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• live a healthier life
• live to 100 years
• secrets to 100 years

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Continued from Part I…

You’re a calorie counter.

Researchers in St. Louis reported that men and women who limited their daily calories to 1,400 to 2,000 (about 25% fewer calories than those who followed a typical 2,000-to 3,000-calorie Western diet) were literally young at heart—their hearts functioned like those of people 15 years younger. 

You prefer to drink tea.

Both green and black teas contain a concentrated dose of catechins, substances that help blood vessels relax and protect your heart. 

You skip cola (regular and diet).

Scientists in Boston found that drinking one or more regular or diet colas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, and excess fat around the waist, that increase your chance of heart disease and diabetes.

You eat purple food.

Concord grapes, blueberries, red wine: They all get that deep, rich color from polyphenols—compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may also protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to research. 

You’re not a burger-eater.

A few palm-size servings (about 2½ ounces) of beef, pork, or lamb now and then is no big deal, but eating more than 18 ounces of red meat per week ups your risk of colorectal cancer—the third most common type, according to a major report by the American Institute for Cancer Research. 

You run at least 40 minutes a day.

Scientists in California found that middle-aged people who did just that—for a total of about 5 hours per week—lived longer and functioned better physically and cognitively as they got older.

• live a healthier life
• live to 100 years
• Signs years

Details

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…

• living with arthritis
• arthritis diet
• foods to avoid arthritis

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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

• burn calories
• burn calories easily

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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

• benefits of pumpkin
• pumpkin health benefits
• know about pumpkins
• nutrition of pumpkins

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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.