Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Longevity.
Healthy Breathing Exercises
A single wailing breath hails our arrival into the world, just as a single silent one marks our departure from it. Between these all-encompassing two lie hundreds of millions of breaths that matter plenty. How we breathe has a lot to do with how healthy we are. And it may even be that by breathing correctly, as nature intended, we buy a little extra time. Yet about 30 percent of us don’t do it right. Maura Rhodes, well-known health journalist, explored the concept of healthy breathing, amid many others, throughout her career. In a 1989 article for Longevity magazine, Rhodes focused in on stressors that cause irregular breathing, and healthy breathing exercises to reduce such stressors.
By David McCleary9 years ago in Longevity
365 Days of Happiness in a Jar
A 365 jar is a jar filled with 365 individual notes, one to open on each day of the year. These notes can be quotes, memories, or anything positive or motivational. They can either be given as gifts or made to be self-motivational. They make great anniversary, New Year's, or holiday gifts for significant others. They also make good gifts for friends or family members who are prone to getting down on themselves. What better way to start the day than by reading notes from a loved one? Personal 365 jars are good tools to make yourself stick to your New Year's resolution. Putting 365 small personal goals or activities (something as small as "play a game" or "get to know an acquaintance better") that will improve your life is in and of itself a great New Year's resolution to stick to. 365 reasons to be happy is another great jar to make either personally or as a gift.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
History of Sunscreen
The sun rises and sets every day, which serves as an important constant in our lives. Some of us like to hide from the strong rays in the sky. The fair-skinned among us have been burned too many times. And then there are those of us who worship the sun. We can’t get enough of our time baking outside during the summer. The darker the tan, the better we think we look. A tan is the sign of a productive vacation, unemployment, or both. When we are innocent youths, we think the sun is our friend. We frolic in it, we breathe it in, and relish in its warmth without consequence. It isn’t until the supple, smooth skin of once upon a time becomes the haggard, dry, and wrinkled mess of times gone by. Protection from the sun's harmful rays is important in preventing cancer and preserving a youthful appearance. Skin cancer is one of the few preventable forms of the disease, so the American Cancer Society urges the public to use sunscreen. Throughout the history of sunscreen, cosmetic companies have learned to integrate sun protection within your daily moisturizers and makeup, allowing for convenient and lightweight protection.
By Banji Ganchrow10 years ago in Longevity
Most Inspirational Books
There are some books that you read through to kill time on a beach or on an airplane. Then there are other pieces of literature that change your life forever. Tales of loss, life, and empowerment are what make these novels some of the most inspirational books for women. Lean In offers advice on how to be a female leader in a male driven workforce, Prozac Nation is an honest autobiography about dealing with depression, and Americanah depicts a fictional story exploring race and identity surrounding a Nigerian woman in the US. If you haven't read these books yet, you're missing out on some wisdom and inspiration. These literary works of art have been given many honors from the New York Times Bestseller List to the Pulitzer Prize Award for Fiction. The stories in these inspirational books will (and already have) transcend through the test of time, connecting people and inspiring, one page at a time.
By David McCleary10 years ago in Longevity
Celebrities that Battled Chronic Illness
Celebrities are not gods. We put them on pedestals because they have ridiculous amounts of money, perfect hair, and amazing careers—but they are still mortal. Just like everyone else, they succumb to cancer, anorexia, addiction, and other chronic illnesses. Charlie Sheen is the most recent celebrity to reveal that he is suffering from a very serious illness. On November 17th, 2015, the fifty-year-old visited the Today Show to reveal that he has contracted HIV. "It's a hard three letters to absorb,” he told interviewer Matt Lauer. “It's a turning point in one's life.”
By Longevity Staff10 years ago in Longevity
Best Running Shoes for Women
Whether you're taking advantage of the warm weather or looking to stay active, you've decided to take up a new hobby—running! Running is one of the best full-body cardio exercises that really gets your body into tip-top, healthy shape. You’ve never run before? No worries! It’s easy to start with great programs like Couch to 5k, finding your own personal trainer, or checking out Runner Click. Starting a running group with some of your friends is a great motivator for your new favorite hobby.
By Alicia Springer10 years ago in Longevity
Germiest Things We Touch Every Day
A study shows that bacteria, such as cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. Since the average adult can touch as many as 30 objects within a minute, it is important to keep those germs at bay. Everyday objects like a purse, shoes and even a steering wheel are some of the germiest things we touch every day that harbor harmful germs. Cleaning inside your home can help to protect you, but going food shopping, out to dinner or even to the doctor's office are ways to come in contact with just a few of the germiest surfaces and objects. However, having products like hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes are ways that you can avoid or eliminate bacteria from the things around you and your own hands.
By Longevity Staff10 years ago in Longevity
Oprah Winfrey’s Greatest Accomplishments
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard of Oprah Winfrey. She is everywhere and even though her very successful talk show has been off of the air, her OWN television network is still up and running and her face continues to appear on her monthly magazine cover. Oprah Winfrey's career has spanned every form of media and beyond. She has had a turn in being an actress, talk show host, producer, and philanthropist. Among Oprah Winfrey's greatest accomplishments are being Chairwoman and CEO of both Harpo Productions and The Oprah Winfrey Network. She has co-authored five books, and has started The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a school designed to educate and develop the leadership skills of young women in South Africa. And as if that's not enough, Winfrey has been featured in TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people on an impressive 10 occasions.
By Banji Ganchrow10 years ago in Longevity
Best Organic Coffee Brands
Most people today want to be healthy and make better choices for their body. We've all learned that what we consume has a direct effect on our body's health and functions. By choosing to eat organic foods, organic coffee included, we are making a conscious choice to develop a healthy functioning body, as well as contribute to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment.
By James Porterson10 years ago in Longevity
Best Yoga Essentials
What do a downward facing dog and a camel have in common? They are both poses that every yogi has mastered. Yet for beginners, these poses just sound like animals that have nothing to do with yoga. Choosing to take yoga classes is the first step in becoming more self-aware and adding more flexibility from head to toe. The second step is to get all the yoga essentials needed to take advantage of the classes you are attending and the health benefits of the practice. Once you've got the drive and the yoga essentials, the only thing stopping you from becoming a yogi, is that first deep breath in and long exhale out.
By Mackenzie Lu10 years ago in Longevity
How Does Smoking Affect Your Body?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 2005, smoking rates for adults in the United States has steady declined from 20.9 percent to 16.8 percent in 2014. This decline highlights the progress made in discouraging the habit, but currently, smoking is still prevalent, not only among adults but among adolescents, as well. The CDC further cited that in 2014, 12.7 percent of high school students and 3.1 percent of students in middle school were cigarette smokers.
By James Porterson10 years ago in Longevity
Health in the Bible
While most religious people are drawn to their religion for spiritual reasons, studies have shown that adamantly following a religion can impact your lifestyle and your health. Religion can have an impact on a person's weight, overall happiness, anxiety, and blood pressure. In many cases, people seek out religion in times of severe stress. The community and faith provided by religious organizations has been shown to help people through hardship, and many choose to continue their dedication to religion because of the help they were given. In this way, religion helps many people walk away from harmful circumstances in their lives such as drug use, alcoholism, or dangerous professions.
By David McCleary11 years ago in Longevity
