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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Thanks to advances in health, education and disease prevention, people are living longer – many people hitting triple digits – more so than ever before.

But there are also some everyday habits, or circumstances in your past, that can influence how long and how well you’ll live.
Here is a two-part article of some science-based signs that you are on the long-life path.
You love to work out.
Studies have shown that staying physically active can help improve your longevity and help reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions.
You have a relatively flat stomach after menopause.
Women who are too round in the middle are 20% more likely to die sooner (even if their body mass index is normal), according to a National Institute on Aging study. At midlife, it takes more effort to keep waists trim because shifting hormones cause most extra weight to settle in the middle.
You were a healthy-weight teen.
A study in the Journal of Pediatrics that followed 137 African Americans from birth to age 28 found that being overweight at age 14 increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
You like raspberries in your oatmeal.
Dietary fiber helps reduce total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost weight loss.
Continued in Part II…
- Details
- Written by Lisa Jillanza
According to experts, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. While there is no compelling evidence that one type of arthritis reacts differently to foods over another type, doctors do advise against eating certain foods to help alleviate some symptoms.

There is some evidence that an “anti-inflammatory” diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, may be helpful in reducing body-wide inflammation and joint pain in certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. These diets favor fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and olive oil while restricting highly processed foods, red meat, and unhealthy sources of fat.
Obesity can also lead to certain types of arthritis, so doctors suggest maintaining a healthy weight to avoid arthritis and other obesity related ailments.
Here are some foods (and other things) to avoid if you have arthritis:
- Fried foods
- Processed foods
- Salty foods
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Spicy foods
- Red meat
- Tomatoes
- Gluten-containing foods
- Canned meat
- Mussels
- Certain vegetable oils
- Foods high in AGE’s
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Every candy on the market seems to have a “fun-sized” version these days. And while it may seem “fun” and harmless, those candies still pack a powerful punch when it comes to calories.

This October, combat the extra calories of your favorite candies with these exercises.
Snickers – 80 calories = 13 minutes of Pilates
Milky Way – 80 calories = 10 minutes of walking up stairs
Milk Duds – 40 calories = 5 minutes with an agility ladder
Peanut M&M’s – 90 calories = 11 minutes of running 5 MPH
Kit Kat – 70 calories = 13 minutes of gardening
Nestle Crunch – 60 calories = 12 minutes of Yoga
Sour Patch Kids – 105 calories = 10 minutes of kickboxing
Pay Day – 90 calories = 15 minutes of swimming
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – 110 calories = 12 minutes of jumping rope
Butterfinger – 85 calories = 12 minutes on the elliptical
Snickers Peanut Butter – 130 calories = 15 minutes of burpees
Starbursts – 40 calories = 5 minutes of walking upstairs
Nerds – 50 calories = 11 minutes of sit ups
Skittles – 80 calories = 11 minutes on a stair master
Baby Ruth – 85 calories = 12 minutes of walking lunges
Twix – 80 calories = 10 minutes of moderate spinning
Atomic Fire Ball – 40 calories = 10 minutes of Zumba
Swedish Fish – 100 calories = 5 minutes of kettlebell swings
Hershey Chocolate Bar – 67 calories = 13 minutes of push-ups
Hershey Kiss – 22 calories = 5 minutes of jumping jacks
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
- Many people do not know that pumpkins are made up of 90 percent water.
- Pumpkins also contain other great nutritional aspects including potassium and vitamin A.
- The bright orange color of pumpkins also tells us that they are a great source of the important antioxidant, beta carotene.

Recipe: Traditional Pumpkin Pie
1 ¾ cups (one 15oz. can) unsweetened pumpkin puree
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
2/3 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
(For crust us a pre-made store bought crust or a homemade crust) In a small heavy saucepan, stir the pumpkin, brown sugar, spices and salt together until mixed. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick and shiny. Scrape the mixture into a mixer or food processor for 1 minute. With the motor on, add the milk and cream, mixing until incorporated completely. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing just to incorporate, about 5 seconds after each egg. When you add the last egg, also add the vanilla. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell. Bake the pie for 50 - 60 minutes at 375 degrees.
Recipe: Pumpkin Soup
6 cups chicken stock
1 ½ teaspoons salt
4 cups pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped onion
½ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 clove garlic minced
½ cup heavy whipping cream
5 whole black peppercorns
Heat stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, thyme, garlic, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, simmer for 30 minutes uncovered. Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender. Return to pan and bring to boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Details
- Written by Lisa Jillanza
When most people begin their weight loss journey, they want to start with that stubborn belly fat. So, crunches – and lots of them – is the workout routine for you, right? Wrong! In fact, spot reduction in exercise simply doesn’t exist. Instead, trainers suggest these core-focused exercises that will help combat fat throughout your body resulting in less belly fat.

Burpees – this exercise works your core, chest, shoulders, lats, triceps, and quads. Great all-around exercise.
Mountain climbers – like burpees, this moving plank exercise works out a ton of different muscles.
Turkish Get-up – this 200-year-old exercise involves a kettle ball and is great for burning belly fat and conditioning your whole body.
