Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Not Just for Boomers ---But for Everyone
The title of this blog is, of course, "Not Just for Boomers." And that is exactly, what it is intended to be. I am a baby boomer myself, but the material in this blog is not limited to baby boomers. It is really intended for everyone who has an interest in an eclectic mix of travel suggestions, help with your finances and health and exercise issues. Over the last almost two years, I have written almost 200 posts, all original, and covering material from a Mediterranean cruise to the many benefits of meditation and mindfulness.I hope what I have written has been helpful to you. And no, I am not shutting down the blog. On the contrary, I expect to keep on going. I appreciate your support, but I would ask you to remind your friends and not just boomers, that this blog is "Not Just for Boomers--But for Everyone."
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Where is the Best Place to Retire?
Many boomers are asking themselves "Where is the best place to retire?" No, I'm not talking about the best city or state in the United States. What I'm referring to is the best place in the world. And no, it is not the United States as most people probably think. According to the Natixis Global Retirement Index, the best place to retire in the world is Norway! The United States is not even in the top ten, according to that study. It ranks 19th in the world, behind countries including the Czech Republic and Slovenia. For those who are interested, of the 150 nations surveyed by Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A., the sponsor of the study, Zimbabwe ranked last.
Now, like most studies, this one is largely subjective, but the study did attempt to categorize the most important things most people are concerned about in retirement: health, material well-being, finances and quality of life. Here is what the study said about the U.S.:
HEALTH: The U.S. ranks 23d in this category. Although we have the highest per capita spending on health care, many other countries have greater access to care and the U.S. lags many of the developed countries in life expectancy.
MATERIAL WELL-BEING: This is a measurement of per capita income. Although per capita income is one of the highest, we also have a higher degree of income inequality than many nations, including Poland, Slovakia and Singapore. The U.S. ranks 38th in this category.
FINANCES: The U.S. ranks 28th in this category, largely because of questions about the sustainability of Social Security. Canada, Brazil and Mexico all are ahead of the U.S. in this category.
QUALITY OF LIFE: While Americans generally have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with life,, because of its lower scores on environmental measures, it ranks 26th in this category, behind Costa Rica and Belize, among others.
This survey raises some disturbing questions. Obviously, the United States is a great place to live and retire. This survey raises the issue of whether we can do better. Let me know what you think.
Now, like most studies, this one is largely subjective, but the study did attempt to categorize the most important things most people are concerned about in retirement: health, material well-being, finances and quality of life. Here is what the study said about the U.S.:
HEALTH: The U.S. ranks 23d in this category. Although we have the highest per capita spending on health care, many other countries have greater access to care and the U.S. lags many of the developed countries in life expectancy.
MATERIAL WELL-BEING: This is a measurement of per capita income. Although per capita income is one of the highest, we also have a higher degree of income inequality than many nations, including Poland, Slovakia and Singapore. The U.S. ranks 38th in this category.
FINANCES: The U.S. ranks 28th in this category, largely because of questions about the sustainability of Social Security. Canada, Brazil and Mexico all are ahead of the U.S. in this category.
QUALITY OF LIFE: While Americans generally have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with life,, because of its lower scores on environmental measures, it ranks 26th in this category, behind Costa Rica and Belize, among others.
This survey raises some disturbing questions. Obviously, the United States is a great place to live and retire. This survey raises the issue of whether we can do better. Let me know what you think.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Health Updates
Recently, I have written on the studies that show that lack of sleep can torpedo your efforts at dieting. "How to lose weight while sleeping," December 11, 2012. Well, a recent study in the medical journal, Sleep, has shown that losing sleep may also reduce your tolerance to pain. Although it is not known why, there appeared to be a connection between chronic sleep loss and acute pain. So there is another reason to get your 8 hours every night.
In my November 29, 2012 post, "The Benefits of Tea and Why Starbucks is Getting into the Act," I wrote about all the health benefits of drinking tea. A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology has now demonstrated that coffee may also have some unexpected benefits. The study conducted by a researcher from the National Cancer Society has found that drinking caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk of oral cancer. The risk was shown to be reduced significantly by those drinking 4 to 6 cups of coffee a day.
Today's New York Times contains an article entitled "Grapefruit is a culprit in More Drug Reactions." I first reported on this same subject in my December 6, 2012 post, "Should You Be Eating that Grapefruit?" The Times article reiterates that eating grapefruit can heighten the effects of certain common medications including birth control pills and estrogen. The full list is on the Times' website, www.nytimes.com.
In my November 29, 2012 post, "The Benefits of Tea and Why Starbucks is Getting into the Act," I wrote about all the health benefits of drinking tea. A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology has now demonstrated that coffee may also have some unexpected benefits. The study conducted by a researcher from the National Cancer Society has found that drinking caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk of oral cancer. The risk was shown to be reduced significantly by those drinking 4 to 6 cups of coffee a day.
Today's New York Times contains an article entitled "Grapefruit is a culprit in More Drug Reactions." I first reported on this same subject in my December 6, 2012 post, "Should You Be Eating that Grapefruit?" The Times article reiterates that eating grapefruit can heighten the effects of certain common medications including birth control pills and estrogen. The full list is on the Times' website, www.nytimes.com.
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