Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick

Many New Year's resolutions are related to health and fitness -- but how many of us actually carry them out? There are some easy steps to help ensure that we make resolutions that we can stick to:

http://menshealth.about.com/od/fitness/a/fitness_resolut.htm

The 10 Commandments of Holiday Weight Control

As reported at http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/diet/nutrition/articles/0,,284558_602594,00.html

1. Thou shalt step on the scale once a week.

2. Thou shalt not skip thy workouts.

3. Honor thy need for sweets.

4. Thou shalt never say, "I blew it at lunch, so I may as well pig out at dinner."

5. Thou shalt prepare thyself for partying by taking the edge off thy hunger.

6. Thou shalt go easy at the buffet table. Go up and survey the spread first.

7. Thou shalt keep thy body properly hydrated.

8. Thou shalt make sensible substitutions in thy favorite holiday dishes.

9. Thou shalt always include a steamed vegetable in thy holiday meals.

10. Thou shalt not hoard leftovers.

10 Foods That are Health Horrors

The ten foods that give nutritionists nightmares:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/129/117303.htm

Ever tried deep-fried cola? Or how about this concoction from a tavern in Atlanta: A hot dog padded with cheese and half pound of ground beef. That's dropped in the fryer, then loaded onto a hoagie roll and topped with chili, bacon, onions and a fried egg?

(Hey, don't yell at me, I'm just the messenger.)

How Exactly Do We Age?

Scientists have spent years researching this question, and in recent years have narrowed it down from over 300 theories to just a handful.

They've loosely divided these remaining theories into two categories: biological processes, and wear and tear. So far, we don't have a lot of control over the first category, which deals with how our genes and cells act (but that could change, fast).

But the second category deals with damage from food, drink, smoking, stressm and the environment. Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/living_longer_science.html

Conquering Aging With Cloning?

Yes, it sounds far-fetched, but advances in cloning technology are moving forward with exciting speed. Studies now find that cloning can reverse cellular aging.

Read the whole story here:

http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/apr2000_clon_01.html

Did You Know That Broccoli is Good For Your Skin?

...I didn't, either. But it turns out broccoli is loaded with chlorophyll, which helps keep carcinogens from binding to the DNA in your liver and other important organs.

In fact, broccoli contains numerous phytochemicals that are anti-carcinogenic. Some of them block those nasty free radicals, some of them help prevent breast cancer, and broccoli even contains an antioxidant known as sulforafan, which cleans out cancer cells from your body.

Pretty amazing stuff! Here's the whole story:

http://www.skinenergizer.com/nutrition/broccoli.html

Are You Getting Hot Yet?

There are many different styles of yoga, although in the U.S. at least most classes share some basic similarities -- usually putting yourself into a series of poses that help develop strength and flexibility.

You may have heard of Bikram Yoga, which has been gaining popularity in the U.S. in recent years. Classes are held in a room that has been heated to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat allows your body to be more flexible, and the sweating helps eliminate toxins from your body. Here's more information about Bikram Yoga:

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/styles-of-yoga/bikram-yoga.asp

Here's a typically ironic mainstream media viewpoint about Bikram (from the Time Magazine website):

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,106355,00.html

Some Effective Anti-Aging Strategies

Here are some useful links I've come across recently:

Regular yoga practice is one of the easiest and most effective ways I've found to take the pounds off, keep your body flexible, and keep your mind relaxed.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/12/1738_50707


Here's good advice on what to eat to stay young:

http://www.gourmet.gr/mediterranean-diet/health/show.asp?gid=3&nodeid=89&arid=6393

(Any diet that includes daily chocolate and red wine can't be all bad!)


And finally, don't forget the mental aspect of staying young:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Aging-in-a-Mental-Straightjacket?&id=363042