Jack LaLanne born in 1914 was a nationally acclaimed innovator of exercise and nutrition. At first doctors thought he was a charlatan, but “Time has proven that what I was doing was scientifically correct; starting with a healthy diet followed by systematic exercise and today everyone knows it.” He was the first to include weight training for athletes, women, and seniors. LaLanne radically changed sports training. He had the first televised exercise program long before Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. Jack also combined good nutrition with exercise, and his famous juicer was an important feature in his exercise program. Jack motivated millions throughout his 70-year career to improve their lives by improving their health. As an expert on exercise and nutrition, Jack promoted living long through a healthy lifestyle, by “helping people to help themselves feel better, look better, and live longer.” His last book, LIVE YOUNG FOREVER – is critically acclaimed as his best book.
“My top priority in life is my workout each day.” To the day he died Jack LaLanne lived by what he said to others, and did so for over 75 years.
With more than 12 exercise classes offered each week for the residents and the Oasis open 24 hours with its exercise equipment to build strength and endurance, every resident should be able to find an exercise program to meet their abilities and needs. Mary Hand is available Monday through Thursday to assist you with developing a program right for you. Jason Sparrow and the Physical Therapy Department are available for consultation and physical therapy for anyone who has a question about where they should begin. Of course, consulting with your primary care doctor is important for individuals new to exercise.
Remember Jack Lalanne’s gospel message:”Get out of your seat and onto your feet.” Join one of our classes or visit the Oasis real soon.
Dinstuhl’s prides itself on using fresh ingredients such as butter, cream, brown sugar, and rich chocolate. Each unique formula is blended in small batches by hand just as it was in 1902. Their commitment to quality is further demonstrated in the kosher certification by the Vaad Hakehilloth of Memphis.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. It’s sometimes called “the silent killer” because it has no symptoms. One in three American adults has high blood pressure, yet about 21% don’t even know they have it. Of those with high blood pressure, 69% are receiving treatment, but only 45% have their blood pressure controlled.
The evidence is clear: people who exercise have better health than those who do not. A recent American Heart Association survey shows that fewer than two out of every ten Americans get the recommended 150 minutes or more of moderate physical activity each week.
Eating for good health means choosing lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain carbohydrates, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. You might have to train yourself to avoid foods and drinks with high sodium or added sugar. Another perhaps surprising part of healthy eating is to regularly include fish rich in Omega-3’s. It’s great for your heart and your brain.
Everyone has cholesterol. It’s the waxy substance in your bloodstream and cells. Some cholesterol is important for good health, but too much cholesterol in your blood puts you at major risk for heart disease and stroke. When too much LDL (or bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up inside the walls of your arteries that feed your heart and brain. Cholesterol particles combine with other substances in your blood to form plaque. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible, putting you at major risk for heart disease and stroke.
Your digestion turns all carbohydrates into sugar or glucose which is then carried throughout your bloodstream to give you energy. Complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat breads and grains, and fruits and vegetables take longer to digest, helping to keep your energy supply steady. But simple sugars, like sweets, donuts, and white bread are very quickly converted into glucose, which can cause your body to call for extra surges of a hormone, insulin, to help regulate the energy supply. If your blood sugar is high, as often happens when you maintain a diet with too many simple carbohydrates, there will be a growth of plaque in your arteries. Diabetes is treatable but very dangerous and can often lead to heart disease and stroke. Even if you don’t have diabetes, you need to know your blood sugar level. Be sure to get a blood sugar level test after fasting at least every three years, because controlling glucose is an important part of stopping heart disease before it starts.
Even if you’ve smoked for years, your body can start the repair process as soon as you stop. If you’re ready to start your plan for smoke-free health, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider. Medication can be helpful for some people during the kick-the-habit phase and research shows combining medical and behavioral therapies can increase success rates.
Serious eye conditions that are seen with aging are glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma refers to diseases that cause optic nerve damage, some of which are related to an increase in intraocular pressure, which cause progressive vision loss. Symptoms are very few until diminished vision is noticed. Conventional treatments can be pretty drastic but research is showing that vigorous exercise may reduce the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among Americans over the age of 65. Dry macular degeneration causes gradual central vision loss and results from aging and thinning of tissues in the macula or deposit of pigment. Wet macular degeneration arises from the body’s attempt to make up for lack of nutrients by building extra blood vessels beneath the retina, but the new blood vessels leak fluid which causes permanent damage to the retinal cells. Studies are showing that AMD is a nutritional and lifestyle responsive eye disease. Diabetic retinopathy is vision-threatening damage to the retina caused by diabetes. Blindness is largely preventable if the patient and doctor work together for proper use of medications, blood sugar testing, and proper diet and lifestyle.
© 2024 Kirby Pines LifeCare Community. All Rights Reserved | 