Life After 50 Expo

Healthy Living This Spring !

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  • Get your flu shots. It may be late it the year, but check with your doctor if it would be beneficial.
  • Plan for Social Security ­changes: On January 1, 2015, benefits increase by 1.7% to a maximum of $2,663 each month.  The part B premium for Medicare will remain the same at $104.90 as it has been the past two years.
  • Have you had your blood pressure checked, do it now. Many drug stores offer free or low cost testing.
  • Coffee has some positive health benefits. It lowers blood pressure, prevents diabetes and may even fight skin cancer.
  • A glass of red wine every day may also have health benefits.
  • Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); it is important to remember that dinner does not have to be the largest meal.
  • Control portion sizes; eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger and then stop eating.
  • Research suggests that people with mild eczema who drink oolong tea three times a day may show improvement in itching and other symptoms.
  • Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise. This is the type that benefits your heart most. Examples include walking, jogging, jumping rope, bicycling, skiing, skating, rowing, and aerobics or cardio classes. These strengthen your heart and lungs.

 

Health Tip !

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A new study found that drinking diet soda may be related to increasing waistlines in older adults. Researchers studied how diet sodas affect the waistline over time, since fat in the midsection of the body can be dangerous to overall health. During the study, which lasted for about nine years, people who never drank diet soda saw their waistline increase by 0.8 inches. Occasional diet soda drinkers saw a 1.8 inch growth during that time, and daily soda drinkers saw a 3 inch growth. Waistline growth could be the result of diet soda consumption or other eating habits. Researchers recommend that diet soda drinkers balance their soda consumption with fresh-brewed tea, coffee, unsweetened mineral water, or fruit juices.

Doc Fix Passes Senate !

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This week, the Senate passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that determines Medicare physician payments and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years. Congress has acted 17 times to temporarily prevent drastic payment cuts resulting from use of the SGR formula. The “doc fix” bill replaces the SGR with alternative, value-driven payment strategies. This is good news for people with Medicare, who need to know their doctors will be there when they need them.

The bill also permanently funds the Qualified Individual (QI) program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries afford Part B premiums. While the Senate considered an amendment to the bill to permanently repeal the Medicare therapy caps, this measure was not successful. Instead, the therapy caps exceptions process will be extended for two years. When this exceptions process expires, Congress must again act to ensure that people with Medicare are able to retain access to needed therapy services.

Also extended for two years is federal funding for community-based organizations, including State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and others, to find and enroll vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries in low-income assistance programs. Like the therapy cap exceptions process, it will be paramount for Congress to ensure this funding continues beyond the two-year extension included in the final bill.

The legislation will now go to the President, and he is expected to sign it into law.

Tips for Quick Meals!

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People use many excuses to give reason to why they are not eating healthy foods. One of the most common of these excuses is that they have no time to worry about choosing the best foods and cooking them for themselves and their families. These people usually grab fast food or take-out instead of healthier foods, and these quick dinner fixes are full of bad fats and cholesterol, sugar, and empty calories. However, no matter how little time you have to spend in the kitchen and at the supermarket, there are ways in which you can eat in a healthy way without much time. Learning how to quickly eating healthily can make all the difference in perfecting your diet.

Eating healthy foods begins with healthy ingredients, but if you are short on time, you may find that spending time in the grocery store does not fit into your schedule. To maximize your time, plan ahead for two weeks at a time. Instead of having to go to the store every time you need an ingredient, make a list and keep your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry stocked with good, healthy ingredients. You can make your shopping list during a meeting, while eating lunch, or while you are on the phone. A list will also help you cut back on compulsory buying, which is when we purchase a lot of the foods that are bad for us.

Along with planning your shopping list, plan your meals as well. If you find little time to cook during the week, you can instead try making a few healthy meals in advance on the weekend and than putting them in your freezer. Before you go to work in the morning, simply stick the frozen dinner in the refrigerator to thaw and then pop into the oven to cook when you get home from work. This will help you avoid having to pick up fast food.

When you do find yourself in the need of a quick meal and want to order out, look for healthy options. Instead of choosing a burger and fries, for example, look at the chicken breast options. Some fast food restaurants also have salads and fruit, but beware of dressing, which can be tons of fats and empty calories. Keep healthy drinks on hand at home instead of purchasing a soda as well. Better yet, stick the burger, pizza, and Mexican joints altogether and opt for a sandwich or sub shop instead, where you can choose a wheat bread and ask them to hold the mayonnaise.

Healthy eating on the run will never be easy. However, putting a tad bit more time into is worth that extra effort, because you’ll be living a healthier life in the end. Using these tips will help you to quickly eat as healthily as possible.

Heart Health with Regular Exercise !

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Springtime in Florida means more sunshine, fresh air, and longer days – it’s the perfect time to kick-start your exercise routine after a long winter of staying indoors and indulging too much. Exercise is also good for your health; physical activity can improve your mood and lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. For adults, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, five times a week.
Regular aerobic exercise can have many benefits for your heart.

  • Lower risk of coronary artery disease. People who maintain an active lifestyle are 45% less likely to develop heart disease.
  • Lower blood pressure. The heart is a muscle, and when it works harder (like after a vigorous workout session), it gets stronger with repeated exertions. A stronger heart can pump more blood, which helps arteries expand and create more room for blood to flow, lowering blood pressure.
  • Lower cholesterol. Exercise lowers your levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises your levels of HDL (good cholesterol), which prevents fatty buildup on the walls of your arteries.

To get the most benefit from physical activity, your exercise program should include:

  • Cardio – Running, jogging, or biking. Move fast enough to increase your heart rate and breathing rate. If you have joint problems, choose low-impact activities such as swimming.
  • Stretching – Stretch after you’ve warmed up and after you’ve finished exercising, to prevent injuries.
  • Strength training – Using weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight (such as yoga). Train 2 – 3 times per week, and let your muscles recover in between.

When starting a new exercise program, start slowly and build up to more intense exercises. Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program, and be sure to stay hydrated and stop immediately if you feel any pain.