A longitudinal study of apparently 1507 healthy men and 832 healthy women aged 70 to 90 years looked at diet, exercise and lifestyle. Participants were recruited from 11 European countries. Learn how elders who followed a Mediterranean type diet combined with 30 minutes of exercise a day and who followed a healthy lifestyle were less likely to die from all-causes and cause-specific mortality.

Studies show that the consumption of excessive salt can very much contribute to heart failure and cause kidney problems. For older people, trying to avoid salt is very important because it can have a significant impact on an older person’s health. In another study, researchers discovered that only 18% of Americans are consuming the recommended amount of salt. Learn more about the dangers of salt.

Healthy food and exercises play an important role in eye health. Learn which foods, supplements and exercises can keep your eyes healthy and which foods and “activities” you should avoid that may be harmful to your eyes.

The Tufts Food Guide Pyramid for Older Adults recommends that seniors drink 8 8-oz. glasses of water or other non-alcoholic drinks a day. They also suggest that seniors take supplements as they cannot get enough nutrients from food alone. Some of the challenges to eating well are loss of appetite, memory problems, poor dental health and the use of certain medications. Read more to learn what are the signs and symptoms that indicate that your loved one is not getting enough nutrients or is dehydrated and which foods are considered to be super foods.

Subjects in their 70s with early memory decline drank 2-2.5 glasses of blueberry juice a day. When compared with the control group those who drank blueberry juice performed better on memory tests. Learn more about the benefits of blueberry juice.

This article includes a study in which researchers in Sweden found that people who live in areas where there is a lot of traffic noise may be at greater risk for having high blood pressure and therefore be at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. They postulate that being subjected to constant noise may place the body in a state of chronic stress. Learn how garlic, foods rich in potassium and hibiscus tea can help lower blood pressure.

Just like other debates about the pros and cons of specific foods, such as eggs are good for you, eggs are not good for you, eat margarine, oh, now it is better to eat butter, there currently is a debate about how much sodium is the right amount. Depending on age, race, and medical conditions, such as hypertension, different amounts of sodium are recommended. Learn more about how much sodium is right for you and your aging parent.

Gerontologists recently have defined frailty as a state consisting of a host of factors and medical conditions. A person falls into this category if they have 3 or more of the following factors: unintentional weight loss, general feeling of exhaustion, weakness (as measured by grip strength), slow walking speed, low levels of physical activity. Although frailty is not a disease, there are several diseases and medical problems that contribute to the condition. Learn more about how to treat and prevent frailty. 

A new study has confirmed that eating a lot of sugary desserts may not be the best strategy for living a long, cancer-free life. Learn what researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) have found - how restricted calorie diets, specifically in the form of restricted glucose (sugar), help human cells live longer.

The vast majority of individuals experience some form of sadness or depression during their lives. Some individuals have better coping mechanisms than others and may only need supplements and/or vitamins to stabilize their mood. In some cases, depression is due to a physical biochemical imbalance and in other cases the emotional stress that is causing the depression can trigger a biochemical change. In either case, there is an imbalance that needs to be addressed.  If one’s depression is not severe, there are many clinically proven all natural remedies such as vitamins, herbs, supplements, minerals, and amino acids that can help. Aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga, exercise, meditation, etc. can also help. Learn which herbs and supplements can help alleviate depression.