Aging and Menopause

Menopause is a natural phenomenon for women who are aging. It is described as a life changing phenomenon that permanently ends the menstrual cycle of every woman. There are factors that affect the onset of menopause. Factors such as the woman’s lifestyle, genetics, and others greatly affect the onset of menopause. Therefore, menopause affects every woman differently. There are also symptoms and complications that come with menopause.

Generally, this phenomenon is thought to affect women who are in their middle ages. Women who live in the western part of the world undergo this phenomenon between the ages of 40 to 61. The average age for the last period for women who live in the western part of the world ends at 51 years old. However, in other countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, the average age for the last period ends at 44 years old. For some women who have mothers who had undergone menopause earlier can affect their daughter’s onset for menopause. Therefore, the genetic make up of a person is significant in affect the onset of menopause.

For some women, their onset for menopause is at an earlier age because of their lifestyle. Women who smoke cigarettes, for example, are bound to undergo the menopausal process at an earlier age. In a research done by Dr. Thea F. Mikkelsen of the University of Oslo and her colleagues, women who smoke were 59 percent more likely to undergo the menopausal stage before they reach age 45 compared to the women who do not smoke. Women who heavily smoke double the chance on undergoing early menopausal stage. However, women smokers who stop smoking before middle age may not be affected.

As aforementioned above, the genetic make up and the lifestyle of women greatly affect the onset of menopause. Nevertheless, there are other factors that affect the early onset of menopause such as the women who have autoimmune diseases or surgery. Autoimmune Diseases are diseases wherein the immune response of our body attacks the substances and the tissues that normally exist in our body. The body’s immune system treats the other parts of our body or a part of our body as a pathogen. As we all know, our body’s immune system acts as our body’s defence against unwanted microorganisms, germs, or bacteria and kills it. Therefore, our body’s immune system targets our living cells and kills it which leads to the abnormal functioning or the cease of function for some parts of our body.

There are symptoms that can warn a woman who is probably undergoing menopause and complications that accompanies the onset of menopause. Women who are probably undergoing the menopausal process would probably experience symptoms such as sleep issues, hot flashes, changes in sexual interest or response. The most common and bothersome symptom during menopause is hot flashes or hot flushes since this symptom is associated with the changing hormone levels of the woman’s body. Women sweat a lot and their mood changes swiftly. Another symptom and complication that a woman is undergoing menopause is insomnia. As we all know, insomnia is a sleep disorder. People who are suffering from this disorder have difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep.

In conclusion, the menopausal stage is a natural complex stage that affects the women around the world. There are factors that affect the early onset of the phenomenon and symptoms and complications that warns and comes with the phenomenon. It changes the life of women and sometimes their outlook in life. However, they can lessen the symptoms and complications by following a healthy diet. They should be more careful with what they eat and their body weight.

Women who are undergoing menopause should eat healthy and get enough calcium, iron, fiber by eating at least two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables in their daily diet, food with high calcium such as cheese and sardines, and eat food that are iron-rich at least three servings such as chicken or any other poultry, eggs, fish, and many more, and drink water for hydration. They should also reduce their fat, salt, sugar and alcohol intake, and maintain a healthy weight. This would mean that women who are overweight while undergoing menopause should opt to lose their weight.

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Youthful stem cells may help prevent ageing

London: A new study has revealed that stem cell dysfunction is a cause of ageing and suggested the possibility of preventing this biological declines with a shot of youthful cells.

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine injected rapidly aging mice with stem cell-like progenitor cells derived from the muscle of young, healthy animals.


They then found that instead of becoming infirm and dying early as untreated mice did, animals that got the stem/progenitor cells improved their health and lived two to three times longer than expected.

The finding suggests that stem cell dysfunction is a cause of aging.

Previous research has revealed stem cell dysfunction, such as poor replication and differentiation, in a variety of tissues in old age, but it’s not been clear whether that loss of function contributed to the aging process or was a result of it, explained senior investigators Johnny Huard, Ph.D., and Laura Niedernhofer, M.D., Ph.D.

“Our experiments showed that mice that have progeria, a disorder of premature aging, were healthier and lived longer after an injection of stem cells from young, healthy animals. That tells us that stem cell dysfunction is a cause of the changes we see with aging,” Dr. Niedernhofer said.

Their team examined a stem/progenitor cell population derived from the muscle of progeria mice and found that compared to those from normal rodents, the cells were fewer in number, did not replicate as often, didn’t differentiate as readily into specialized cells and were impaired in their ability to regenerate damaged muscle.

The same defects were discovered in the stem/progenitor cells isolated from very old mice.

“This leads us to think that healthy cells secrete factors to create an environment that help correct the dysfunction present in the native stem cell population and aged tissue,” Dr. Niedernhofer said.

Animals that age normally were not treated with stem/progenitor cells, but the provocative findings urge further research, she added.

They hint that it might be possible one day to forestall the biological declines associated with aging by delivering a shot of youthful vigor, particularly if specific rejuvenating proteins or molecules produced by the stem cells could be identified and isolated.

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Health Tips for Seniors

Whether we like it or not, we will grow old and eventually have to leave this tent we are living in right now. As we age, our health begins to deteriorate, and our risks for certain diseases suddenly increase. This is how nature works, but that doesn’t mean we have to go with the flow and allow sickness and disease take over our lives. Life is so good and we cannot afford to lose it just so quickly and easily to chronic health problems like heart disease and cancer. It’s true that we are going to leave this earth eventually, but wouldn’t you want to get the most out of this life while you are still alive? Being a senior has a lot of disadvantages, but do you know that you can spend the remaining years of your life free from sickness?

One of the main causes for health problems among older people is lack of physical activity. There’s a saying that goes, “We don’t stop exercising because we grow old; we grow old because we stop exercising.” Sad but true, most people stop engaging in physical activities as soon as they get past their fifties. This is a major problem, because a sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for obesity, and we all know that obesity is one of the reasons why older people suffer from high cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

You may not be as strong today as you were twenty or thirty years ago, but that doesn’t mean you cannot perform exercise routines that will help you stay fit and healthy. Regular exercise doesn’t just benefit your physical health but your mental and emotional health as well. Each time you sweat out, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers and mood booster. When you exercise regularly, you actually lower your risk for depression and cut down your chances of developing degenerative brain diseases that commonly afflict older people.

Ask your doctor what kind of workouts are recommended for people your age and you will surely be given several suggestions depending on the state of your health right now and what you want to accomplish.
Aside from failing to get enough physical activity, most seniors today also fail to receive proper nutrition, resulting to vitamin deficiency and dehydration. You have to consult with your doctor first especially if you have a health condition that prohibits you from eating certain types of foods, but in general, eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key to having optimal health for seniors.

Your diet should also be low in fat, sugar, and sodium but should be rich in calcium and fiber. Calcium is especially important in preventing bone conditions such as osteoporosis. Fiber, on the other hand, is essential for reducing your risk for developing diseases in the digestive tracts. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water every day is also a good way to prevent dehydration and to help cleanse your digestive and urinary tracts.

To boost your mental health, load up with foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Sometimes, it’s possible for you not to get the required amount of nutrients from the food you eat regularly, so make sure you take in some supplements as well. A good anti-aging supplement should contain a combination of antioxidants that help boost your brain, skin, and overall health. Ingredients to look for in supplements include Vitamins A, B, C, E, CoEnzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Gingko Biloba, Retinol, Magnesium, and Potassium.

Finally, make it a habit of visiting your doctor regularly to have your general checkup even when you feel healthy and well. The reason is that there are many health problems that do not show signs and symptoms during their early development stages and only surprise you when they have already gotten worse. Such health conditions include hypertension and hyperlipidemia, both playing a big role in the occurrence of a stroke or heart attack. Seniors who have themselves checked at least once every three months are 80-90 percent less likely to suffer from chronic diseases compared to those who only see the doctor when they are not feeling well.

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Anti Aging for Men and Women

    Most people think that beauty is skin-deep, but this is not so. While most of the early signs of aging become evident first on the skin, it can go deeper in the body and affect the mental and emotional well-being of a person as well. Aging is a natural phenomenon that we cannot stop, and whether you like or not, your body will continue to grow old as the years go by.
The good news is, there are several things you can do to at least slow down the effects of the aging process. These anti-aging methods are designed not just to make you look young but also make you feel young, and think young.

Women are more conscious about the way they look than men. That’s why when it comes to anti-aging for women, a good skin care regimen is a must. While most women understand the importance of having a beauty routine, there are others who totally take skincare out of the picture. If you want to have young-looking skin all the time, you should invest your time taking special care of your skin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to visit the dermatologist all the time. There are other less expensive but effective ways to keep your skin healthy and vibrant and one is by investing in quality skin care products.

Another thing women should be concerned about is their diet. Whether you like it or not, your diet plays an important role in the aging process. There are many women who suffer the effects of premature aging simply because they do not watch what they eat. Not only do certain types of food can make you fat; they also make your skin dull and ugly. Consequently, there are foods that doesn’t only help maintain the beauty of your skin and hair, but also help you burn fat easily so that you maintain a young and sexy figure as you age.

Furthermore, women should watch their stress levels. According to studies, women are more prone to stress causing worries than men. The reason behind this is that women have the propensity to carry everything on themselves, whether it’s their career or their family. No wonder why there are women today who look older than they should. This is the result of stress, and the best way to solve it is to get rid of the stressors in your life.

An unusually yet effective way for women to beat stress is through crying. Studies have proven that shedding tears from time to time is a good way to fight the signs of aging as a result of stress. This is because crying has calming effect on a person, and can help improve a woman’s social, physical, mental, and emotional health. Research also says that every time you cry, your body releases hormones that help fight stress. Therefore, do not hesitate to shed some tears especially when you’re feeling that the stress of this life is taking its toll on you.

While anti-aging is usually associated with women, men should obviously learn how to fight the signs of aging as well. With men, the primary concern is how to prevent their skin from wrinkling and sagging too much as soon as they reach the age of fifty. During this stage in life, the skin starts to lose its ability to produce sufficient amounts of collagen. Collagen is what gives the human skin its structure, and where’s a lack of it in the body, the result is sagging skin. For men, the first signs of wrinkling usually appear around the eyes. Experts suggest that these areas should be treated regularly with anti aging cream rich in ingredients that help boost collagen production.

Men should also shave more often if they want to look younger than they actually are. Shaving doesn’t just make you look like ten years younger, it also helps stimulate collagen production in the face. This is why men who shave often have fewer wrinkles than those who do not. So it would be a good idea to get rid of the beard and mustache regularly.

You might also want to get rid of the beer belly through regular exercise. Excess fat on the waist area can make you look five years older, so see to it that you make an extra effort in toning those ab muscles. Six packs are not necessary though.

Most men and women today depend on surgery in order to restore their youthful look. But you can save yourself the unnecessary expenses simply by knowing such simple yet effective anti-aging techniques.

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Best Foods to Fight Aging

Since the beginning of time, man has been on an endless search of the legendary “elixir of life.” It would seem that nobody wanted to be a victim of this natural process of life called aging. Interestingly, research has brought us several foods found to be more effective at fighting aging than most other foods. The following list contains the best food items to choose in your quest to stay young and vibrant as long as possible:

1. Fruits and vegetables – Indeed, weight watchers would attest to the magic in fruits and vegetables as a daily staple. After all, produce is always high in nutrients while being low in calories and being filling on the stomach. But do you know that fruits and vegetables are also tops when it comes to anti-aging benefits? Among the most recommended produce choices are blueberries, which has high potential for boosting memory. Then again, all berries are known for being rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals, or molecules that lead to cell damage and may be connected to chronic inflammation. The type of inflammation associated with aging is considered to be a cause of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and other aging-related conditions. In addition to helping your internal health, your outer beauty will also benefit from the high vitamin C content of berries. Meanwhile, spinach as well as other dark green leafy vegetables are great for keeping your eyesight sharp, thanks to their high levels of zeaxanthin and lutein, pigments in plants that protect one’s eyes from harmful UV rays. Vitamin K is another nutrient that green leafy veggies are high in, which plays a crucial role in preventing bone loss and fractures.

2. Protein – While dieters may steer clear of protein during their teen years and early adulthood, it is actually a critical nutrient particularly for people past their 40s. This is because muscle mass will begin to drop by a maximum of 1% per year from that time onwards. When this happens, metabolism becomes slower, which results in weight being put on much more easily. Muscle boosts metabolism, so you will do well to stock up on protein. Of course, be sure you stick to skinless turkey or chicken breast, lean cuts of pork and beef, beans, seafood, and eggs. Dairy is also a great plus for your diet, such as yogurt, fat-free milk, and low-fat cheeses. Another advantage of stocking up on dairy is that it helps lower the risk of gum disease and tooth loss, thanks to the calcium content. On a side note, understand that adding calcium to your diet will do little to build bone mass when you are not getting sufficient protein.

3. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids – Fatty acids found in seafood are known for quenching chronic inflammation. Research has found that omega-3 acids actually work on a part of the brain that affects moods, giving people a healthier outlook in life. You can opt for fish like tuna and salmon, as they are found to have the kind of fatty acids that works best in curbing inflammation. Plant sources with omega-3 include flaxseed and walnuts.

4. Whole grains – Research has shown that diets high in whole grains work best in keeping a person stay slim, owing in large part to the role of fiber in controlling appetite. In addition, it is also known to give significant protection against many diseases associated with aging, including heart conditions and diabetes. This is largely due to the many minerals, vitamins, plant chemicals, and fiber found in whole grains, which refined grains do not boast of having, as they lose these nutrients during the manufacturing process.

5. Red wine – Red wine is well known for being a potent antioxidant and dampener for inflammation. It is also known as a protector of a person’s arteries. Of course, the recommended dose would be about five ounces a day, as more may actually do more harm than good.

Of course, one’s aging process will not solely be limited to food intake, as lifestyle choices also play a vital role in how fast you age. Still, making wise food choices will definitely be better than choosing to gorge on junk food, and then lamenting the wrinkles you find in the mirror every other day.

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