Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Longevity.
Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Anxiety—a term coined for the “fight or flight” state of mind which has affected humans since prehistoric times. We see this term among medical dictionaries, our favorite celebrities’ fan pages, and our best friends’ social media accounts. Anxiousness is a psychological state that has become common for most in their day-to-day lives as we are pressured by work, finance, family, and the impending fear of an unknown future. Many are affected by anxiety. Fortunately, with the rise of interest in alternatives to conventional Western medicine, we are given a multitude of natural remedies for anxiety.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
Summer Skincare Tips
Amid plentiful evidence that exposing skin to sun is one of the most aging, health-harming things you can do comes a disturbing thought: Are we creating even more problems by slathering on sunscreens with higher and higher SPFs-18, 25, 40, even 50 and above? What are the pros and cons of sunscreen when we are dealing with summer skincare? Safety questions have been raised over the ingredients in these sunscreens—linking them to everything from rashy reactions to, just possibly, what they're supposed to prevent: skin cancer. On top of that some experts say that many sunscreens give us a false sense of security about being in the sun–actually upping, not decreasing, lifetime exposure to the harmful UVA rays few products block well.
By Alicia Springer10 years ago in Longevity
Understanding the Aging Brain
My grandfather, who lived to be ninety-four, always insisted that the secret of a long and lucid life was to keep active, interested, and busy. When he was about 40, he wrote a letter to his local newspaper expressing some trenchant opinions about the current state of the economy. Fifty-four years later, just before he died, he was still sharing his opinion through social media outlets like Facebook about dogs, Notre Dame football, millennials, and all the myriad other subjects that caught his far-ranging attention. He may have been ninety-four, but his mind had remained supple and young.
By Alicia Springer10 years ago in Longevity
Diet Tips That Work
Choosing a diet that works for you never seems to result in a long-lasting wellness plan. Both motivation and results taper off, which then brings us back to square-one. The problem can be solved by committing yourself to part-time diet tips that are easy to adopt and grow into a collection of healthy habits. Develop techniques geared toward your lifestyle and work them into a routine. These work well for people who don’t want to take time out for dieting.
By James Porterson10 years ago in Longevity
Summer Workout Risks
Most of us revel in exercise outdoors during the summer, but the blissful hot weather also heralds some seasonal summer workout risks. High smog levels, sunscreens that slide off during sweaty exercise, dehydration, and the aggravation of allergies are enough to make the most ardent fresh-air lover retreat to an air-conditioned health club. However, gloomy indoor gyms are not the only option to get fit and beat the heat. Here is a collection of new developments to help stay cool and healthy during your summer workouts, as well as the basic precautions to keep in mind as you slip on your joggers and hit the open road.
By Alicia Springer10 years ago in Longevity
How Yoga Changed My Life
Yoga changed my life. Yes, I’m going to say the cliché thing that you read on pamphlets outside of your local yoga studio. Someone with a fake name did yoga once and felt spiritually, physically, and mentally enlightened. Yoga changed my life. Except my story is slightly different.
By Samantha Bentley10 years ago in Longevity
Healthy Breathing Exercises
A single wailing breath hails our arrival into the world, just as a single silent one marks our departure from it. Between these all-encompassing two lie hundreds of millions of breaths that matter plenty. How we breathe has a lot to do with how healthy we are. And it may even be that by breathing correctly, as nature intended, we buy a little extra time. Yet about 30 percent of us don’t do it right. Maura Rhodes, well-known health journalist, explored the concept of healthy breathing, amid many others, throughout her career. In a 1989 article for Longevity magazine, Rhodes focused in on stressors that cause irregular breathing, and healthy breathing exercises to reduce such stressors.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
365 Days of Happiness in a Jar
A 365 jar is a jar filled with 365 individual notes, one to open on each day of the year. These notes can be quotes, memories, or anything positive or motivational. They can either be given as gifts or made to be self-motivational. They make great anniversary, New Year's, or holiday gifts for significant others. They also make good gifts for friends or family members who are prone to getting down on themselves. What better way to start the day than by reading notes from a loved one? Personal 365 jars are good tools to make yourself stick to your New Year's resolution. Putting 365 small personal goals or activities (something as small as "play a game" or "get to know an acquaintance better") that will improve your life is in and of itself a great New Year's resolution to stick to. 365 reasons to be happy is another great jar to make either personally or as a gift.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
History of Sunscreen
The sun rises and sets every day, which serves as an important constant in our lives. Some of us like to hide from the strong rays in the sky. The fair-skinned among us have been burned too many times. And then there are those of us who worship the sun. We can’t get enough of our time baking outside during the summer. The darker the tan, the better we think we look. A tan is the sign of a productive vacation, unemployment, or both. When we are innocent youths, we think the sun is our friend. We frolic in it, we breathe it in, and relish in its warmth without consequence. It isn’t until the supple, smooth skin of once upon a time becomes the haggard, dry, and wrinkled mess of times gone by. Protection from the sun's harmful rays is important in preventing cancer and preserving a youthful appearance. Skin cancer is one of the few preventable forms of the disease, so the American Cancer Society urges the public to use sunscreen. Throughout the history of sunscreen, cosmetic companies have learned to integrate sun protection within your daily moisturizers and makeup, allowing for convenient and lightweight protection.
By Banji Ganchrow10 years ago in Longevity
Most Inspirational Books
There are some books that you read through to kill time on a beach or on an airplane. Then there are other pieces of literature that change your life forever. Tales of loss, life, and empowerment are what make these novels some of the most inspirational books for women. Lean In offers advice on how to be a female leader in a male driven workforce, Prozac Nation is an honest autobiography about dealing with depression, and Americanah depicts a fictional story exploring race and identity surrounding a Nigerian woman in the US. If you haven't read these books yet, you're missing out on some wisdom and inspiration. These literary works of art have been given many honors from the New York Times Bestseller List to the Pulitzer Prize Award for Fiction. The stories in these inspirational books will (and already have) transcend through the test of time, connecting people and inspiring, one page at a time.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
Celebrities that Battled Chronic Illness
Celebrities are not gods. We put them on pedestals because they have ridiculous amounts of money, perfect hair, and amazing careers—but they are still mortal. Just like everyone else, they succumb to cancer, anorexia, addiction, and other chronic illnesses. Charlie Sheen is the most recent celebrity to reveal that he is suffering from a very serious illness. On November 17th, 2015, the fifty-year-old visited the Today Show to reveal that he has contracted HIV. "It's a hard three letters to absorb,” he told interviewer Matt Lauer. “It's a turning point in one's life.”
By Longevity Staff10 years ago in Longevity
Best Running Shoes for Women
Whether you're taking advantage of the warm weather or looking to stay active, you've decided to take up a new hobby—running! Running is one of the best full-body cardio exercises that really gets your body into tip-top, healthy shape. You’ve never run before? No worries! It’s easy to start with great programs like Couch to 5k, finding your own personal trainer, or checking out Runner Click. Starting a running group with some of your friends is a great motivator for your new favorite hobby.
By Alicia Springer10 years ago in Longevity
