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A Positive Attitude Can Pump Up Your Workout
Besides water and comfy shoes, another thing you should bring to the gym is the right
mind-set. "Research shows that how you feel about exercising may add to the effectiveness
of your workout," says Dana Tarina, M.D., of Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
In one study, women who believed they were getting a good workout during housekeeping
reaped more health benefits than women who did the same physical activity but
didn't consider it exercise. "After four weeks, without increasing their amount of exercise,
the women who believed they exercised while cleaning lost more weight and had lower
blood pressure than the other women," Dr. Tarina says.
Other studies have shown a link between attitude and exercise. People with upbeat
mind-sets about exercise are more motivated to work out. They also stick with workouts
over the long-term.
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The juice from a tropical berry called
acai may be good for your health. Early
research shows that acai juice is full of
antioxidants.
"Acai juice could pack the same antioxidant
punch as cranberry juice or black
cherry juice," says Michael Franzone,
R.D., of Riverview Medical Center.
look for acai juice in the refrigerated
or frozen juice section of your local health
food store.
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Eating foods with vitamin E could help you stay vital as you get older. According to
the Journal of the American Medical Association, older people with the lowest levels
of vitamin E were about 60 percent more likely to lose some ability to move freely as
they aged. "The researchers said the antioxidant vitamin E might protect against free
radicals," says Julie Johnson, M.D., of Ocean medical center. "These substances can
damage cells in the nerves and muscles."
You need 15 milligrams of vitamin E each day. Snack on 24 almonds and you'll be
halfway there. Other foods with vitamin E:
- Two tablespoons of smooth peanut butter (4 mg)
- A quarter-cup of sunflower seeds (8 mg)
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