senior supermodel | Wellness Secrets of a SuperAger

Short bursts of exercise like walking up stairs or doing yard work are excellent for warding off health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, according to an article in the Daily Mirror.

This is fascinating news to me as Chicago recently succumbed to winter with snow, ice and vicious cold weather here. Because of the weather conditions, I was unable to ride my bike outside and had to opt for the health club. The good news is that I got some welcome weight work done as opposed to just cardio on the bike. However, there was something about riding the exercise bike and pumping the rowing machine indoors that felt unsatisfying. I missed the fresh air and general sights and smells of the outdoors. So, this news about short bursts of more generalized exercise were heart healthy was music to my ears.

Maybe trips to the health club aren't as necessary as we thought

Maybe trips to the health club aren’t as necessary as we had thought …

NHS Choices said, “The news is based on the results of a cross-sectional study which suggested that even less than 10 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity, such as climbing stairs, ‘count’ and may be as beneficial as longer periods of exercise. Continue reading →

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As you can see from her photos, Senior Supermodel Oleda Baker is aging magnificently. I interviewed Oleda in December. She is a treasure trove of information on everything this blog stands for, namely healthy living and healthy aging, so I asked her if she would share some of her ideas with us. She has written 10 books on beauty and health. Her latest, written at the age of 75, Breaking the Age Barrier – Great Looks and Health at Every Age – was released in November 2010 and is available from Amazon or from her website www.oleda.com where she also sells her own line of health and beauty aids.

I have written a number of posts about water. Here is what Oleda has to say:

Water is beneficial for so very many things, yet is very under used by so many people. Too often water is replaced by other beverages – many laden with sugars, calories or chemicals. These drinks are of little or no value nutritionally and actually detrimental long term. This practice is becoming especially true with today’s younger generation. The folks that grew up with soda pop have turned to caffeine-laden drinks like designer coffees and teas, sport and energy drinks—everything except plain water—whenever they have a thirst. These diuretic drinks actually drain the body of fluids creating a loss rather than a gain in body water content.

Our bodies are completely dependent on water; ALL functions of the body require water. Keeping your body hydrated enables timely and efficient functioning to occur. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of fatigue. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue. Almost 66% of Americans, it is estimated, are mildly or chronically dehydrated. Continue reading →