Seasons 52: A Tasteful Wine Bar With Calorie-Conscious Cuisine

An upscale American grill and wine bar, Seasons 52 offers incredibly delicious, yet healthy food that will surprise and delight guests. Boasting that every menu item is less that 475 calories, Seasons 52 manages to provide above-average sized portions that are extremely tasty. The Flatbreads are a must-try, similar to a very thin crust pizza and a great way to start your meal. The rainbow trout and pork tenderloin make delicious (and nutritious!) entrees, as well as one of the entreé salads full of the freshest seasonal vegetables. Seasons 52 has even dreamed up the perfect, health-conscious way to finish your meal: try one of the "mini indulgence," shot glass-sized portions of favorites like Old Fashioned Carrot Cake, Rocky Road, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse. Four seasonal menus, with some updates weekly, rotate throughout the year, each drawing upon locally grown, in-season produce. Seasons 52 also offers 100 wines, 60 by the glass, to encourage wine tasting and exploration, including a selection of organic varietals. With a dark wood and high-ceiling interior complete with fireplaces for cold winter nights, Seasons 52 is a relaxing place to kick back and enjoy wine and healthfully delcious food.

Seasons 52
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Avenue
Suite #2802
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 437-5252

www.seasons52.com

Benefits of Walking for Seniors

Walking is a valuable fitness tool whether you are 8 or 80. But, for seniors, it is an especially effective way to lower blood sugar, reduce body fat, lower blood pressure, and improve bone density. In addition, walking can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in older individuals.

Another advantage of walking is its low cost of entry – other than a good pair of shoes, you need little else to enjoy this revitalizing activity. Besides the physiological benefits of walking, there are also psychological benefits as well. The natural beauty of your surroundings, the birds chirping, and the calming sound of the stream as it bubbles over the stones are just a few examples of the positive mental stimulus and stress relief walking can provide. Or enjoy walking with a friend which also promotes good mental health and social interaction.

Studies show that walking just 30 minutes a day, five times a week can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, or joint problems. As with all activities, it is important to consult your physician before you begin any exercise program.

If you’re looking for a fun, simple way to greatly improve your overall health and well-being, go for a walk!

The Key to a Healthy Diet? Antioxidants!

You’ve probably heard of antioxidants. A natural ingredient in some foods, they slow down or prevent cell damage that leads to problems like heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, and cancer. For seniors, then, an antioxidant-rich diet is the first step to a healthy future. Keep an eye out for these antioxidant-rich foods:

Beans. Nearly the perfect food, beans are chock full of protein, vitamins, calcium, fiber, and more. All beans are rich in antioxidants—red beans have more than any fruit or vegetable.

Pomegranate. In addition to increasing antioxidants in the blood, pomegranate also fights LDL (bad cholesterol) and arterial plaque build-up. Drinking the juice is more effective than eating the fruit.

Red Wine. Red wine contains bioflavonoids, phenols, resveratrol, and tannins, which have antioxidant and anticlotting properties. It also raises HDL, the good cholesterol.

Blueberries. A great source of antioxidants and dietary fiber, blueberries combat heart disease and cancer, boost brainpower, and fight urinary tract infections.

Green Tea. Green tea contains a unique and powerful antioxidant called EGCG, which helps slow the aging process.

Nuts. Eaten in their raw state, almost every nut is full of vitamins and antioxidants.

Dark chocolate. A moderately-sized piece of dark chocolate—with a high percentage of raw cocoa—is as beneficial to you as a glass of red wine.

As always, check with your doctor before starting any diet regimen.

The Many Benefits of Green Tea

If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your overall health and immunity, it could be as easy as enjoying some green tea. Incorporate a cup or two of this ancient drink into your daily regimen, and rest assured that you’re fortifying your health as well! The University of Maryland Medical Center website has a page listing some of the benefits of green tea. Here are a few:

  • Green tea contains antioxidants, and it can help reduce coronary artery disease.
  • Green tea can lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
  • Some studies show that green tea might protect people from developing cancer.
  • Green tea can help control blood sugar levels, making it useful for those with diabetes.
  • Green tea may also help boost metabolism and help the body burn fat.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wishing you the best of luck on St. Patrick's Day and every day!

Daily Tips To Keep Your Heart Healthy

For a long and healthy life, it’s essential to consider your heart health. Below are some effective ways to address your heart health every day:

  1. Stop smoking! Quitting smoking is the number one thing you can do to boost your heart health. Did you know that the threat of heart attack for former smokers is the same as it is for non-smokers within three years of quitting?!If you’ve been putting it off, make it your goal to quit this year!
  2. Get Moving! The chance of heart disease increases significantly in sedentary people versus people who get regular physical activity. No need to run a marathon – moderate intensity exercise such as walking, swimming or biking are great choices. The key is to keep it regular, and make sure you move every day.
  3. Brush & Floss. Did you know that taking care of your teeth is an essential element of heart health? The risk of experiencing a heart attack or a stroke increases by 50% if you have gum disease.
  4. Eat Your Fruits & Veggies. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Be sure to enjoy foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fiber. A healthy, balanced diet helps to prevent high blood cholesterol, and the less sodium you have in your diet, the better.
  5. Start Laughing! Laughing can be a great workout for your heart. Each time you chuckle, the blood flow in your heart increases for up to 45 minutes, which is an excellent way to promote heart health.

Great Hobbies for Seniors

Hobbies aren’t just for kids – they are fun and worthwhile no matter what your age! Plus, they encourage socialization, physical activity, and promote mental function. Developing new skills is also a great way to build confidence and maintain healthy relationships.

Photography
Photography is wonderful activity that lets you capture beauty as seen through your eyes. Though cameras can be expensive, you don’t need to go out and load up on expensive equipment to reap the benefits of this enjoyable hobby. What matters most is finding a subject you love, whether it be lovely spring flowers, interior shots, or images of your grandkids.

Scrapbooking
Another great way to express creativity is through scrapbooking. Rummaging through old, family photos as well as new pictures of family and friends will definitely put a smile on your face. Plus, making a scrapbook is a nice way of giving those old pictures a fresher look, and scrapbooks also make for wonderful gifts at the holidays.

Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts make for a popular hobby whether you’re 8 or 80. If you haven’t indulged your inner artist in a while, pick up a paint set or invest in some sketching pencils and get to work!  

Nature Walks
Getting outdoors and enjoying the natural beauty that exists all around is a wonderful way to stay healthy. Invite your friends to join you and start up a walking group. It’s a great way to connect with people while moving your body.

Reading
If your reading materials tend to consist of newspapers and magazines, think about picking up a good book instead. If you’re feeling motivated, perhaps you could start a monthly book club so that you and your friends can discuss the novel together.

Stay Young with Yoga

Yoga has become an increasingly popular practice over the past few years. With its claims of increasing strength and flexibility while calming the mind, yoga has gained a loyal following of all ages. But, did you know that yoga can actually help you reduce or even reverse the effects of aging? If you haven’t tried yoga before, you may want to start after reading about its profound benefits. (Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen!)

  • Yoga can counter the effects of aging by moving joints through their full range of motion, which stretches, strengthens, and balances each part. This is important because muscles shorten and joints tighten with age, and yoga stretches the body to relieve stiff joints and lengthen muscles.
  • Yoga can help ease the pain associated with osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Recent studies indicate that yoga may be as effective as drug therapy in controlling hypertension.
  • Even after just a few months of a consistent yoga practice, you’ll begin to experience increased feelings of good health and well-being.
  • Yoga has been proven to be an effective complementary treatment for musculoskeletal disease and related disorders.
  • Calming yoga stretches reduce physical stress and tension while increasing overall relaxation.

Tips For Preventing Falls

As we get older, falling becomes a hazard. Joints get creaky, medication affects our senses, and balance can be easily lost. We might simply have trouble seeing obstacles in our way. When bones are brittle, even gentle falls become dangerous.

Luckily, preventing falls is easy. It all comes down to good housekeeping. Take these tips:

Eliminate clutter.

– Remove furniture that you don’t use. All remaining furniture should be stable and without sharp corners.

– Position furniture where you can grip it as you walk through the house.

– Don’t have electrical cords trailing across the floor.

Install safety bars.

– Make sure all steps—even the smallest—have sturdy handrails that extend beyond the final step.

– Install grab bars in the bath/shower.

Tape.

– Install friction tape in the bathtub.

– Make sure rugs/carpets are secured to the floor.

Install stool risers and boosts.

– These devices make getting on/off the toilet, or in/out of bed, easier and safer.

Wear non-slip footwear.

– Make sure to wear non-slip shoes or slippers around the house. Don’t walk in in stockings or barefoot.

Have adequate lighting.

– Install bright bulbs.

– Consider using motion-sensitive lights that come on when a person enters a room.

– Use night lights in every room.

Avoid reaching.

– Keep important items on low shelves/cabinets.

– Use a reaching tool to grab faraway items. Never stand on chairs or ladders.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Best wishes for happiness on Valentine's Day and every day.

Pin It on Pinterest