Quarterly Newsletter (Q3/2006)

Welcome to our quarterly newsletter. This is the place where you find the latest updates on exercise science, most recent events at Unique Fitness and the most current information on new programs, people and Health updates. Make sure you revisit this site frequently for the up-to-date information

Feature Article:

Prolonging Aging

Another year has passed – another year older! Time seems to run faster and faster as we grow older. Gravity pulls on our joints and muscles, creating aches and pains as our statue shortens and muscles loosen. Inactivity becomes a comfortable way of life as the weight creeps on opening doors for diseases.

It is the lack of physical activity, proper nutrition and environmental conditions that cause diseases and death – not old age! Genes play only a small role, 30 percent, in life expectancy. The major portion of prolonging life is how we chose to live our life. Not only will engaging in an active and healthier lifestyle prolong life, it will also increase the quality of it.

Unless you have found the fountain of youth, here are some helpful hints for staying young. Aerobic exercises (walking, jogging, biking, swimming etc.) will benefit your circulatory system, such as your heart, lungs and oxygen uptake. It also prevents unwanted weight gain and therefore reduces the risk of high blood pressure, type II diabetes, apnea, high cholesterol and many others. According to the Berkeley Scientific Journal: Berkeley’s Undergraduate Research Journal, “exercising can save you seven to thirteen years by preventing cardiovascular diseases, three years by preventing cancer and by boosting up the immune system, and one and half years by preventing diabetes”.

Furthermore, weight-training exercises prevent bone loss (osteoporosis), muscle loss, balance problems, back pain, arthritis, and keeps the metabolism burning at a higher rate. As an added benefit, weight training increases the neuromuscular and endocrine (hormone) stimulation. It increases mental alertness and let’s you sleep at night. Several different studies have shown that it is never to late to start exercising. The benefits of weight training have shown an increase in strength in men and women of all ages.

Nutrition is also an important issue in order to live a long and healthy life. America, with 65 percent of its population overweight, is considered the word leader when compared to other countries. Unfortunately, the more overweight we become the more we put ourselves at risk for developing heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, joint pains etc. Decreasing the total amount of calories is one way to combat weight problems. In addition, watch what you eat. For instance, certain fats in your diet increase your cholesterol level and make you gain weight easily. Carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, increase insulin resistance (diabetes) and fat storage (obesity). Substitute donuts and other low-nutritious foods in your diet with high nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables . Also, watch the ingredients: Certain sugar supplements, preservatives and food colorings are cancer causing. It is good practice to buy organic foods.

While it is impossible to eliminate all the toxins in the air, water and food, we can make reasonable choices to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible. For instance, avoid being in an enclosed room with smokers. Don’t drink and drive either yourself or with somebody. Avoid tanning booths and put sun block on when going outside. Don’t walk or jog on a major road; inhaling the toxins from the cars is doing more harm to the body than the benefits gained from jogging. Try to live in a rural neighborhood instead of in the city, it’s a healthier life style choice.

Prevention of diseases is not something you should do today and by tomorrow give up on your “New Year’s Resolution.” Prevention, such as exercising and good nutrition, needs to be implemented slowly and gradually so we make it a permanent lifestyle.