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Doctor's Senior Exercise and Health NewsletterThe monthly Doctor’s Senior Exercise and Health Newsletter is written solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone else who have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe Back Issues February 1, 2007 Issue Vol. 7 No. 2 In This Newsletter Introduction Healthfully yours Health Hints Introduction*** The Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it. This newsletter is scanned for viruses and is virus-free before it is sent to recipients!Website: http://www.doctorsexercise.com How to subscribe: Click Newsletter on left menu at website for more info and to subscribe or browse directly to: http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/dsenews E-Mail address: newsletter@doctorsexercise.com Healthfully Yours*** The Immune System The dictionary defines immune as safe from attack, protected against any disease by a natural, or an acquired peculiarity. It is a person who is protected against any special virus. Therefore immunity speaks to the exemption from disease, the condition of the body wherein it resists the development of morbid processes. The body’s immune system is a complex and precise function that recognizes any foreign invasion by any substance, bacteria or virus that will cause disease or harm the host in any way. When a foreign substance invades the body, an inflammatory condition results in the tissues affected. A prime example would be when a patient has tissue transplanted from another person, living or dead into to their body. Their immune system will reject the implanted tissue, and in order to prevent this, they will have to be on specific medications for the rest of their life to try to prevent this rejection. Another example would be when a person has been getting colds on a more frequent basis than is usual. Their immune system has not been able to fend off the invading rhinoviruses that cause these colds. There can also be more serious consequences due to impaired immune systems. These could be very serious in nature, and there can be attacks on any of the major organs of the body. The immune system can also turn on the individuals’ body when it fails to recognize a particular tissue and feels that it is an invader. Conditions that occur when this scenario is played out are called “Auto-Immune Deficiencies”, or “Auto Immune Disorders”. The immune system is differentiated from other systems, such as the digestive, cardiovascular, skeletal, lymphatic, and nervous systems. The immune system is comprised of and can be found within the cells of our body. These are mainly the white blood cells (WBC), the warriors that attack invaders when the body is compromised and can cause bodily harm. There are also unique white cells such as Eosinophils, Lymphocytes, Basophils, etc. that are warriors in their own right. There also are the T-Cells that help maintain the immunity system. When they are lowered, the bodies’ ability to fight disease is lowered. These then comprise the immune system. It is when these cells are depleted or impaired in any way, that the body’s immunity is lowered and the individual can develop an autoimmune disorder that can result in increased infections or tumor formations. As an example, every individual has cancer cells within their body. Yet they do not have cancer. It is when there is a breakdown of the immune system, these cancer cells start to proliferate, and that is when they can develop full-blown cancer. Other factors have a profound affect on the immune system. Environmental, the air we breathe and everything around us can have a bearing on the strength of our immune systems. We are literally surrounded by toxins in our everyday living, from our carpets, drapes, bedding, clothes we wear, even when they come from the cleaners, and the cleaning products used in the home. Personally everyone uses some form of cosmetic, shampoo, after-shave, deodorant, etc. These all contain chemicals that can have some toxins associated with their use. Cooking can be another area whereby we can be exposed to toxins. As an example, meat that is charred can be toxic to the body. There are other areas as well; such as food stored in plastic containers, food cooked in aluminum utensils, the metal fillings in our teeth, can all contribute toxins within our body. Although these toxins are minute in nature as they are released, in time they can have an impact on our immune systems, causing a weakening, and in some cases a complete breakdown. Because of the immune system, the body has within itself the ability to resist diseases and other disorders. This ability is called “innate ability”. This innate ability is found within the specialized cells discussed above and in the individual’s genetic makeup as well. When this innate ability is in a weakened state, the body is apt to succumb to invaders that will overpower these cells, and the body goes from “ease to disease”. Therefore to stay healthy, it is imperative to maintain your immune system at its’ peak operating level. It goes without saying that having a strong immune system depends on the state of your health, both physically and emotionally. Therefore, it up to each and everyone one of us to maintain or improve the state of our immune systems. How to improve and maintain the immune system, is discussed below in the health hints. Health Hints***
PLEASE NOTE: Before starting any new diets, use of new supplements, or exercise programs, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider to see if this is right for you.
Ø Wash hands often, especially before eating, after going to the bathroom, handling doorknobs, after shaking hands, and almost anything you come in contact with. And keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose to prevent invading organisms from entering the body. Ø If you are a smoker, you must stop. Ø If you are overweight you need to lose the excess weight and maintain a healthy weight. Ø Cook meat and poultry thoroughly to kill any dangerous bacteria. Ø Consume alcohol in moderation. Alcohol has a tendency to cause a breakdown in the liver cells and can lower the efficacy of the immune system. Two drinks for men and one for women, preferably red wine, are the preferred amount. Ø Eat fewer sugars. Sugar reduces the ability of the white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent for up to 5 hours after ingestion. Ø Get enough rest so that the body will be less stressed and can renew any damage to tissues that could have been caused during the day. This means getting at least 7 to 8 hours of a restful sleep. Ø Exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday of the week. Start an exercise program if you haven’t already done so. Before you do, discuss it with your healthcare provider, to see if you are physically able to start an exercise program. You also need to be active and just keep moving and not become a couch potato. The program outlined above will boost your immune system to optimum levels and help maintain it at its’ highest levels. Doc Cane
March 1, 2007
Issue Vol. 7 No. 3
In This Newsletter Introduction Healthfully yours Health Hints
Introduction***
The Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it. This newsletter is scanned for viruses and is virus-free before it is sent to recipients!
Website: http://www.doctorsexercise.com
How to subscribe: Click Newsletter on left menu at website for more info and to subscribe or browse directly to: http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/dsenews
E-Mail address: newsletter@doctorsexercise.com
Healthfully Yours***
Primer On Trans Fats…
During these past many years I have been writing about and issuing warnings about the dangers that the foods we have been eating contain a particular fat that is extremely detrimental to our health. That fat is called trans fats. It seems now, it has become a byword of all the nutritionists, and everyone connected to the food industry. Even the government has gotten the message and is becoming more involved, issuing directives for limiting the use of trans fats. Many local governments and states are beginning to pass laws that will ban restaurants from using trans fats in the foods they prepare. Schools have recognized the problem as well and are banning snacks that contain trans fats.
New York City was one of the first cities to recognize the need to eliminate trans fats from our diets, and in December they passed an ordinance eliminating the use of these harmful fats for use in restaurants. Several other states are now studying the feasibility of banning trans fats. They are California, Oregon and Michigan, and I predict more and more states will get on the bandwagon, as soon as they realize the public is becoming more aware of the need to eliminate trans fats from their diet.
Another important step that is taking place is that the Fast Food restaurants are realizing that they must follow suit if they wish to retain their customer base. McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC, have said that they will eliminate the use of trans fats by the year 2008.
Eliminating saturated fats and cholesterol from our diet has been a goal of the health-minded, diet conscious people in the past. We knew that fats were to be kept to minimal amounts in the foods we eat. Fats are necessary in the normal functioning of our body and should be limited to approximately 30 percent of our daily diet. These are the monounsaturated or Polyunsaturated fats. However, very little attention has been given to trans fats. Yet, it is the trans fats that are the real culprit that contributes to the clogging of the arteries, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke.
What then are trans fats? These are the fats created by adding hydrogen to a liquid fat. This results in a solid fat, such as margarine and other shortenings. The melting properties are changed in these fats and they will remain solid at room temperatures. Food manufacturers use these fats because their shelf life is so much longer, and they actually enhance the taste and flavor of their products. It is for this reason trans fats are found in almost all baked goods, cookies, chips, crackers, etc. It is found in all the oils used for cooking and frying in most of all the restaurants.
The danger that these trans fats pose to the body is that they raise the bad cholesterol (LDL), and it is this cholesterol that accumulates in the arteries, clogging them so that cut-off the circulation of the blood to dominant arteries bringing blood to important organs and extremities of the body. Impaired blood flow to the heart can cause a heart attack, when it is to the brain, a stroke can occur. Reduced blood flow in the legs can cause peripheral artery disease (PAD). And the list goes on.
What can the individual do to lower their risk in the prevention of these serious consequences? The answer would be a resounding effort in avoiding the ingestion of trans fats. To learn more in this effort, read how in the health hints below.
Health Hints***
The final thought is that the importance of reading the labels of the foods before you buy them is of the utmost necessity. That, and following simple rules of substitution in your diet, can cut down the bad fats you eat on a daily basis. By doing so, you reduce the risk of coronary disease, diabetes, clogging of the arteries, cancer, and stroke.
Doc Cane
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