Make Your Body Better
Some of the following tips featured in Fitness, July 2002

We all know the usual ways to stay healthy; here are some simple things to do you may not have thought of that can make your body better.

 
1.
Raise your good cholesterol. Fitness researchers have discovered that working out your lower body can boost the good kind of cholesterol (HDL). For example, women who did step aerobics for 45 minutes three days a week saw a large jump in their HDL levels. It appears the larger muscles in the body use more stored fat for energy.
2.
Improve your calcium intake. A study conducted by Japanese researchers found that washing down calcium supplements with orange juice can enhance the body's absorption of the calcium because of the orange juice's vitamin C content. You may also want to look for lower-fat ice creams with inulin; this ingredient, also known as chicory root fiber or oligofructose, is a natural carbohydrate which may aid in calcium absorption.
3.
Enhance your memory. Two foods appear to help your memory and boost brain power: blueberries and curry. According to studies at Tufts University published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, both appear to have natural compounds which help mend the mind.
4.
Change your bike seat. If you bicycle during the warmer months of the year, check out seats with slits and holes in them. According to the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, pressure from a bike seat can impair sexual function.
5.
Build your endurance. Don't relax too long between the bike or treadmill and weight training. Going straight from one to the other keeps your heart rate up longer and may help increase the benefits of your workouts. Some trainers suggest you do a quick cardio workout, then do weights for 15 minutes, then go back to a cardio workout.