If you are an elder, It is very important to maintain a healthy weight and indulge in light exercises to prevent age related muscle loss. Irrespective of age, it is a good habit to maintain an active lifestyle. It only becomes important as we grow old, so that we can perform daily activities like climbing stairs, getting out of a chair with ease. Leg exercises help in strengthening one's lower body and are most efficient in preserving freedom of movement without any assistance. Before we head on to find out the best leg exercises for seniors, let us discuss its benefits:

• It helps in improving lean muscle mass.
• It reduces blood pressure and the risk of stroke and coronary disease.
• It improves bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
• It improves glucose and insulin tolerance and reduces lower back pain. It provides additional benefits.

Following are the leg exercises for seniors that will help in strengthening the lower body

• Ankle circles It is a great warm up exercise for lower leg and feet. Ankle circles help in improving ankle flexibility and the ability to move the ankle freely upward and downward.
• Knee extension Knee extension helps in strengthening the lower body and helps in improving the ability to stand and balance. It also helps in improving the available knee range of motion.

• Hip marching Hip marching helps in correcting the seated posture and also helps in strengthening abdominal muscles, hip flexor and thighs.

• Calf raises This leg exercise is one of the best exercises for seniors as it helps in strengthening your calf muscles and provides more power to walk with balance even in uphill roads and uneven terrains. Calf raises also help in pumping blood up from legs to the upper-body and brain.

• Lunges Lunges help in strengthening quadriceps and hips. This exercise specially helps in improving the ability to get out of chair without any assistance, and lifting the chores around the house.
• Partial squats Partial squats help in providing steadiness to the body, and helps in improving hip flexibility, quadriceps and hip flexor strength.
• Heel stand This part of leg exercise strengthens the lower legs, making you able to raise your toes without tripping.
• Hip extension Hip extension helps in strengthening hip joints and muscle which helps in improving the ability to walk and propel yourself forward.
• Straight leg raise This is specifically effective to advance your leg and helps in walking with greater ease. This leg workout helps increase the strength of quadriceps and hip flexor.

If you are suffering from any medical or physical condition that restricts your movement, consult a physiotherapist or trained professional who will guide you accordingly.

People pick up unhealthy habits due to a variety of reasons; it can either be peer pressure or some personal issue that forces them into developing this habit. One such addiction that claims 480,000 lives every year is smoking. Smoking is a highly-addictive habit that poses a great threat to the individual who smokes and those in the vicinity of smokers. In fact, passive smoking or secondhand smoking has resulted in about 41,000 deaths every year. So, if a loved one is trying to kick the butt, they’ll need all they can get. Here are some handy tips that will help people quit smoking effectively. Gear up before going “cold turkey” One cannot quit smoking simply by throwing away the cigarettes out. Smoking is an addiction and it affects the brain as well. The brain becomes addicted to the nicotine, and without it, the individual will experience withdrawal symptoms. Which is why it is imperative to make arrangements in advance as the individual will need support to get through this phase. So, it is sensible to ask the doctor for ways to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, or join some quit-smoking classes, establish a solid support system, counseling, or opting for hypnosis or medication. Opt for nicotine replacement therapy When someone decides to quit smoking, the nicotine withdrawal can give them headaches, fatigue, and mood swings. The craving will hit them hard, and the urge for “one last drag” will make all the efforts futile. If this is the case, opting for nicotine replacement therapy can help ease the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement therapy includes nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and lozenges, and these will improve one’s chances of quitting smoking successfully. Avoid alcohol and other triggers Alcohol is known to weaken one’s resolve as people under the influence of alcohol aren’t capable of making sound decisions. It is harder to stick to the goal of quitting smoking if one consumes alcohol. So, it is imperative to try and limit the alcohol intake in the beginning, and stop it completely as the journey to quit smoking progresses. Instead of drinking alcohol, one can switch to tea for a few weeks and the urge to drink will subside eventually. Adhering to these tips to quit smoking will require a lot of conviction and willpower, and even if the individual fails the first time, the resolve to kick the butt should make them try harder the next time.  

Cholesterol is a type of fat or lipid found in the blood. It's manufactured by the liver and is a critical building block of cell walls, hormones, and digestive juices. Increased levels of cholesterol lead to accumulations of it in the blood vessels and make it difficult for the blood to flow through the arteries. This results in a condition called atherosclerosis and may cause heart attacks when enough oxygen-rich blood fails to reach the heart. A decreased blood flow to the brain due to atherosclerosis can cause a stroke. A high level of cholesterol can cause heart diseases and strokes. It leads to a high blood pressure and causes diabetes too. Kinds of cholesterol There are two kinds of cholesterol: 1.LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or Bad cholesterol is the one associated with increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by causing atherosclerosis. 2. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or Good cholesterol helps in reducing the risks of heart attacks, heart diseases, and strokes. High levels of LDL cholesterol doesn't produce any symptoms as such. Adults are advised to get their levels tested at least once every five years. Lipid profile test or lipid panel test is the blood test associated with testing cholesterol levels. Causes of high LDL The most important cause for a high LDL cholesterol level in the blood is high amounts of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol in the diet. A high level of LDL is common among people who are fat or obese. Being overweight also reduces the HDL or good cholesterol level in the blood. Lack of physical activities also lowers good cholesterol or HDL level. Your age also plays a role as far the levels of cholesterol is concerned. The levels of LDL starts increasing once you cross 20 years of age. Genetic factors can also cause cholesterol levels to go up. If your family members have a high cholesterol level, then you'll most likely have it as well. A large waist circumference is another cause. A waist circumference of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches in women can increase cholesterol levels. A diabetic person tends to have a high LDL and low HDL. Smoking reduces the amount of HDL in your blood. How to reduce cholesterol? Proper diet and exercise play a key role in maintaining high levels of HDL cholesterol and lowering LDL cholesterol in your blood. Being active and doing regular exercise and at the same time eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and low-fat foods will increase HDL cholesterol and is used for high LDL cholesterol treatment. In addition to this, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking will reduce cholesterol levels further. Many medicines are also available to lower LDL levels in the blood, though most of them also have some or the other kind of side effects. Taking medicines for reducing LDL levels is advisable only for considerably high levels of cholesterol in the blood and only under a doctor's prescription.

Recent researches show that curcumin, which is the active ingredient in the culinary arts possesses potential anti-inflammatory as well as anti-arthritic properties. Many pieces of research found that a highly bio available form of curcumin is very effective in helping the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis compared to the NSAIDs. How does arthritis affect Americans? At least 2 million individuals in America suffer from classical or definite arthritis which is steadily increasing in the recent years. Most people affected by arthritis suffer from rheumatoid arthritis; they also tend to have a progressive disability. Certain disability occurs in about 50 to 70 percent of individuals within five years of being affected by the disease, and at least half of them are compelled to stop working within ten years of the onset of the disease. How can turmeric help in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis? A clinical trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of the turmeric extract in patients suffering from osteoarthritis shows that it helps in reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Using turmeric for arthritis also reduces the need to consume prescribed drugs for alleviating the symptoms of arthritis. Turmeric contains anti-oxidants: The curcuminoids are a class of compounds present in turmeric with strong antioxidant effect. The concentration of the curcuminoids is known to boost the anti-arthritic properties in turmeric. The turmeric extract contains about 94 percent of curcuminoids which helps in reducing the pain and inflammation in arthritis. Turmeric for arthritis is highly effective: The oxidative stress along with the imbalance of the antioxidant and pro-oxidant agents in the body causes a degradation of the tissues in joints in arthritis. This is one of the major reasons why turmeric is used for alleviating the effects of arthritis. Turmeric is high in bone protective characteristics: Inflammation in Arthritis paves the way for degradation in the cartilage along with the joint tissue. The curcumin protects the chondrocytes which are a class of cells in the bone from inflammation. Recent research shows that the effectiveness of curcumin is same as betamethasone when it comes to shielding the bones and joints from erosion in arthritis and thickening of the synovial fluid which aids in the lubrication of the joints. Curcumin helps in the prevention of loss of articular cartilage which is a soft tissue helping in the flexibility of joints. Turmeric is effective in autoimmune conditions: Some forms of arthritis take place as a result of undesired reactions from the immune system. These autoimmune conditions attack the body tissues in the same manner it should attack the infective cells or organisms. This is what occurs with rheumatoid arthritis where an anti-modulatory effect regulates the immune system. It also helps in prevention of the activation of immune cells. Turmeric helps in the destruction of various pharmacological actions which have therapeutic potential in the autoimmune conditions. If you have arthritis for a long time, you should consult your doctor to know what can turmeric for arthritis do to help your condition.

Yes, owning a boat is a good investment and a lifestyle. Many happy occasions can be spent with the same. A boat is a place where special moments are celebrated along with family and loved ones. It is no doubt, owning boats is an enjoyable and a fulfilling experience. However, it must be maintained properly and a lot of money and time has to be spent. The first step that’s involved is installing boat covers that are an invaluable purchase. The primary goal of boat covers is protecting it from birds, dust, extreme weathers and dirt accumulation. When a boat is left uncovered, it starts deteriorating and wear and tear is caused due to nature i..e. storms, hail, the wind, and rain. In comparison with the uncovered boat, covered boats are always beneficial. In short, the life increases by 50 percent. What kind of cover must be used? When we talk of boat covers, you will find many covers. Boat enthusiasts always keep collecting them. The kind of boat cover you need depends on the type of boat that you own. Also, it depends on weather conditions too. When the right boat cover is chosen, it will not only cover the boat but will also cover accessories properly. A particular shape must be accommodated for instance a center console or may be height rails. Owing to this, custom made boat covers are chosen for protecting boat as well as equipment. If you have a standard boat, select the lid from a good manufacturer. Several fabrics are suitable for these boat covers. The best one is wavering polyester that is mixed with non-waver polyester. Another popular material is canvas. It is known for its durability and also for its superior manufacturing. When the fabric is rugged, better quality results are offered. When boats are not attended for long, more sturdy covers might be required. Select good boat covers from a reputable provider as they will not only provide good quality but also ensure durability. Don’t compromise on the protection as the boat is a precious thing and must be handled with care.

The crib is the first place where you put your newborn to sleep at home. It is the best choice for your tiny one to sleep when compared to a bassinet, cradle or a bedside sleeper. When you plan to buy a crib for your baby, ensure buy a JPMA certified one. Our guide will help you buy the best piece for your baby. Buy the basic one: Just go for a crib that has no finials or scrollwork because sometimes your baby's clothes may get caught in the details and hurt the baby. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has eliminated the drop-side models as they have been the cause of death of at least 32 infants. So the safest buy is the basic one that meets all the mandatory safety standards, has slat strength, structural integrity, and mattress support. Go for safety first: Never go for a used crib as it may not meet the safety standards. If you want to buy an old one, do not buy anything that is older than 10 years. Whether you are buying a new one or an old one, check for the spaces between the slats. It should not be wider than 2 3/8 inches. Also look for any edges that are sharp and bulging out nuts, screws, posts and knobs. Opt for a firm mattress: Do a safety check on the mattress before buying. Push it down with your hands to see if it bounces back firmly or not. Soft mattresses are one of the main causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the US. According to the Federal law, the mattress in a full-sized crib must be 27 ¼ inches wide and 51 5/8 inches long. And it should not be more than 6 inches thick. Make sure the mattress fits snugly in the crib. Also buy sheets that fit firmly to the mattress. If the sheets are loose and don't fit tightly, there is every chance of your child being entangled to the sheet. Avoid putting stuffed animals in the bed with your baby because they act as suffocation hazards in the bed. Same is the case with bumper pads that come along with bedding sets. Tips for your baby's safety: Put your baby to sleep on his or her back. Be sure to buy a crib model that has not been recalled by the manufacturer. Inspect the hardware and the screws regularly and tighten them if required. Once your baby starts pushing his or her limbs, remove the mobiles. Place the crib away from windows, drapes, blinds, toys, curtains to avoid any accidents. Keep the baby monitor's cords away and out of reach. Once your baby learns to climb out of the crib, stop using it immediately.