Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life from Experts in Nutrition and Exercise Science Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? It is an impossible question to answer for many reasons: what is breakfast? A cup of coffee? A donut? Or traditional U.S. breakfast foods like waffles or eggs or cereal? And, important for what? For weight management, for heart health, or blood sugar control? Also, consider important for whom? Children, adolescents, or adults of all ages?  It is easy to see the challenge of answering the oft asked question is breakfast the most impor ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life from Experts in Nutrition and Exercise Science Post written by Dr. Bob Murray Super Seniors or Super Agers is a label coined to describe adults over age 80 who have the memory abilities at least at the level of individuals 20-30 years younger. And with physical capabilities similar to or better than those of younger people. Scientists report that Super Seniors have dozens of different traits that appear to be ideal for a long healthspan.  One obvious example is blood pressure.  It has long been known t ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life from Experts in Nutrition and Exercise Science (Disclosure: I attended a sponsored conference and one of the sessions focused on optimal diets and planetary health. The session was sponsored by Beyond Meat. I was not asked to write this post and I was not compensated for writing this post.) There are so many terms to describe those who choose to give up meat and other animal-sourced foods: Vegan (those who eat no animal foods) Vegetarian (those who don’t eat meat, poultry, or fish, but may include dairy and eggs) Pescatarian (those ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life from Experts in Nutrition and Exercise Science (Disclosure: I attended a sponsored conference and one of the sessions was on postbiotics, sponsored by ingredient maker, Kyowa Hakko USA. I was not asked to write this post and I was not compensated to write this post.) An oft asked question is, “do probiotics work?” According to Dr. Colin Hill, Professor of Microbiology at University College Cork, Ireland, that question is like asking “do pills work?” In other words, you must ask the right questions to get the right answer. When peopl ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life from Experts in Nutrition and Exercise Science Written by Dr. Bob Murray Yikes!  How did all those wrinkles suddenly appear on my face?  And what can I do to make them disappear?  From creams, lasers, and even vampire facials (more on that later) there are many so-called treatments and cures. Aging Skin What causes wrinkles? First, let’s understand why wrinkles appear.  The simple explanation is that, as we age, our face gradually reshapes due to changes in fat deposits, bone structure, connective tissue, cartila ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life We’ve written about alcohol before (click here for A is for Alcohol) and with “dry January” upon us, let’s address one reader’s question about how alcohol affects the brain as we age. Today’s post is B is for Booze and the Brain. As it goes with research, the results on alcohol and the aging brain are mixed. That is because there are so many facets to the “aging brain.” Cognition and cognitive impairment, intelligence, memory, thinking, and reaction time are but a few of the functions tied to the brain. Does alcohol intake affect a ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life We hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, whether it was celebrated with friends and family with turkey and all the trimmings, all alone with a turkey leg watching the football games, or a vegan feast with tofurkey!   There are many headlines that try to make you feel guilty about eating too much, eating “bad” foods, or not exercising enough to burn off the holiday calories. (Hint, guilt has no place in holiday eating!) One common myth is that the average adult gains 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. I don’t know w ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life With hundreds of sessions to choose from at the annual food and nutrition conference, the one on the aging gut intrigued me. Plus, I admired the registered dietitian speaker, Dr. Carol Ireton-Jones, and knew that she and the physician, gastroenterologist, Dr. Mark DeLegge would deliver great information. Both are founders of Digestive Nutrition Group, an educational and support source for health professionals working with clients with GI concerns. So, today, G is for Gut…. the Aging Gut. It is hard to untangle usual aging from disea ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life Post written by Dr. Bob Murray One of the most searched terms is “anti-aging.” While we are not fans of the term, we know people are looking for the Fountain of Youth. Even though aging is universal (everyone does it), intrinsic (even in a protective, toxin-free environment with the perfect balance of nutrients, aging occurs), yet it doesn’t stop people from trying to stay young. So, today’s post is A is for Anti-Aging. A is for Anti-Aging You might have heard or read about Bryan Johnson, a 46-year-old tech billionaire who has repor ..read more

Simple, Practical, Science-Based Tips for a Long Healthy Life On a recent 3-week trip, I overheard a woman say, “I wish there was something I could do to improve my balance.” At a time in life when many older adults can afford to travel and have the time do so, they worry about poor balance and reduced agility leading to falls. So, today’s post is B is for Balance. “The research is clear. As we age, our risk of falling, and the health impact of fall injuries, increase. By age 65, falling is the #1 cause of injury, sending 3 million to the emergency room annually in the US,” says Chris Cinnamo ..read more