Let's start with choosing the right daily vitamin for you. Daily vitamin supplements are gender and age specific, so you want to pick one that fits your age and gender profile. For example: Men should not be taking a woman's daily vitamin and mineral supplement with iron. Too much iron can be toxic, have devastating effects, and even be fatal.
Some men do need iron supplements, but please consult with your family physician, and then he, or she, can give you an informed opinion. Children are also at risk from iron poisoning, as this is a very common cause of poisoning among children. Therefore, it is advisable to keep vitamin supplements out of a child's reach.
The next point to cover is the real need for supplementation, in the first place. Many people feel that eating correctly would counter the need for supplementation. Natural and whole foods are a top priority, for those on nutritionally dense diets, but it is doubtful that an individual would consume the exact proportions, during the course of a day. Who eats all the right foods, every day, with the exact vitamin and mineral profile, for their age and gender?
Absorption is another key issue with vitamins. Your vitamin should break down in your body. Otherwise, you are wasting your money. To test your current vitamin's solubility, you could put it in a glass of water, for an hour or two, to see how it breaks down. If it doesn't dissolve, what good is it?
Now, back to more low-impact exercising. Among the martial arts are Chinese internal styles that are low-impact, develop strength, improve balance, and enhance flexibility. Many of these styles have a close relationship with Chinese medicine. In some ways, you could consider Chinese internal martial arts to be the physical therapy of traditional Chinese medicine.
Don't be deceived into thinking that the internal martial arts are only good for your mental and physical well being. This is true, but they also have a bonus in that self-defense concepts will be learned. I often tell children, who study martial arts at our center, "A fly on the wall would know how to defend itself, if it stayed here long enough."
Tai Chi is the most popular of the Chinese internal martial arts. Postures are strung together in a low-impact sequence that becomes fluid and graceful. Many people suffering from a variety of ailments mention how much Tai Chi has improved their lives. It is definitely worth taking a class.
Water aerobics classes are a fantastic form of low-impact exercise. Every muscle in your body is worked in a typical class. The water gives you natural resistance for muscle tone and keeps you cool. The increase in heart rate is good for your cardiovascular system.
With each form of exercise I mentioned throughout this series - consult with your physician before starting. You will get some solid advice and avoid any unforeseen problems.
Pilates is a modern "cousin" to Yoga and has received much well deserved publicity, in the past decade. Many Pilates exercises are similar to Yoga practice. The founder, Joseph Pilates, was a practitioner of Yoga, martial arts, and other fitness systems. He was an innovator, inventing physical rehabilitation equipment during World War I, and a health maintenance system that honors his name.
Much like Yoga, movement is generally low impact, slow, safe, and thorough. Although Pilates is well known for toning the core muscles, it is a complete health maintenance system for the body. There is no meditation practice, in a traditional Pilates class, but focus on breath is a "corner stone" of Pilates practice.
Walking has so many benefits, for a simple low impact exercise, and yet it is often ignored. The average walker will live longer due to the fact they have less problems with stroke, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other life threatening conditions.
Like many other forms of exercise, walking is subject to many studies. It has been found that walking two miles per day contributes to longevity. In the January 8, 1998 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, there was an article about a Honolulu Heart Study with 8,000 male participants. This study took 12-years and it was found that walking two miles per day reduced the chance of death by nearly half. That study alone makes walking an exercise worth participating in, whether you choose to walk indoors or outside.
Cycling is a good, low impact, and aerobic workout. You can also build strength, in your legs, with a little intensity. Depending on the level of intensity you can burn 250-400 calories per hour or more. Just like walking, you can cycle indoors or outside, but there are safety guidelines to be aware of, for outdoor cycling. If you do bike outside, be cautious, observe the rules of the road, wear safety gear, and use bike trails when possible. Stay aware, at all times, when you are biking outdoors.
Dieting and nutrition are major factors in fitness. Your meals should be moderate in size, and spread out over the course of the day. You should make it a point to eat nutritionally dense meals, take a good vitamin / mineral supplement, and drink plenty of water every day.
Habits to avoid are eating too much takeout food, eating at restaurants, eating large portions, and unconscious eating. So, make it a point to carry fresh fruit, vegetables, and healthy snacks with you. This will stop you from impulse buying at the next drive-thru, and over consumption of food, at a single sitting.
In the next and last article of this series, we will discuss more nutritional tips and more low impact exercise options.
Paul M. Jerard Jr. has sinced written about articles on various topics from Leadership, Yoga Practice and Anger Control. Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and se. Paul M. Jerard Jr.'s top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.