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17 Jul

Welcome to Generation Fit!

Posted by Generation Fit Introduction

WELCOME TO GENERATION FIT! July 17, 2017 Hi! I’m Warren Cook and this is Generation Fit, the senior fitness blog. I’m writing this blog to help myself—and you—find the best ways to live well and to avoid most of the afflictions associated with aging. I’m just an average older guy, neither a natural athlete, nor a star at any sport. But I’ve seen the changes in my life that being on the road to fitness can make. You can read more about me in the sidebar to the right. I’m certain you’ve heard about all the studies that point to […]

08 Jun

Which Matters More for Longevity—Our Genes or Our Daily Choices?

Posted by Generation Fit Genes or Lifestyle Determining Our Health No Comments

WHICH MATTERS MORE FOR LONGEVITY—OUR GENES OR OUR DAILY CHOICES? In my family—like many, I suspect—we’ve seen our share of health struggles. Two of my grandparents dealt with heart disease. My father had balance problems, and my mother faced both Alzheimer’s and breathing issues. Now, as I grow older, I find myself wondering: will my future health and lifespan be shaped more by the genes I inherited or by the choices I make every day? That question led me to a brief, insightful piece in the Harvard Health Letter (May 1, 2025) by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, […]

25 May

Less Sugar, More Years

Posted by Generation Fit Sugar, Sugar & Faster Aging No Comments

LESS SUGAR, MORE YEARS Most of us already know that too much sugar raises the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. But now, new research suggests it does more than harm our health—it may actually speed up the aging process at the cellular level, potentially shortening our lifespan. Here’s a quick read from the July 31, 2024, Forbes.com article by Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., J.D., titled A New Study Shows That Sugar Consumption May Be Related to Faster Aging. Refined sugar has become a staple for billions of people globally A new research study by […]

18 May

Boost Your Happiness—And Your Lifespan

Posted by Generation Fit Optimists vs. Pessimists No Comments

BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS—& YOUR LIFESPAN For years, research offered mixed conclusions to whether optimists or pessimists live longer. But in recent studies, a clearer picture is emerging: people with a positive outlook tend to have a lower risk of early death from various conditions, including heart disease and cancer. In short, If you’re happy and you know it, don’t just clap your hands—there’s a good chance you’ll live longer, too. The most recent study I’ve come across was a May 2, 2025, MayoClinic.org article titled Do optimists live longer and better? Here are some key takeaways: Increasing evidence suggests that […]

10 May

The Link Between Dementia & High Blood Pressure

Posted by Generation Fit Dementia - High blood Pressure Link

THE LINK BETWEEN DEMENTIA & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE I recently came across an article noting that treating high blood pressure for just four years can lower the risk of dementia by 15%, based on findings from a clinical trial in rural China. (Despite current tariff/trade tensions with China, scientists continue to trade research worldwide.) Fifteen percent may not seem like much, but anything to help us seniors reduce our dementia risk helps! For more details, take a look at these excerpts from the April 21, 2025, Scientific American online article by Liz Szabo, titled To Reduce Dementia Risk, Treat High […]

04 May

Introducing the New Cholesterol Test—Apo B

Posted by Generation Fit Apo B -- the new cholesterol test, Cholesterol

INTRODUCING THE NEW CHOLESTEROL TEST—APO B Yesterday, I came across a short article in the April/May issue of AARP magazine about a cholesterol test many of us haven’t heard of—Apo B, short for Apolipoprotein B. It’s a simple blood test that offers a more accurate assessment of cholesterol-related risk than traditional tests. That’s promising news for those of us in our senior years, so I decided to dig a little deeper. I found an excellent article on ClevelandClinic.org titled Apo B Test. I’m sharing highlights with you below. What is an Apo B blood test? An Apo B test is […]

27 Apr

Butter Lovers Alert

Posted by Generation Fit Butter vs. Plant Oils

BUTTER LOVERS ALERT We’ve all heard it: butter might not be the healthiest choice—but maybe it’s not that bad either? A little pat on your toast, a swipe on a dinner roll, a dab for frying an egg, or melting over an ear of corn—seems harmless enough. But where should we draw the line? This week, I came across an article that offers a much clearer stance. Their advice? It’s time to swap out butter for plant oils if we want to boost our long-term health. You can decide for yourself after reading these excerpts from the April 23, 2025, […]

21 Apr

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Posted by Generation Fit Heavy Metal Poisoning

HEAVY METAL POISONING A recent report suggests that many of us may unknowingly be brushing our teeth with toothpaste containing toxic heavy metals—including lead. Lead Safe Mama (LSM), an organization committed to preventing childhood lead poisoning through independent testing of consumer products, has revealed that several popular toothpaste and tooth powder brands contain detectable levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and/or cadmium—all of which are toxic to humans. Among the products tested were well-known brands such as Crest Regular Toothpaste, Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste, and Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Natural Toothpaste. While none of them exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug […]

13 Apr

Artificial Sweeteners

Posted by Generation Fit Artificial Sweeteners

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS For years, I’ve added a packet of stevia to my morning coffee. I chose stevia as a zero-calorie alternative to traditional processed sugar because it’s derived directly from the leaves of the stevia plant and packaged without any processing or chemical bleaching. However, I’ve often heard that sugar substitutes, including stevia, may not be especially healthy. Curious to find out the truth, I turned to a trusted online source to see whether these artificial sweeteners are indeed safe for you and me. In this post, I share excerpts from a January 10, 2023, Mayo Clinic article titled Artificial […]

06 Apr

Shingles Shot Might Also Protect Your Brain

Posted by Generation Fit Shingles & Dementia, Shingles Vaccine

SHINGLES SHOT MIGHT ALSO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN I’m excited to share some encouraging news with you this week. A new study shows that getting the shingles vaccine may lower our risk of developing dementia by 20% over the next seven years. The research was just published last Wednesday in the journal Nature. (Please also see my November 2023 post Getting Your Vaccinations Could Spare You From Alzheimer’s) Here are excerpts from an April 2, 2025, Associated Press article by Lauran Neergaard, titled Shingles is awful, but here’s another reason to get vaccinated: It may fight dementia. — A vaccine to […]

29 Mar

Funny Ways Time Is Sneaking Up on You

Posted by Generation Fit Growing Older

FUNNY WAYS TIME IS SNEAKING UP ON YOU I subscribe to daily emails from The New York Times, though I get so many that I don’t open half of them. But a couple of weeks ago, one caught my eye with its whimsical tone and relatable topic. Since we seniors are all in this together, I thought I’d share some highlights from this recent “Well” article by Jancee Dunn, titled 4 Weird Signs You’re Getting Older (March 15, 2025). (I’m sure you could add a few more quirky ways time is creeping up on you!) Crooked Lower Teeth My lower […]

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Welcome to Generation Fit!

Which Matters More for Longevity—Our Genes or Our Daily Choices?

Less Sugar, More Years

Boost Your Happiness—And Your Lifespan

The Link Between Dementia & High Blood Pressure

Introducing the New Cholesterol Test—Apo B

Butter Lovers Alert

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Artificial Sweeteners

Shingles Shot Might Also Protect Your Brain

Funny Ways Time Is Sneaking Up on You

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