Remember those “Presidential Physical Fitness” certificates they gave out in grade school, and the battery of tests that preceded them? Images of the dreaded Flex Box and frustrating Shuttle Run come to mind. Well, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness is releasing a new test aimed at those of us who are older than high school age. People who are over 18 years of age and have no serious health problems can be tested on aerobic fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. Hoping for another certificate to add to your collection?

Now that you’re enjoying that summer sun, here are some tips to keep your skin safe, smooth, & sexy!

First off, get to know the key terms that will help you stay healthy. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring substance that is present in large amounts in younger skin. The level of hyaluronic acid decreases with age, and causes skin to become dry and oily during the summer. Since hyaluronic acid creates a barrier that moisturizes the skin, adults can benefit from products that utilize the substance. When you’re selecting a moisturizer or lotion for the summer months, check the label and look for hyaluronic acid.

Next, be smart about the sun: wear sunscreen even on the cloudiest, most overcast day.

Improve your sex life with increased blood flow, agility, and vitality! Here are some tips that will enable you to have better sex:

1. Be fit – It seems so simple, but it’s imperative for a healthy sex life. Get on top of any existing conditions you may have, like high cholesterol or diabetes. Be sure that your prescriptions don’t have any sexual side effects. Eat a diet that’s low in fat and try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Finally, ensure that you’re getting enough rest. These are easy ways to prime your body to be in peak shape.

Just like asking for directions, men seem to have a problem seeking help when it comes to medical problems. Men, listen up – here are five major warning signs that you need to pay attention to.

By Jamo Nezzar

Low sodium intake may lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, especially if you are consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Scientists reported that adults who consumed less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day were 37% more likely to die from cardiovascular causes than those who ingested more than 2,300 mg. What's worse, a low sodium diet increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. We all know that too much sodium can be dangerous as well, so how in the world do we find the happy medium?

Now, you can get that crucial omega-3 fix without any fishy business: brands such as Nordic Naturals offer supplements, you can buy foods fortified with omega-3 fatty acids such as eggs, or you can simply add omega-rich foods like flaxseed oil or walnuts to your diet roundup.

By Brain Zehetner
MS,RD,CSSD,CSCS

We’ve all heard it before…breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It does make sense, folks. After starving the body for 8-12 hours on average, the body needs fuel for the day ahead. If the tank is empty, going to work, exercising and any other daily tasks become increasingly difficult. Therefore, I have to agree with the mothers of the world when it comes to breakfast, but what about the actual make-up of the meal?

Most people get carbohydrate crazy at breakfast, often eating very unbalanced meals with barely a hint of protein (or fat for that matter). This can leave you yearning for more food sooner rather than later, setting up a consistent feeding pattern that is hard to control. For those who don't carbo-load at breakfast, there is an equally disturbing problem.

By Bonnie Pfiester

Setting goals is not difficult. It's maintaining balance and staying focused while trying to reach your goals that are a challenge. It's so easy to get sidetracked by things that don't matter; allowing small stuff get in the way of your plans. This happens with work, relationships, fitness and other areas of our life. Priorities get choked out by circumstance and a lack of accountability. Reaching goals requires planning, measuring and correcting.

By: Rick Schaff

-- an excerpt from my book, MISLED

www.HEALTHandINSPIRATION.com

I have walked into a grocery store dozens of times only to see the same sad scenario played over and over; an overweight woman with a shopping cart full of miscellaneous protein bars. It breaks my heart. Here is a woman who is obviously struggling with a weight problem, and she is looking for help. Unfortunately she has found help from a wolf in sheep’s clothing and she has been cleverly deceived into believing that these bars will help her lose weight and become healthy. She believes their misleading advertisements. She believes the thin, perfect models displayed in these deceptive advertisements owe their beautiful physiques to these enchanted bars. She believes the doctors, experts, and staged callers who were paid to confirm that these bars are indeed “healthy.” She also believes that if she eats enough of these bars her fat will magically melt away, and her body will sculpt itself into perfection. Blow up that experiment; IT’S A LIE!

Most health professionals are aware of the importance of dietary fiber, but the same can’t be said for consumers. We know we should eat more of it, but the beneficial effects it has on weight loss, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and even cancer go largely unnoticed. To remedy the situation, let me give you a little background information on fiber, the current daily recommendations, some basic health benefits and a simple plan for meeting a reasonable goal each day.

Jumping rope is one of the most exciting and effective exercises for athletes. It’s no wonder everyone from weightlifters to football players to gymnasts are fans of this “miracle” workout. Jumping rope improves agility, enhances balance, and burns about 200 calories per 15 minutes. How can you make jumping rope work for you? Use it to challenge your already intense routine.

Here are three creative, unique additions that will make your salad sizzle with flavor. Try mixing shallots, blueberries, and vegetable oils into your salad and not only will your salad come alive, it will pack an increased nutritional punch as well.

Shallots – An onion may not do wonders for your breath, but this type can do wonders for your health. Shallot onions have the highest phenolic content of all onions. Phenolic content refers to the high-powered phenol and flavonoid compounds that ward off serious, chronic illnesses and may prevent cancer.

In the 90s, fat-free products deluged the marketplace. Dieters were in a frenzy to get their favorite foods, without the fat. Fast forward to today, and you can still get everything from fat-free ice cream and cookies to fat-free hot dogs. Many weight watchers believe they are sticking to strict diet plans by using fat-free foods, but when you eat one of these foods, what are you really eating?

Most diet foods like these replace the fat with sugar, and each serving still packs a powerful caloric punch. Sometimes, fat-free foods actually have MORE calories than their normal counterparts. The best foods are those that are low in calories AND fat, not one or the other.

Ladies, do you often wonder how celebrities get their legs to look so perfect on the screen? No matter what size actresses are, their legs always look long, slender, and lovely when you see them on TV or at the movies. Celebrity trainer Gina Lombardi is sharing the secrets of the stars.

If you’ve played Wii Fit, you know that the game calculates a “fitness age” for you. For some people, it’s amusingly different from their actual age. Some people are told that they are years older than they actually are, bringing into question what kind of shape they are in. Others with more athletic tendencies and abilities are told that they are actually younger than their age. You’ve probably noticed the Wii Fit isn’t the perfect judge of someone’s “fitness age”, but Nintendo is definitely on to something.

The health and fitness industry is increasingly turning to “metabolic age” to help people determine their body composition. The reason the industry is trending towards composition rather than weight is simple: the breakdown of your body is more important than the weight of your body.