Protandim

The legend of the fountain of youth was that anyone who drank its waters would instantly become young again. Many explorers spent decades going up and down the Florida coast, looking for this legendary spring. No one ever found it obviously, but with our modern technology we have found some pretty exciting alternative.

The real fountain of youth is anti-aging science. Science is making huge discoveries every year that keep us feeling and looking younger. Everyday creams and lotions that can remove wrinkles and age marks are being perfected, the power of poison is being harnessed, and more and more benefits of anti-oxidants are being announced everyday.

First, lotions and creams are becoming excellent alternatives to expensive plastic surgery. They are able to fortify anti-aging lotions with vitamins and minerals that actually lift your skin. Many anti-aging creams also can help remove dead cells and dirt that can make you appear older. Anti-wrinkle creams are also using newly discovered amino acids to remove lines and crows feet. These products used to be tossed aside as a waste of money, but with new technology and scientific breakthroughs, they actually do work.

The next break through is Botox. It became FDA approved in 2002, and is just beginning to peak in popularity. What few people know is that Botox comes from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism. This is the most deadly neurotoxin known to mankind. Even a minute dose can kill you, but people still inject it into their faces. Without sciencific break-throughs in microbiology, we would not be able to harness this poison’s potential to heal line and wrinkles. It is now the number one cosmetic procedure performed in all of America.

We are just beginning to understand how important anti-oxidants are. We know they prevent damage to our cells by absorbing free radicals, but we don’t know just how great the long term benefits are quite yet. These particles have been claimed to prevent cancer, enhance the immune system, prevent muscular degeneration, and add years to your life. Foods are now being engineered to be very rich in anti-oxidants. Fruits and some vegetables contain anti-oxidants naturally. We are only beginning to understand the potential upside for anti-oxidants.

The legendary fountain of youth would be nice, but for now we will have to settle for the scientifically created fountains. Every year new technology is being used to prevent the physical appearance of aging, as well as add years to our lives. It remains to be seen as to what our full capabilities will be in the fight against aging.

Playing video games and getting exercise generally do not go in the same sentence. Those who play video games are generally seen as couch potatoes or drains on society. They are assumed to be overweight, have acne filled faces, and survive mostly on hot pockets.

Now, a lot of “gamers” (as they are referred to) seem to fit that stereotype, but a new generation has been born. You can no longer assume that since someone is a gamer, they are overweight and do not interact with society. A new class of games and systems have been developed to keep individuals in shape and entertained.

Many believe that this revolution or paradigm shift started with the Nintendo Wii. The Wii has moved exercise through entertainment forward, but it was not the first mover. It started in an indirect way through dancing arcade games. Most people have heard of Dance, Dance, Revolution. It was the first popular game in which the player actually got exercise while playing. It was more of an after thought than the games primary purpose, but it got people thinking.

Nintendo Wii was the first system that was designed to have a fitness element to it. Games such as Wii fitness tracked players’ stats and measured their body weight and body mass index. Practically every game for the Wii requires players to stand up and move. It may not be intense exercise, but at least you won’t be sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.

The Wii isn’t merely for children either. It has games that encourage people of all ages to participate. The way the controls are set up helps anyone with no experience playing video games get started and accustomed quickly. Adults and children alike can get exercise through entertainment now.

The future of exercise through entertainment is bright, too. Every major video game console company is designing some sort of virtual reality aspect and motion control to increase the physical activity of playing video games. Many times it isn’t the primary purpose of the console, but the incremental increase in energy expenditure can do wonders for young children and adults.

The sun is the most important part of our solar system. You cannot spend too much time in its light, otherwise you will put yourself at risk for skin cancer. However, you do need to spend a minimum amount in it as well. Most people have heard of seasonal affective disorder, which is depression caused by too little exposure to sun, but few people understand just how severe it can be, and how it can still affect people during the summer.

Bright light has been shown to positively affect the mood of anyone who is suffering from depression or any other mood disorder. During the winter months, people often become irritable, depressive, put on weight, and avoid social scenes more often. This is caused by a reduction in UVB rays.

So as the summer months approach and the daylight get longer and longer, most people who are affected by seasonal affective disorder suffer much less, as well as people who are suffering from other mood disorders. In fact, there are many less reported cases of depression in the summer months than there are in the winter months.

In addition, people who have never experienced any sort of psychological problems or mood disorders on average report being happier during the summer months as well. People often report higher levels of motivation, happiness, and energy during the summer when they are being exposed to prolonged sunlight.

However, the exact reason why people are happier in the summer remains to be seen. Many studies point to the fact that a person’s sleep-wake cycle is thrown off during the winter months. People report a longer time lying in bed and being tired, but also report less time sleeping and having very poor quality sleep. During the summer, it is easier for many people to wake up in the morning because of the rising sun, whereas in the winter, it can remain dark for a few hours after you have been up.

Overall, the summer months seem to make people happier because of the extended time in the sunlight. As more research is done on this correlation, hopefully we will be able to use our knowledge to help those who suffer in the winter, and help those who wish to be equally happy in the summer and the winter.