How Exercise Helps Diabetes

[caption id="attachment_2283" align="alignnone" width="1030"]Nutrition combined with exercise helps Diabetics[/caption]

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body is unable to respond properly to insulin, causing a rise of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. Regular physical exercise helps Diabetes and reduces the symptoms. When combined with proper nutrition, along with diabetes medications, Diabetics can really help control and possibly recover from the disease.

Encouraging your elderly loved one to stay fit and active enables them to control this disease. Specifically exercise helps diabetes by reducing sugar level spikes. Lack of exercise heightens the risk of developing long-term complications, such as kidney disease and nerve pain.
Exercise is proven to be very beneficial to everyone – not just diabetics. Diabetics have too much sugar in their blood because:

1. Their body does not properly use insulin, or
2. It doesn’t produce enough insulin to process

Exercising helps diabetes by burning some of the glucose found in the blood.

Why Exercise Helps Diabetes

When it comes to exercising, it won’t matter whether you’re diabetic or not (if you don’t have enough insulin or are insulin resistant). Your muscles can use glucose even without insulin. Therefore your muscles still are able to burn glucose and help the insulin out while you exercise. The more you exercise the better this process will be. For insulin resistant diabetics, physical activity makes insulin effective. Exercise helps diabetes by reducing the insulin resistance. The cells are able to use to glucose more efficiently.

Exercise also hampers the development of long-term complications. Type 2 diabetics are especially prone to heart problems due to blocked arteries (arteriosclerosis). Exercising promotes a healthy and strong heart and keeps your cholesterol levels under control.

Other than that, exercise gives you and your loved one numerous health benefits, such as:

• Better sleep
• Improved mood
• Keeps you energized
• Strong muscles
• Lower blood pressure
• Better stress management
• Promotes good cholesterol
• Weight management

Disclaimer: Before You Begin

Generally, people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight so exercising can be a little intimidating. For health reasons, however, you or your loved one need to start an achievable exercise routine. Before your loved one begins exercising, he/she should talk to their doctor first.
Doctors take into consideration your heart health – if there are any blocked arteries or high blood pressure, medications you are taking, as well as any diabetes-related complications. Your doctor may also refer you to a professional to figure out the best type of exercise.

Prior to exercising, remember that it’s important to set realistic goals. If you haven’t exercised in a long time, then you might want to cut yourself some slack. Start slow and gradually increase the intensity as you go. Remember to drink water and stay hydrated throughout workouts. Also, keep a snack handy to treat low blood glucose.

What Kind of Exercise Helps Diabetes Best?

Different types of exercise helps Diabetes. Both aerobic and resistance exercises are important. Aerobic exercises can be done by bicycling, jogging, walking, and the like. It is a continuous exercise that elevates breathing and heart rate as you perform. On the other hand, resistance exercises are short, repetitive exercises that strengthen the muscles. It usually uses resistance bands, weight machines, weights, or your body weight.

Here is a video from CNN on how exercise helps Diabetes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ulDHXsrvsI

How Much Exercise Do You Need?

Generally, each individual must be able to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous aerobic exercises per week, breaking it down into a 30-minute to an hour of exercise, four to five times. However, it’s okay to start slowly and gradually. Don’t beat yourself up if you start with as little as five to 10 minutes per day. Keep in mind that 10 minutes of exercise sessions is similar to a single longer session of the same intensity.

When you get a hang on exercising and if it’s possible, gradually add resistance exercises, such as lifting weight or using resistance bands, at least three times each week.

The relationship between exercise and diabetes is complex. If you need help or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or someone in your diabetes healthcare team. You can also contact A Paradise for Parents at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com. We have a personal trainerto help you with your concerns.

What Type of Foods Can You Eat?

The number one concern of most people is that having diabetes restricts them from eating the foods they enjoy. The good news is that diabetics can still eat their favorite dishes. However, it must be consumed less often or in smaller portions. There are a lot of foods that are created specifically for diabetics so they won’t have to miss out, such as no-sugar baked goods and more.

Connect with your elderly loved one’s healthcare team to create a meal plan for them. We also have a nutritionist who caters meals to our homes that helps with all sorts of conditions.

A diabetes meal plan is all about eating a variety of healthy food from all food groups. You may notice this once you have asked a healthcare professional to create a meal plan for you.

Recommended Foods for Diabetes

The food groups consist of:

• Fruits
• Starchy (corn, green peas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.) and non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, leafy greens, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, etc.)
• Whole grains (oats, wheat, barley, cornmeal, quinoa, brown rice, black rice, and more)
• Protein (lean meat, chicken or turkey without skin, eggs, fish, nuts and peanuts, meat substitutes, dried beans, chickpeas, split peas)
• Nonfat or low-fat dairy (milk or lactose-free milk, cheese, yogurt)

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) lets you learn more about different food groups ChooseMyPlate.gov.

You can also eat foods that are healthy for the heart, such as:

• Liquid oils at room temperature (canola oil or olive oil). Use this when cooking food rather than cream, butter, lard, margarine, or shortening.
• Avocado
• Nuts and seeds
• Heart-healthy fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel)

Here are some of the foods diabetics should limit or avoid:

• High-sodium food or high in salt
• Sweets – baked goods, ice cream, candies, and more
• Fried food or food high in trans-fat and saturated fat
• Sugary drinks – juice, regular sports drink or energy drink, regular soda

Make it a point to drink water instead of sweetened drinks with added sugar. As you gradually lay off sugar, opt for a sugar substitute for your coffee or tea.

Our Program of Exercise Helps Diabetics

At a Paradise for Parents, we know that it is very important to stay physically fit and healthy especially in our golden years. We encourage our senior residents to get fit and active by having a personal trainerwho works closely with residents in all of our assisted living homes in order to ensure that their physical capabilities are accommodated.

If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.comto know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online formlocated on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

How Namenda (Memantine) Works for Alzheimer’s Disease

Namenda (Memantine) is an FDA-approved drug that is one of the treatment options for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The drug lessens the spread of the chemicals in the brain associated with symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Namenda belongs to a group of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists which decrease the abnormality found in the brain.
Doctors prescribe Namenda in order to improve the cognitive and memory function of a patient or slow down the progression of the disease. However, Namenda does not cure Alzheimer’s disease or halt the deterioration of the brain.

Forest Laboratories markets Memantine across the United States  under the brand Namenda. Patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease benefit the most from Namenda.

There are over 4,000,000 Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and 1,000,000 of them are suffering from severe symptoms. Namenda (Memantine) is the first medication offered to patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

How Can Namenda Affect AD Patients?

The FDA approved Memantine (Namenda) for the improvement of the memory and thinking skills of patients with severe cognitive impairments. For most people, Namenda slows the deterioration of the disease. Therefore, AD patients maintain their cognitive abilities to function independently for a longer period. This leads to a better quality of life.

How Does Namenda Differ From Other AD Medications?

There are a few similarities between Namenda and other Alzheimer’s medications. However, there are more differences than similarities.
Other AD medications such as

• Aricept
• Cognex
• Exelon, and
• Reminyl
• 
  

are similar to Namenda in the sense that the meds do not generally improve functioning. Instead they slow down the progression of the disease, allowing AD patients to retain their independent functioning for a prolonged period of time.

The main difference between Namenda and other AD drugs is that the other medications are only effective during the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Namenda is actually the first drug that targets moderate to severe stages of AD.

Another difference is that other drugs delay the breakdown of acetylcholine – a brain chemical that’s needed in the communication between nerve cells. Namenda, on the other hand, commonly blocks the excess amounts of glutamate – another brain chemical that can potentially damage and kill nerve cells. Hopefully, doctors are able to prescribe a combination of these drugs for better results.

What Should You Expect From Namenda (Memantine)?

As mentioned, hopefully the doctors are able to find a way to use Aricept, Cognex, Exelon, and Reminyl in the early detection of the AD. Then they can slowly transition to Namenda when the disease worsens. However, scientific advisors from the FDA who evaluated the drug are adamant about informing the families that Namenda is not a miracle drug.

It should not be a source of false hope to families and severely ill Alzheimer’s patients. However, Namenda is a huge step towards the development of Alzheimer’s medications. Hopefully, it will lead to a full-blown cure for AD.

What Are The Side Effects of Namenda?

Namenda may cause side effects. If your loved one notices any change in their health, do not hesitate to contact a physician as soon as possible. Your loved one’s doctor will be the one to determine whether it is still safe for them. Some side effects include:

• Weight gain
• Pain anywhere in your body, especially your back
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Diarrhea
• Aggression
• Depression
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Headache
• Vomiting

Many side effects brought about by Memantine can be serious. If your loved one experiences any of the following symptoms, get help immediately. Notify their doctor call 911. More serious side effects include:

• Shortness of breath
• Hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)

It is possible that Namenda may cause other side effects not found on the list. Be sure to call your loved one’s doctor if there are any problems while taking the medicine.

Special Warnings for Namenda

Alzheimer’s disease patients who have severe kidney problems are not advised to take Namenda. Certain disease conditions may alter the alkaline balance of the urine and in turn, cause a build-up of the drug in your loved one’s body. For this reason, it is always wise to inform your loved one’s doctor about any major changes in diet and any diseases they do not know about such as renal acidosis or UTIs (urinary tract infection).

You should always inform the physician if your loved one has a history of seizures. This drug has not been formally studied in people with seizure disorders – in addition to the mentioned side effects.

Food and Drug Interactions

Namenda Memantine cannot be taken with certain drugs since the effectiveness of the drug can be increased, decreased, or altered in a certain way. Always inform your loved one’s physician if your loved one plans to take Namenda with any of the following medications:

• Amantadine (Symmetrel)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
• Cough suppressants that contain dextromethorphan (usually denoted as “DM”)
• Glaucoma drugs such as Diamox and Neptazane
• Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
• Ketamine (Ketalar)
• Nicotine (Nicoderm patch, Nicorette gum)
• Quinidine (Quinidex)
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, Alka-Seltzer)
• Triamterene (Dyrenium DM)

You always need to be aware when combining medications with Namenda (or any other drug, for that matter) as it may be dangerous for your loved one or the drug may simply not work at all.

If you feel like your loved one is experiencing a serious side effect, you or the physician may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting program online or call them on the phone (1-800-332-1088).

What is The Recommended Dosage?

Generally, the recommended dosage of Namenda is 10 mg to be taken twice daily. During the initiation of therapy, physicians usually recommend 5mg once a day for seven days. Then gradually increase the dosage by 5mg every seven days. The maximum dosage should be 20mg.

If your loved one experiences the mentioned side effects, his/her doctor may want to wait for another week before increasing the dose. People with kidney problems may also need to drink Namenda in lower doses.

How Should Namenda Be Taken?

Advise your loved one to take the drug exactly how the doctor prescribed it – gradually increasing the dosage. If your loved one takes a higher or lower dosage than recommended, the drug might have no additional benefit. Worse, you may experience serious health issues. Also, the drug can be taken with or without food.

What Happens If You Miss a Dose?

Tell your loved one to take the dose as soon as your loved one remembers. However, if it’s almost time for the next dose, it’s okay to skip the missed one and continue on with the schedule prescribed by the doctor. Remember to inform your loved one that it is never okay to take two doses of the drug at the same time. It may potentially lead to a drug overdose.

Drug Overdose

Speaking of a drug overdose, if the drug has been taken more than the recommended amount, it may pose serious health risks. If your loved one has taken excessive amounts of Memantine, seek help immediately. Call the local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If your loved one has fainted or is not breathing, call 911.

One of our homes, A Parent's Paradise at 164th Lane in Surprise AZ, specializes in residents with moderate to severe dementia and Alzheimer's. Feel free to call us with any questions at 623-295-9890. Or email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com. We have a long list of resources that can help. Please see the original post here.

8 Easy Ways to Naturally Reverse Heart Disease

Hearing of people having sudden heart attacks is scary. The scarier part is that everybody is at risk of developing one. Some people more than others. You might think that you’re not going to have a heart attack because you don’t have any family history. Maybe. Or maybe not. Family history is just one factor of many. Science is finding that many of the other factors canbe controlled. Controlled enough that you can reverse heart disease.

Disclaimer:  We are not doctors and none of this post (or any of our posts) should be construed as medical advice. These posts are for informational purposes only. Any diet or lifestyle changes should be done after consultation with a medical professional.

Coronary heart disease takes almost 380,000 people every year. It begins when linings of the heart become damaged. Several factors can help develop this condition. It includes age, weight, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

How to Reverse Heart Disease

Heart disease is THE leading cause of death in our country. Recent statistics show that more than 600,000 people in the United States die from it annually. This means that 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by some form of a heart disease.

Unhealthy lifestyles such as poor diet and not exercising regularly are the main causes that lead to heart disease. Changing our diets and exercise routines means we can reverse heart disease. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported the same facts everybody else knows already: steering clear of the contributing risk factors is the best way to not only avoid it but to actually reverse heart disease.

Quit Smoking

Smoking causes a lot of imbalances in the body such as inflammation and oxidative damage. It also contributes to:

• Cancer
• Blood clots, and d
• Damage to the inner lining of the heart tissue.

Smoking even one cigarette a day can raise your risk of developing heart disease by 40 percent. Cigarettes increase the free radicals that circulate in a person’s body.

Manage Stress

Most studies show a large correlation between heart disease and stress. Stress causes the improper function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis – the one that governs the ‘fight or flight’ response of our body. The constant exposure of the body to the hormones which causes the fight-or-flight response causes inflammation and oxidative damage to the body.
This makes stress management an important part of your plan to reverse heart disease. A lot of activities such as yoga, acupuncture, meditation and massages could help in reducing stress.

Have a Healthy Diet Plan to Reverse Heart Disease

Grains and beans are food high in lectin. Although it comes from plants, a diet rich in beans and grains has been linked to blood vessel weakening which is a sign of an early development of heart disease.
Herbs and spices also have anti-inflammatory properties that could help counteract any imbalances in the body. For instance, lemongrass helps to reduce the body’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that could potentially develop into atherosclerotic plaques which causes a heart attack. Other herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon also can give flavor to the food without adding unnecessary sodium.
Cutting back on sugar and refined carbs could also be one way avoiding the development of a heart disease. Too much sugar intake can cause a spike in our blood’s sugar level and could become too much for our kidneys and our heart since it interferes with the arteries’ normal function.

Good News On the Diet Front

There is good news for wine drinkers. A Studyby the National Institute of Health shows that moderate red wine consumption increases the amount of Reverastrol in the body which decreases heart disease by up to 40%. Reverastrol can also come in pill form.
The American Heart Association recommends a low-fat, high-protein dietto decrease the risk of heart disease. However, many recent studies are showing a diet high in good fats (avocados etc.) is very helpful to reverse heart disease, especially when paired with Reverastrol.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Keep your body weight at bay – not too fat but also not too thin. Being too much of those two things can have an adverse effect on your body, especially your heart. For people who are overweight, the best course of action to take is to probably shed some weight. Choose what you eat and remember to avoid sugary foods as much as possible. Calorie restriction is one of the best ways to reverse heart disease.

Monitor Blood Pressure Levels

Keeping track of your blood pressure regularly is very important since it lets you know whether your blood pressure is fluctuating or not. If it rises or falls, you can have it treated before it can cause serious damage. Having a constant high blood pressure makes your heart work too hard and may possibly lead to cardiac arrest or worse, heart failure.

Take Your Vitamins and Supplements Rich in Calcium and Magnesium

Vitamins are an essential part of our daily life. It provides our body the essential nutrients needed to carry out our daily activities. Supplements, on the other hand, help us get the necessary minerals our body needs.

Vitamin B-6 works to protect the walls of the blood vessels of the heart. It also helps in lowering the levels of homocysteine thus reducing blood clots in the body.

Calcium does not only maintain bone strength, it also keeps the nerves and blood vessels working well and it’s one of the main minerals that maintain a low blood pressure. The mechanism of calcium in keeping the heart healthy involves its electrical performance that affects its contraction and relaxation. If the cells in and out of the heart receive enough calcium, the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body would normalize.

Moreover, low levels of magnesium could have an adverse effect on the heart. Magnesium depletion leads to hypertension, hardening of the arteries and arterial plaque.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping for more than 8 hours a night is a great way to improve your body’s blood circulation. Sleep deprivation could also increase hypertension and coronary heart calcification.

Research has also found out a link between obesity and sleep deprivation. People who sleep less tend to snack more often and eat fewer vegetables. Sleep deprivation also leads to poor food choice. They usually take in foods that are rich in sugar and fats.

Stay Active

Poor physical activity is one of the major causative factors of heart attacks. A lot of people today have jobs that require long hours sitting at the office. This decreases the amount of physical activity.
Regular workouts can decrease the chance of oxidative damage and inflammation. A study by the Harvard University reported that people who exercise for at least 30 minutes most of the week decreased their chances of developing a heart disease by 20-30 percent. Just imagine how much you reduce or reverse your risk when you exercise for an hour or two every day!

The extra steps involved in reversing heart disease don’t necessarily have to be complicated. Start changing your lifestyle by doing two of these things and slowly work your way up. Combining exercise and healthy diet would take you a long way. Take these precautionary steps while it’s still early.

A Paradise for Parents knows that it is very important to stay physically fit and healthy especially in our golden years. Our assisted living homes have a personal trainer who works closely with residents to ensure that their physical capabilities are accommodated. We also believe that meal times are the best times of the day. Our residents are provided with three healthy and delicious meals that are tailored to their needs and preferences.

If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.comto know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

Is Alzheimer's Really Type 3 Diabetes?

Many people may not know this but a link that connects Alzheimer's and diabetes (type 2) has recently been discovered.  Scientists are conducting more research to validate those claims. It's looking more and more likely that we could call Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes.
Diabetes happens when the body fails to produce insulin or is unable to use the insulin in a proper way.  Insulin helps to regulate glucose. If insulin doesn't work, glucose will build up.

There are over 100 million American adultswith diabetes or prediabetes, according to a new report released by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. If left untreated, diabetes could develop into something more severe. Excessive blood sugar (Glucose) could cause damage to many organs such as the brain.
Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, affectsmore than 5 million Americansas of 2018. There’s no telling how much the number will rise as people enter their 60s. Studies have shown that people with Type 2 Diabetes have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Why We Call Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes?

Cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, damaged blood vessels, hypertension, circulation problems, and heart diseases that have been associated with Alzheimer’s are also associated with Diabetes.
A new study conducted by the researchers at Albany University in New York showed that Alzheimer’s is actually thelate stage of Type 2 Diabetes. One of the researchers, Edward McNay, at Albany University said:

“People who develop diabetes have to realize this is about more than controlling their weight or diet. It’s also the first step on the road to cognitive decline. At first, they won’t be able to keep up with their kids playing games, but in 30 years’ time they may not even recognize them.”

An Alternate View

A professor at the New York University, Melissa Schillings, also performed her own studyconnecting the Alzheimer’s with diabetes.She sought to eliminate the confusion between two different happenings. People with Type 2 Diabetes have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s in the late stages which implies that high insulin levels have something to do with the development of Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, people with Type 1 Diabetes also have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s although only a small amount of insulin is produced – or none at all – in people with this type of Diabetes.

Professor Schillings theorized that insulin-degrading enzyme could play a role. The enzyme breaks down insulin and amyloid proteins that clump up in the brain and causes Alzheimer’s.  People with type 2 diabetes use the remaining insulin-degrading enzyme in the body to break up the excess insulin from the treatment. Furthermore, people who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes only produce enough enzymes to break down the little insulin the body produces. Both circumstances leave no extra enzyme to address the amyloid clumps that are developing in the brain. This theory by Professor Schillings was supported by Rosebud Roberts who is a professor of epidemiology and neurology at the Mayo Clinic.

Further Studies Support the Idea of Naming Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes

Another research study conducted by British researchers and their colleagues from Peking University Clinical Institute in Beijing  also linked diabetes to dementia. The participants of the experiment had an average age of 66 and a blood glucose level ranging from 3.6 to 13.7 percent. A reading of 6.5 is considered to be diabetic. The results of their data showed that early detection and intervention for diabetes might decrease the risk of cognitive decline over time. According to Wuxiang Xie of the Imperial University in London, studying the risk factors for dementia is vital since currently, there’s still no cure for it.

Further research is still being conducted as of today (2018) but the evidence from the previous studies strongly suggest that both diseases are connected. The mechanism is still poorly understood.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s and Diabetes

There is currently no cure for Diabetes and Alzheimer’s as of the moment.  Great strides in nutritional science however, have made it easier to at least control, and even to reverse Diabetes. There are many things we can do to avoid or lessen Alzheimer’s and diabetes from happening.

Exercise Regularly

Being physically active can benefit you in a lot of ways. For one it can help improve your circulation. Another advantage of exercising is it decreases the risk of a person developing Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main factors that contributes to the condition of patients is that most of them are physically inactive. Exercising can also improve cognitive reasoning, judgment, and thinking skills and keep the brain sharp.

Eat a Healthy, Low-Fat Diet

The key technique in preventing Diabetes from developing further is a healthy diet. Stick to a regular meal-time and avoid eating foods with high sugar content. Instead, opt for fiber-rich foods, proteins and low amounts of healthy carbs, such as fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains.

At A Paradise for Parents assisted living homes, we do our best to feed your loved one regular home-cooked, nutritious meals.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being obese is one of the major risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes, and having it progress to Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes. It accounts for 80% to 85% of the people diagnosed with both types of Diabetes.

Extra fat causes the body to release inflammatory chemicals that cause the body’s insulin-responsive cells to become less sensitive. This could lead to the development of insulin resistance which is a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes.

Quit Smoking

Smokers have a higher chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's (Type 3 Diabetes) than people who don’t. Smoking triggers oxidative stress which causes the free radicals damage the body which increases the risk of diabetes. Further studies have also indicated that smoking increases abdominal fat which causes insulin resistance.

Replace Sodas and Juices with Water

Water contains zero sugar and zero calories. It is by far the most natural thing you can consume to prevent the development of Diabetes. Drinks such as soda and juice have high sugar content. It's also known to increase the risk of developing  Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA or Type 1 1/2 Diabetes).

It’s also important to do a routine check-up with your physician. This way, the development of diabetes would be prevented, as well as the development of Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes disease.
If you want to know more about Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes link, give us a call. Although we are not Doctors, we have a very large network of health care professionals that might be able to help.  At A Paradise for Parents our staff and our resources will do our best to answer all your questions.  Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.comto know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online formlocated on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

10 Crazy Healthy Tips on How to Live to 100 Years Old

Almost every one of us wants to have a chance to live long enough to blow out a hundred candles on our birthday. Even if some people have a different say on this, we can agree that at some point you have wondered how it would feel like to live a long, healthy life. Studies show that the number of people who lived to be more than 100 has been increasing in the last 30 years. The question is how to live to 100 years old?

Although genetics play a big role in longevity, it’s not something we can control. Not all of us share the same luck when it comes to genes. Most people who have lived for a century most likely have a direct or a distant relative that has lived for a hundred years, too. There are certain things, however, that we can do which would help us live a healthy and longer life.

Today’s people face a lot of issues in their lives. Dealing with different kinds of stress every day could potentially lead you to cut your life shorter. So sit back and relax and consider doing these 10 legit things the centenarians did. We hope these tips help to show you how to live to 100.

How to Live to 100 Years Old

1. Mingle with Everyone

A study in 2010 proved that people who more socially involved have a 50% likelihood of living a longer and more fulfilling life than those who aren’t.

A Paradise for Parents Assisted Living Surprise and Goodyear AZ

This doesn’t mean that you have to go out clubbing. It simply implies mingling with your friends and family could help you live a longer life. Be an active participant in your community. Try to make some new friends every now and then. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Being lonely is the worst feeling in the world. Go out there and feel loved!

2. Never Act Your Age

Don’t let age stand in your way of doing the things you love. If you want to go traveling at the age of 70, then go. Go on a solo trip and maybe meet some new friends along the way. Dress as if you’re a millennial. The point is to never stop living your life even if you’re in your older years. Always look for something new to experience.

3. Choose What You Eat

This may be the factor that can have the biggest effect on people. Food rich in saturated fats is very popular nowadays. Trans fats are the number one cause of LDL or bad cholesterol. So while you’re still enjoying your youthful years, slowly cutting back on saturated fats would.

A Paradise for Parents Assisted Living Surprise and Goodyear AZ

You might also want to consider consuming lesser calories each day. Cutting back on calories by 30% could potentially slow down aging and increase your life expectancy. A recent study conducted by the researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison subjected rhesus monkey (which are 95% related to humans) to different amounts of calories. They discovered that the monkeys who consumed fewer calories were stronger and younger-looking than those who consumed more.

Cutting back on calories could lessen the production of free radicals hanging around the body and could increase the cell’s resistance to stress. Keeping cells healthy is one of the most important tricks when finding out how to live to 100.

4. Be Active

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who exercise for more than 7 hours a week could increase the likelihood of living a longer life by 60%. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise per week to add 4 years to a person’s life.

5. Be a Positive Thinker

Having a positive outlook on life could help in living a longer life. Don’t be afraid to think about death, but don’t dwell on it either. A survey featuring more than 200 centenarians have revealed that most of their long lives are attributed to their faith that they’ll reach a certain age.

6. Laugh a Lot

A Paradise for Parents Assisted Living Surprise and Goodyear AZ

A study by the two universities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yeshiva University, identified “the love of laughter” as a common ground among 243 centenarians. They also observed that most of them were optimistic, outgoing, and easy to get along with.
Laughing more can cause the decrease the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and endorphin. The lesser stress a person experiences, the more likely he is to lead a longer and happier life.
Some experts also believe that laughing could be a form of a mild exercise. In fact, laughing for at least 10 minutes could help you burn 50 calories. Laughing helps you achieve many things on this list. It is truly the best medicine.
We try to have a lot of group activities at our assisted living homes to help our residents enjoy social interactions.

7. Eat Nuts

BioMed Central conducted a study in which they reported that eating nuts could help a person live longer. They revealed that nut eaters were more likely to have a lower body mass index and have a 39% less chance of experiencing an early death.

8. Do Yoga

Doing yoga could not only help you shed some pounds, increase flexibility and release stress, but it could also help you in living a long and healthy life.
A recent study has suggested that yoga could help you increase your body awareness which can aid in consuming fewer calories.

9. Floss and Brush

This may be a weird tip but it’s also one of the top tips centenarians give to people who want to live to be a hundred. Maintaining a proper oral hygiene could decrease the risk of bacteria spreading throughout your body. Brushing your teeth properly and flossing regularly could also lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

10. Establish a Life Purpose

Looking for a greater purpose in life could help you maintain a healthy life cycle. Having a specific goal encourages you to eat healthily, get active, and become more involved in the things around you. Your new-found sense of purpose could lead you to achieve greater things than yourself.
Here's a video of a 100-year old heart surgeon who was still working at age 95. He knows how to live to 100:



The most important thing is probably to change your outlook on life. If you’re stressed, then take time to process the things you’re experiencing and look for a silver lining. Every situation has a bright side. All you have to do is to change your attitude towards it.
At A Paradise for Parents, we ensure that our senior residents are healthy, active, and are living their best life possible. If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

https://aparadiseforparents.com  623-295-9890  Hal@aparadiseforparents.com

4 Killer Types of Exercises for Seniors that Everyone Can Use

 

Weight training exercises for seniors can really help with aches and pains[/caption]

Whether you’re 10 or you’re 92, regular physical exercise plays an important role in living a long and healthy life. As we age, our bodies may be may be prone to develop different health issues, such as

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure, and h
• Heart disease

Exercise helps combat these issues and prevent them from developing altogether. Additionally, a strong body will help you elderly loved one remain independent for as long as possible. These types of exercises for seniors especially can help them enjoy their retirement years much more independently.
There are four different types of low-impact exercises for seniors to include in their daily exercise routine: balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance. A mix of all these exercises ensures that your elderly loved one will remain healthy and safe from certain injuries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly suggests that seniors should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate endurance exercise, as well as two strengthening exercises, each week.
There are numerous local gyms and senior centers that offer exercises specifically tailored to your elderly loved one. However, they don’t need to hit the gym to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. There are a few apps they can download which create a customizable workout plan that they can do anytime, anywhere. These exercises for seniors can be done in the comforts of their own space.

Disclaimer: Visit your doctor prior to starting a new exercise.

Before you or your elderly loved one begin a new exercise routine, it is crucial to inform your doctor about this matter. It’s recommended that your loved one should get a medical clearance before participating in any exercises for seniors. This is especially true if the senior leads an inactive lifestyle or has any medical conditions.
It’s also important to ask your loved one’s physician if there are any types of activities they should avoid. Certain health conditions  can affect your workout. For example, if your loved one had an ankle sprain that did not heal properly, exerting too much effort may worsen the condition. Senior diabetics should also take into consideration the timing of their medications before starting a new exercise regimen.

4 Types of Workouts

Incorporating these types of workouts in your elderly loved one’s routine ensures that they

Strength Training

A lot of seniors think twice at the mention of strength training because they think they’re going to lift heavy weights. But contrary to popular belief, strength exercises can still be effective even without equipment because of the resistance from body weight.
Strength training workouts can be done two to three times each week, 30 minutes per session. Rest days in between strength exercises are very important to allow the muscles to recover. As your loved one progresses with the exercise, his/her muscles become stronger. By this time, they can add light weights or use resistance bands (or small household objects, such as bottled water). You can see our article on some great resistance band exercises for seniors here.
Strength exercises not only improve your elderly loved one’s strength. They also boosts metabolism, build muscles, and strengthen bones – all of which help in making everyday tasks and chores easier.

Flexibility Exercises

Flexibility exercises for seniors also enable them to have more freedom of movement. This promotes independence and a prolonged active lifestyle. Prior to doing endurance or strength exercises, it is important do a light stretch. Additionally, seniors can also include certain exercise programs that mainly focus on increasing flexibility, such as yoga or Tai Chi classes, which are some great exercise for seniors. Common hobbies or activities, such as gardening and golfing can also aid in keeping your loved one strong and flexible.

Endurance Exercises

Endurance exercises, or more commonly known as cardio, aid in

• Lowering blood pressure
• Speeding up metabolism, and
• Improving heart health.

As your elderly loved one include cardio in their exercise regimen, ask them to ease into it and start slowly (5-minute increments). They can add more time as they progress with the exercise.
Keep in mind that the goal is to elevate the heart rate and breathing.  However, they shouldn't be so out of breath that they can’t carry a conversation. If your loved one feels dizzy or in pain, they may be exerting too much effort. It is best to slow down and recover.
Aim for at least 10 minutes of cardio at a time as your endurance increases, building up to at least 30 minutes each day. Seniors should at least get about 150 minutes of moderate endurance exercises each week. As seniors start their exercise, it’s recommended to begin with moderate endurance exercises before progressing (with their doctor’s approval) to vigorous exercises.
Moderate endurance exercises:

• Gardening or mowing the lawn,
• Stationary cycling
• Brisk walking on a flat surface
• Swimming
• Biking on a flat surface

Vigorous endurance exercises:

• Jogging
• Climbing stairs or hills
• Brisk bicycling uphill
• Shoveling snow

Balance Exercises

It may not seem much, but adding balance exercises to your elderly loved one’s exercise routine and potentially save their lives. Seniors are prone to falls and according to the CDC, it is the leading cause of injury and even mortality in people over the age of 65. Therefore, improving a senior’s balance promotes a safer and more independent life.
At a Paradise for Parents, we know that it's very important to stay physically fit and healthy especially in our golden years. We encourage our senior residents to get fit and active by having a personal trainer who works closely with residents in all of our assisted living homes in order to ensure that their physical capabilities are accommodated. He has some great exercises for seniors to make them more healthy.
If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

7 Ways to Quit Sugar For Good

A Paradise for Parents Surprise & Goodyear AZ 623-295-9890

If adding sugar to your food and drinks have become a habit, don’t beat yourself up by cutting sugar entirely. Give yourself ample time to ease out of the habit. If you start your day with two spoons of sugar in your coffee or tea, take it down a notch and only add one for a week or two and then cut it down to zero the following week. Substitute it with a little milk or by eating a slice of fruit.

Have you ever noticed that seniors, especially those over the age of 70, seem to have an excessive craving for sweets? If your elderly loved one has been eating sugar their whole life, it makes it doubly hard to quit sugar for good. This sparked an interest in researchers and they started looking into the cause of the elderly’s sweet tooth. We want to help them quit sugar for good.
As we grow older, our taste buds lessen and become less sensitive. People originally have 10,000 to 15,000 taste buds. But when we reach the age of 70 or older, we will lose about two out of three. This leaves us with 3,000 to 5,000 less sensitive taste buds. For this reason, an elderly person’s sense of taste declines. Additionally, a senior’s sense of smell, which contributes to taste, also declines. Other factors that affect taste also include therapies and medications. Diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are shown to alter the sense of taste and smell. Since Alzheimer's is now commonly referred to as 'Type 3 Diabetes', it is more important than every for seniors to reduce their sugar intake or (better yet) quit sugar for good.
In fact, an average person consumes about 22 teaspoons of sugar regularly; that’s about three times more than what American Heart Association recommends! Although it’s a known fact that too much sugar is bad for you, new studies show that sugar can even do more damage than you might think. It negatively impacts your cardiovascular health and contributes to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
However, the struggle lies in weaning oneself off of sugar. It’s hard to quit sugar for good since it’s found in so many foods. Plus, sugar gives off a neurotransmitter called dopamine after it goes into your body, giving you an almost addictive buzz. Evidence shows that sugar is addictive because it triggers the same pleasure centers of the brain that’s affected when a person takes cocaine or heroin.

Types of Sugar to Avoid

The number one type sugar you and you're elderly loved one need to stay away from is refined white sugar – the one that people commonly use to sweeten coffee or added to desserts. This type of sugar is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to a rise in blood sugar levels and insulin that can be detrimental to your health.
Refined sugar is so common that it’s added to most food products – from ketchup to salad dressings to bread and more. That's why it's so hard to quit sugar for good. Companies try to confuse people by calling sugar different types of names, such as cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and others. But it’s important to know that it’s all just sugar.
Although maple syrup, honey, and molasses are not processed similar to refined white sugar, these are also added sugars and can cause the same negative effects on your body.

How to Quit Sugar for Good

Let’s face it – quitting sugar is not an easy task. It’s going to take a lot of time and patience to be able to wean yourself off of the sweet stuff. A Paradise for Parents wants to help you or your elderly loved one quit sugar and lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. Here are nine surefire ways to help you quit sugar for good.

Avoid going cold turkey.

If you or your elderly loved one eat sweets regularly, then your body is already used to the sugar. So when you suddenly stop eating sugar, you’ll most likely experience withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, mood swings, and the like.
If you think to start your day without coffee will make you go crazy, sugar withdrawal is 10 times worse. It’s highly recommended if you slowly wean yourself off of it, taking one step at a time to give your body enough time to adjust. As a matter of fact, slow changes are more effective than drastic ones when it comes to dieting.

Don’t resort to artificial sweeteners.

Most people try to quit consuming sugar resort to artificial sweeteners. But do they really help?

A Paradise for Parents Surprise & Goodyear AZ 623-295-9890

Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin or aspartame may not be the answer to quitting sugar. Even though these sweeteners have zero calories, its sweet taste won’t satisfy your hunger, causing you to crave more sugary treats afterward. A study conducted in 2013 by Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism shows that drinking one diet coke per day contributes to diabetes and weight gain.
It’s not clear as to why artificial sweeteners increase hunger but it might be linked to the sweetness of the sweeteners. They are usually sweeter than natural sugar and too much of it can dull your taste buds to less sweet foods like fruits. This leads to intense cravings for very sweet and high-calorie foods.

Go natural.

A Paradise for Parents Surprise & Goodyear AZ 623-295-9890

It’s better to placate your sweet tooth without having to consume refined sugar. One way to do so is to add cinnamon or vanilla extract and add it to your usual cereal, baked goods, or coffee. This gives you sweetness without the harmful side effects of sugar – without the calories as well. You can also add spices and herbs to your meals and drinks, such as ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, or chicory and more. Additionally, citrus zest adds a fruity sweetness.

Stay away from sugary drinks.

Common sweetened beverages, such as fruit juice, iced tea, sports drink, or soda are ridden with added sugar. Take for example a can of cola; it has nine teaspoons of sugar – that’s a third more than the daily recommended limit by the American Heart Association.

A Paradise for Parents Surprise & Goodyear AZ 623-295-9890

Fruit juices and other sweetened beverages are like liquid sugar, adding up a lot of calories without appeasing your hunger. If you’re really craving for soda, it’s better to drink seltzer, which has no added sugar and contains zero calories. For fruit juice cravings, opt for water with fresh fruit slices or a fruit-infused bottled water.

Cut down table sugar.

A Paradise for Parents Surprise & Goodyear AZ 623-295-9890

Do the same with the added sugar you place in your cereal, oatmeal, or the maple syrup on your pancakes. When you slowly reduce the amount, you’d hardly notice that you’re cutting back on sugar and you’ll experience fewer withdrawals and cravings.

Dine wisely.

A lot of cuisines you find in restaurants are doused with sauces or coating that contain added sugar. As well as condiments, glazes, and certain pasta sauces contain sugar. Even your trusty pizza crust most likely contain hidden sugar even though it isn’t noticeable.
Before consuming anything, make sure to read the label. Look for the different aliases of sugar:

• Molasses
• Agave
• Brown sugar
• Corn syrup
• Cane sugar
• Fructose
• Dextrose
• Cane syrup
• Evaporated cane juice
• Brown rice syrup

Avoid simple-carb sugary treats.

Muffins, white bread, refined flour treats, cookies, pastries, cakes, and more are sweet treats that offer you little nutrition and a whole lot of added sugar. The great thing about these treats is that they’re not hard to identify. Which means, it’ll be easier for you to eliminate them from your diet. All it does is mess up your blood sugar levels and leaves you craving more.
It’s better to get your carbs from whole grains, such as brown rice, black rice, quinoa, whole-wheat, barley, and more. These are converted into sugar when digested, but they’re absorbed by the body slower than refined carbs. Therefore they give you a steady supply of energy.
At A Paradise for Parents, we believe that meal times are the best times of the day. Our residents are provided with three healthy and delicious meals that are tailored to their needs and preferences. If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.