Cold weather can have many adverse effects on health. For example, your metabolism has to work harder to keep warm, which may seem a good thing if you’re trying to lose weight.

The down side, however, is that your immunity can suffer, partly because of decreased blood flow and immune responses in the nose – your first line of defence against respiratory viruses.

In addition, bacteria and viruses can survive for longer outside the body when temperatures are reduced. Huddling indoors breathing dry, centrally-heated air also dries out the nose and reduces your defences, while lack of sunshine means you may have depleted levels of immune boosting vitamin D.

As a result, colds and other respiratory infections are four times more common during winter than during warmer months of the year.

Vitamin D Protects Against Respiratory Infections

During Victorian times, respiratory infections such as tuberculosis were treated with cod liver oil and exposure to UV rich sunlight, both of which are now known to help boost circulating levels of vitamin D. Its protective effects are greater than you might think.

Analysis of 16 clinical trials, involving over 7,400 people, has shown that taking vitamin D supplements can reduce your risk of experiencing at least one respiratory infection – including the common cold, influenza or pneumonia – by a third with positive benefits seen within as little as three weeks.

In those whose vitamin D levels were initially classed as low, the protection was even greater, with vitamin D supplements reducing the risk of developing a respiratory infection by almost half compared with inactive placebo.

Vitamin D Protects Against Asthma

By protecting against the viruses that cause colds and bronchitis, vitamin D can reduce the risk of a winter flare-up in people with asthma. A recent review of nine trials involving almost 1,100 adults and children, found that taking vitamin D reduced the rate of an asthma exacerbation and the need for oral corticosteroids by 37%. As a result, the risk of having to go to hospital was reduced by a massive 61%.

Influenza Loves Winter

New influenza viruses mutate every year and are most prolific during winter months when they can survive outside the body on door handles and discarded tissues for 24 hours or more.

To help protect yourself, consider having an annual influenza vaccination. Your doctor can advise on whether or not this is suitable. Boost your natural immunity by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly for good cardiovascular fitness. Avoid those who cough and sneeze to spread disease. Use antiviral tissues, wash your hands regularly and try to avoid touching your face, mouth, nose and eyes with your hands.

Some scientists believe that lack of selenium is a “driving force” for influenza virus mutations, as when these viruses infect someone who is selenium deficient, the virus is more likely to mutate, become more virulent and cause more severe symptoms for longer periods.

This may explain why so many new, heavy-duty influenza viruses emerge from Asia, where selenium intakes are among the lowest in the world. It may help to obtain selenium by eating two to four Brazil nuts per day as these are the richest dietary source of selenium. As a bonus, Brazil nuts also lower your cholesterol.

Joint Pain Worsens in Winter

Cold weather appears to make aches and pains worse, especially in those with arthritis, although the reasons why are poorly understood. In a study involving 25 people with osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, 92% said their symptoms were influenced by the weather, and when their pain and stiffness scores were checked against meteorological data, there was a strong correlation.

One possibility is that changes in musculoskeletal symptoms are related to falling vitamin D levels, although this is controversial. Another factor could be that pain receptors become more sensitive when surrounding temperature receptors that detect cold become more active. A number of supplements and herbs reduce joint pain, with glucosamine and chondroitin, hydrolysed collagen, ginger, turmeric and krill oil among the nine best supplements for knee pain.

Wrap up Warm

Normally your body temperature is tightly regulated within the range of 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Centigrade, or 97.7 to 99.5 Fahrenheit. Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 35 degrees Centigrade/95 degrees Fahrenheit. Hypothermia is sometimes called a “silent killer” as many victims are unaware they are at risk. Older people, in particular, are more sensitive to the effects of falling temperature and are less likely to register when they are cold.

Temperatures do not even have to be below freezing to cause hypothermia. One in 10 people over the age of 65 are unable to regulate their body temperature efficiently. Typical signs such as the shivering response may also be absent in the elderly.

People in countries with mild climates, such as the US and UK, are less prepared for cold weather than those living farther north. In Ireland, for example, there is 30% increase in deaths during a cold winter, compared with just two percent in Scandinavia although cold weather is not often included on the death certificate.

Hypothermia is recognised as contributing to 30,000 deaths per year in the UK, although in the USA only 700 deaths are attributed to this cause every year – possibly because many deaths are attributed to a heart attack instead.

Interestingly, one study found that men were 30% more likely to die from hypothermia than women, and that single men and single women were 6.5 and 4 times more likely to die from hypothermia, respectively, than married men or women. Snuggling up and sharing body heat is of paramount importance.

Insulate your home, wear layers of warm clothing during both day and night and use extra blankets on your bed. Arrange for those who are vulnerable – frail or elderly living alone – to be checked on regularly.

Beware Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-irritating and therefore undetectable gas. It leaks from old motors and poorly maintained heaters and cooking equipment and can kill. Carbon monoxide binds 200 times more tightly than oxygen to the red blood pigment, haemoglobin. It therefore displaces oxygen from circulating red blood cells to form carboxyhaemoglobin which imparts a health, cherry-red glow to the cheeks.

As a result, the tell-tale blue (cyanosis) that usually signals lack of oxygen fails to cause alarm in those finding you, apparently sleeping peacefully, in your bed.

Exposure to carbon monoxide is the most common cause of lethal poisoning worldwide and can affect anyone in a confined space contaminated with fumes. Epidemics of carbon monoxide poisoning occur in winter months, and often occur at night, during sleep, when fumes leak from a poorly maintained heater or boiler.

Mild poisoning causes headache, dizziness, irritability and confusion. Suspect this diagnosis if symptoms rapidly clear on breathing fresh air, especially if two or more people are affected at the same time.

Recommendations include having chimneys and flues cleaned and checked regularly and having gas appliances and heating systems professionally inspected every year. Also, never run cars, motorbikes or lawnmowers in a closed garage. Finally, be sure to fit a carbon monoxide alarm.

Heart attacks Peak in Winter

Heart attack is the Number One killer in the Western world and the incidence spikes during cold winter months, when the risk of arterial spasm increases. Unusual physical exertion such as shovelling snow, is also a factor. This is yet another reason to stay warm, maintain regular gentle physical exercise and follow a heart-friendly, healthy diet and lifestyle.

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If you’re planning an overseas holiday, you might not be looking forward to the long-haul flight. I recently flew 14 hours non-stop from Sydney to Johannesburg (and back again). These are my tips to travel comfortably in economy:

Stay Slim

You might remember air travel in the 1970s: it was elegant, novel – and you were much younger! I never worried about swollen ankles, but now that I’m in my 60s, I have noticed a puffiness after long-haul flights.

With not much legroom to stretch out and few opportunities to get up, there is a chance your legs might swell up. For the past few years, I’ve worn Scholl’s support hose to prevent any swelling.

These natural-coloured stockings don’t look any different from other pantyhose, though in the early days they were ribbed and funny coloured.

I wear a half-hose with ordinary socks over them so I can peel off either layer as I need to. They work a treat: after both recent long-haul trips, I didn’t have any swelling to my ankles or feet.

Keep Cool

As well as being an extreme light traveller, I never drink alcohol on a plane: it’s too dehydrating. Instead, I drink plenty of water. On this recent flight, the stewards refilled our water bottles all the time, which was most welcome.

Don’t you hate it when customs makes you throw away the water bottle you’ve just bought? To combat that, I travel with a roll up water bottle. I empty it before customs and fill it up again on the other side so that I have plenty of water going on board the plane.

Enjoy the Quiet

I used to measure flights by the number of movies I watched: “This is a five-movie flight,” I’d tell my friends.

These days I prefer not to watch movies, giving my eyes a rest from the dry airline atmosphere. Instead, I wear my wireless headphones – did you know you can hook up your own headphones to the airline headphones’ jack? – and drift off listening to audiobooks.

Cocoon Yourself

The minute I get on board the plane, I put on a face mask. When I wear a mask, I feel cocooned from the privations of long-haul flying. I noticed on this recent trip that the skin under my mask was well hydrated. The skin on my face that was exposed to the cabin air dried out far quicker.

Wearing a mask, plugging in good headphones, and using a neck cushion, which I hadn’t used since the airlines introduced headrest cushions, creates a barrier between me and what’s happening around me in the cabin. I withdraw into my own little world.

Go Incognito

In addition to the face mask, I wore the airline eyepatch on this trip. This tool was terrific as it cut out the light and made me feel even more cocooned and private. I topped all of this off – literally – with my hoodie.

Imagine me: face mask, eyepatch, headphones and hoodie – tucked into the headrest. No one was going to disturb me – let alone recognise me!

So, what was the outcome? On the way to South Africa, I managed a good few hours of sleep, which meant I started my holiday feeling fresh. On the way back, I dozed and relaxed – somehow sleep evaded me, but I was as comfortable as a bug in a rug!

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At the first stage of retirement, the transition stage, it is sometimes difficult to remember what day of the week it is when you wake up. For me, my pill box is my first reminder! A friend once told me that retirement meant that every day was Saturday.

How Do You Keep Track of the Days?

When you first retire, you may find that not having to jump out of bed and get dressed to go to work is wonderful. You can just sleep in, enjoy waking up, and stay in your PJs and robe while having that first cup of coffee, relaxing in your favorite chair.

Is that the time for you to clear your head and think about what the day will bring? Or do you just enjoy not having to think about doing anything?

In the early stage of transition, the lack of a schedule can be somewhat daunting as you may feel that your life no longer has the same meaning as it did while working. If you had a full work schedule, the lack of one after you retire can cause you to feel depressed and getting out of the house – challenging.

This can be even more of an issue if you had a job as a manager, boss, or professional with a full schedule. Now you wake up and find the schedule empty.

I know people that woke up the day after retirement and just stared at an empty calendar, frozen! This is certainly not always the case, but for many, the loss of a schedule is one of the first things to deal with post retirement. Here are a few ideas to get your schedule going.

From Visiting the Doc to Everything Else

It can be fun to realize that you can still have a pretty full schedule if you start entering the various activities you are doing. This is not just filling it up with doctor appointments!

Everything from meeting with friends, going out to events or dinner parties, exercise, favorite sporting activities, and time with children and grandchildren.

Volunteering at Local Organizations

In addition, are you involved with local organizations like Rotary, religious groups, activity clubs like golf, swimming, tennis, or charitable groups? Participation can allow you to utilize your skills to help these organizations and give you satisfaction in doing good for others.

Do Things Together

Another idea is to have discussions with your significant other about what activities they would like to do and find things you can do together. I also suggest to couples to mark one day a week as a “private day,” one that each of you keep open for time to share together.

It can be fun to alternate who chooses what to do on that special day, and they have to make all the arrangements. In addition, look out past the first month or two and start planning for trips to visit family or just go have fun.

Do You Have an Identity Crisis?

Many retirees also experience a change of identity when they leave their job. In some cases, a crisis may ensue which can also be a hinderance to creating a schedule, especially in those instances when you had an assistant to fill up your calendar for you.

Your identity may have been tied to what you did. When someone asked, “What do you do?” What was your answer? If it started with, “I am a…,” you may now find the early stage of retirement difficult as you have lost your identity and no longer know what to answer when asked that question.

Defining your new position in life may be one of the most challenging issues when you first retire. Does retirement mean that you have become brain dead and cannot carry on normal conversations? Are you afraid that people will change the subject to the weather when they find out you are retired?

I can remember a time when my wife was not working outside the house. She would often share that at parties or other gatherings, when she was asked the question and she said she was a “stay at home mom” the conversation almost always changed to the weather or general topics.

So, as you may have once worked on your “elevator speech,” you can now work on having an answer to the “question.” Consider things like: “I am enjoying life each day,” or, “I am doing exactly what I want to do for the first time in my life,” or, “I am pursuing my passions.”

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Finally, you have reached the age when you are beginning to think about downsizing. Perhaps you have familiarized yourself with all the practical and even emotional difficulties involved and have decided you are not quite ready to take the plunge.

Is there anything you can do in preparation for the eventual day?

Downsizing Dilemma: Culling Books

Few people reach their 60s without accumulating a lot of things they know they could throw or give away without great loss.

There are the clothes that don’t quite fit, but might do so if you lost those extra pounds that you are working on. There are the gifts that you never use, but have sentimental value because of the friends who gave them to you.

And then there are the books.

Books Take Room

If you like to read, you probably have books all over your house or apartment. Perhaps you sorted through them 10 years ago (or longer) because you had moved then or simply had a fit of eagerness to clean up.

In any case, there they are, in piles here and there – in the living room, by your bedside, in odd corners, including some in the bathroom.

Whatever cataloguing system once existed has probably long lost any cogency. When you are looking for a book you know you own, you get annoyed because it is nowhere to be found.

You have long thought that books don’t take any space, but you know you are kidding yourself. Indeed, for years, you proudly collected books to make your home feel properly lived in and loved. Each addition was like another brick to a house.

Perhaps it is time to cull.

Culling Can Be Painful

Deciding to get rid of books is harder than you might think. There are the books you always meant to read and are sure you will get to one day. There are those you started, but then stopped, and you like to think you will indeed finish them.

There are some you may be keeping for the children or for when you are sick and need something not too demanding. There are a lot of reasons to keep books.

And, if you are anything like me, it is a dusty job. You keep the house generally clean, but how often do you pull out the books one by one? So not only is it an emotionally difficult business to decide to give away books, but it is also a physically unpleasant one. Every reason not to do it.

But go for it, nonetheless.

How to Start Downsizing Your Book Collection

It is possible, of course, to simply go to any shelf and pull out books you don’t really want any more. I would urge you to do it more systematically.

If you have a lot of books, mentally divide them into categories – perhaps something simple like fiction versus non-fiction, but you might have more elaborate sub-categories.

Start with just one. Search your house for all novels, say, and put them in one place. Then, to feel productive, put them in alphabetical order (and remove any duplicates of books you bought a second time, because you forgot you had them in the first place!).

Then begins the difficult part. You know how old you are, and you know how many books you tend to read in a year. You can guess that however good your intentions, there are a set of books you will never re-read or read for the first time. Put them in a separate pile. Then look again and find some more.

Continue in the same vein with other categories. Depending on the size of your collection, this may take a few days. You should find yourself with a few cartons of books at the end of the process.

Dust the shelves, and put the books back in some organised system that pleases you. Offer the discarded books to friends, family, charity shops or even to passers-by. There, you have done it.

The Gains

Believe me, there are gains. In the first place, your rooms immediately look cleaner and tidier. With luck, there are no books piled on the floor, and you may even gain space for that knick-knack you were wondering where to put. Also, you know where your books are, next time you are looking.

Best of all, you will have found many books you didn’t have any memory of buying, but would really like to read – or re-read. My high school English teacher used to say, “If a book is worth reading once, it is worth reading twice.”

Put them on your bedside in an inviting pile. Take one out and pour yourself a glass of wine.

Time well spent.

The post Downsizing Dilemma: Why Getting Rid of Books is So Tough appeared first on Sixty And Me.

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Source: CareTips

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Like many things in life, group and solo travel have their good and bad points. As our today’s guest says, trying to pick one over the other would be like trying to “Choose between day and night.” If you have had a trip in mind but are unsure which travel style you should choose, or are looking for some encouragement to take the big leap, today’s video with Shila Desani might be what you’ve been waiting for!

In today’s Sixty and Me video, Margaret Manning and travel expert Shila Desani discuss the pros and cons of group and solo travel, as well as where you can look for inspiration or a great deal for your next bucket list adventure!

The Group Adventure

Traveling in a group on an organized has many advantages, and a couple of things to consider before committing. One of the best aspects of group travel is you are signing up to spend time with people that are like-minded, with similar interests.

This might not be appealing to some, but for those of us that enjoy sharing experiences with others, it can be one of the most appealing aspects of group tours. It’s an opportunity to connect with people on a deeper level about something you enjoy – be it food, architecture, art, or anything your adventure brings!

The other huge plus is having everything organized for you, often at a lower cost than trying to do it solo – as Shila points out you can just “Show up with your suitcase!”

If you are particularly concerned about being stuck with people you don’t like, it’s reassuring to know that good group leaders are highly adept at making sure everyone is comfortable with one another. Group sizes are also designed to ensure there will more than likely be someone you get along with!

As Margaret points out in today’s Sixty and Me video, when it comes to travel for mature women, having the resource of a group leader as well as a group of people there to support you often means you will take the plunge and try things you might not risk if you were traveling alone!

Solo Travel For Mature Women

For ladies that love freedom above all else, solo travel might be the best style of adventure. It means having the freedom to explore each destination at a pace that suits, without having to leave somewhere early, or be stuck somewhere boring for longer than necessary.

It does take a particular type of traveler to tackle solo travel – even Shila acknowledges that “Solo travel does require a great deal of courage,” so it’s probably not a suitable style of travel for women over 60 that aren’t likely to step outside of their comfort zone. It’s not just about being comfortable walking the streets of a strange city late at night or worrying about personal safety – it can also be about something as simple as not being comfortable asking for directions.

One of the biggest pluses about solo travel is the massive sense of accomplishment and achievement during and after a trip. It can be a huge confidence booster, and the reminder you need to know you can achieve anything, regardless of your age!

Looking For Inspiration?

There can be many reasons we hesitate to organize travel, but with so much knowledge now available at our fingertips, a lack of information shouldn’t be one of them! In today’s Sixty and Me video, Margaret and Shila discuss some fantastic resources they believe are inspirational and helpful for women over 60 interested in travel:

• Journeywoman – this site covers sole or group travel for women. It has travel tips, and a newsletter with lists for group and solo travel published monthly.
• Grownup Travels – this site aims to provide information and inspiration for travelers over the age of 45, with wonderful articles and photo galleries that might give you the ‘light-bulb moment’ you’ve been looking for!
• Eat Your Heart Out Tours – this is Shila’s travel site, with tours for older travelers looking for more in-depth, immersive traveling experiences that bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultures.

No matter where your interests lie, there are so many tours out there, and destinations that have opened up, that you are bound to be spoiled for choice once you start looking!

The post 3 Brilliant Ways To Make Travel Over 60 An Unforgettable Adventure appeared first on Sixty And Me.

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Source: CareTips

I went on my first diet when I was 14. I had been a gymnast and a diver when I was younger, and as I slipped into the more sedentary life of a teenager – and my body entered puberty – I started worrying that I weighed too much.

I came by it honestly. My mother went on a diet every Monday morning for most of my childhood. By Thursday, we were eating cookies and ice cream for dessert again and her weight – which I actually never noticed – didn’t change much.

I became a runner in my 30s and for years that allowed me to eat what I wanted to eat and stay within a comfortable weight range for myself. It wasn’t really until menopause that I entered another phase of having trouble keeping weight off.

Fitness After 50 is More than a Number on a Scale

I’m almost embarrassed to say that it took me that long to realize that the number on the scale, the shape of our body and how we feel about that shape is not something we can fix or correct or change with a short-term eating plan. As trite as it may sound – and as many times as we’ve heard it – being fit really is about how we live, not about how little we can manage to eat or what we put into our mouths.

More than anything, fitness is a result of paying attention to what and how much we eat, moving our bodies every single day, enjoying a mix of good, healthy foods and making this a lifetime commitment, not a short-term fix.

Paying Attention to What and How Much We Eat

More and more, fitness and weight loss plans are getting on board with the approach of paying attention by providing computer apps that help you track what foods you consume each day. This makes it infinitely easier than writing down each granola bar and chicken breast you eat, but the idea is the same. It keeps you accountable to yourself.

If you know you are going to record what you eat, it makes you pay attention. After a few days of noting what you’re consuming, you start thinking about food before you eat it. Do I really want to have to write down that I ate a half a box of Wheat Thins? Maybe I’ll have a sliced apple instead.

Most of the programs give you a range of calories or points for food items based on your objectives so you know that if you stay within that range, you can achieve your goals.

Moving Your Body Every Single Day

You don’t have to run marathons to get in shape or stay there. You need to move every day and you need to gradually increase that movement when you’re ready. If it’s been awhile since you’ve walked around the block, try a half a block. Let’s face it – it’s better than sitting on your couch.

Researchers believe that as we age and begin to feel that our bodies aren’t as capable as they once were, it may have more to do with the fact that we stop moving than it does with actual decline.

Keeping our bodies going, including some kind of cardiovascular movement and some kind of weight-bearing exercise, is what we need to get through the long haul. The cardio keeps our blood flowing and the weight-bearing work builds muscle and bone density. We all need that whether we’re trying to lose weight or gain it.

Enjoying a Mix of Good, Healthy Foods

For most of us, when we start thinking about losing weight or getting into better shape, we immediately think of having to eat foods that are “good” for us, and nothing that is delicious.

Although it’s not a good idea to live on hot dogs and French fries, it’s the balanced diet that will allow us to make this a lifestyle and not just a quickly failing, one-shot venture.

We all know that it’s a good idea to eat fruits and vegetables, lean protein and fiber, and it’s easier than ever today to follow this guideline. Grocery stores even sell packaged meals that are both fresh and frozen.

The good news is that you can also have a treat every once in a while, especially if you’re paying attention to what you’re consuming and how much of it you’re eating.

Making This a Lifetime Commitment

I wish my mother had lived long enough to realize that we all struggle with staying healthy and fit and that no new diet plan is going to change that.

They key is always moderation, but it’s also remembering to see fitness in the same way you think of any aspect of your health. You would never say, “Well, I brushed my teeth for three months so now I don’t have to do it anymore,” or “I slept a lot lost week. I think I’ll stay awake all this week.”

We need to be smart and realistic about our weight and our fitness and there’s plenty of help in the world these days to get there. Look around online and find a good app for tracking what you eat. Find out which works best for your lifestyle.

What “treat” foods do you have trouble moderating? Maybe try keeping smaller containers in your cupboards, but still let yourself have a little bit now and then. Meet with a friend who also wants to get into better shape and make a health plan together. Who would be a good partner as you embark on this new lifestyle?

The post Fitness After 50 Isn’t About the Number on a Scale appeared first on Sixty And Me.

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Source: CareTips

The well-dressed home sells fast and for top dollar.

The emergence of staging and makeover services around the country is dictating a need that has been crying out to be met.

Real estate brokers and their agents have historically been generous with their expertise when it comes to landing a listing agreement with a home seller. Their knowledge about mortgage lending, appraisals and closing costs can fill up any briefcase.

But, who is advising the seller about the most vital link that connects the listing contract to the sales contract? Who is telling the seller their home will sit there, unsold, with minimal buyer activity, unless it is appealing and presentable to potential buyers?

The Value of Effective Communication

The listing agent hesitates to insult a new client with the comment that their home has a strange, unpleasant odor, or their bathroom needs a good cleaning. However, it is imperative to inform a home seller of these important “must do” tasks if their home is to sell within a reasonable period of time and for their list price or better.

Successful real estate agents know the value of effective communication with home sellers. They know how vital it is for some homeowners to make important changes or take action if they want their home to sell quickly.

Preparing your home for the selling period doesn’t have to be tedious or expensive. You don’t need to hire a professional cleaning crew or engage a staging company to bring on that “wow” factor. You simply need to follow a few simple steps and each future home sale will become less stressful and maybe even speed up the whole process toward that magic word, sold!

Here are the basic tips from my award-winning e-booklet, Sell Your Home – Fast, available on Amazon.

Think Like a Buyer

Make sure the first impression is a good one. Curb appeal should be neat and tidy. Ask a family member or a really good friend to take a ride with you around the block to your very own home. As a buyer, would you consider this house?

The appearance at your front door is far more important than most sellers realize. It’s possible to introduce the dreaded “clutter factor” before a buyer even takes a step inside your home! And please, be sure to greet buyers with polished doorknob and doorknocker.

There is an odor the instant any front door is opened. Yours should be pleasant and fresh. We tend not to notice the smell of our own homes but strangers pick up every scent – good and bad. Pop a tray of cinnamon buns in a warm oven just before your agent brings potential buyers across your threshold. Their noses will love it!

Take a moment to document each room in your home with a camera. The camera gives a different view, plus photos may be helpful if needed for insurance purposes.

The Whole House is the Stage

When an agent brings a buyer to view your home, you should respect the fact that many people are allergic to animals. Others may actually be frightened by the tamest cat or dog. Pets should be out of sight, taking a walk or a ride.

Greet buyers with the right temperature. Be generous with air conditioning if it’s warm outside, and have a toasty temperature indoors if they are coming in from the cold.

Of all the rooms in your home that can wrap up or close down a sale, the kitchen remains at the top of the list. A true cook and homemaker will inspect every cabinet, drawer, pantry and appliance – inside and out. The entire kitchen should sparkle. Beware of cluttered countertops.

Potential buyers will view your most private living spaces. Remove or stow personal items. Remember, you are thinking like a buyer and a buyer wants to imagine your home as their home. Consider a bowl of fresh flowers in bedrooms for a welcome sight and scent.

You may have to bribe the youngsters to keep their rooms in reasonable order while your home is on the market. Promise a treat or reward after a daily quick inspection. Provide a way for them to sign in and sign out after the clean-up each day.

Along with the kitchen, the bathrooms will be scrutinized top to bottom and corner to corner. Bathrooms should be absolutely spotless and odor-free. Place a container of quick wipe-up products in a cabinet for family to use before they exit.

Turn all lights on before the agent arrives with a possible buyer. Take a quick walk through each room – thinking like a buyer – and pay special attention to odors and clutter. Store personal photos, memorabilia and other family items out of sight. Again, a buyer should be able to visualize this as their home – not yours.

Basements, attics and garages are wonderful storage spaces but invite major clutter accumulation. Moving time is a good clean up and toss out time for storage spaces. Set a date to get this job done. Involve the family. And be sure to close the garage doors!

Make Yourself Scarce

Agents find that buyers are more forthcoming with what they like and don’t like about a home if the owner is absent. Make yourself scarce until the showing is over. You will want to ask your agent for positive and negative comments from the potential buyer after each showing. Take these answers seriously and make repairs and necessary changes as soon as possible.

Put these proven tips to work, think like a buyer and have a friendly powwow about help you need and expect from family and/or friends. Separate “chore lists” might do the trick. This is a joint venture that requires teamwork. Gather that team together and watch how fast you will hear that welcoming word, sold!

The post Thinking of Downsizing? Here Are Some Tips to Sell Your Home Fast! appeared first on Sixty And Me.

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Source: CareTips

If you find yourself saying, “I feel tired all the time,” it may be due in part to what you are eating and drinking throughout the day. Read on to learn how you can make dietary adjustments to combat fatigue.

You’re Drinking Too Much Caffeine

Coffee and tea provide wonderful health benefits, including reducing risks for certain types of cancers, providing a rich source of antioxidants, and everyone’s favorite, blocking fatigue. However, too much caffeine over a prolonged period of time will actually make you feel more tired.

How does this work? Caffeine blocks brain receptors for adenosine, a molecule that induces fatigue. Over time, your body responds by producing more adenosine receptors, resulting in stronger, longer lasting fatigue.

Try limiting your caffeine consumption to one or two cups prior to noon, and skip any added sweeteners.

You’re Iron Deficient

Not eating enough iron raises risks for anemia. Early signs of iron deficiency include persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, unexplained weight gain, and feeling anxious for no reason.

Reduce your risks by incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet, such as lean beef, bison, oysters, lentils and spinach. If you are vegan or vegetarian, pair those iron sources with foods high in vitamin C to increase absorption.

You Eat Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates include pasta, white rice, most breakfast cereals and white bread. Though derived from whole grains, refined grains have undergone processing that removes all protein, fiber and nutrients from the food, leaving behind simple sugars that give your body a quick burst of energy, followed by an energy crash, fatigue, and cravings for more carbs.

Instead, switch to whole grains that provide your body with protein, fiber, iron and B vitamins that give you long-lasting energy. Great choices include quinoa, barley, brown rice and whole wheat bread.

You Turn to Added Sugars

Similar to refined carbohydrates, added sugars spike the blood sugar, but provide nothing nutritionally to sustain that energy. The result is a sudden plummet in energy and mood. In addition, consuming added sugars interferes with leptin production, a key hormone that helps us to feel full. Wean yourself off this temporary fix and turn to whole fruits when you need something sweet.

Natural sugars, as opposed to added sugars, do not dramatically spike the blood sugar and contain fiber and antioxidants to keep you feeling full and energized longer. You’ll also cut your risks for type 2 diabetes, another condition that leads to chronic fatigue.

You’re Skimping on Magnesium

If you eat like most Americans, you’re probably not getting enough magnesium. Magnesium is responsible for breaking down glucose in the body for energy. One interesting study conducted by the Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center found that those who did not meet daily magnesium requirements in the diet expended more energy and required more oxygen to complete tasks than those who ate enough magnesium.

Great sources of this important mineral include bananas, almonds, spinach, Swiss chard, and pumpkin seeds.

You’re Dehydrated

I recommend drinking 7-11 glasses of water every day, and more if you are active or consume a lot of caffeine. Every single function the body performs relies on hydration to work properly, including your metabolism. When we don’t drink enough water, we’ll feel tired and lethargic.

You’re Low on Melatonin

Our diet influences the body’s ability to produce sufficient levels of melatonin, one of the primary hormones responsible for lulling us to sleep. A low melatonin supply translates into more difficulty falling sleep, less deep sleep, and higher risks of insomnia.

Add to that the fact that our bodies naturally produce less melatonin in middle age, and poor sleep quality sets us up for fatigue. Counteract these changes by adding foods to your diet that encourage melatonin production. These include tart cherry juice, dairy and lean protein sources.

I have helped to develop an all-natural, drug-free sleep aid for my patients to get a sound night’s sleep during (and after) middle age. It combines melatonin-rich tart cherry juice extract with whey protein to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, all with no side effects. You can find it here.

You Need More Protein

Protein is the most satiating of the macronutrients and takes the longest to digest, providing our bodies with a steady stream of energy – and helping us to feel full longer. Due to the natural process of sarcopenia, which begins around age 30 and ramps up around age 40, our muscles naturally degenerate in middle age.

We can experience feelings of weakness and fatigue as a result. Build all of your meals around lean protein sources, and consider taking a supplement if you still frequently feel tired and hungry.

The post I Feel Tired All the Time! 8 Dietary Habits That Wear You Out appeared first on Sixty And Me.

The post I Feel Tired All the Time! 8 Dietary Habits That Wear You Out appeared first on Best Homecare Tips.

Source: CareTips