| How much do we care about our health? Do we | | | | to 60 percent more antioxidants from some fruits |
| make an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle? How well | | | | and vegetables by eating organically grown varieties. |
| are we doing? These facts and figures give us a few | | | | University of California, Davis researchers found that |
| insights.Holistic Health Outranks WealthEmotional and | | | | organic corn, strawberries and Marion berries produce |
| physical well-being are more important to Americans | | | | significantly higher levels of antioxidant compounds |
| than money and career, according to a survey by a | | | | when they have to fend for themselves against |
| national trade association of health clubs. When 1,400 | | | | insects. Pesticides diminish the plants' |
| people were asked to rank various aspects of life as | | | | antioxidant-producing abilities. |
| essential or important, 97 percent chose emotional | | | | Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food |
| well-being and 96 percent selected physical health, | | | | ChemistryRVs Encourage Healthy |
| but only 78 percent and 75 percent, respectively, | | | | VacationsNinety-four percent of people who vacation |
| selected career and money. | | | | in an RV say they lead a healthier lifestyle on the |
| Source: International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub | | | | road, according to a survey by the Recreation |
| AssociationHealthy Lifestyle: A Rare CommodityOnly | | | | Vehicle Industry Association in Reston, VA. While |
| three percent of American adults follow a healthy | | | | traveling, 40 percent of RV enthusiasts walk three to |
| lifestyle -- not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, | | | | ten miles daily, 85 percent experience less stress, and |
| eating five or more fruits and vegetables daily, and | | | | 75 percent cook their own meals rather than relying |
| being active. That's what researchers at Michigan | | | | on fast food. |
| State University in East Lansing concluded after | | | | Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry AssociationWalk |
| examining the lifestyle habits of 153,000 people. | | | | or Run?"Studies indicate that if you can walk a mile in |
| Source: Archives of Internal MedicineStrange Park | | | | 12 minutes you get exactly the same energy |
| HabitsLast year, more than 276 million people visited | | | | expenditure as running a mile in nine minutes," says |
| North America's National Parks but only 10 percent | | | | Kenneth Cooper, M.D., at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, |
| ventured more than a mile from their cars, according | | | | TX. Cooper originally coined the term "aerobics" as |
| to statistics compiled by Austin-Lehman Adventures, | | | | we know it today, and pioneered the use of exercise |
| a company that organizes guided adventure | | | | to prevent heart disease. Injury strikes 65 percent of |
| vacations. Perhaps we're confusing parks with parking | | | | runners but only 21 percent of walkers. |
| lots. | | | | Source: Kenneth Cooper, M.D., and Sports Injury |
| Source: Austin Lehman AdventuresEating for | | | | BulletinLiving for a CenturyIf you're in your 40s or |
| HealthEating a nutrient-dense diet with 10 to 25 | | | | 50s, you have a one-in-twenty chance of living to |
| percent fewer calories than the American average | | | | age 100 in good health, according to Tom Perls, M.D., |
| can dramatically reduce the risk for diseases | | | | who heads an ongoing study of centenarians at |
| associated with aging. A six-year study showed that | | | | Boston University School of Medicine. Most likely, you |
| middle-aged people eating 1,100 to 1,950 calories daily, | | | | will at least reach your mid 80s. The Census Bureau |
| containing 26 percent protein, 28 percent fat and 46 | | | | expects 757,000 Americans to be a century old by |
| percent complex carbohydrates, had blood-pressure | | | | 2045. A diet that keeps you lean, regular exercise |
| levels comparable to 10-year-olds and triglyceride | | | | and not smoking will improve your odds of |
| levels of 20-year-olds. | | | | celebrating your 100th birthday. |
| Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of | | | | Source: Tom Perls, M.D. |
| SciencesThe Organic Plant AdvantageYou can get up | | | | |