What is successful aging? What can you do to achieve it? Drs. John Rowe and Robert Kahn defined successful aging as the ability to maintain 1) low risk of disease and disease-related disability, 2) high mental and physical function, and 3) active engagement with life. Martha Crowther and colleagues proposed expanding the term to include…
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Ultra-processed Foods Predict Increased Mortality
Want to live longer? Minimize eating ultra-processed foods A recent study showed that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) account for 58 percent of calories and 90 percent of added sugar consumed by Americans. Research links high consumption of ultra-processed foods elevated risk of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypertension. A recent report…
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Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Chronic Disease
Ultra-processed foods predict increased risk of cancer, hypertension, and weight gain Eat better, live better Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) typically include industrial formulations of five or more ingredients. Key items comprise salt, sugar, fats, flavors, and colors. Common UPFs include candies, mass-produced breads, energy bars, sugar-sweetened drinks, and most snack foods. People who consume high levels…
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More Vegetables, Less Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Spinach, kale, and collards These plants contain beneficial bioactive compounds A series of studies by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found links between diet and cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Participants included about 900 Chicago-area residents free of dementia at baseline with an average age of about 80 years. Follow-up…
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