Top 7 Blog posts--birdwatching is healthy for us

Do you go “birding?”  Have you considered that birdwatching is a healthy activity?
Researchers reported that birding promotes several healthy behaviors, such as

·       Birding gets us moving.  Whether it’s going for a hike to identify new birds or feeding the birds you see in your backyard, you move more and use more energy.  If you have many hummingbird feeders, you may find yourself mixing lots of food to keep the little guys happy.

·       As you become more interested in birding, you will find yourself reaching for your bird book to identify new birds you see.  Experts at the Alzheimer’s Association believe that we can help keep our brains healthy by learning new things.  What new bird have you seen that you need to identify?  Pull out your resource book (or do a google search).

·       Birding can become a social activity if you join a group or find yourself meeting people who like to birdwatch.  Social times with friends help keep us healthy and engaged in life.

·       Spending time outdoors can be healthy and invigorating.  My husband enjoys sitting in the sun, watching birds and listening to them sing.  (Remember your sun screen and bug spray to ward off problems.)

More information about the healthy aspects of birding can be found at
http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/birding-health/

 

 

In the News--Healthy lifestyle may cut stroke risk in half for women

A study published in the American Academy of Neurology journal involved 31, 696 Swedish women approximately 60 years of age and followed them for an average of 10 years.  The researchers believe that five factors of a healthy lifestyle helped protect them from stroke.  The five lifestyle behaviors were:  healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption, never smoking, physically active and healthy body mass index (BMI).

Healthy diet involved adding fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy to their diet.  Drinking alcohol moderately meant no more than 3 to 9 drinks per week. Physical exercise was defined as walking or biking at least 40 minutes per day plus one hour vigorous exercise per week.  

The researchers found that as women added more of these healthy behaviors to their lifestyle, their risk of stroke decreased.  This study can be found at  https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1312?ut...