Category: Health

  • Healthy Heart, Happy Brain

    According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, chronic heart disease factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity can quicken the pace of cognitive decline. High blood pressure and diabetes can accelerate shrinkage of the brain, especially affecting the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus. When combined with other cardio risk…

  • Using Light to Improve Brain Health

    One would expect that an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) would be  pharmacological. And yet, 99 percent of AD drug trials fail. The last time the FDA approved an AD drug was 2003. Acupuncturists might focus on neuroregeneration using neuroacupuncture. In a similar fashion, a new modality — photobiomodulation (PBM) — has been building…

  • The Benefits of Pilates

    Joseph Pilates truly was ahead of his time with his holistic approach to exercise. “Contrology [now called ‘Pilates’] is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play and in the way you work,” Pilates said. “You will develop muscular…

  • Body-Proofing II – Motion is Lotion

    Last month, we emphasized the importance of exercise to combat the natural aging process. Specifically, exercises like Pilates, Tai Chi and Yoga provide coordinated full body workouts with an emphasis on core muscle strengthening, balance and fluidness of movements. But what if you have pain in your knees or back making even simple movements like…

  • Your Mind and Body: The Breakdown on Bone Loss

    Osteoporosis (porous bones) is a bone disease that involves thinning of the bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. This weakens the bones and increases a person’s risk for fracture. Women are four times more likely to have osteoporosis as compared to men.

  • The Art of Pressure

    Have you ever instinctively held your forehead or temples when you’ve had a headache? Everyone at one time or another has used their hands to hold tense or painful places on the body. This is the healing touch of acupressure. Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing art that uses the fingers to press key pressure…

  • Glaucoma Awareness

    Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States today. Sadly, more than half of people affected by glaucoma are not aware they have it. Symptoms develop slowly over time, so most people who have glaucoma don’t notice changes in their vision until it’s too late.

  • Body-Proofing Combats Aging

    Growing older is inevitable but the rapid physical deterioration we call “aging” does not have to be.  In fact, the aging process can be slowed down or in some cases reversed with a consistent exercise program. Numerous studies show adults who make regular exercise a part of their lifestyle are biologically younger by almost 10…

  • Your Mind and Body

    The 2010 National Institutes of Health consensus and state-of-the-science statement revealed preliminary evidence that suggests beneficial associations between physical and leisure activity in reducing the risk of cognitive decline in seniors.

  • Ward off the Flu

    It’s the holiday season, meaning most of us will be out and about more often than usual. Shopping malls, restaurants, parties, church services— wherever we are, it’s a good idea to remember that crowds provide the perfect environment for influenza viruses (the flu) to spread by coughs and sneezes.

  • Dr. Rio Banner, MD: Health Visionary

    Dr. Rio Banner, MD: Health Visionary

    In Hawaii, we live an average of 81 years— longer than almost anywhere else in the world. But when it comes to successful aging, the key is to not only live longer, but to live longer as a healthy individual. The way to better health is taking care of ourselves as we age, which helps…

  • Fit for Life

    The objective at Club 50 Fitness is simple and direct: to improve the lives of people who are 40 years of age and above with fitness training and overall good health. As many Club 50 members will tell you, exercise is medicine! Just ask Rose, who says that exercise has been the best thing for…