Zing

Are you concerned about age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia? Learn how to evaluate your likelihood and maintain healthy muscle as you age in this FREE webinar with Dr. Nola Peacock. (Also RECORDED). To register: https://bit.ly/WW-AssessRiskRegister

I love these three simple yoga poses you can do as part of your everyday activity at home!

3 Easy At-Home Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Day Who needs pricey classes, special clothes and crowds?

It was an honor to tour Hearts & Minds Activity Center in San Jose, CA, this past week and learn about the therapeutic social daycare they provide to older adults with various stages of dementia. Hearts & Minds also has an on-site Daycare for children aged 2 to 5, providing a rich environment of intergenerational care and compassion. Thanks, Maria Nicolacoudis and Lloyd Russell, for your important work for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Today, I'm honoring Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest living person, who passed away yesterday at age 117. Maria recently said that her longevity is due to good luck, good genes, good connection with family and friends, no regrets, lots of positivity, and "staying away from toxic people."

Do fish oil supplements really improve brain health? According to a study just published in JAMA Network Open, the answer is "yes," but only for carriers of the APOE4 gene, not for other participants, all of whom were aged 75+ and without dementia when the study started. During the 3 year study period, this quadruple-blind RCT found that fish oil supplements reduced white matter lesion progression and neuronal integrity breakdown but only in APOE4 carriers (1).

Aspiring to happiness is fine, but obsessing over "finding happiness" actually creates more negative emotions, according to a new paper just published in the journal, Emotion (1). In an analysis of three studies, the authors found that placing a high value on happiness is not inherently harmful. However, being overly concerned with and critical of one's own happiness can actually diminish it.

Are you getting more than the recommended 400 mg. of caffeine per day in your coffee? That's roughly four 8-oz cups of brewed coffee per day, considered a safe amount by the FDA. However, a study just published in Nutrients showed that most of the "takeaway" coffee that we buy in coffee shops has THREE TIMES the amount of caffeine as a home-made cup (1). I use Nespresso pods at home and found that they vary widely in the amount of caffeine, from 50-150 mg depending on the strength and size of the pod.

I have been working with non-profits like Open Source Wellness, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and Project Open Hand on research related to food insecurity, which affects 1 in 5 families in California. This recent Times article provides a great overview of how food is being used to fight chronic disease:

Do Americans Need Prescriptions for Healthy Food? Some experts argue that produce prescriptions should become as routine as taking a pill.

The Olympics are over but there is still time to praise the amazing volunteers who supported the athletes. Meet Beacon, a therapy dog supporting the USA Gymnastics team. Beacon's job was to comfort athletes and coaches, lending them a belly to rub whenever they needed it. Dogs are more than pets -- they support our mental well-being. I'd give Beacon a 14/10!

Living with loss and grief, especially as we age, is like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. If you are experiencing grief -- or want to help someone else who is -- I hope you'll join me for my August 14th Wellness Wednesday. In a candid conversation with clinical psychologist, Dr. Mark Moore, we will explore how to move through the grieving process and how to help those we love who are experiencing grief. https://bit.ly/WW-Loss-Grief-Register

https://myzinglife.com/smart-bites-blog/how-fast-do-we-get-out-of-shape

How Fast Do We Get Out of Shape? — Zing Have you ever wondered how quickly you lose your fitness level if you stop exercising? This occurred to me recently when I was on safari in Africa for 17 days, and the most exercise I got was standing up in the jeep. Here’s what the science says about maintaining fitness when we take a break from ...

Did you know that exercise can have a profound impact on your brain health, beyond its affect on your heart and muscles? I love this TED Talk from neuroscientist, researcher, and author Dr. Wendy Suzuki:

The brain-changing benefits of exercise What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory -- and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzhe...

Aerobic fitness begins to diminish relatively quickly after we stop exercising. Within a few days to a week, there is a drop in our blood plasma volume. After two weeks with no aerobic activity, there is a noticeable decline in VO2 max -- the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise, which is a good measure of cardiovascular fitness.

I'm thrilled to join Open Source Wellness as a Researcher. Our first paper, "Community As Medicine: A Novel Approach to Improve Mental Well-being and Health Behaviors for Vulnerable Populations," was selected as a Poster Presentation for the upcoming Conference sponsored by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Thanks, Dr. Christopher Gardner, for introducing me to Open Source Wellness at the Food Summit 2023.

What is something you love to do? I have asked this question of participants age 40-90 in my Healthy Aging Study. I love the responses! What's yours?

https://myzinglife.com/smart-bites-blog/in-praise-of-ordinary

In Praise of Small Moments — Zing With the advent of the Paris Olympics, there has been a lot of emphasis on the extraordinary. From an early age, we are taught to believe that greatness exists beyond the ordinary, and that true fulfillment requires being exceptional. While I admire the unparalleled talent and determination of these

So glad for BUILD, Align, and Cardio classes from home. I have had COVID for 10 days and this is my combo exercise and social engagement!

https://myzinglife.com/smart-bites-blog/posture-amp-osteoporosis-a-bi-directional-link

Posture & Osteoporosis: A Bi-Directional Link — Zing I have been talking a lot about bone health recently, citing the important lifestyle factors that reduce the risk of osteoporosis, a weakening of bones that leads to fractures. According to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, these lifestyle choices include nutrition , balance , and weig

Fun to lunch in Los Altos with one of my Wellness Wednesday regulars, Abby Ross and her friend Karen!

Just did workout #1210! I ♥️ the intelligent design of these classes. I take Build, Align, and Cardio from home!

How much protein do you REALLY need as you get older? Can you get enough protein on a vegan or vegetarian diet? Can you eat too much protein? I'll answer these questions and more in a FREE (and RECORDED) webinar. Register: https://bit.ly/WW-ProteinRegister

I am back from Africa! Live and on stage at Channing House today talking about Sleep and Insomnia.

Visited a primary school in Kenya yesterday. Warm, welcoming, enthusiastic children. A group of 50 is part of a wildlife club learning at an early age to protect the environment and preserve wildlife as part of their education.

Is sourdough bread GOOD for you?! See what Consumer Reports says
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-eating/is-sourdough-bread-good-for-you-a6956800331/

Here is a fantastic story of lifelong learning! Virginia Hislop, now 105 years old, returned to Stanford to finish what she started: a degree from the Graduate School of Education. Her progress toward this master's degree was interrupted by World War II and marriage, but she returned to college and completed the degree 83 years later. Congratulations, Virginia! What a great example of