The Aging Athlete
As we grow older our body's slow down and become more prone to injury. Through preventative measures we should be able to exercise into very old age! The aging athlete describes the collection of 40-70 year old men and women who continue to participate in physical activity in one way or another. Some of these people are lifelong athletes while others have recently taken up regular exercise. Each aging athlete runs an increased risk of injury to due muscle, bone, tendon, and ligament changes as their body grows older. However, this risk can be counteracted with the necessary preventative measures.

The problem with the aging body comes from a number of angles. Those who continue to exercise into their later adult years in fact tend to slow down the aging process. However, as we get older our bones become less stable, our muscles begin to decrease in size, and tendons and ligaments are less elastic. As an athlete who continues to exercise vigorously, these body changes pose an increased risk to injury. In fact, overuse injury amongst the 40-60 year old group is markedly more common compared to an individual in their twenties.

The aging athlete is often separated into three different categories to help further explain their problems and needs. The older athlete is someone that is over 50 and still involved competitively in sports. This person most often exercises multiple times per week and has practiced this routine for a number of years. Their main concern is an acute injury that temporarily halts their ability to exercise and compete.

The second category of the aging athlete is known as the former athlete. As the title suggests this type of person was at a younger point in their life dedicated to a sport and therefore was in good physical condition. However, as they have aged they have become less involved in exercise and as a result have become deconditioned. The problems that face the former athlete are most often degenerative issues like tendonitis.

The final form of the aging athlete is labeled the prematurely mature athlete. This patient is always younger, twenty-five to forty, and has a history of frequent injury. Despite continuing swelling or trauma that the premature mature athlete displays, they continue to participate in demanding sports.

There are a number of preventative steps to take in order to decrease the risk of suffering from the common aches and pains the aging athlete suffers from. After all, in order to enjoy activities and reap the benefits of exercise an individual needs to be physically able to perform. One technique that has proven effective is altering your sport periodically. If you are a runner, try switching to cycling for a while to give your knees a rest. Flexibility is also crucial to avoiding muscle tears. Good flexibility also enables your body to align properly which goes a long way in preventing overuse injuries. A form of strengthening exercises also helps the body absorb impact from different sports. Finally, one of the most important things to remember as an aging athlete is aerobic conditioning. The risk of heart disease, among many other cardiovascular issues, can be greatly reduced by maintaining adequate aerobic endurance.

As we grow older many people believe our bodies simply stop working because of our age. However, this common misconception can be viewed from another angle; our bodies grow old because we stop moving. Regular bouts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise can help prevent adverse health effects and keep our body in great shape, despite our age. Consulting a physical therapist can help you create a training regimen to fit your needs, as well as effective injury prevention measures to keep in mind.

Robert Tendick is a student preparing himself to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. His experience as an athlete with various injuries has given him insight into the common aches an pains that trouble many athletes on a daily basis. He has also had the opportunity as a physical therapy aide to help heal a number of Los Angeles physical therapy patients through the use of cutting edge injury rehabilitation techniques.

OPC Review - An Anti Aging Miracle?
OPCs are a powerful antioxidant compound that is gaining popularity in the anti aging field. This review covers some of controversy associated with this nutritional supplement. I've only recently been introduced to OPC nutritional supplements. They've been around for over 50 years - why haven't I heard of them before? From what I've been reading, they sound like the next great frontier in anti-aging nutritional supplements.

If you are new to OPCs, here is a brief synopsis: OPC stands for oligomeric proanthocyanidins and is a molecular compound that is extracted from pine bark and grape seeds. Jacques Masquelier from France received the patent for the pine bark extraction in 1951 and then from grape seeds in 1970. In 1985, he got a US patent for his OPC.

Why should you care about the history of OPCs? Because whenever a good thing is discovered, there are always new products developed that claim to be the same thing, but really aren't. More about that later.

As expected with any research on nutritional supplements, there are widely conflicting reports on what OPCs can do. Here is a list of some of the claims I read:

"Prevents heart attacks and strokes
"Strengthens capillary walls
"Reduces varicose veins
"Relieves leg cramps & pains
"Protects smokers from oxidative stress (lowered risk of heart attacks)
"Reduces swelling and edema
"Improves collagen and helps with the following ailments
"Lupus
"Liver Cirrhosis
"Hypertension
"Cancer prevention
"Asthma
"Allergies
"Diabetes
"Periodontal disease
"Impotence
"Hemorrhoids
"Impaired vision & macular degeneration
"ADHD
"PMS symptoms

Seriously, can it REALLY do all that? How come everyone isn't taking this miracle supplement? Here's what the sources DO agree on:

OPCs are powerful antioxidants.
There is plenty of debate on the health benefits of antioxidants. I won't go into that here. If you believe in antioxidants to help combat the damage of free radicals, then OPCs should be on your shopping list of nutritional supplements. This is one supplement you'll have to pop the pill for. I doubt you can eat enough pine bark and grape seeds to get the full benefit of OPCs.

Varicose Veins
They seem to provide relief from problems associated with varicose veins. This was one study that seemed pretty conclusive.

Swelling from surgery or injury
OPCs seemed to reduce the swelling from surgery in breast cancer patients, facial surgery patients and sports injuries. You can see the possibilities here.

Gingivitis and plaque formation
They used an OPC gum for this study, but it seemed to work pretty well on the test subjects.

Blood clots after long plane rides
They found it significantly reduced the risk of blood clots on plane rides around 8 hours long.

What about all the other claims? Although testing has been done on many of the claims, sometimes the results were in animal studies or evidence SUGGESTS that a benefit may be there but there is no DIRECT evidence. So does that mean it doesn't work on all those other claims? Not at all. Medical testing is a slow and arduous task. As with all supplementation, proceed with caution and follow directions for use.

Are they safe? Apparently, yes. They are considered non-toxic. Side effects are pretty rare and can include digestive distress or an allergic reaction. One thing to note: if you take a blood-thinning drug, you should consult your doctor first. High doses of OPCs may have some anticoagulant properties.

Are all OPCs the same? Apparently not, although that doesn't mean you won't get some benefit from the various brands of OPCs. I would suggest you look for OPCs endorsed by or with Masquelier's name on them. It is a patented product, so you should be using the original patented formula. Currently there are several places on the internet to find them. See the website below for sources.

To find out more about OPCs and get Anti Aging Tips, visit Free Anti Aging Report

Anti Aging Skincare Products - 10 Frequently Asked Questions

Are you really searching out for some remedies that can bring back your youthful look without putting your skin at risk? The anti aging skin care treatment is the only remedy for you. Here are some tips to guide you with the proper anti aging skin treatment.

Do you know the cause of skin aging?

The primary cause of skin aging is due to sun damage and to some extent genetic factors are responsible.

When do you start aging process?

Normally, when you are in your late 20s or 30s, your skin aging process starts.

What are the signs?

The visible signs may include wrinkles, loose skin, fine line or even larger pores on your skin.

How anti aging skin care supplements revitalize your dull and dry skin?

Anti aging skin care supplements radically improve your outlook by nourishing you from inside out.

What are anti aging skin care products?

Anti aging skin care products prevent general ageing of the skin by providing reinforced protection against daily aggression.

What are the types of anti aging skin care products?

Anti aging skin care products are available for both men and women. You can select from cleansing gels, facial creams & lotions, multi-active toner, face emulsions, shaving creams, shaving lotions, etc.

What about those dark under eye circles, or your lips?

There are effctive anti aging cosmetic products for that also.

Are there separate anti aging products for either sex?

Anti-aging products for men are specifically formulated to enhance the texture of a man’s thicker and tougher skin as compared to a woman’s skin that is far more soft and delicate.

What are anti aging skin care supplements usually composed of?

Anti aging skin care supplements contain a mixture of herbs; minerals and vitamins that are essential to slow the aging of your dry and dull skin and retain its youthfulness.

Worry about side effect?

Almost all of these anti aging skin care medicines are enriched with the kindness of nature. So you need not to worry about any severe side effects.

Our experts have executed the best research on anti aging skin care treatment. Check it out on the anti aging skin care supplements source

Anti Aging Skin Care TipsSkin care therapy is a well-established process known to many of us. Anti aging skin care tips can highlight the main theme behind the aging factor. How to keep your skin soft and shiny and not revealing your age is all about the tips.

How To Go With That!

Many cosmetic experts have suggested a number of ways to maintain healthy skin. A few of those can be listed below: -

1. You must accept that medicine cures seldom.

2. Anti aging skin care products are the supplementary method of retarding age clock.

3. No wonder, your age can be visually reduced to look you younger.

4. If you follow the experts’ advice, the ball is on your court. Simply select the skin care products approved by your expert.

5. Never use too much anti aging medicine at a stretch. It can’t make your skin soft like a child.

6. As you know that your tenderly skin is very sensitive to external object, use the prescribed product step by step and note the result.

Considering the type of your skin, try some easily available home made solution for your skin problem:-

1. Wash your skin with warm water.

2. Cleanse your skin with medicated soap.

3. Use antibacterial cleansing lotion to avoid skin rashes.

4. Use light antiseptic anti aging cosmetic product for smooth function.

5. You can use a mask of clay or mud.

6. To remove the aging wrinkle below your eyes, you can use anti aging eye cream.

7. Your lips may look protruding due to age; try using anti aging lip balm lip mask to get a comfortable result.

8. Avoid taking oily stuff.

9. Eat green vegetable, fruits and plenty of milk.

10. And don’t forget to drink sufficient pure water.

The Ball Is Rolling, Catch It!

Following the tips is important if you want to get results. Anti aging skin care medicines are also available that gives positive result. However, you must consult your doctor before trying any over the counter medicine.

Our experts have executed the best research on anti aging skin care products. Check it out on the anti aging skin care medicines source.

Winning The War Against Aging
Americans are frantically spending millions to look and feel younger. Meanwhile, new scientific discoveries are promising us The Fountain of Youth. How can this war against aging finally be won?
Enlarge ImageAmericans spend millions on creams, pills, potions, and even plastic surgery in a frantic attempt to stay forever young. Needless to say, looking like a wrinkly old prune simply isn't in vogue.

I'm sure there are many fine anti-aging creams on the market. And I've got no bone to pick with plastic surgery. But as a distributor of Vitamins, my area of expertise is nutrition. And believe it or not, there are Vitamins on the market today that will not only slow down your body's aging process, but actually reverse it!

Let's face it, life is short. And if we're ever going to win this war against aging, we better understand our enemy and develop a strategic battle plan.

Understanding Free Radicals

Our number one enemy in the War Against Aging is the Evil Empire known as "Free Radicals." The Empire is striking, and strike back we need to do.

According to a great book entitled "Curing Illness," Free Radicals are highly reactive unstable oxygen molecules that are missing an electron (page 508). They're everywhere and they attack us constantly. These merciless Darth Vaders are the illegitimate offspring of environmental toxins, electronic devices, sunshine, chemicals, and pesticides. They attack us violently every time we drink, eat, or simply breathe. This continual onslaught is endless.

And if that's not bad enough, additional Free Radicals are created inside our body by things as simple as stress.

What Free Radicals Do

The healthy cells of your body are constantly being attacked by Free Radicals. Some experts conclude that the average person is attacked 10,000 times a day by Free Radicals. Why? All because they are looking for their missing electrons. Dang. Talk about holding a grudge!

Why Do We Age?

As our cells are constantly being bombarded by these Free Rascals - uh, I mean Free Radicals - our cells become weaker and weaker. This weakening process is known in scientific terms as "oxidation." Eventually, disease sets in, which leads to aging and ultimately death. As we continue to pollute our environment, this problem just keeps getting worse.

Antioxidants To The Rescue

So what can be done? One word:
Antioxidants!

Antioxidants are nutrients that fight mightily like soldiers on steroids against Free Radical Scum Buckets to defeat them and defuse them. But wait, there's more! They also act scrupulously like surgeons to repair damaged cells, thereby stopping and even reversing the aging process.

This battle between Free Radicals and Antioxidants is going on constantly. The problem is, we're increasingly being attacked by more and more Free Radicals. So now we need to increase our daily intake of Antioxidants just to break even.

Remember: Antioxidants are our friends, Free Radicals are our enemies. So if you don't wish to become a wrinkly old prune, it might be wise to make Antioxidants your pals. After all, in the war against aging, we need as many pals as we can get.

Antioxidants are A.C.E.S. Against Aging

The best way to remember what antioxidants are is with the acronym A.C.E.S. , which stands for Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and the Mineral Selenium. If everyone received 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of these essential Antioxidants, many experts believe we could win the war against aging. Not overnight, but eventually.

Beware of Synthetic Vitamins

Beware, however, of synthetic vitamins. For example, synthetic Vitamin E actually makes the problem of aging worsen. Make certain your Vitamin Supplement is derived from All-Natural Whole-Food Sources.

The Benefits of Grape Seed, Grape Seed Extract, and Pine Bark Extract

In addition to Vitamins A, C, E, and Selenium, there are three other powerful antioxidants that can give your body an extra edge against Free Radicals:

1. Grape Seed

2. Grape Seed Extract

3. Pine Bark Extract

Ideally, taking a daily Vitamin that contains all these Antioxidants in just the right amounts would win the war against aging and defeat those pesky Free Radicals forever. Now wouldn't that be the greatest thing since sliced bread? In fact, it would be like discovering The Eternal Fountain of Youth - brim full and running over!

What Next?

"But then," you inquire, "where in the world could someone find such a Great Vitamin?"

For more information on Antioxidants, Free Radicals, and All-Natural Whole-Food Vitamins, be sure to visit our wonderful resource site at:

http://www.TomsVitamins.com

Ambrosia For Fighting Aging
That magic molecule that can soberly fight aging.
Enlarge ImageAmbrosia (an old Greek food or drink for the gods),"Elixir of life" is an old oriental theme, the "fountain of youth", all prove the permanent obsession of fear of altered body composition, skin changes, lessened cognition, low sex drive..etc.of other features accompanying aging, as well as the old dream of permanent youth. Ambrosia and the similar acquire the shape (in people's minds) of a single magic formula that keeps one in his best optimal healthy condition.

Aging is a complex and poorly understood process that is unlikely to be solved by only a single drug. The last decade research proved that the use of a single (ambrosia) molecule doesn't give answers to the question of delayed aging, and here are some examples:

1- The nervous (ambrosia), Melatonin alone did not prove much improvement in preventing aging.

2- The hormonal (ambrosia), Growth hormone used alone in adults to delay aging caused those who administered it to stay longer periods of intensive care and hospitalization than those received placebos. There was increased mortality with high doses of Growth hormone.

3- The enzymic (ambrosia), Sirtuin alone proved to increase the number of cell divisions of a cell but not to increase its life-span (to prevent its aging).

4- The beverage (ambrosia), Reservaretol present in red wine alone proved to increase Sirtuin activity, but not yet proved effect on aging.

It is difficult for one (ambrosia) molecule to influence all the body activities that are served by a huge number of biochemical reactions under the complicated interconnected control of both the NERVOUS&HORMONAL systems, and the effects of both systems are mediated through enzymes.

If the body is represented by a factory, its (head) office is the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the executive secretaries are the Hypo thalamus and the Spinal Cord, and all are responsible for the flow of in- and out-orders in the human factory, by making and transmitting the demands and the response to them.

Hormones deals with the store-house and its "inventory", holding the keys of the store of raw and fabricated materials. In executing their jobs, hormones obey (legal) rules that can't be changed by any one, these are:

* Store-house is distributed all over the whole body and contains the macromolecules (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins), each of them can lead to formation of the other and they are in actual exchange all the time (Even bone-calcium is exchanged between bone and blood).

* No one door is allowed to open separately, and each hormone holds a set of keys that open many doors simultaneously.

* No one store can be depleted at a time and the requested material is obtained from many stores, so as to keep on a certain inventory.

* Sometimes, the number of doors needed to be opened requires the action of more than one hormone.

The optimal healthy state of the body depends on the harmony between the type of hormonal orchestra and the responding tissue, for example:

From birth to puberty, the predominant playing rchestra is composed of Growth, Thyroid, and Sex hormones and the tissues are highly responsive through more active forms of enzymes(isoenzymes), at puberty Sex hormones takes the lead, there after, Growth and Sex hormones begin to decline and corticosteroids begin to be common according to the many stressful conditions one meets in his life, while the juvenile hormones decline goes on, the body tissues acquire a new responsive condition-under whatever effects- so that they can be harmonized with the new set of predominating (unpredominating?) hormones.

To rejuvenate the nerves themselves and not to affect their function we have to deal only with its insulating sheath as well as their chemical transmitters through rich supply of the nutrients needed for both jobs, and this can be achieved by selectively increasing some micro- and macro-nutrients.

To deal with hormones, the only alternative we have now is to adapt the macromolecules to the new hormonal balance, until we better understand the relation between response of the cells to different hormonal orchestration.

To discuss if we can make our human ambrosia to fight aging, I need to put my notions in another article, so please stay tuned.

About the author:
Waheed Elqalatawy writes about health topics for any one who wants to go under the surface in an extremely easy and digestible yet firmly scientific way. For any inquiry, request or feedback, please leave a comment at;
http://www.waheedelqalatawy.blogspot.com

6 Aging, Fitness, and Health Myths Debunked-Part 5 of 6
1. People Are Living Much Longer 2. Americans Age Normally 3. Longevity is Beyond Your Control 4. Longevity Equals Pain, Disability, and Disease 5. "You Can’t Teach Old Dogs New Tricks"
Enlarge ImageMyth # 5
"You Can’t Teach Old Dogs
New Tricks"

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Of course you can.

Not only can you teach old dogs new tricks, you can also learn new tricks yourself—no matter how old you are—with the will and the commitment.

Let’s think about this for a moment. We are not talking about learning rocket science, complicated mathematical equations, or even the latest computer technology. We are talking about putting on a pair of sneakers and going for a walk—every day. How hard is that to learn?

We are talking about learning which foods promote health and fitness.

Yes, sometimes it gets downright confusing with all the loud, conflicting voices out there, but one thing that all of us know for sure—fresh, whole fruits and vegetables offer us life-giving nutrients and fiber.

How hard is it to put an apple in your mouth and chew? How hard is it to cut up vegetables and throw them in a large salad for lunch and dinner?

Let’s face it—with a bit of digging, the learning is the easy part.
Putting knowledge into practice and actually changing deeply ingrained habits and emotional attachment to certain foods is the difficult part—but certainly not impossible, especially with the determination and the vision of what you want your body to be like five, ten, or even twenty years from now.

Do you picture yourself old and decrepit, or aging with a full, active life?

As Henry Ford says, "Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right

6 Aging, Fitness, and Health Myths Debunked-Part 3 of 6
1. People Are Living Much Longer 2. Americans Age Normally 3. Longevity is Beyond Your Control 4. Longevity Equals Pain, Disability, and Disease 5. "You Can’t Teach Old Dogs New Tricks" 6. It’s Too Late
Enlarge ImageMyth #3
Longevity is Beyond Your Control

Most of us believe that genetics or "Lady Luck" determines how long we will live. If you were lucky enough to be born with good genes, then chances are you will live a long time. If you were unlucky in the genetic draw, then your fate is sealed and your life will be shorter.

Not true, say the old age specialists as told by Dan Georgakas in The Methuselah Factor.

With the exception of rare genetic conditions and being female, genetics may play a 5% to 10% role in how long you live, but no more and perhaps far less.

The number of your years is mostly determined by the choices you make every day—especially food, exercise, and lifestyle choices.

So just because your mother and father died at an old age, doesn’t mean that you will. And just because they died at a young age, doesn’t mean that you will.

Besides, if you judge longevity according to our cultural standard, a long life to you may be years shorter than what it actually could have been with better health and fitness choices. Another question too: were those longer years lived with comfort, independence, and high activity or were those last years lived with infirmity and disease?

As John Leonard says, "Aging is not simply decay; it is an accumulation of choices and consequences."

What are your choices now and what will be your consequences later?

6 Aging, Fitness, and Health Myths Debunked-Part 1 of 6
1. People Are Living Much Longer 2. Americans Age Normally 3. Longevity is Beyond Your Control 4. Longevity Equals Pain, Disability, and Disease 5. "You Can’t Teach Old Dogs New Tricks" 6. It’s Too Late
Enlarge ImageAging Myth #1

People Are Living Much Longer

Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t remind us of how we are living much longer now than we used to.

As surprising as it may be, according to Dan Georgakas, author of The Methuselah Factor, 1995, the life span of a human being has not changed since recorded time.

With the event of good sanitation practices, septic systems, and, later, antibiotics, the collective average life span of a given population has increased. In the 1700s, the average person lived for 20 to 40 years in Europe.

Today, we live, on the average, to our mid-seventies. This increase did not occur because individuals are living longer, but because there are significantly fewer deaths caused by childbirth, infant deaths, and infectious diseases spread by the lack of sanitation.

Georgakas says that once someone reaches the age of 60, someone in today’s world lives no longer than the people did at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Dr. McDougall says in Twelve Days to Dynamic Health, 1991, that once a person in the 1970s reached the age of 45, he only lived about 6 years longer than a person who lived back a hundred years before that time.

We no longer die young of acute, infectious diseases and at childbirth. We primarily die of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and strokes, which are usually preventable by our diet and lifestyle choices.

How long do the old age specialists, gerontologists, say we are designed to live? Up to 100 years old, and in good health.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a motivational health speaker, writer and lifestyle coach. Visit Dr. Leslie at Http://DrLeslieVanRomer.com for practical direction, hope and inspiration.

Getting the Younger Skin Back - Anti-aging CareWhen our aged skin begins to show up, it is time to take some action before the wrinkles spread further. Face creams can help in hiding the wrinkles, but a real treatment would combine diet and lifestyle changes as well.

A youthful skin tells our age to others before we do it ourselves. It is difficult to hide the signs of aging. Sooner or later, they begin to show up, in fine lines and loosened skin. As in the case of other ailments, prevention here is better than cure, and may in fact be the only real cure.

Here are a few tips that may help you preserve your youth for a longer time.

Sunscreen creams should be used regularly if you happen to spend a lot of time outside in the sun. Not only on the face, but also the neck, arms, and hands. These creams carry ratings in terms of SPF. Find out what level of protection fits you best.

Basic skin care involves washing the face with a cleanser. Using toners and moisturizers is also sometimes suggested. There are a wide range of products with various chemicals and ingredients such as vitamins and acids. Find out which product is suitable for your skin type and needs and use accordingly.

The face cream industry routinely comes out with new products containing new ingredients. These are meant either for temporary or long-term care. It all depends on the nature of your skin and the type of skin problem you are facing to decide on the right product. The marketing drives may promise miracles and instantaneous results, but rely on your understanding to find out what works and how much.

For more information on skin creams visit - Antiwrinkle Creams

The author is a freelance writer associated with http://www.best-antiwrinklecream.net