Fitness with celebration

Losing muscle strength is one of the quietest crises of aging, and one of the most consequential. Researchers think a compound hiding in aged garlic may be worth watching as one piece of the solution. A compound called S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine, or S1PC, found in aged garlic extract, sets off a chain reaction in fat tissue that eventually signals the brain to help preserve muscle strength in aging mice. In middle-aged people given a single dose, S1PC raised blood levels of a key protein tied to this process. Rather than acting on muscle directly, S1PC appears to work through fat tissue, triggering a molecular signal that travels to the brain, which then communicates with muscles through the nervous system. Researchers have been searching for ways to slow that muscle decline through drugs and lifestyle changes. S1PC did not appear to trigger fat breakdown, which suggests the compound targets a very specific molecular pathway in fat cells rather than broadly disrupting how they work. Garlic has always had its enthusiasts. Now science may be giving those ancient claims a precise biological explanation.

Today, National Heat Awareness Day is an effort by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Weather Service to alert workers, employers, and the public at large about the health dangers related to heat, in order to reduce the overall rate of illnesses and deaths caused by it. Many outdoor workers or laborers are at risk of serious heat-induced conditions like heat exhaustion, dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. Groups that are especially vulnerable to heat are outdoor workers, young children, elderly adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women.

Worry doesn’t work, it just exaggerates the problem. Worry is something you learned. Since worry is unnatural, it’s also unhealthy. God made you, he created you, he saved you, and he put his Spirit in you. He’s going to take care of you. God personally cares about you and for your needs, so give your worries to God. 1 Peter 5:7 (GNT) says, “Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you.”

Today is National Senior Health & Fitness Day, and its main goals are to promote senior health and wellness nationwide, and to encourage older Americans to do everything they can to stay healthy, fit, and safe. Although it is impossible to stop aging, there are ways for older adults to stay healthy and fit for as long as possible. Moderate physical activity helps older people to maintain muscle strength, reduces the risk of cardiovascular conditions, helps to cope with anxiety, reduces fall risk, and has many other health benefits. Adults aged 65 and over should aim to be physically active ever day, even if it is just walking to the nearest store, around the block, or to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. It is also recommended to do light exercise that improves balance, flexibility and strength at least twice a week. The exercise doesn’t have to be rigorous; yoga, pilates, tai chi and swimming are great examples of exercise suitable for older people.

Peace of mind has a price tag, and for most Americans, it’s almost everything they earn. A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that the average American, earning roughly $79,000 a year, would spend nearly $57,000 of that annually just to feel financially secure and at peace. Affording everyday necessities like groceries and medications topped the list of things people would pay most to guarantee, at an average of $21,000 per year, followed by job security at $19,800 and freedom from surprise medical bills at $16,400. Nearly half of respondents said they want to pay for peace of mind, but 41% admit they currently can’t, with a separate survey showing the average American burns through nearly half their paycheck within two days of receiving it. Living in a constant low-grade state of threat taxes the body over time, affecting sleep, decision-making, and overall health. That so many people would sacrifice nearly three-quarters of their income to escape that state speaks to how exhausting sustained uncertainty actually feels.

On the first Decoration Day, May 30, 1868, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. Around 5,000 people attended and decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there with small American flags. Gradually, Decoration Day came to be known as Memorial Day. Memorial Day originally honored only the 620,000 lost while fighting in the Civil War. This grew to include fallen soldiers from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, Memorial Day is a federal holiday that celebrates and honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military on the last Monday in May.

How do you see God, as a giving father, or one who takes, takes, takes? God is a giver: enabling our giving with His blessing, rewarding our giving with even more blessings. The blessings the Lord gives will not be simply material things. God’s blessings will include spiritual benefits. You should give out of the overflow of joy that comes from personally knowing God as the greatest Giver and from seeing others experience this same truth. 2 Corinthians 9:13 (CEV) says, “The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God.”

For millions of Americans, taking care of an aging parent, a sick spouse, or loved one is simply part of life. But a new study finds that not all caregiving is created equal, and that how much care someone provides, and for whom, may be linked to how their memory and thinking skills change as they age. Those who took on lighter caregiving duties, say a few hours a week, actually showed slower mental decline compared to people who weren’t caregivers at all. But those who provided very intensive care, cared for someone in their household, or cared for a spouse or partner showed the opposite: their cognitive test scores declined faster than non-caregivers. When caregiving becomes all-consuming, dominating a person’s days, disrupting sleep, and cutting them off from social connections and paid work, the toll may outweigh any cognitive benefits. (NOTE: This study was published in the journal Age And Aging.)

The same pigment that turns wild salmon red is now being bottled and sold as one of the most powerful antioxidants on earth. Astaxanthin is found in krill, shrimp, and fish such as salmon. The wellness world has seized on it, promoting it as an antioxidant sometimes said to be 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C in lab tests, and linking it to smoother skin, sharper vision, lower inflammation, and better brain health. Are the supplements better than than eating wild-caught salmon? Well, high‑quality whole‑food source is superior for the human body. Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble compound, so absorption depends on the product form and whether you take it with dietary fat. It’s best to remember that the studies so far, have been small and controlled, so larger studies may be necessary to confirm (or deny) the claims being made.

Today, Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day, emphasizes the importance of including more fruits and vegetables in our diets. The founders of this day started it to tackle unhealthy eating habits and raise awareness about how such habits contribute to obesity and other life-threatening diseases. Today can be a fun and delicious adventure for your taste buds and a big win for your health. This is the perfect time for the availability of all our favorite fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember the importance of fresh food, which helps us lead a healthy life.