shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

I've been sick the last few days (forgive me for the lack of posting) so when I saw our recent article on Flu shots in Bulletin Today, of course it struck a chord with me.

Who should get a flu shot? While I think anyone working in an office of more than two people should get one, technically, this is the flu shot profile:

• People age 50 and older
• Nursing home residents
• Health care workers
• People with chronic diseases that weaken their immune systems
• People who are in contact with those at high risk for flu
• Children and teens, from six months to 18 years old
• Pregnant women

If you're like me, you don't have time for a doctor's appointment so you can check out senior centers, pharmacies and public clinics in your community for free or low-cost shots.

Happy vaccinating!

The New York Times reported on a new study showing that a lack of vitamin B12 intake can result in brain shrinkage for older adults.

The research study consisted of 107 individuals aged 73 who all had MRIs to measure their brain volume along with blood tests checking their B12 levels. And low and behold, the group with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume as those with the highest levels. Now that's a big difference.

Yet David Smith of Oxford and lead author of the study says that this doesn't necessarily mean we should be running to the vitamin store; they're waiting for results from a clinical trial which will find out definitively if vitamin B12 actually does prevent brain shrinkage.

We'll keep you posted!

AARP.org has a featured article that might not the most pleasurable for your Friday, but is a necessary one to be read. "Going Hungry in America" addresses the harsh reality that many older Americans are facing at a time when food and energy prices are sky-rocketing:

Today, the federal government counts 10 percent of Americans 65 and older at or below the poverty line. But that number may hide a harsher reality, some economists say.

Certainly more are struggling to stay afloat. According to a recent AARP survey, 60 percent of Americans 65 and older are having a tougher time paying for food, gas and medicine. More than 10 percent have been forced to turn for help to families or charities.

Not only are people going hungry, but are cutting back on medicine, which is just not acceptable. You must read the whole article, it's a big wake-up call, and a stark reminder of the crisis that we're all facing.

We were thrilled to have the great sexpert Dr. Laura Berman speak at our AARP Life@50+ member event in D.C. last week, and thought we'd spread the love online. AARP.org has a great article featuring Dr. Berman answering 10 questions to help make love and sex better as you age. Some of the good doctor's wise words on keeping a happy and healthy sex life:

Making it a priority! Too often older people think that great sex is no longer possible...but it is! People can have great sex lives no matter what their ages, as long as they are willing to commit to making it important in their lives.

I second that! The idea that sex isn't for older folks is just bogus; as she also mentions in the article, the older you are, the better sex can potentially be because of increased comfort with yourself and more experience. After all, practice does make perfect!

For more info about the lovely Dr. Laura and her books (one was a New York Times bestseller!), check out her bio.

Science Daily had a good article today on how while there's (understandably) a lot of focus on the health of obese and overweight men as they get older, being a thin older dude doesn't necessarily mean you're off the health hook.

New research is showing that older, thin men have an increased chance of osteoporosis and bone fractures, particularly those who have had fluctuations in weight.

"Low weight among middle-aged men was related to the risk of osteoporosis three decades later, and this risk was significantly affected by weight changes. Weight increase reduced the risk, whereas weight loss increased the risk," says researcher Professor Haakon E. Meyer from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo.

Not only are studies like this reminding us that we shouldn't just be focusing on the health risks of overweight folk, but also reminding us that men are prone to osteoporosis too. It's no big news that the condition is prevalent in women, and that should obviously be of focus - but let's not forget that fellas can be affected too!

Dr. Ruth joined us on the exhibit floor of Life@50+ to talk about intimacy and relationship after 50. Among many things (including encouraging the crowd to shout "sex!" in unison) she offered some insight into viagra and other enhancement drugs:

"It's all very well," she remarked about the "little blue pill," "but if your wife's not happy with you, an erection from the floor to the ceiling won't do you much good." Besides, she added, "Women don't want to have sex for 36 hours. They want to go shopping."

But best of all, she reminded everyone that the hardest part of sexuality and aging isn't the physical part of it: "The challenge is saying, 'Look how fortunate we are to have each other. Let's make the best of it.'"

Bob Harper, fitness trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," really got a crowd thinking about weight, fitness and developing a healthy lifestyle.

Bob told a crowd of folks that you only need three things in order to successfully lose weight on your own, and they are the three Rs:

Relax: You can't try to do it all at once. Forget extreme dieting and weight loss. You will set yourself up for failure.

Respect: Stop being down on yourself. You are worth the effort it takes to get healthier.

Resolve: You have the power to change your behavior. You can make healthier choices even in fast-food restaurants. You can get up a bit earlier to add a half-hour walk into your day.

For older people seeking to lose weight, Harper recommends cutting junk food, doing cardio and resistance exercises several times weekly, and adding eating lots of veggies and healthy proteins.

Perhaps most important: Set realistic goals. "It's no good trying to look like those models on the covers of the women's magazines," said Harper. "They don't even look like that."

This isn't too surprising, but is definitely motivation to start running! According to a new study by the Stanford University Medical Center, older joggers were half as likely to die an early death than non-runners.

They also experienced a generally healthier life, and didn't even suffer osteoarthritis or need total knee replacements more so than non-runners. In other words, "running slows the ageing clock." Reseacher Professor James Fries says: "What we found was that if you're a regular, vigorous, long-distance runner or practice other forms of vigorous physical activity for your life, then you'll have a prolongation of the good period of life, that is, the time where you don't have any physical disability," he said.

The research also found that older runners were half as likely to die an early death from conditions like cancer.

It sounds like this doesn't just apply to running either. For those who aren't big runners, there are plenty of other alternatives to stay healthy and fit. Check out AARP's Health and Fitness Ambassador, Martina Navratilova, who can give you tips on how to start an exercise schedule.

Who woulda knew? AARP reports from the International Alzheimer's Conference in Chicago, where research is being highlighted on the effects of being a older and single. While we posted last month on the fact that older single women aren't the sad, old maids that stereotypes often make them out to be, that doesn't mean that not having a partner can't potentially have an effect on your health. In fact, this new research shows that having a partner midlife had a 50 percent lower risk of having dementia later in life. Some more stats:

• People who were single throughout their lives had double the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
• People were divorced and stayed divorced from midlife on had triple the risk.
• People who lost a spouse midlife and stayed single had more than a sixfold risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than their married peers.

What author of the study, Krister Håkansson, asks is a good question: "What is it about being in a couples relationship, whether married or not, that is protective? Is it the cognitive and intellectual stimulation that comes with living in a relationship or is it something related to other things, like social or emotional factors?"

Their guess is that it's a social network of friends and family and lack of isolation, which makes sense considering the fact that people who were lifelong singles were "much better off" than those who were divorced or lost a spouse in midlife. (Lifelong singles are guessed to have a better network of family and friends already established.)

The thing that can be upsetting about these kinds of studies is that it seems as if you almost don't have a choice in what happens to you; you get divorced and don't find another spouse, what can you do then? But rather than seeing this study as some impending doom for dementia, we should see it for what the actual implications really seem to be here: that a strong network of close loved ones is what matters in life.

*Picture from Brand New Images/Getty Images

Everyone knows that eating more fruits and veggies is good for you, right? But, if you're like me, you still don't get enough. Life - and my picky taste buds - always seems to get in the way of advance planning and culinary genius.

That's why I like this new logo that's getting slapped on over a 1,000 products in grocery stores across the country. Anything that has this "Fruit & Veggies More Matters" logo has already met strict nutrition guidelines for fat, sugar, fiber and sodium. Beats trying to do calculations with the complicated nutrition charts on food labels!

Stores that are participating include A&P, Bi-Lo, Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Safeway, Schnuck's, SuperValu, Ukrop's, Wal-Mart, and Weis.

Plus, the website has all kinds of shopping tips, recipes and ways to get the grandkids involved in cooking healthy. Check it out here.

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/

It looks like the wonders of technology may be bringing older folks a shoe that may help them avoid falls. This is not just any old shoe, people - it's an iShoe.

Erez Lieberman of MIT actually originally created the shoe as an experiment for astronauts with balance issues after returning home from the weightlessness of space life. But after Lieberman's grandmother had a bad fall, he realized that the invention could serve as a "balance diagnostic" to assist doctors and patients prevent falls before they occur.

Essentially what the shoe does is use its insole to measure the pressure of the foot and report it to a person's doctor, and in extreme cases, report an alarm when a fall actually occurs. But for the most part, this awesome tech shoe will serve as a warning so that future falls can be detected, and avoided. And considering that falls are a leading cause of death for people over 65, we'll be welcoming the iShoe with open arms.

Via Gizmodo.

The New York Times had an interesting piece awhile ago on a heated debate about the fact that women in their 80s and 90s aren't being urged to get mammograms on a regular basis:

As with most cancers, the risk of breast cancer increases with age. Yet while doctors tell women to have annual mammograms after age 40, they often advise 85-year-olds to go two or even three years between scans.

The problem, doctors say, is too little data. Large clinical trials, including those that have found that mammography saves lives, tend to focus on younger people and exclude the very old.

A recent study that tried to assess the usefulness of mammography among 80- and 90-year-olds found that very few women in this age group, 22 percent, underwent regular screenings for breast cancer, but that those who did were more likely to find the cancer early enough to avoid a mastectomy and survive at least five years.

The question is raised whether breast cancer screenings should really be a large focus when there are other more common physical conditions at that age to be looking out for, like heart disease or chronic pain. But considering the fact that two-thirds of people over 85 are women, some are saying it's just as important.

Another issue raised is that women over 74 years old haven't been studied in clinical trials on mammography, so organizations setting guidelines for older women have to use potentially inaccurate information because it's coming from research with younger subjects. In other words, the actual process of getting a mammogram or a biopsy may be a risk for women older than 80, particularly if they have other conditions like dementia or heart disease.

Check out the whole article, the read is worthwhile.

Knowing first hand the benefits of yoga, I didn't need to read "Yoga: At the Heart of Fitness" from a recent AARP Bulletin Today to know how great yoga is for me - mind and body. But after years of people poking fun at "that stretching thing," it is reassuring to have my feelings about the benefits of yoga confirmed by science. A recent study at Emory University measured the effects of a regular yoga practice on older adults with chronic heart failure. In just eight weeks, the subjects improved their ability to withstand the stress of physical activity and increased their body's ability to use oxygen efficiently. Most importantly, the participants reported having an enhanced quality of life. And that's what it's all about - quality of life. So give yoga a try or, if that's not for you, take a look at these other healthy living tips.

Via Feisty Side of Fifty, an interesting online game that tells you how old your brain is. From the post:

Many women over fifty complain they become more forgetful. In fact, some have affectionately dubbed this phenomenon "mental-pause," and there are real physiological reasons behind it. There are estrogen receptors throughout your brain, including the hippocampus, and this is the part involved in certain aspects of memory. So, when estrogen levels drop, your brain and your ability for recall are affected...

... But, before you get too worried that your own gray matter is graying, check out this fun little test. It's called "How Old is Your Brain?" I did and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I'm beginning to feel my noggin literally popping with new and sprightly dendrites!
The game's directions are not in English but it's easy to play.

1) Click here to get to the game

2) Click start

3) Wait for the countdown

4) A set of numbers flash on the screen. Memorize their positions, then click the circles in order of smallest to largest digit.

5) At the end, the game will calculate how "old" your brain is.

This makes sense. A new study in Kansas shows that patients with Alzheimer's disease still have an adult identity, and despite extreme cases of not knowing where they are or what the year is, they don't enjoy being babied or patronized. The researchers videotaped Alzheimer's patients in three nursing homes:

Researchers then analyzed the tapes, assessing how the manner in which staff interacted with patients influenced patients' behavior and the quality of care.

They discovered that when nursing aides communicated in a kind of baby talk for seniors--using a high-pitched sing-song tone, comments like "good girl," diminutives like "honey" and language that assumed a state of dependency ("are we ready for our bath?")--Alzheimer's patients were twice as likely to resist their efforts to help.

Patients would turn or look away, grimace, clench their teeth, groan, grab on to something, cry or say "no"--behaviors that can be read as indications of distress at being patronized or infantilized, said lead researcher Kristine Williams, an associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

"Communication can really impact care," she said.

They also discuss how in the past, experts thought that Alzheimer's patients should be corrected when making a mistake about the time of year or who they're talking to, the general agreement now is that entering their reality (rather than forcing them into ours) is the more effective way to go, says Dan Kuhn, director of the professional training institute at the Alzheimer Association's Greater Illinois chapter."Don't remind them of their disability. Don't tell them they're wrong. And by all means, don't be condescending or critical."

AARP's Bulletin Today is also running a five part series on Alzheimers as well - there's videos, resources and updated info on treatments.

This is a random but interesting article. According to a new study, older folks may not need their Zs as long as than those younger than them. While many might make the misconception that the older you get, the more sleep you need, it looks like healthy adults age 60 and older get an average of 7.5 hours of shuteye compared to an average of 9 hours for their younger counterparts.

"The most parsimonious explanation for our results is that older people need less sleep," said Elizabeth Klerman of Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School. "It's also possible that they sleep less even when given the opportunity for more sleep because of age-related changes in the ability to fall asleep and remain asleep," she added, noting that the new results apply only to healthy individuals taking no medication and having no medical conditions or sleep disorders.

The findings may also help influence treatment for insomnia in older folks. How are your sleeping habits?

When it comes to athletic prowess, many people think it runs in the family. Well there isn't a more literal case than that of the Williamson family of England. Simeon Williamson may be his country's best chance at winning gold in sprinting, but it is his grandmother who is grabbing all the headlines recently. After having her purse snatched in Northern London recently, the 78 year old Williamson chased her assailant down the street, caught her, and took her purse back. I guess we see where Simeon got his talent from.

We talked to Martina while she was here at AARP promoting the latest findings from a Red Hat Society/AARP survey. See what she had to say about working out, staying fit and her best work out buddy!

What surprised you the most from the Red Hat Society study?
Nothing really surprised me about it. It is what I experienced throughout my tennis career. We all do better when we have support and friendship. On the tennis tour, most of the women have always been supportive of each other, and we needed that. Everybody does. Chris Evert and others have consoled me after a loss, and I'd console them after a bad day too. We women were always good at getting along. We spent a lot of time with each other, and I guess that's part of it, but we also seem to have an instinct for nurturing within us.

How important do you believe the social aspect of group exercise is for women?
Group exercise is in many ways like a team sport. I always loved playing on a team because your teammates always try to find ways to make each other better. You bring the best out in each other. You build friendships too. As the old saying goes, there is no "I" in "team." Like a team, classes provide camaraderie and support. A lot of people don't stick with exercise because they never get into a group. They hop on a treadmill and get bored in a week or two. Nobody talks to them, and they don't know how to work the any of the equipment. But a class offers opportunities to create new friendships, cheer each other on, and get fit in the process.

Who's your best workout buddy?
Anyone with a positive attitude who will have a positive influence on me. How do you find that kind of person? You can tell a lot about people by the way they act and interact - how they carry themselves, how they're dressed, or whether they look you in the eye during conversations. How they do they treat servers in restaurants? Do they deal with them like human beings or treat them as someone who is subservient to them? Are they compassionate? Are they respectful of other people? Can they admit their mistakes? Positive people are dependable, they make fitness fun, and, they are committed to good health as you are. They bring upbeat, inspiring energy to your efforts. And they make the best workout buddies.

What do you recommend folks do to keep up their work out routine?
To improve your health habits and get in better shape, physically and mentally, get support from friends, family, and others. Having a support system increases your motivation so that you try harder, and even get in shape faster. No matter what your fitness level or goals, support can take you to the next level. It's the extra boost that can keep you going when you feel like giving up. It can restore your flow when you're at a low ebb. And it can make the difference between success and failure. I guess the best thing about a support system is that you always have people on your side.

Get someone from your support team to be your workout partner. You will probably walk more briskly and farther when you walk with a friend than if you walk alone, and you will most likely have more fun. You are less likely to cop out and not do it. You have a scheduled commitment with someone. You do not want to let them down. You want to help them get better. There is a synergy that helps both of you strive for your best.

What motivates you to stay fit?
Performance. Not just on the tennis court or in the gym, but to enjoy life. I need to move, I need to think, I need to be on my toes. I also like to push the limits of my body while it is still capable of pushing the limits. All of this is what motivates me. I know that I can only do as well as what I put into my body. You cannot ask your body to perform and then not put good things into it. So it is what you eat, what you drink, as well as how you work out and how much rest you get. I do not want anything to hold me back from doing what I want to do.

AARP members love to walk to stay fit, are there any tips you have for our walkers out there?
Of course, walking is the best all-round exercise. The body is designed to walk. I love to walk on the beach for exercise. I encourage walkers to "break your own records." For example, challenge yourself to walk farther each week, or outdo the distance you walk on the treadmill. To get camaraderie of group exercise, participate in a walking club, or start one in your neighborhood or at work. This gives you a great built-in support system to keep you going.

Do you know the signs of a heart attack? Most people don't, even those with a history of heart disease according to a new article on AARP Bulletin Today. But being able to recognize these signs can lead to prompt treatment and increase the chances of survival. "Obviously, cardiac patients should know how to save their own lives by learning the symptoms and getting rapid treatment," says Robert A. Phillips, M.D., cardiologist and director of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. "They should also know that cardiac rehabilitation after an attack is as effective on reducing mortality as any surgery or medicine we can offer them. So my advice is, talk to your doctor and demand it."

So what should you look out for? Signs of cardiac trouble can include:

· nausea

· brief loss of consciousness

· pain in the jaw, chest or left arm

· shortness of brief

Like the good doctor said, talk to your physician! Talk to your friends, talk to your partner, talk to your neighbor and make sure they know the signs too. You've got the heart smarts, so share 'em!

Now there's another reason besides your hearing to turn down the music. According to a new study by French researchers, loud music is linked with drinking faster. They found that the time taken to drink a beer while listening to loud music fell to an average 11.45 minutes from 14.51 minutes. (Both are pretty fast, if you ask me). A possible reason for the speedier drinking is that loud music can make conversation more difficult, causing people to drink more and talk less. Makes sense. So what should you do? Turn down the music, talk more, drink less, and be safe!

Have you guys seen those commercials for Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine? Usually it's young girls with their mothers saying "One less." Well, I recently found out that after requesting that the vaccine by allowed to be sold to women between the 27 and 45 year age bracket, U.S. regulators recently told Merck & Co. they weren't allowed to due to some unresolved issues that still need to be addressed.

I hope this gets resolved sooner than later, especially because when I think about women between 27 and 45 years old not getting access to the vaccine yet, it makes me wonder about women of all ages - will they ever have the option to protect themselves?

Obviously we're no prudes here at Shaarp Session, so I was naturally alarmed when friend of mine over 60 recently was diagnosed with the human papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes the majority of cases of cervical cancer (and can be prevented by getting the Gardasil vaccine). She didn't even know what HPV was, let alone that it causes cervical cancer. While many assume that women over a certain age are married and have no need for this vaccine, there are still plenty of older single women who are dating and not educated about the prevalence of HPV in the U.S. So what about them?

Scary news from TIME: a study published last week by the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Amongst study participants, from 1996 to 2003 total cases of chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts for people over 45 increased 127%, even more than for patients under age 45 ( 97%). Dr. Sharon Lee, a Kansas City family physician and medical director of HIV Wisdom for Older Women, points to a lack of sex ed as a critical reason for this increase. She says that "as people get older, they don't worry about pregnancy as much," and without education about STDs, many older people believe infertility negates the need for protection.

So what should you do? Start by having an honest dialogue with your sexual partner and with your doctor. If you're not sure where to start, you can read more about love and relationships on AARP's website.

Yet another reason to put down that pack: according to new research from the Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease, drinking and smoking heavily increases the risk of early onset of Alzheimer's. A study of 938 people age 60 and older found that these behaviors were linked to onset as much as six or seven years earlier than average. The good news: researchers also found that lifestyle modifications can delay and even prevent the disease.

It's never too late to quit! For more information on nicotine addiction and smoking cessation, visit the Walgreens Health Library.

The sports world is abuzz this week with swimmer Dara Torres' record-setting 50-meter free-style win, qualifying her to compete on behalf of the United States at the 2008 summer Olympics. The catch? Torres is a 41 year old in a sport dominated by teenagers. She may be getting older, but she still got game.

Inspired by Torres' success (and who isn't?) The Miami Herald listed a few other athletes who excelled in their craft after hitting 40.

-Eamonn Coghlan: In 1994, the 41-year-old Irish miler and former world champion at 5,000 meters becomes the first person over 40 to run a sub-4 minute mile. Coghlan clocks a 3:58.15 at a race in Cambridge, Mass.

-George Foreman: In 1994, at age 45, the boxer regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years earlier, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination in the 10th round. Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

-Jack Nicklaus: In 1986, the golfing great wins his last major championship, the Masters, at age 46.

-Nolan Ryan: In 1990, at age 43, threw the sixth no-hitter of his career, blanking Oakland 5-0 while pitching for the Texas Rangers. The next season, at age 44, Ryan tossed his seventh no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.

-Darrell Green: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February in his first year of eligibility, the Washington Redskins cornerback was 42 when he retired after the 2002 season. He had at least one interception in 19 consecutive seasons.

-Martina Navratilova: A month before her 50th birthday, in 2006, the tennis champion finished her career by winning her 59th Grand Slam title, teaming with Bob Bryan to take the mixed doubles championship at the U.S. Open. To this illustrious list, I would add hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played until the age of 53 (and on a team with two of his sons!) I suppose we could also add Roger Clemens, but perhaps with an asterix? Who else would readers add to the hall-of-after-40 fame?

There's been a lot of talk about this new study released on Monday which found that in 2005, nearly 56,000 older Americans had to be hospitalized for a brain injury resulting from a fall. Reuters reports:

"Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but our research shows that traumatic brain injuries can also be a serious consequence," said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

"These injuries can cause long-term problems and affect how someone thinks or functions," she added in a statement.

Long story short: falling is no good. This is obviously a useful study to learn more about the effects of falling, but the question is what can we be actually doing to decrease the high rate of falls among older folks? Check out this AARP article, "Better Balance Prevents Falls" which really takes a proactive approach in preventing falls. The CDC also has a really useful report that includes 14 scientifically proven interventions. Make sure to take a look-see.

This is intriguing.

Reuters had a story yesterday on the potential positive effects that whole body vibration training (WBV) may have on older folks. What is WBV, do you ask? It merely involves standing on platform that sends mild vibratory impulses through the feet and into the rest of the body.

Exercise therapy without having to exercise? Sounds like a win-win to me. They say this strategy could be particularly useful for older women:

In 1 study of 28 postmenopausal women, for example, researchers found that WBV appeared to increase bone density in the hip. The 8-month training regimen required the women to stand on a WBV platform, in a squat position, for six 1-minute cycles, 3 times per week.

Another small study of postmenopausal women found that over one year, WBV training seemed to inhibit bone loss in the spine and hip area.

In the meantime, this like an interesting new form of therapy that folks could potentially benefit from - although the idea of a platform as your exercise machine does seem a bit silly. "Going to the platform to work out, honey!"

I must have health on the mind lately (healthy drinks, health care, etc.) because when I was skimming the news this morning I found a story about these ladies who tap dance! They started tapping as a little light exercise once a week and now they're practically Vegas showgirls!

Check out this video of the Hot Flash Hoofers (I didn't make it up!) in action:

The World Health Organization has new data out on the health of its 193 member states. First, the good news: for the first time life expectancy in the U.S. has passed 78 years. This means that children born in 2006 are expected to live longer than ever. Now the bad: according to this story by AP writer Mike Stobbe, “the United States continues to lag behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span.” Hmmm … it would probably help if all Americans had access to health care, like some of our longer-living European friends. (We’re working on it. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and take your health into your own hands by checking out some healthy living tips.)

Cranberries are making an appearance everywhere nowadays…I was browsing YouTube and even Richard Simmons digs their tangy juice. I did some research and found out they are good for more than just urinary tract health (thanks for the tip, mom). Some recent studies are showing that cranberry juice increases the “good” cholesterol in your body almost the same way red wine does!

So while Congress works on Medicare– sip on some cranberry juice and say cheers to your heart!

We all know that gas prices are going up, up, up, and that as a result more people are riding mass transit. But what about commuting to work on your bike? According to this blog post from Freakonomics, Dutch workers can use up to $750 of pre-tax income triennially to purchase bikes. In offering this subsidy, the Dutch government aims to incentivize short-distance commuters and decrease air pollution. Added bonus: a more active and healthy population. Makes sense to me.

Do you ride your bike to work? If not, would you if (OK, when) gas prices rise even higher?