benefits – thirdAGE

Why Cold Showers Could Be Good for You

Running out of hot water during your shower might be a good thing. A cold shower — even just for a few minutes — can work as therapy to help you heal, recover and generally feel good, especially after exercise. “Cold showers are a convenient way for a weekend warrior, amateur athlete or anyone who… Continue reading Why Cold Showers Could Be Good for You

Even Small Amount of Breastfeeding Can Provide Heart-Healthy Benefits

Breast milk has long been recognized as an ideal nutrient to strengthen the immune systems of newborns and infants. The American Heart Association (AHA) now says breastfeeding can also provide many heart-healthy benefits for babies and for their birthing parent. In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in January 2022,… Continue reading Even Small Amount of Breastfeeding Can Provide Heart-Healthy Benefits

Avocados and Heart Health

Eating two or more servings of avocado weekly was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and substituting avocado for certain fat-containing foods like butter, cheese or processed meats was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease events, according to new research published in March 2022 in the Journal of the American Heart… Continue reading Avocados and Heart Health

New Moms: Weaker Breast-Cancer Prevention Benefits

Although women who have had children generally have a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who have never given birth, new research has found that mothers don’t experience that breast cancer benefits until decades later. Additionally, mothers may face an elevated risk of breast cancer for more than 20 years after their last… Continue reading New Moms: Weaker Breast-Cancer Prevention Benefits

The Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

The Pilates exercise program can have a positive mental effect on people living with chronic conditions. Researchers looked at 15 women and seven men to determine what benefits they got from Pilates. The participants, age 36 to 83, suffered from a range of chronic musculoskeletal ailments. These included nonspecific low back pain, peripheral joint osteoarthritis… Continue reading The Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

The Risky Business of Medical Procedures

How cautious are you in deciding on a medical treatment? In exploring that question, a team of European researchers found that people underestimate the risks of treatments ranging from minor drugs to major and overestimate the benefits. Published in the journal Risk Analysis, the study of 376 adults was led by Professor Yaniv Hanoch from… Continue reading The Risky Business of Medical Procedures

On The Job, Standing Beats Sitting

Sit-stand workstations that allow employees to stand, as well as sit, while working on a computer reduce daily sitting time and appear to have a positive impact on job performance and psychological health. The results of research, published by the BMJ, show that employees who used the workstations for 12 months, on average, reduced their… Continue reading On The Job, Standing Beats Sitting

Living with (and Loving) Senior Pets

I don’t feel good admitting this, but sometimes I’m impatient with my two old dogs, Basil and Rinaldo. Their gait is slow and uncertain. They need help getting in and out of the car. They have to go out more often to relieve themselves, and the really old one, Rinaldo, does not want to go… Continue reading Living with (and Loving) Senior Pets

Coffee Can Help Your Health

Drinking coffee is “more likely to benefit health than to harm it” for a range of health outcomes, say researchers. They investigators, whose research was published in The BMJ, bring together evidence from over 200 studies and find that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of… Continue reading Coffee Can Help Your Health

Bread: Better for You than You Thought

Although the popular perception is that Americans eat a disproportionate amount of grain foods like bread, rolls, tortillas and ready-to-eat cereals, in fact those foods make up less than 15 percent of all calories in our total diets. And yet this small quantity is providing a disproportionately positive amount of critical nutrients. That research is… Continue reading Bread: Better for You than You Thought

Study: Surgery for Early Stage Prostate Cancer Offers Only Minimal Benefits

New research provides even more evidence that prostate cancer surgery offers minimal benefits to men in the early stage of the disease. The picture was different, however, for men with intermediate-stage prostate cancer. In many cases, the research found, surgery in early-stage cases did not prolong life and often caused serious complications such as infection,… Continue reading Study: Surgery for Early Stage Prostate Cancer Offers Only Minimal Benefits

Caregivers and Exercise: Take Time for Yourself

Editor’s note: Caregiving can be so all-consuming that you forget to care for yourself. But it’s essential that you do. Here, from the experts at the National Institute on Aging, are some suggestions for finding the time for self-care – and why it’s so important. Physical activity can help you: Increase your energy level so… Continue reading Caregivers and Exercise: Take Time for Yourself

5 Science-Backed Ways Yoga Can Help You

Editor’s note: Before starting yoga or any new exercise activity, be sure to check with your doctor. You can practice yoga at any age, in a group or on your own. And if you think you have to get all new-agey to benefit from this ancient activity, reconsider. Hard and fast science is finding real… Continue reading 5 Science-Backed Ways Yoga Can Help You

Moderate Drinking Might Not Be as Healthy as You Think

The benefits of light alcohol consumption, as well as the risks associated with not drinking at all, might not be as great as previously thought, according to new research. Investigators from Penn State analyzed information about more than 9,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales born in 1958 who are participating in the longitudinal National… Continue reading Moderate Drinking Might Not Be as Healthy as You Think

The 411 on Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

The produce stand isn’t the only place you can get your healthy fruits and vegetables. The experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend checking out the frozen-food department in your supermarket. “They’re really a great option, because they’re picked at the peak of freshness and flash-frozen, too,” dietitian Angie Murad says in an interview with the… Continue reading The 411 on Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Six Ways a Smile Can Change Your Life

“A smile plays a critical role in how we feel about ourselves and how others see us,” says Dr. Leslie Pitner, an orthodontist and author of Improve Your Smile, Transform Your Life: A Life-Changing Guide to Orthodontics for Adults (www.drpitner.com). Pitner says adults whose teeth – and consequently their smile – could benefit from braces… Continue reading Six Ways a Smile Can Change Your Life

Infra-Red Saunas: The 20-Minute Detox

If you’ve ever wanted to try a traditional sauna but have been intimidated by the extreme temperatures, an infrared sauna may be for you. Traditional saunas work by heating not only your body but the air around you as well, while infrared (“dry”) saunas transfer the heat directly to your body and don’t affect the… Continue reading Infra-Red Saunas: The 20-Minute Detox

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