I'm just going to play along. I'm not really going to exercise. In fact, I'm just going to the gym to check out the buff guys. I'll take a class or hop on the elliptical machine with the intention of faking it, but five or ten minutes into the workout I find renewed energy I didn't even know I had and I'm going full speed ahead. Try it!

Experts say it takes 21 to 28 days to form a new habit or break an old one. Try these tips, make them into habits, and you’ll be on your way to recapturing your youth. As I like to say, “It’s never too late or too early to start Aging Backwards.”

References:

1.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/memory-improvement/HA00085
2.http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=687
3.http://www.nyu.edu/education/nutrition/PDFS/young-nestle.pdf
4.http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/mental/782.html

[Ed. note: Jackie Silver is aging backwards. She shares her secrets, tips, and shortcuts on her web site, AgingBackwards.com, in her forthcoming book, on TV and radio, and as a sought-after speaker. For more information, click here.]

Cutting Edge Fitness: Burn the Fat and Enjoy the Great Weather By Craig Ballantyne

When the nice weather rolls around, a lot of people start doing slow, boring cardio workouts outside. But if they really wanted to get more results in less time, they would be better off doing higher intensity interval training either by running or on a bike.

Research shows that intervals are even more effective than slow cardio workouts (like jogging) for fat loss. In addition, for distance runners, intervals of 2-5 minutes are very helpful for improving performance.

But for fat loss workouts, I tend to use a nice simple 30-second interval length for fat burning benefits. As you change the interval length, you change the way your body responds to the training.

To get the most out of your training program and fat burning efforts, make sure you:

• Finish each interval workout with stretching for the tight muscle groups only.
• Perform the interval sessions 3 times per week.
• Change your interval training workouts every 4 weeks.

Here is a sample interval workout.

• Warm up for 5 minutes.
• Work at an 8/10 level of intensity for 60 seconds. (A 10/10 intensity is running for your life, so adjust accordingly). Your heart rate should be near maximal by the end of the interval.
• Follow that with active rest for 60 seconds at a 3/10 level of intensity. (Active rest means walking or pedaling at a very slow rate.)
• Repeat for 6 intervals. Finish with 5 minutes of cool-down exercise at 3/10 level of intensity.

With this simple workout, you can enjoy the great outdoors while making the most of your exercise time.

[Ed. Note: Craig Ballantyne is an expert consultant for Men's Health magazine. If you're looking to burn fat, build muscle and quickly step into the body you have always wanted with just three workouts each week, check out Craig's fat-loss system, click here now. ]

Healthy Recipes: Pistachio Biscotti By Kelley Herring

These unbelievable twice-baked cookies are low calorie, low carb and have less than 1 gram of sugar. But the benefits don't stop there. They're packed with phytosterol-rich pistachios which were found to help decrease total cholesterol, boost "good" HDL cholesterol, and increase antioxidant potential (AOP).¹

Time To Table: 1 1/2 hours
Serves 36
Healing Nutrients Spotlight

• Excellent source of vitamin B6, copper, and magnesium
• Good source of protein and fiber
• Low sodium, low carb, low sugar

Ingredients
1 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped
1/2 cup organic butter or non-hydrogenated shortening
2 large organic eggs
3/4 cup organic erythritol (try ZSweet)
2 tsp organic vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups organic whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

Preparation
Cream butter or non-hydrogenated shortening with erythritol until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and blend until smooth. Add vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just blended. Stir in pistachios. Preheat oven to 325°. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough and shape into two oblong logs about 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake until just light golden. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes. Slice logs on the diagonal about 1/2 inch thick. Place slices on baking sheet and bake again for 20 minutes, turning over once.

Nutrition Information
72 kcal calories, 4.55 g total fat, 1.92 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 1.61 g monounsaturated fat, 0.67 g polyunsaturated fat, 18.53 mg cholesterol, 52.62 mg sodium, 6.53 g carbohydrate, 1.27 g fiber, 0.37 g sugars, 2.13 g protein

References

1. Kocyigit A, et al. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2006 Apr;16(3):202-9. Epub 2006 Feb 9.

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet's Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill, including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility. For more information, click here.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 05-30-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/