Category: fitness

4 Stretches to Become More Flexible—the Lazy Way

  Follow these four easy stretching exercises to relax tired muscles and improve your flexibility. The best part is that these exercises can be done on a chair. All you need is yourself, a chair, and a little time!  Stretch 1: Open up Your Chest Toward the Ceiling Sit on the edge of your chair…


Losing Weight From the Inside Out

Most of us have heard the term “freshman 15,” referring to the 15 pounds many college students gain during their first year away from home. But a similar phenomenon occurs for many adults over the winter. When it’s cold and we spend more time inside, we humans go through our own hibernation process, which often…


NAD+ Helps Restore Age-Related Muscle Deterioration

If you don’t engage this inner bulldog, you can expect to drop about 15% of your muscle mass between your 30s and 80s, leading to a debilitating condition called sarcopenia. Several studies have proposed that mitochondrial dysfunction in your motor neurons drive the development of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) Scientists recently discovered that Alzheimer’s-like protein…


Loading up on These Vegetables Increases Muscle Strength, Even Without Exercise

Who would have thought that the zany cartoons we grew up with could contain accurate nutritional information?  Viewers of a certain age might remember “Popeye the Sailor Man,” who gobbled cans of spinach whenever he needed a boost of muscular power to fight the villainous Bluto.  As it turns out, Popeye’s strategy was surprisingly sound….


3 Easy, Office-Friendly Exercises to Improve Posture and Get Taller

If you find yourself suffering from back or muscle pain after being hunched over your keyboard in the office for hours on end, you’re not alone! This is a common occurrence in today’s workforce. Moving around and stretching is especially important for those of us working from home. According to ballerina Allesia Lugoni, incorporating just…


How Much Protein Intake Is Needed to Gain Muscle and Lose Fat and What Is the Best Source?

How much protein do we really need to consume in order to help build muscle and lose body fat? We know that too much or too little daily protein intake is not good, but in general most people aren’t eating enough protein for muscle gain. A common recommendation is 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram…


Discover a Shockingly Simple Intervention to Support Liver Health

Rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – excessive deposits of liver fat in those with no history of alcohol abuse – are soaring in the United States, with some experts placing the incidence at a stunning one in three adults.  Although many cases of NAFLD are mild, the disease can occasionally progress to severe…


The Power of Routines

The word “routine” can bring to mind words such as mundane or ordinary. During the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions to daily life, routines may have felt boring and restrictive. However, as an occupational therapist and researcher of the effect of activity and participation on mental health, I know that routines can be powerful tools. They can support cognitive function, boost…


More Evidence That Exercise Protects the Aging Brain

Just a bit of exercise can help keep your brain in shape as you age, according to the latest study that shows how physical activity can benefit older minds. “This finding isn’t saying, ‘If you’re older, you need to go out there and start running marathons,’” said lead author Marissa Gogniat, a recent doctoral graduate…


Declining Testosterone Levels in Men

Testosterone levels in men are declining at an alarming rate. Most men between ages 25 and 50 who are tested at my office have levels around 300 ng/dL or lower, when they would feel their best at around 800 ng/dL. Low testosterone leaves men with a range of symptoms and weakens their long-term health. This hormone…