Lack of Sunlight and Exercise increase Women's Risk of Osteoporosis

Over 40% of women in the UAE are at risk of not getting enough sunlight to source essential levels of Vitamin D and nearly 20% of this group are never exposed to the sun at all, according to results of an independent survey released today by Anlene. The “Lifestyle for Lifelong Bones” research which canvassed both Emirati nationals and foreign residents also revealed that 60% of women take only one hour of exercise or less a week, with over half of that group (31%) not taking any exercise at all.

Speaking of the results that were announced today in advance of World Osteoporosis Day, Joanne Todd, Fonterra Brands Nutritionist and Senior Health Platform Manager said: “Osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to breakdown and increases fracture risk, is a major health risk in the UAE. Sufficient intake of Vitamin D is vital to absorb calcium and promote bone health. In fact, it’s so important that our bodies have the ability to create vitamin D when our skin (e.g. hands and face) is exposed to enough sunlight. There is no absolute guideline on an individual’s daily sun exposure due to a range of factors such as skin type, geographic location, gender and diet but for women to receive so little natural sun exposure or none at all is concerning. The results of the survey show that due to women’s extreme lack of sunlight exposure in the UAE, vitamin D deficiency could reach alarming levels with serious consequences for long-term mobility if it isn’t received from alternative sources such as food rich in Vitamin D.”

Healthy diet, exercise essential for healthy ageing

Dr. Abdulrahman Mseiger, Chairman of the Arab Center For Nutrition in Bahrain, said a healthy diet system along with regular exercise constitute the basis for healthy ageing. Healthy diet requires eating the right quality and quantity for a person's age and physiological conditions, he added. Such a diet is important to provide the body with the necessary food elements and to protect against many diseases.

Dr. Mseiger spoke recently in a series of lectures across the UAE in preparation for "Abu Dhai Aging Conference 2008" due to be held next week at Emirates Palace under the patronage of H.H. Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and will chaired by H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the General Women Association.

According to Dr. Mseiger, people should adop a healthy dietary system gradually. He says: "Although you cannot change your lifestyle over night, it is important to start changing. Over time, you will get used to a healthier lifestyle and will feel the difference in your health and your mood. Try starting by replacing some foods that have low dietary value with richer ones. If your fruits intake is too little, add more of your favorite fruits with or between meals. If you don?t exercise, don't rush- start by 10 to 15 minutes a day and make gradual increments." "Adult people and those approaching aging are advised to change to a healthy diet in order to get a healthy aging. To start with, they're advised to eat assorted meals. The human body needs over 40 nutrition elements to stay healthy and fight diseases. There is no single food that contains them all," Mseiger said.

"They should also pay attention to carbohydrates as a minimum of 60% of our energy intake should come from carbohydrates." Fruits and vegetables are also an essential part part of any healthy nutrition system. Not only they contain nutritive elements, they also contain fibers, which help fight cardio diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and constipation. In addition, fruits and vegetables are known to contain antioxidants, which help protect against cardio diseases and cancer.

Maintaining an ideal weight is also important. Dr. Mseiger says overweight increases the possibility of cardio diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer. He says: it is not about fatty food, it is about how much fatty food we take.

Further advises from the chairman of Bahrain's Arab Center for Nutrition include regular exercise, regular, yet moderate meals, minimal salty food, without breaking the recommended amounts of food elements, less sweets and fatty food, and of course having regular breakfasts and dairy products.

In addition, Mseiger also advises individuals to quit smoking, minimize the time they spend watching TV, avoid alcohol and tension especially with food. He also recommends sharing food with other and says: Don't eat alone!
WAM

World News For The Growing Community

There is a tidal wave of aging population that is flooding many countries, including China, Japan, U.K., USA and India. More and more middle-aged men and women are joining the crowded world of the retired, causing economic burden on nations which have social welfare as state responsibility.

Millions exposed to information technology, Internet, world wide web and social networking in the last decade have joined the masses who retired from full time commercial activity in recent years.

This class seeks to keep abreast on everyday happenings in the seniors world. It trawls the net for everyday updates on hundreds of topics that affect the life of the aged: retirement benefits, investment avenues, economic policies that affect their future, health issues, social problems like elder abuse and serious crimes against the elderly.

This segment enjoys learning about senior celebrities, their achievements and first-hand accounts of sheer grit and endeavour that bring them recognition in late life.

In this background, a Mumbai, India-based reporter-editor-publisher who opted to retire from commercial communications in the year 2001 on reaching the age of 65, began looking closely at issues influencing life of seniors and examining areas where he could use his knowledge, skills and experience to pay back to society for opportunities he had had in his own life.

Four years after suspending profit-oriented journalistic activities and frequent free-wheeling among the elderly, he zeroed in on idea of a journal that would target to become a single-point source of news and features covering seniors everywhere.

With no funds to invest in a fresh venture, this man began by browsing the internet for news reports and features on seniors. In the year 2005 he began uploading every bit he was collecting on a no-cost, no fees site offered by Google to bloggers, Blogspot.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE thus became his post-retirement activity.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE is a daily digest of published reports on all topics relevant to Seniors. The purpose is to chronicle for a wider readership by seniors and make news and features available to everyone interested in the Seniors World. It is a free-access, no registration required site.

All news and features remain copyright material of original newspapers and organizations which first published the news or features. Each story is credited, and in many cases, a ready link is provided on SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE to the source of the news or feature. By end of 2007, SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE had already published some 2300 reports.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE is hosted by blogspot.com and the address is:
http://seniors-world-chronicle.blogspot.com/

However, it is not a blog in the normal sense of the word. It does not seek or publish readers comments, it has no editorials by the editor. It is a digest of material already published. Authenticity of origin is provided with mention of the source, and when possible, a link to the
origin of the news or feature.

The idea behind using blogspot.com is simple: Wide exposure, no website hosting costs and retaining the not-for-profit nature of the venture.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE fiercely adheres to its raison d'etre as a service-oriented activity and that would remain intact, Ravissant asserted in Mumbai on January 10, 2008.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ravissant
Editor SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE
http://seniors-world-chronicle.blogspot.com/
E-mail: ravissanta@gmail.com

Dealing with Menopause

Menopause simply means the end of menstruation and is a natural part of aging in every woman's life. It generally occurs anytime between the ages of 40 and 60 years. As you go trough menopause, you may experience various symptoms that range from mood swings, hot flushes, sweating, headaches, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive, heart pal-pitations and osteoporosis. We wont to give you an insight on the lifestyle steps to manage menopause:

• Eat smart and make a healthy choice by reading the package label information.
• Calcium is important for you. Get your daily intake from dairy products, broccoli, legumes and fish like sardines and tinned salmon.
• Include a lot of fibre rich food in your diet like cereals, pasta, rice and whole grain breads.
• Eat at least 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruits daily.
• Increase your iron intake. Iron can be found in eggs, poultry, fish, lean red meat, leafy green vegetables and nuts.
• Keep yourself well hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Reduce foods high in fat, especially saturated fats that raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart diseases. Saturated fats are found in whole milk, ice cream, fatty meats and cheese. Also limit your intake of transfats, found in baked items, margarine and vegetable oils.
• Be careful in the use of sugar and salt in your diet.
• Avoid Alcohol
• Relax. Stress solves nothing.
  

Sweden impressed by UAE’s care for elderly

The system adopted by the UAE health and social sectors in catering to the elderly people is advanced and effective, according to Swedish Minister of Health and Social Affairs Goran Hagglund.
The Swedish minister was on a three-day official visit to the country, heading a high-level delegation to explore possible areas of cooperation between the two countries in the field of health and social services.

Hagglund held talks with Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami and Minister for Social Affairs Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Hagglund stated that his country will contemplate means and ways of benefiting from the UAE policy regarding services provided for old people.
“In the UAE, elderly people are taken care of in a way where sons and daughters are involved. I hope Sweden will benefit from the UAE expertise in this regard in order to provide old people with a social life and home care,” he said.
Hagglund underlined that Sweden’s policy on taking care of elderly people is mainly based on keeping them in a specialised centre where they receive medical care.
The Swedish minister said he was very impressed with the healthcare system in the country and the social development witnessed by the UAE, but noted that the UAE ought to find a more cost-controlled treatment. “The UAE has a quality healthcare system. However, I think it is very important to have cost-controlled treatment where costs can be controlled and, at the same time, quality medical care is secured,” suggested Hagglund. He said the two sides also discussed ways of fighting ailments like diabetes, which is also prevalent in Sweden, as well as best criteria for hospitals management.
“We have discussed the different systems followed by our countries regarding the social security. I hope we could benefit from each other’s experience in this field. I believe there should always be a change in regulations and laws for the betterment of social services.”