Gastrointestinal function and ecology are critical to your longevity health. Gastrointestinal health is longevity health. The undigested food in your digestive system often becomes the breeding ground for the development of potentially harmful bacteria that live in your bowl, and thus influences your health and well-being.

Your gastrointestinal tract is composed of your mouth and teeth, your esophagus and stomach, your small and large intestines. These digestive organs, together with your liver, kidneys, and pancreas, not only digest your food but also assimilate nutrients from what you eat and drink. Therefore, your gastrointestinal tract plays a pivotal role in your overall health and wellness. There is absolute truth in the statement: “Death begins at the colon.” Your gastrointestinal health immunizes you from many diseases and disorders that are enemies to your longevity health.

To optimize your gastrointestinal health, you must not overstress your gastrointestinal tract.<!–more–>

Avoid eating refined and processed foods and sugar. Any food item in the supermarket that comes in a can, box or carton is most probably processed. All processed foods are loaded with chemicals, and all refined foods are deprived of nutrients that may benefit your gastrointestinal health.

Do not unduly stress your gastrointestinal tract by overeating or failing to chew your food adequately.

Drinking water or any liquid during a meal tends to dilute your digestive juices, and thus weakens the digestive process in the gastrointestinal tract.

Excess alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine also impair your gastrointestinal function.

Use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs is also damaging to your gastrointestinal tract. Remember, all pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals, and as such, they are toxic to your body system, including your gastrointestinal tract.

Lack of fiber and inadequate enzymes in your diet may also be contributing factors to an unhealthy gastrointestinal tract. Get your fiber from beans, vegetables, and fruits, such as apples; a regular raw diet provides you with enzymes to assist your digestion.

Your gastrointestinal health is essentially a reflection of your lifestyle.

To optimize your gastrointestinal function, you need to re-balance your diet and change your lifestyle. To change your lifestyle is more challenging than re-balancing your diet. Your gastrointestinal tract, like the rest of your body, also needs a break every now and then in order to recuperate. Fasting for internal cleansing is the best option, especially for the gastrointestinal tract. However, if you think a water fast is too much for you, consider a juice fast – that is, you drink only juices from fresh vegetables or fruits for one or two days to cleanse your body system. Fasting for internal cleansing for gastrointestinal health is a must for longevity health.

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Stephen Lau is a writer and researcher. He has published several books and many websites on health, healing, depression, eating disorders, and golf. For more information on longevity health, and also get your FREE copy of the 143-page e-book “All-Round Weight Loss” by Stephen Lau, go to: http://www.longevityforyou.com/li.html

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_903051_23.html

(ARA) – Budget-minded families are looking to cut expenses that seem like a luxury, or even just frivolous — including gym memberships. Yet mounting evidence suggests that cutting out the gym may be exactly the wrong move for even the most cash-strapped family.

In its just-released report of annual health spending figures, published in the journal Health Affairs, the federal government confirmed that chronic illness accounts for 75 percent of all health spending. Yet exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce your risks for chronic illness and your medical bills.

“To put that in financial terms, for every dollar you spend on wellness, you can save as much as five dollars or more on illness,” says Dr. Richard Kreider, director of the exercise and sport nutrition laboratory at Texas A&M University. He has studied the effectiveness of the Curves women’s fitness program for the past five years.

“The women in our studies have been able to lose weight, gain muscle strength, raise metabolism, and make significant medical improvements in blood pressure, resting heart rate and aerobic fitness,” Kreider says. “Many of them no longer suffer from the chronic conditions that cost them so much money for medications and doctor visits.”

This can add up to a bundle of savings. The Health Affairs report shows that the average annual out-of-pocket expense for someone with cancer is $8,411, but the good news is that regular exercise can help you avoid the disease and the costs associated with it. A major report by the American Institute for Cancer Research published in 2007 found that obesity plays a key role in increasing the risk for many cancers — including breast cancer — by as much as 60 percent. And a study just published in the journal Cancer found that obesity increased women’s risk for ovarian cancer by a whopping 80 percent.

The benefits go beyond reducing the risk of cancer. A recent landmark study by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota found that people who went to the gym at least eight times a month had significantly lower healthcare costs than those who did not. These frequent gym attendees had:

* 39 percent fewer emergency room visits
* 41 percent fewer hospital admissions
* 18 percent lower overall claims costs

The research, then, is clear. “Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight can save not only your life, but your money as well,” says Kreider. “Your health is your most precious asset, and not taking care of it is going to cost you more in the long run.”

So how can you get to the gym without breaking the bank? Many clubs are offering great deals on memberships because of the economy. Also, check with your health insurance provider to see if they have a wellness program that offers rebates on dues and membership fees. Some fitness centers, like Curves, have partnered with major health insurance and third-party providers, including Healthways SilverSneakers, AARP and Blue Cross Blue Shield, to make the cost of membership even more affordable. To learn more, visit www.curves.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

You might be surprise to know that the best exercise to lose belly fat is not what you think. Normally your first point of call will be devoting a lot of energy into doing sit ups which will not yield substantial weight lost. What you suppose to be doing is an exercise that will reduce your carbohydrate and fat intake. Once your diet is sorted out, you can start thinking of the best exercise to lose belly fat fast. I am going to focus not on one but three abdominal workouts that have proven to be very effective.

You should first of all get yourself a workout ball, the blow up type. This will be used mainly for three exercises. You will want to target three areas of your abs muscles. The rectus abdominus which is the area responsible for the much coveted six pack look, the transverse abdominus located on the side and the external oblique which is also located on the near the side.

All three of these combines are the best exercise to lose belly fat. You need to understand something right now. You can sit on your exercise ball and do one sit up after another and never gain the results you desire. You need to learn proper muscle contraction at the top of every repetition. Now, let’s look at three varied movements which will really begin to help you lose belly fat.

The combination of the three are the best exercise to lose belly fat fast that have proven to work so well for myself and people. You can sit as much as you like on your exercise ball and do one sit up after the another without gaining the results you crave for. Ok, let now look at three different movements that will really help you lose belly fat.

(a) Sit on your exercise ball with your butt and have your legs stretched with your shoulder width apart. Then place your hand across your chest, then repeat once and squeeze the abs and the crunch position. Do it 25 times and you will begin to feel the burn. I normally do up to three sets of 25 reps.

(b) Next is my favorite. Lie on your back and position the exercise ball between your ankles. Then slowly raise the ball toward the sky and squeeze the abs. Lower your legs and squeeze the abs once again. Repeat this as much as you can and on daily basis and without doubt you will see result.

(c) And lastly, lie on your back and position the exercise ball below your knees like you would when lying on the floor watching TV and have your legs on the couch, but this time around your couch is the exercise ball. Once that’s done, lift your chin towards your knees with your hands across your chest and squeeze your abs at the top. Then slowly lower your chest while maintain the same tight abs. Follow the same pattern as in exercises one and two.

Well, these are the best exercises to lose belly fat fast that have worked so well for me. And with good healthy eating habits and without doubt, you will be on your way to having a leaner and healthier body.

About the Author

To discover more excellent tips and best exercises to lose belly fat, go over to howtolose10poundsfastblog.com

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans released by HHS states that adults can gain substantial health benefits from physical activity by doing two hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity coupled with strength training activities. A review by the American College of Sports Medicine states that a greater level of activity is needed to prevent weight gain, produce weight loss, or maintain a weight loss. Maintenance of a weight loss takes the most activity — 250 minutes a week. Starting slow and maintaining motivation are key to staying active for the long term. A great way to get started is to join a walking team and set a goal such as walking a 5K. The camaraderie and team spirit will help you stay motivated and keep you on track.

To boost your weight-loss efforts, Weight Watchers has engaged the Active Network, a leading online community that promotes exercise, to help encourage the importance of physical activity and support efforts to get more active. Active.com trainer Jenny Hadfield suggests the following tips to start moving more:

Go for the Goal

Whether it’s to walk in a 5K, or simply set up a course in the neighborhood to walk with friends, set a tangible goal. Write that goal on paper and mark a date to reach it to stay accountable. Keep in mind that trainers estimate it takes an average of three weeks to form a new habit and eight weeks to prepare for a 5K (3.1 miles).

Evolution Versus Revolution

Evolve into a fitness routine; don’t give your body a reason to revolt. Start where you are instead of where you want to be to prevent injury or burn out. To determine your level of activity, get a pedometer and see how many steps you take in a day. Each week, try to increase the number of steps by 500 to 1,000 with a long-term goal of walking 10,000 steps per day.

Switch to Manual

Bypassing everyday conveniences can help a person move more. Take the stairs. Climb the escalator. Keep your car parked at a large strip mall and trek from store to store. Walk to your coworker’s office instead of calling or e-mailing them. These small changes can add up to big results.

Get Fit with Friends and Family

Gather a group of friends and set a time to walk or run each week. The commitment provides a built-in source of accountability and can make it more fun. Make activity a family event as well, by adding a sense of variety and adventure on the weekends. Whether it’s organizing a hike with your spouse or a treasure hunt with the kids, getting the buy-in from family with help you reach your goal.

Fitness Checking Account

Think of the food you eat as money spent, and the activity burned as a deposit, similar to a checking account. For those with busy schedules challenged to find a slot of 30 minutes to exercise, break it up throughout the day. Ten minutes at lunch walking the parking lot; 10 minutes power shopping at the grocery store; and adding 10 minutes to the walk to get the mail. Just like money, whether it’s one big deposit or three small deposits, all denominations add up. If you’re following the Weight Watchers program, adding up activity POINTS values can translate into extra POINTS values for food.

Challenge yourself this spring by incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle. Until June 6, Weight Watchers members who join a walking team, create one, or sign-up for a selected 5K event will receive access to a free eight week online interactive walking training guide, and may have the opportunity to train with a walking team in their area as part of the Momentum Walk It Challenge. Learn more about the promotion by visiting www.weightwatchers.com/walkit.

Visit a Weight Watchers meeting for additional support this spring. To find a meeting location near you visit www.weightwatchers.comor call (800) 651-6000.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Treatment and medical options

Since diabetes is a chronic disease, people who are suffering from it should be more vigilant about their health more than ever. It means that they should visit their doctors more often, maintain a healthy lifestyle and take the necessary medications or undergo needed treatments for them to stay healthy.

Before taking in any medication or undergoing a specific treatment, it is a must that person knows what type of diabetes he or she is suffering from. Basically, there are three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes wherein the person’s body doesn’t have the capability to produce insulin, which is crucial for sugar to turn the food into energy; the type 2 diabetes-the most common type-restricts the person’s pancreas to produce enough supply insulin for the body to use well; and the gestational diabetes which occurs among pregnant women and can lead to type 2 diabetes eventually if not monitored immediately.

Experts say that people with diabetes should aim for healthy diet and getting regular exercise to control the illness. At times, there will be the need to take in some medications or undergo treatments. The following are just some of the common medications advised for people with diabetes:

1. Insulin shots. Since insufficient insulin levels in the body cause diabetes, insulin itself can solve the problem. For diabetics, insulin is very important because it lowers the blood sugar in the body by moving the sugar from the person’s blood into the cells. Insulin should be taken at least two times daily to ensure that there will be stable blood sugar control. It should be taken at least 30 minutes before each meal or should be taken before one eats especially if she or he takes a fast effecting type.

2. Oral medications. People with type 1 diabetes are not advised to use oral medications since insulin shots are injected in their bodies 24/7 in order to survive. Oral medications work best to people with type 2 diabetes-especially those who have high blood sugar-because these can serve as a supplement for them. The most common oral medications include sulfonylureas which forces the pancreas to produce more insulin to lower the blood sugar levels; siguanides which helps achieve lower blood sugar by stopping the liver in producing too much sugar; metformin which helps the person lose weight which is the common cause of diabetes; thiazolidinediones which helps the cells develop higher sensitivity to insulin which moves the glucose from the blood; and meglitinides which is responsible for helping the pancreas produce more insulin immediately after each meal to effectively lower blood sugar levels.

By: Jules Sims

“You can easily improve overall heart health with a few, simple lifestyle choices,” says dietician Keri Glassman. “One in four Americans does not get enough exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With obesity on the rise, especially among children, routine daily exercise is a great place to start.  When combined with a healthier diet, particularly one with reduced sodium, you’ll lower the risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension.”

True, there are factors that you don’t have control over when it comes to heart health, including age, race, gender and family history. However, by monitoring controllable risk factors such as weight, diet and exercise, you can proactively take the necessary steps to limit the threats and improve your overall well-being.

Here are five easy tips to get your ticker in tip-top shape:

Heart smart staples
Stock up on whole grains, lean proteins rich in omega-3s, and a colorful array of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies are not only low in fat and calories, they are also a great source of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Also, omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, walnuts, soybeans, brussel sprouts and flax seeds, can help lower blood fats called triglycerides, which are harmful to your heart. A diet high in soluble fiber and low in saturated fats along with increased fruits and vegetables may help decrease cholesterol and blood pressure.

Shake the salt habit
Sodium is one of the biggest contributors to heart disease and hypertension; and, as a general rule, you should not exceed 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day. Buyer beware: high amounts of sodium lurk in many of the everyday foods you love, including soups, breads and even beverages. Help stay within your daily sodium recommendation and opt for the low salt or reduced sodium options of your favorite foods, when available.

Many choices, such as Del Monte’s 50 percent Less Salt Vegetables, are a convenient way to reduce salt while maintaining delicious flavor. Look for heart smart options in the grocery store.  Products such as Del Monte’s 50 percent Less Salt Whole Kernel Corn and Sweet Peas display the American Heart Association heart-check mark on the label as they meet the Association’s food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people older than age 2.

Other low-sodium options readily available at the supermarket include Pepperidge Farms reduced-sodium breads, lower sodium soups from Campbell’s and Progresso, and Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop popcorn. For great ways on switching out those high sodium foods with lower salt versions, visit delmonte.com/solutions/recipeTools.aspx for delicious recipes.

Your heart will gleam with lycopene
Tomatoes contain lycopene, a leading ingredient in reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies indicate that canned tomato products may be even better than their fresh counterparts,  so go ahead and use that can of spaghetti sauce. In fact, research finds that lycopene in tomatoes can be absorbed more efficiently by the body once processed into juice, sauce, paste and ketchup.

Get moving
Statistics show that 1.3 million people will have a new or recurrent heart attack in 2009 according to the American Heart Association, and one major contributor is a lack of daily exercise. Tired of your old routine or going to the gym? Sign up for a fun salsa, ballroom or meringue dance class at a local community center. You’ll get your blood moving, heart pumping and have fun with friends and others while you’re doing it.

Snuff out the smoke
Quitting smoking is an important and necessary life change to dramatically lowering your risk of a heart attack. Smokers have more than twice the risk of suffering a heart attack as non-smokers and are more likely to die from a heart-related illness.

For more heart-healthy tips visit http://delmonte.com/solutions or the American Heart Association at www.heartcheckmark.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Here are three basic steps to saying goodbye to troublesome bulges:

Lose weight if necessary: Find out from your doctor how close you are to your ideal weight and whether you’re carrying excess fat. Using the body mass index (BMI) provides a reliable indication of both. If you do find that you need to lose fat, a recent two-year study suggests focusing on a low-carb diet where you derive the bulk of your fat from healthy vegetable and fish sources (as opposed to the Atkins-style bacon-on-lettuce routine) will put you squarely on the road to reduction. And, as an added benefit, as you lose fat throughout your body, including from your stomach and around your organs, you reduce your risk for all sorts of nasties ranging from heart disease to diabetes. You know you can’t go wrong improving your diet, and you’ll lay the groundwork for fixing those problem areas.

Get fit: You can do a thousand or even a million sit-ups and it’s not likely to reduce the amount of fat in your belly. The reason? Your abdominal muscles and the belly fat sitting above them have nothing to do with each other. That being said, if you focus on an overall fitness and toning program with your doctor’s blessing of course you’re likely to tone up problem areas along with the rest of your body. Make sure your routine includes plenty of aerobic exercise, at the very least three times per week at 20 minutes per session (preferably more). Since getting in shape is great for your skin, mood and health, you can’t help but come out a winner… even if you still need help with the fatty bulges.

A safe alternative: Once you’re in shape and within 15 pounds of your ideal weight, if you still have an annoying pair of saddle bags or a poochy belly, you might be feeling pretty frustrated. Sadly, where we store our fat is genetically determined, and what our genetics think is a good idea doesn’t always correspond to how we want to look in swimwear. In short, some of us get lucky and for the rest of us, there’s SmartLipo laser assisted liposuction. This treatment works to reduce local fat stores and is a minimally invasive procedure with little or no recovery time. SmartLipo uses a laser that zaps fat and tightens the overlying skin. This procedure is extremely effective removing the trouble spots that weight loss and fitness routines haven’t managed to touch.

Having problem spots can actually work as a call to action. Those areas carry with them the opportunity to improve your appearance and your overall health. You’ll get healthy and, with a little help from cosmetic dermatology procedures, you can achieve the smooth, svelte look you’ve been wanting. With that in mind, as you move from milepost bulge to milepost bikini, make sure you have some fun!

By: Dr. James C. Fairfield

(ARA) – It is well known that exercise is a crucial part of overall health and wellness; but when you are living with a chronic illness, it can be difficult to find an activity you love, much less pursue competitively. Sometimes, however, all it takes is a little inspiration to get moving.

After experiencing symptoms including numbness in her fingers, weakness on the right side of her body and extreme fatigue, Grace Ragland was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of MS. MS is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord, brain and nerves. Despite her diagnosis, Ragland was determined to not let MS stand in her way of leading an active and fulfilling life.

With the encouragement of family and friends, Ragland decided to take up mountain biking in an effort to cope with her disease and now races competitively; leaving her worries about MS behind her. “I will not let MS get in the way of accomplishing my goals,” she says.

While most people are not competitive mountain bike racers like Ragland, it is recommended that people with chronic illnesses like MS engage in moderate physical activity and adopt a healthy lifestyle to help manage their disease. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion says that regular physical activity can help people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength and can improve psychological well-being and quality of life. If you are living with a chronic illness, here are some tips from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) to help construct a helpful exercise routine:

* Consult a physician. He/she will be able to make recommendations about exercise frequency, duration and type of exercise most beneficial for you.
* Modify exercises, especially if symptoms cause a difference in strength or ability between one side of the body and the other.
* If a particular activity makes you feel worse, you may have overdone it. Start slowly and exercise a little longer at each session.
* Schedule physical activity for the time of the day when energy is highest. Alternate more demanding exercise with activity requiring less.

Today, Ragland is successfully living with MS and is now the newest member of Team Copaxone, a group of individuals who are pursuing their dreams despite MS. The team celebrates the accomplishments of people like Ragland who refuse to let their condition stand in their way. She passionately maintains a positive outlook on life. “I have MS,” Ragland says. “MS doesn’t have me.”

For more information about Team Copaxone or MS treatment options, visit SharedSolutions.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Today, Americans are living longer than ever before, enjoying more time for travel, family and hobbies. For today’s seniors and baby boomers looking to stay healthy and independent for years to come, practicing easy, proven healthy-living strategies can make a difference in their health and wallets. During these difficult economic times, just a little preventive health care can pay off and save money in the long run.

“You can take steps to prevent premature aging and to stay healthy as you get older,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President-elect Dr. J. James Rohack. “Healthy living and regular check-ups can help older patients focus on enjoying their lives instead of worrying about their health.”

The cost of making unhealthy lifestyle choices is staggering – both in terms of financial and human consequences. About 20 percent of those 65 and older who use Medicare for health coverage and have five or more chronic conditions, like diabetes and heart disease, see about 14 different physicians each year. Many of the associated costs can be reduced through preventive health care, early detection and treatment to avoid future complications and disability. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco use and risky drinking makes a huge difference in overall health and greatly reduces the risk for chronic conditions.

“It is never too late to start working toward a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Rohack. “Research shows that a healthy lifestyle can substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke, as well as delay or stop the onset of type 2 diabetes. Quitting smoking at any age can improve circulation and lung function and greatly reduce cancer risks.”

Eating Right
Choosing the right foods is a major component of a healthy lifestyle. Healthy eating can help prevent and control many diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, and improve your energy level. Many people think that this means going on a diet, but by making small changes over time, you can incorporate healthy habits into your normal routine. Aim to eat at least two cup-size portions each of fruit and vegetables daily, mostly whole grains, fish and other lean protein to get needed vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Aim to eat smaller portions of foods high in sodium, sugar and saturated fat. Importantly, adults over 65 should incorporate added calcium and vitamin D to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Exercising Body and Brain
Regular exercise can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and help relieve arthritis pain, anxiety and depression. It isn’t necessary to have a gym membership to get enough physical activity. For exercise, take a walk or ride a bike around the neighborhood. Swimming is also great exercise and easier on older patients’ joints. Gardening and playing with kids are also fun ways to be active. Muscle strengthening activities can also greatly benefit older adults to build muscle and strengthen bones. If you are over 50, check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Mental activity is just as important as physical activity. Activities like reading, playing cards, and doing crossword puzzles can keep your brain alert and responsive for the things you do every day like grocery shopping, cooking and handling finances. Staying mentally active may also lower the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease and help offset normal age-related decline in thinking skills.

Health Check-ups
Healthy habits are important, but don’t forget regular visits to the doctor for screenings and preventive care to help avoid chronic disorders in vision, hearing, bone density, cancer and obesity. Half of all American adults in 2005 did not receive recommended preventive care, including vaccinations, cancer screenings and blood-pressure checks. By getting a regular physical exam, a physician can catch health problems early on, treating them with efficiency and accuracy to maintain overall health. Healthier people spend less money on health care.

At age 50 it’s important to start annual exams for colorectal cancer, and men should have a prostate exam. Screenings for osteoporosis should start at age 60 for women who are underweight. It is also a good idea to keep a list of medications, including over-the-counter, herbal or nutritional supplements to bring to each doctor’s appointment to avoid any harmful interactions.

“Seventy-five percent of the total health care spending in the U.S. is linked to chronically ill patients,” says Dr. Rohack. “Many chronic health problems are preventable, and if we can help Americans live healthier, we can reduce disease and decrease health care spending. As the nation works to improve its overall health care system and get more value from our health care dollar, each person can help make a difference by taking steps to stay healthy as they age.”

More tips on healthy aging can be found in the “American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness.” The book can be found at retail and online bookstores and at AMABookstore.com. Also available to help you to get healthier is AMA’s Healthier Life Steps Program with tools and resources to get started on lifestyle improvements. Information and tools can be found at www.ama-assn.org/go/healthierlifesteps.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

But did you know that using pedal power could help to find a cure for one of the nation’s deadliest diseases? With your family, on your own or as part of a team you can ride your bike and raise funds for the Tour de Cure.

Take the Ride of Your Life
Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s nationwide cycling event, welcomes riders at all levels — from novice to experienced cyclists — to support the Association’s mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Last year more than 38,000 cyclists — people with diabetes, friends, families and supporters — raised more than $15 million to support diabetes research, advocacy and education.

Diabetes is a deadly disease affecting nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States. Another 57 million have pre-diabetes, a condition that places them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Whether you bike for fun or because you dream of being the next world champion, bicycling is great exercise that can have significant health benefits. Tour de Cure events feature routes that vary in length and difficulty, from 15-mile family distances to 100-mile “century” rides. It is a ride, not a race, so participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.

Are You a Red Rider?
If you have diabetes and plan to ride in Tour de Cure, don’t forget to join the Red Riders, a special section of Tour de Cure that the American Diabetes Association created to recognize participants who have diabetes.

“The Red Rider Recognition Program is a way for those of us with diabetes to gather the strength, courage and motivation to live well all the other days of the year when we aren’t riding in Tour de Cure,” says Mari Ruddy, founder of the Red Rider program. “It gives us an opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication and teamwork it takes to manage this challenging and complex disease. Best of all, when we can give a participant a red jersey that proclaims with joy, ‘I ride with diabetes!’ it brings a face to the disease with the heart, soul and passion of the participants who are riding with diabetes.”

Join Tour de Cure to benefit your health and to support the fight to stop diabetes. To register as an individual rider, a Red Rider, start a team, or learn more, visit Tour.Diabetes.org or call (888) DIABETES (888-342-2383).

Courtesy of ARAcontent