Leslie Newlife

Insights into the Metabolism of Metals and Parkinson’s Disease

Statistics suggest that by the end of this year, there will be an estimated 1 million people in the United States living with Parkinson’s disease, with an estimated 60,000 more diagnosed each year. This neurodegenerative disorder negatively affects the neurons in a particular portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. When these dopamine-producing neurons are harmed over the course of several years, multiple symptoms may develop, including tremor, bradykinesia (slowed movement), rigid limbs, and movement problems.

Parkinson’s itself is not a fatal disease. However, the side effects it produces can severely impact the daily lives of those who live with it and can cause a large number of complications that can further affect health. In fact, the CDC lists Parkinson’s complications as the 14th leading cause of death in the United States.

What Causes Parkinson’s?

Unfortunately, much remains unknown about the specific mechanisms that trigger the onset of Parkinson’s disease. However, this area has become the subject of much research, which has revealed crucial links between the alpha-synuclein protein and the beginning of neurodegeneration that leads to Parkinson’s symptoms. Now, it is thought that certain environmental factors—including exposure to certain metals—may also contribute to the alpha-synuclein protein aggregation — the hallmark of Parkinson’s.

Researchers have found that there are elevated iron levels in the substantia nigra area of the brain that Parkinson’s inhibits, while high levels of copper and zinc have occurred in the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson’s patients. Researchers also note that exposure to high levels of manganese can cause similar symptoms to Parkinson’s. These factors have led Russian scientists to wonder—might exposure to certain metals contribute to Parkinson’s-related neurodegeneration?

Study Shows Potential Link Between Metals and Parkinson’s

In order to answer this question, researchers have studied the blood serum, urine, and hair samples of 13 Parkinson’s patients as well as those of 14 healthy, gender-matched control individuals. Levels of iron, copper, manganese, and zinc were notated in each, and participants experiencing other extraneous factors like other disorders, diet, surgery, injury, smoking, and unusual exposure to metal were excluded.

The results of hair, serum, and urine samples were fascinating. Researchers found a trend toward decreased hair and urine copper levels at -22% and -41% respectively, compared to the control groups, and urine iron and zinc levels trended 38% and 47% lower. Conversely, hair iron and manganese levels showed a tendency to rise by 24% and 21%, while blood serum levels remained the same.

Perhaps most intriguing is the increase in serum copper, which is thought to indicate reduced binding of copper to a compound known as ceruloplasmin in the blood. This excess free copper seems to increase oxidative stress and neuron damage, and could be linked to the formation of protein aggregates as well as the increased iron in the substantia nigra. As free copper levels in the blood serum are increased by as much as 10 times, the findings could prove significant.

Research Implications

While this research has produced significant data, it is important to remember that these fluctuations in metal levels are still within normal ranges. However, the changes on a molecular level must be rigorously investigated to understand how—if at all—the various increases and decreases affect the origin and progression of Parkinson’s disease. At the very least, this data has provided an intriguing starting point for future research about the role of copper, iron, and other metals, and could result in significant developments in Parkinson’s detection and treatment in the future.

 

Sources:

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2019/11/20/metal-metabolism-in-blood-possibly-affected-in-parkinsons-study-says/

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5506a7.htm

https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics

The Benefits of Choosing a Nursing Home Care Option for Your Elderly Parents

Aging is a natural part of life, and something that we all have to experience at some point or another. It’s never easy when we start seeing our parents’ health declining and they are no longer able to take care of their own basic needs. While we may try to take care of them ourselves, taking care of an aging relative isn’t always viable in the long term, especially for many working adults and those with young families. Every child wants to ensure that their elderly parents are well cared for and comfortable, but the demands of being a full-time caregiver can become overwhelming, even for the most patient of people.

While the thought of putting your aging parent into a care home might make you feel incredibly guilty, with a little investigation, you might learn that this could be the more beneficial option when it comes to providing the best level of care for them. If you are on the fence about exploring nursing home care for an elderly parent, read about some of the main benefits of these options to put your mind at ease :

They’ll Be Cared for By Qualified Professionals

It’s natural for people to believe they are the best-placed person to care for their own parents. However, as people age and their medical needs become more complex, there comes a time when we might need to put our personal attachments aside. At a nursing home, your elderly parents will have access to care from properly screened professionals including those that have successfully completed nursing programs as well as the latest health and safety training. While your parents will certainly need you around to provide them with love, support and company, the trained staff available at a nursing home are likely to be better qualified to take care of their medical needs.

Increased Social Engagement

Loneliness is a huge problem for the elderly. This became ever-more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, where even close family members were forced to distance themselves from elderly relatives for the sake of not spreading this infectious virus. While we all want to do our best to interact with our elderly parents, it can sometimes become difficult.

A major benefit of living in a nursing home environment is that seniors are always surrounded by their peers. Being able to mingle with those of the same generation and share stories from the past is incredibly rewarding. Furthermore, residential homes organize a broad range of social activities and outings to keep the elderly mentally stimulated. This in turn, keeps loneliness as well as conditions like depression and anxiety at bay.

Safety  

By choosing to have your elderly parents live in a care home, you’ll be taking care of their safety and security. Older people that live alone are often targeted by con artists and can easily become victims of crime in their own home. These risks are often exacerbated when the senior starts to deteriorate mentally and experiences memory loss, forgetting to lock doors and windows, for instance. Having staff on call 24/7 can protect the elderly from a range of risks including criminals but also extending to the dangers of falling or hurting themselves by doing an everyday activity like using a hot stove.

Respite for Family Members

The fact that the modern family structure requires everyone to work makes the task of taking care of your loved one more of a chore. Having your elderly relative taken care of in a professional nursing home will relieve some of the burden of care from your shoulders and reduce stress levels. You won’t have to worry about their daily care, entertainment and security and this means when you do spend time with them, it can be quality time where you create happy memories.

It’s hard when that parent and child roles become reversed and it’s natural to feel like being unable to take care of someone who once took care of your every need. However, realizing the benefits of nursing care homes as a viable living option for your aging parents may in fact, be what is actually in their best interests. Living in an environment where people are fully focused on caring for their needs and trained to do so will certainly play a major role in offering them a better quality of life. Furthermore, it will relieve some of the stress from family members and enable them to enjoy the time with their elders.

The Importance of Family and Connection during Retirement

Life as an elderly individual is different for everyone. Maybe, you’re in a senior living facility or you choose to live in your own home. You’ve lived a noteworthy life. You have worked, created a family, and hopefully traveled to all the destinations you wished. It seems like you have completed all the stages of life that have made you who you are today. I’m sure this means you have more wisdom and insight to share with others.

Realistically, getting older can be very lonely if you don’t prioritize connecting with your friends and family that care for you. Tending to your psychological needs can be extremely important during this time. In fact, psychological studies show that social relationships can profoundly influence well-being across the life course. In this article, we will discuss the importance of social connections as you retire and age.

Family support

Family is meant to support and care for you when you are at your best and your worst. “Family connections can provide a greater sense of meaning and purpose as well as social and tangible resources that benefit well-being” ( Umberson & Montez, 2010). As we age, our physical bodies are less strong and we lose muscle mass–this can lead to trouble moving around or driving to appointments. Fortunately, if we lean on the support of our family we can use their assistance to ensure we are safe and cared for.

As individuals age, there may be a feeling of loss of independence. Although this can be a difficult transition to cope with, knowing you have the support of your family can make the world of a difference. Whether this includes your children, grandchildren, wife, or relative, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

Family connection

If we look back historically, humans have always been social creatures. In the past, we see humans formed tribes and confided in them. This phenomena has not changed in present times. Connecting with others is crucial in every portion of our life – especially retirement.

If you have grandchildren, you can plan a weekly visit with them. Being around them will give you a new perspective from the lens of a child. You can share stories and wisdom with them. For example, if your grandchildren have developed bad habits, like thumb sucking, you can help them conquer the habit by purchasing a thumb sucking glove and giving them the encouragement they need! Additionally, you can offer to babysit them when their parents need it. Sometimes, we all need a little bit of child laughter in our lives!

A great way to bond as a family is to play board games! Bring out your favorite board game or puzzle and play with your children and grandchildren. Additionally, you can show them old photos and albums as they grew up. This is another great way to bond with your loved ones. By finding shared activities you all love to do, time will pass quickly!

Find community

Whether you have the opportunity to connect with others virtually or in person, community is critical for a positive mindset. When you are interacting with friends or family, you can experience laughter and activities together. Do some research in your community for elderly groups you can become a part of. Meetup is a great resource for finding similar individuals. This is a great time to find new hobbies or focus on hobbies you’ve loved all your life. Some great activities you can participate in socially include: golf, sewing, tea, book club, gardening, recycle programs, or even crossword puzzles. You can try contacting some of your friends and start a weekly book club! The possibilities are endless.

Volunteer

There are many opportunities to volunteer in your local community. Maybe, you’ve stopped working and you are feeling unfulfilled. Volunteering is a great way to feel like you’re giving back and filling your day with something positive. Some great places to volunteer are the library, hospital, museums, and food banks. One study found that 70% of elderly people who were experiencing depression saw a decrease in those symptoms after volunteering for a year.

Volunteering gives you an excellent opportunity to stimulate your brain and facilitate conversations with others. You will keep overall cognitive functions active which is important as we age!

Do These Things Before Moving Into a Retirement Community

No one happily anticipates moving out of their home and into a retirement facility. Few young adults plan for such an eventuality. Small children who fantasize about what it will be like to be a grown up are incapable of envisioning such a thing. Even people who are actively planning for retirement seldom consider the possibility of no longer possessing their home. What this means is that the process of moving into a retirement facility is not as well planned as other possibilities.

A lot can go wrong when it is not a part of a long-term plan. Many of the little things tend to be forgotten or neglected. Some of those little things can have huge impacts on the final outcome. Retirement is no small matter. It is one of the most emotionally charged periods of life there is. It represents the time when you are no longer the master of your industry. You have to stand back and let someone else take over. You have to find some other way to define yourself. You have to find something to do with yourself for the next 30 years. Then, there is the home:

Sell Everything That Doesn’t Matter

There is an excellent chance that the part of the retirement facility you move into will be smaller than your home. Therefore, you are not just selling off the home, but almost everything within. It will take you some time to figure out what you want to keep. Next, you have to decide what items you will give away to family and friends. That still leaves a lot more than you might have first thought.

You can organize a tasteful sale of the well-loved goods. Get a 10 x 10 pop up canopy tent like the kind you see at trade shows and other events. They look very professional and really draw the eye to what you are trying to show. People will not just drive by your sale; they will stop and engage. That is what you need to maximize your return. When you think of garage sale what comes to mind? Probably old junk and children’s toys. When you think estate sale, yes you think death but also you think of antiques, expensive items, and hidden treasures. Even for a garage sale, you need to do some marketing!

The reason you want to handle the sale yourself is to gain a sense of closure. It will help you say goodbye to one phase of life and prepare for the next. It can be quite cathartic, not to mention, profitable.

Make a List of Everything Important

Your memory might be tac-sharp. If you are very lucky, it will stay that way. But loss of memory is not the only reason you have for making written lists of everything that is important in your life before moving into a retirement facility. Perhaps the most important list of all is your conditions and medications.

Should you become sick or injured, potential care-givers need to know your conditions and what you are taking to treat them. A caregiver can’t help you with your pain if they know nothing about your arthritis. A nurse or EMT needs to know your conditions and your medications. If you are not communicable, you should have a list that others can easily access.

Put Everyone on ICE Who Can Help in an Emergency

In case of emergency, who will be contacted and how will someone know to contact them? If you use an iPhone, you can add emergency contacts that other people can access. That is likely the first thing emergency first-responders will check when the time comes. You can also do this for Android phones.

You should also make a print version of your emergency contacts and leave a copy on the nightstand, the kitchen counter, and everywhere else someone might see it in an emergency situation. Be sure to include all of the people who know you well enough to be of use. Your main pick might not be available. So make sure there are plenty of people on the list who can spring into action, and who can contact others.

Retirement has its challenges. No one wants to move into a retirement facility if they can help it. That said, it is a great choice for many seniors. If you find yourself in that position, don’t leave the details to chance. Sell everything you can. Make lists of everything important. And build an emergency contact list of everyone you trust.

4 Tips for Downsizing to a Smaller Home

When your house just has more space than you know what to do with, it’s time to let go and find somewhere smaller. This means that you’ll be paying less every month and that you’ll have less maintenance to do. Moving to a smaller home means downsizing, though—a prospect many people don’t enjoy the thought of. We’ll give you a few tips for downsizing to a smaller home so that it becomes less of a hassle.

Start as Early as Possible

The last thing you want is to be scrambling around at the last minute before the move, desperately trying to make decisions about what stays and what goes. You’re going to want to begin the downsizing process as early as you can. This will reduce the pressure you feel to make the hard decisions about what to get rid of.

Get Rid of Any Duplicates

One of the easiest tips for downsizing to a smaller home is to get rid of anything you have more than one of. If you’re cleaning out a larger estate, you’ll probably find these items quite often. Some common items people tend to have duplicates of include:

  • Kitchen utensils
  • Pots and pans
  • Towels
  • Clothing
  • Chairs
  • Sheets

You don’t really need more than a few of these items, especially if you’re going to live in a smaller home. The duplicates will only take up space you can’t afford to spare.

Don’t Wait on the Tough Decisions

For the items you’re unsure about getting rid of, you don’t want to leave those decisions until the end of your move. Sort items into “Keep” and “Don’t Keep” categories; having a “Maybe” pile will only make things more complicated in the long run. If you come across something you’re unsure about, take some time to mull it over before you move on. Not having a huge pile of “Maybes” will be a load off your mind.

Give Away or Donate Things

You don’t have to throw everything you decide not to keep in the trash. Maybe you have an antique table or a collection of knickknacks that you just can’t throw away. These kinds of items are perfect for giving to family and other loved ones as gifts. If it’s something you know your circle won’t enjoy, consider donating it to charity to give it a new life somewhere it’s needed more.

Why Jigsaw Puzzles Are Beneficial for Seniors with Dementia

As people get older, their cognitive abilities decline which often leads to the development of severe medical conditions. One of these is dementia which generally refers to the disruption of memory, language, thinking and problem-solving skills that affect daily life.

According to statistics, about 50 million people suffer from dementia worldwide and most of them include seniors. In fact, this medical condition is regarded as one of the main causes of disability and dependency among older people whose cognitive functions deteriorate as they age.

This can be very overwhelming for the people who suffer from it as well as for their families and caregivers. And while special therapies and supplements may help manage the symptoms of dementia, mentally stimulating activities have proven to be beneficial too.

Jigsaw puzzles for adults are one of the many brain-stimulating activities recommended to maintain cognitive health and make coping with dementia symptoms much easier. Here are six ways how solving puzzles can help cognitively-impaired seniors.

Improve brain health

Dementia is caused by damage to the brain cells which disrupts their communication leading to the impairment of different functions necessary to perform daily tasks. One way of improving brain health and people’s cognitive functions is to engage in mental-stimulating activities such as jigsaw puzzles.

When solving a puzzle, people activate both sides of the brain at once. The left side of the brain is the center for logic and order, while the right side is responsible for stimulating creativity and intuition. When both sides work together, it stimulates brain health as a result of the connection between brain cells, providing a good mental workout.

In addition, the simultaneous work of both sides of the brain further aids in the recognition of shapes and colors and problem-solving skills. 

Enhance memory skills

One of the major symptoms of dementia includes problems with memory skills. While lack of memory is often overlooked in the early stages of dementia, it gradually progresses as people age and they become more forgetful of recent events and even people’s names.

Jigsaw puzzles help enhance memory skills by reinforcing the connections between brain cells which results in improved mental speed and short-term memory. When solving a puzzle, seniors are expected to recognize and remember different colors, patterns and shapes in order to put the pieces in the right place.

Therefore, remembering the image of the puzzles is a great way for dementia patients to strengthen their memory skills which will further help them in the memorization of familiar places, things and activities.

Better visual-spatial skills

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common causes of dementia accounting for about 60-80% of all cases. Such patients often have problems getting lost in familiar places, finding the right words to identify objects and express thoughts.

Therefore, by solving jigsaw puzzles, not only will patients be able to improve their memory skills, but also their visual-spatial abilities.

When solving a puzzle, people are expected to look at individual pieces and figure out where they belong in the big picture. They search for specific shapes, colors and patterns of the puzzle which will help them determine how the pieces connect together.

By enhancing their visual-spatial skills, dementia patients will be able to perform other activities as well such as using a map, learning and even dancing. 

Reduce stress levels

As dementia progresses, seniors often become more agitated which can be difficult for their families and caregivers to manage. To make things easier for such patients and the people around them, jigsaw puzzles are a great way to release tension and provide calming effects. The Newverest jigsaw puzzle mat roll up is an excellent solution, allowing caregivers to easily store and manage puzzles while maintaining a stress-free environment for the patient.

By solving a puzzle, people exercise both sides of the brain which results in calming people who get agitated and brings them a sense of focus if they are restless. In other words, the search for the pieces to fit the puzzle requires concentration. And the focus on this activity will instantly bring relaxation and happiness.

In addition, the cardiovascular system will function better and breathing and heart rates will be slowed down.

Offer increased social interaction

Unfortunately, dementia is sometimes associated with a sense of loneliness causing patients to feel as if they are separated from the rest. They may also have trouble interacting with the people around them. Besides being a great activity to stimulate the brain in many ways, jigsaw puzzles can also help bring people together.

When seniors engage in solving a jigsaw puzzle, they have the opportunity to spend time together and communicate with each other. Such social interaction will undoubtedly increase their people skills as well as encourage their collaboration in solving a puzzle. They will be helping each other by finding the right pieces which will result in a sense of shared accomplishment when they solve the puzzle together.

Improve mood

Unfortunately, dementia cannot be fully treated, but it can be managed in order to alleviate the symptoms, making daily living more bearable and performing tasks much easier. And since most changes in the brain are permanent and even worsen over time, dementia patients often suffer from depression which affects their mood.

When solving a puzzle, the brain produces a chemical known as dopamine. This neurotransmitter is responsible for regulating the mood which is enhanced when a dementia patient successfully completes a puzzle. In other words, every time a patient puts a puzzle piece in the right place, dopamine is released. This sense of accomplishment certainly improves the overall mood.

In addition to this, the release of dopamine also affects learning, concentration and motivation.


Final Thoughts

Keeping the brain active while suffering from dementia can certainly delay symptoms of such brain disorders. While medications are required for treating this medical condition, mental-stimulating activities such as jigsaw puzzles can also be very beneficial in the process. They keep the mind active by engaging it in problem-solving tasks such as finding the right piece to fit into the puzzle further resulting in improved socialization, cognitive functions and most importantly general health. So if you know someone who suffers from dementia, you can help them cope with this condition with a fun jigsaw puzzle.

7 Warning Signs of Declining Mental Health in Elderly Loved Ones

With mental health issues on the rise in the United States, people are attempting to regain control of their mental state one therapy session at a time. One group heavily affected by the growing rates of cognitive disabilities and concerns are senior citizens. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states at least 20 percent of citizens over the age of 55 suffer from mental deficits, many of which go untreated due to misdiagnosis and stigmatization.

Seniors are considered high-risk for mental health deficits due to complications regarding chronic illnesses, losing loved-ones, medical side-effects, and decreased mobility. Each condition comes with its own set of complications and difficulties, often resulting in stress, anxiety, and depression. To help your elderly loved one alleviate symptoms of mental distress, listen to their specific needs, build them a balanced routine, and treat declining mental health symptoms immediately.

If you cannot manage and treat mental deficits on your own, try enrolling your loved one in mental health recovery programs and pass the reins to professional caretakers to increase their odds of improved health conditions and quality of life.

Signs of mental decline

Understanding the many warning signs of declining mental health in seniors is critical to treatment and recovery. Luckily, there are numerous methods available to ease discomfort and mitigate negative symptoms.

Social Isolation

One of the first manifestations of elderly mental health decline is isolation. If your loved one has gone from conversational and outgoing to distant and removed, it may be time to assess their cognitive abilities with the help of a trusted physician. Although isolating from family, friends, and cohorts may be a temporary behavioral shift, more often than not, it points to more pressing health concerns, like debilitating mood disorders or cognitive disabilities.

Emotional instability

Angry outbursts, prolonged irritability, and depressive episodes are all symptoms of declining mental health in seniors. Although some emotional variation is healthy and normal, extreme anger, anxiety, or depression should not be taken lightly. Unstable emotional health can lead to physical endangerment and shed light on more severe ailments, like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Memory loss

There is a common misconception that all elderly folks have bad memory. While this can be accurate for some seniors, memory loss is often an indicator for more significant, pressing problems. Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease are all ailments that decrease cognitive function, specifically memory functions.

Decreased personal care

As your loved one gets older and less mobile, their ability to care for themselves may diminish. Personal care declines are often indicators of mental health issues and behavioral disorders, like depression, anxiety, or deteriorating cognitive diseases. If your senior loved one shows signs of significant capabilities—like a lack of personal hygiene or visible bruising—consider seeking medical advice to diagnose and safely manage disordered symptoms correctly.

Mental confusion

Seniors experiencing declining mental health often encounter jarring bouts of mental confusion that can leave them feeling lost and at risk for injury. Although elders may have moments of memory failure, extreme mental breakdowns can indicate the progression of more severe cognitive disabilities. If your loved one is experiencing delusions, seeing hallucinations, or speaking incoherently, it may be time to talk with a doctor about potential treatments and a diagnosis.

Trouble keeping routine

Often, independent seniors rely on consistent, easy-going schedules to keep busy and motivated. Unfortunately, a common symptom of mental decline is a scattered routine. Confusion at once-simple daily, habitual tasks could be a cause for concern if your loved one has been previously conscious and competent.

Having a firm grasp of the various mental decline symptoms within senior communities is critical when choosing the best plan of action for your loved one. Keep a detailed account of any behavioral shifts, mood irregularities, or drastic changes to appearance to provide your loved one with adequate care and improve their overall health.

7 Benefits of Matcha Tea for Senior Citizens

You might have heard about how green tea is healthy for drinking and about its health benefits. There’s also matcha which is very famous for its health benefits, especially for older people.

What’s the difference between green tea and matcha? They are both from the same plant called Camellia Sinensis the only difference is that matcha is the more concentrated version of that plant while green tea is a diluted one. Matcha comes in the form of fine powder while green tea comes inside tea bags and both have grassy undertones while matcha has a much richer flavour. There are a number of Matcha Tea brands available in the market. You can check out this list of best matcha green tea powder available at Reviewsxp.com. 

Since matcha is more concentrated and you consume it in a powdered form, only ½ to 1 teaspoon per cup every day is enough for you to stay healthy. Which brings us to the question, what health benefits for senior citizens do matcha really have?

Let’s have a look at the 7 benefits of matcha tea for senior citizens.

1.    Stress and Anxiety Relief

Matcha has high levels of caffeine, theanine, and arginine which help in stress and anxiety reduction.

Most of the daily health issues seen in senior citizens are mostly back pain, migraines, etc. which are mostly caused by stress and anxiety. That’s where matcha helps.

It helps calm your body and mind hence reducing your stress and resulting in better mental health.

2.    Slows the Aging Process and Decreases Negative Weight

Matcha helps you get better digestion hence helping you get better nutrient absorption.And when your body nutrient absorption is better you’re healthier and have more energy.

Matcha also contains fibre in a considerable amount which also helps to decrease negative weight. That’s because fibre is a fat burner that helps in better blood circulation which in turn results in better blood sugar and reduces the risk of diabetes and other health conditions.

Several studies have shown that green tea reduces body weight and helps maintain it. Most of them focus on green tea extract but since matcha comes from the same plant and should have the same effect.

3.    Bolsters Immune System

Elderly people need to keep their immune system as healthy as possible, mostly because of the pandemic. They’re more prone to catching new diseases and flu than any of us.

Matcha tea helps in that. It improves the body’s ability to fight diseases and the catechins and L-theanine it has helped to fight fly and other diseases.

 4.    Promotes heart health

Several studies show that drinking green tea may help your heart against diseases Green tea has helped reduce the cholesterol levels of several people, as per studies, it has also reduced their risks of heart diseases and strokes making it a great and healthy choice.

And since matcha is from the same plant it will have the same effects. So drinking a cup of matcha daily will help senior citizens reduce risks of heart diseases.

 5.    Increases Brain Functions

Several studies have shown that matcha increases one’s attention span, memory, and reaction time. Specially in order people, it has been proven to increase their brain functions.

It’s because matcha has caffeine L-theanine which helps improve several aspects of our brains.

Matcha also has antioxidants known to counter the effects of memory loss which is the problem that senior citizens face usually. So matcha helps to reduce the risks of dementia as well.

6.    Arthritis

Matcha tea has several antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and hence is an effective remedy for the reduction of several arthritis related inflammations. They help slow down cartilage breakdown as well which also helps in the reduction of inflammations.

Therefore it’s proven that matcha tea is very effective in the reduction of arthritis pain, sometimes better.

 7.    Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Since matcha tea helps with memory loss and dementia, it also helps senior citizens to counter the effects of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

The antioxidant-rich polyphenols help protect the brain from long term memory loss if matcha is consumed regularly. Hence, matcha tea helps counter both – Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Conclusion

These were just a few of the benefits of matcha tea. One cup a day will keep you healthy and help counter numerous possible diseases.

The benefits of matcha tea are greater than any other drink you can find out there. Consuming matcha regularly for a senior citizen will be the best prevention against diseases they can get which helps them in many ways than they can count.

5 Tips to Save Money in Retirement

Unprecedented hard times are difficult to anticipate and can take a real hit on your savings. This is why you should start considering saving for retirement early. The sooner you start, the easier time you will have adjusting to unexpected financial hardships. In this article, we can provide some tips and tricks on how to save money for retirement and how to cut costs.

#1 – Cut Back on Unnecessary Spending

Try to find ways you can cut back on costs. Effective ways of doing this are looking into your insurance policies and seeing what sort of discounts they offer. There are several hidden discounts you may be eligible for. If your company doesn’t offer you many, then take a look at their competitors and compare car insurance quotes and other types of insurance that those companies offer and see which ones better suit your needs. 

You can also save money by eating out less and spending more money on homemade lunches. Take a look at the things you spend money on and see where you can save on some expenses. The more you save, the more you can put in for retirement. Any amount of money is helpful.

#2 – Automate Your Savings

There are many savings accounts out there that allow you to make automatic payments to them. Chances are these savings will also give you benefits for doing automatic payments such as matching contributions you make or sometimes having interest that grows over time. 

Another added benefit is if you set one up early, it will slowly start to grow over time without you having to think about it. Just be sure to up the amount you contribute to your savings as your financial situation grows. 

#3 – Budget and Open an IRA

Use a retirement calculator to figure out how much you need and learn how to set a retirement budget. Setting up a budget and goals is a great way to have a solid idea of what you are working toward and allows you to set benchmarks along the way. Overall, you will be far more satisfied than having a nebulous goal and a vague idea of what you can achieve. 

With all of that in mind, setting up an individual retirement account (IRA) is a great way to start building your savings. You have a few options on what sort of account to go for. There is the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. Determining which one works for you depends on a few factors.

The traditional IRA is based on your income and is beneficial if you or a partner or spouse have a workplace retirement plan. This plan is sometimes tax-deductible, and it can grow tax-deferred over time until you start making withdrawals from it. 

If you meet certain income limits, though, a Roth IRA may be more beneficial. You fund these with after-tax contributions and once you reach a certain age, they are free from federal taxes and sometimes state taxes as well.

#4 – Use a 401(k) and Match Your Employer

With a 401(k) you can contribute pre-tax money to a savings plan. This can add up to be a significant contribution. Since federal tax money is not taken out of what you contribute to the 401(k), you can put in far more money to the savings without it having as significant of an impact on your monthly take-home pay. 

If your employer offers you a Roth IRA 401(k) then the money added to this account is your income as an after tax contribution. As such, you will need to adjust according to how much is usually taken out of your paycheck in taxes when estimating how much money to invest in this account. Another thing to note is your 401(k) usually follows you after you leave your job.

Also, many employers may offer to match the amount you put into your 401(k) with their contribution. Take full advantage of this if your employer offers it. So if your employer offers to match up to 5 percent of your income to your 401(k), then put in as much as 5 percent of your income into it. This way you receive the full benefit offered to you.

#5 – Start Early on Savings

Of course, the best advice is to start saving for retirement as early as possible. A benefit of doing this is you can start gaining compound interest on your savings accounts. The sooner you start, the more you will gain down the line. You will also be open to more opportunities to invest in bonds and other kinds of earnings that can help you in the long run. 

You will also have more opportunities to stash any extra funds you make. If you ever find yourself with extra money in your monthly payments — maybe you received a raise or you were given a tax break — consider taking half of it and putting it toward retirement. You can still use the other half to treat yourself to something nice, but having some forethought for later may spare you financial hardship down the road. 

These are essential retirement tips, and doing all of these will help you delay tapping into your Social Security right away. The later you can delay using your Social Security benefits, the more you will be able to gain out of it. Technically, you can start using your Social Security benefits by the age of 62. The longer you wait to use it, the larger your monthly payments will be, though. 

Savings Tips to Remember

Be sure to start your savings early. The earlier you start, the more benefits you reap. Look into ways to cut costs.

You don’t have to wait until you are 80 to do this either. You can start now. And as always, use whatever extra money you make or find yourself with and put it into your savings.


Brennan Lingo writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site,  CheapCarInsuranceQuotes.com. He specializes in finance and insurance.

A Guide to Managing Your Finances on a Fixed Income

In life, it is very important to save money because we never know exactly what will happen. The problem is that we often end up living really stressful lives and it becomes very difficult to properly handle finances. Fortunately, this is a lot easier when we take into account a few very simple tips. Use them to jumpstart your road to a more stable financial future.

Calculate Your Exact Income

Most people think they know exactly how much money they make because their income is fixed but that is not always true. Often, there are many other sources of income that we end up neglecting. At the same time, fixed income can vary from month to month. This does sound illogical but think about the extra hours spent at work. They add to your fixed income and do vary from month to month.

At the same time, it is absolutely necessary that you list down all the sources of income. This includes little extra jobs and contracts. The more you know your income, the easier it is to create a good working monthly budget.

Be Aware Of Bills

You need to create a very good budget that will list every single one of your bills. Make a list with everything that you spend money on, ranging from cable bills to insurance.

For every single bill that you pay, make sure that you know exactly how much it sums up to. There are some bills that vary from month to month. In this case, just calculate a yearly average. Use that as being a monthly expense that you add to your budget.

Pay Money To Save Money

This is something few people understand about creating a monthly financial budget. The goal is to end up with more money at the end of the month. In order to do this, you need to take into account the situations in which you could save more by paying more.

A great example of this is buying an extended warranty policy for a vehicle. Read A Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Right Extended Warranty For Your Vehicle. You will quickly realize that a few small monthly payments can help you save a lot in the long run.

List Your Needs

One of the best tips about creating a personal financial budget is to do it in January. This lets you plan for the entire year. The point is that all financial plans have to be based on a long-term analysis. In that plan, make sure that you include everything that you will need, like saving money, animal feed, car maintenance, boat maintenance, child clothes, homeschool materials, field trips, medical expenses, haircuts, birthdays, Christmas, and vacations, but only if money is left.

When you create a list, you figure out what you have to incorporate in your budget and what is not actually a need. You will not be blindsided by some things that you really need and you cannot have.

Get Ready For Debt Payments

If you have to deal with debt, try to prioritize removing this unnecessary stress factor. Always do all that you can to carry just minimal debt and it will be a lot easier to be financially independent. When your debt is low, it is so much easier to pay bills and you can even end up with higher savings.

Unfortunately, in most cases, people do not know much about debt repayment. They think it does not matter what payment is done first. In reality, the best approach is to pay off your higher monthly debt payment first. If you manage to repay your larger debt, you end up with more money that you can use for other purposes every single month.

Hire A Financial Advisor

Financial advisors know what it takes to properly manage a budget. They are educated to help you and there is no reason why you should not hire one. The trick is to find one that is experienced and honest. In order to do this, all you have to do is to read reviews written by people that actually worked with them. If you cannot find such information, the best thing you can do is to ask for references. Any good financial advisor will have references that you can contact.