by Catherine Haug, February 1, 2013
How many times have your heard that coffee (or chocolate, or alcohol) is bad for your health? Do you believe it? Do you say ‘moderation in all things?’ or ‘You gotta live while you can?
The January-February AARP newsletter had an interesting article by Nissa Simon: 10 Tips for Better Health, and what they say may certainly surprise you.
1. Throw a party. Keep your social connections alive and lively; network and celebrate with friends. “Research has shown that people with a consistent, active social life are less likely to experience a decline in the ability to reason and remember.” They cite studies that found “social activity may help preserve your ability to perform day-to-day activities as you age,” and that “poor social ties could be even more important role in determining longevity than smoking, lack of exercise or obesity.” Say what? Really?
So, invite a friend to lunch. Meet a group of friends for coffee. Join a folk-dancing club. Socialize at Open Stage or other community gatherings.
2. Adopt a pet. I didn’t need AARP to tell me about this one; I’ve watched it first hand when my Mom was in a nursing home and the pets came to visit. Elders who spent their days napping, waiting for death, came to life in the presence of a dog or cat. And there has been a lot of research that indicates “people who own pets have healthier hearts and make fewer visits to the doctor. Pets can lower high-blood pressure.” They push loneliness aside and give you a reason to smile. They give you unconditional love, something we sorely need when we think our lives are behind us; they make us live in the moment.
Can’t have a pet where you live? Then combine #1 above with #2: spend time with a friend who has pets.
3. Choose chocolate. This used to be a guilty pleasure but now most everyone knows that dark chocolate is good for your heart and overall health. The key here is dark chocolate, not semi-sweet, not milk, but dark chocolate containing at least 70% cacao or cocoa. The bitters in dark chocolate are “rich in flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants that help your cells resist damage” from free-radicals and other bad-boys. They “help your cells resist cancer and other maladies”, and they also “help lower blood pressure, and improve blood flow to the brain.”
Remember Kate Hepburn’s brownie recipe? It’s time to indulge…but minimize the sugar.
4. Savor your coffee. Have you switched to decaf because you thought caffeine is bad for you? You may want to rethink that – in moderation. Coffee has lots components that are good for you, and even caffeine has its good side. For older adults, “coffee – regular or decaf – appears to lower the risk of dying from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia according to new research.” Other research concludes that caffeinated coffee may protect against skin cancer, liver damage, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s.” Another potential benefit? 3 cups a day may protect against Alzheimer”s, or delay its onset.
Join friends for coffee and a dark chocolate treat after a good lunch!
5. Raise a glass of wine or beer. Say what? Are you kidding? Apparently not. The French and Germans maybe know something we don’t know. In moderation, beer or wine are good for the heart, and protect against diabetes and certain types of cancer. The key is moderation.
Wine and chocolate followed by a film-viewing with a group of friends….
6. Have sex. Remember, this is in the AARP newsletter, not Ranger Rick. This exercise “causes the brain to release endorphins, the feel-good chemical that act as painkillers and reduce anxiety. Sex also prompts the release of substances that bolster the immune system.” And “sexual activity is associated with lower levels of depression in both men and women.”
Treat you spouse with wine and a special dinner with chocolate for dessert, followed by…. well, you get the idea.
7. Listen to your favorite music. Ahhhh, this one’s for me. We can hear music in the womb! and we continue to respond to it all our lives. It “profoundly affects health; it may be good for your heart; joyful music may help your body process emotions by increasing blood flow”. It also brings on “sound sleep, boosts mood, and reduces anxiety.” Studies show that “patients feel less pain and need less pain medication after surgery if they listen to music while recuperating.”
Gather with friends, enjoy a good meal with a good wine, chocolate for dessert, all while listening to good music in the background. Come to Open Stage, last Saturday of each month.
8. Take a nap. A mid-afternoon nap can help improve mood, memory, alertness and learning – and it wn’t interfere withyour mighttime zzz’s.” A 90-minute siesta clears the brain’s short-term memo rage storage center and makes room for new information. a 20-minute nap improves alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy. The article advises “sipping a cup of coffee before closing your eyes to help you wake up alert – it takes about 20 minutes” for caffeine to kick in. I once had a job in medical research; my boss required all researchers to take a 20 minute nap at 2 PM – 2 hours after lunch. I must admit, it obliterated the mid-afternoon slump.
Combine #4, 7 and 8: drink a cup of coffee, take a nap and wake up to music!
9. Go au naturel.Spending time outdoors in natural settings is essential for good health. Greener environs cut recovery time after major surgery, improves the way the immune system works, and helps diabetics achieve better blood glucose levels. Even as little as” 5 minutes a day of walking or cycling in a park, gardening, fishing, boating or other outdoor activities boost mood and a sense of well-being.”
Arrange a ‘jug band’ get-together in the back yard, serving locally-brewed beer, picnic foods, and featuring homemade musical instruments such as a washtub bass, tissue & comb kazoo, pots and pans, spoons, a jug and stringed instruments so everyone can be part of the fun. Invite the pets, too!
10. Get off your soapbox. Save time, $$ and your health: stop using high-octane detergents and household cleaners that contain the antibacterial agent triclosan. Instead, use locally-made soaps to wash your hands in warm water, and you’ll do a better job than antibacterial ‘soaps’ while helping the environment and put the brakes on the current rise of dangerous, disease-causing, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Cut down on commercial sprays that clean or polish furniture, clean glass or perfume rooms. European research “indicates that adults who use these products once a week or more increased their risk of developing asthma by a significant 30% – 50%.”
Use products you can make at home from simple ingredients for most of your household cleaning projects (see The EssentiaList: Homemade Cleaning Supplies). Then take time to do something just for you.