96 MAY 2017
GEAR UP HEART HEALTH
Many activities help your
ticker, but cycling is superb.
Compared to other workouts, it
was most effective in lowering
coronary heart disease risk, a
study in the American Journal
of Epidemiology found. Ride for
about 50 minutes a day.DO A GUT CHECK
Wrap a tape measure around
your waist and check the
measurement. If the figure
exceeds 94cm, your level of
internal fat deposits could
increase your risk of heart
disease and stroke, according
to The Heart Foundation.GUARD YOUR GUMS
Swollen gums look bad, feel bad and are
bad for you. According to an Oral B survey,
42 per cent of men have ignored bleeding
while brushing. Stem the blood bath with
Oral-B Gum Care & Enamel Restore ($9.99),
which can revitalise gums in two weeks. And
consider whey your weapon: people who eat
at least 9.6g of whey protein a day have a 25
per cent lower risk of severe gum disease, a
Danish study found. Ricotta cheese is a
good source.SAVE YOUR SMILE
While your gob’s open, let’s look at your
teeth. Acid is the enemy of the mineral-rich
enamel on your gnashers. In a University
of Alabama study of nearly 400 flavoured
waters, sports drinks, fruit drinks, soft
drinks, energy drinks and other caffeinated
beverages, 93 per cent had a pH in the dental
danger zone. Drink lots of water and choose
refreshments that are less corrosive.GET YOUR HEAD IN THE HAIR GAME
Think of shampoo as skincare for your scalp.
“When people think about hair, they often
forget about the skin under it,” says Dr Cindy
Jones, a biochemist who formulates skin and
hair care products. Scalp skin contains the
follicles that determine the health of each
strand. Use a shampoo with B vitamins like
niacin and panthenol to nourish them.POP THE LID ON HEADACHES
Migraines often go undiagnosed in men,
recent research suggests. If you have more
than two attacks a month, melatonin might
help. People in a Brazilian study who popped
3 milligrams of this popular sleep supplement
every night at bedtime fended off headaches
just as well as those who took prescription
migraine medicine.SEEK A HELPING HAND FOR BACK PAIN
See an osteo to see off back pain. Research from
the University of North Texas found people who
had six sessions over eight weeks more than
doubled their odds of recovery. Osteopathy
minimises muscle imbalances, says study author
John Licciardone.SHORE UP YOUR NECK AND SHOULDERS
Leaning forward all day at work can give you
rounded shoulders and a stiff neck. To rebalance,
do special lat pulldowns, says Mitchell Yass,
author of The Pain Cure Rx. Lean back with your
hips at a 30 ̊ angle and reach for the bar. Then
pull down with your arms straight and wide,
bringing your elbows in line with your shoulders.
Do 3 sets of 10 reps, three days a week.1/ I f you live near
traffic, invest in
an air purifier with
aHEPAfilter.By
reducing harmful
particles from
emissions, you
might be able
to tamp down
inflammation
in your body, a
Canadian study
suggests.
2/ Use gentle
cleaning
products, like
vinegar. People
in a German
study who used
disinfectants one
to three times a
week had more
than double the
risk of asthma of
those who never
used them.
3/ Get a radon
test kit. Radon, a
radioactive gas,
can enter your
home through
cracks in the
foundation,
raising your risk
of lung cancer.EASE THOSE
ACHES AND PAINS
Feel like a young, spry guy when you
get out of bed in the morningLOOK BETTER THAN EVER
Why look your age if you don’t have to?LIVE TO 115
Quick fixes to fend off health saboteursKICK THE HABIT FOR GOOD
Smokers, charge up your
smartphones. According
to research from the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Center, the
appSmartQuit(free, iTunes) can
quadruple your odds of quitting
if you stick with all four of its key
components.TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Practising the Chinese
discipline of qigong – a system
of coordinated postures and
movements – for an hour a day
may improve lung function, a
recent study suggests. Find a
class at naturaltherapypages.
com.au.3 HEALTHY
HOME HABITSApproximate
distance to run each
week for ideal bone
strength, says Dr
Juan Del Coso, of
Camilo Jose Cela
University in Madrid.45 KM