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Health Tips To Carry With Us Into 2013: The Best Things We Learned Last Year

9 Best Pieces Of Health Advice For 2013
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It seems as though every day there's a new article touting some need-to-know health tip or insight that directly affects our lives.

"Oh," we think as the tantalizing cure-all headline flashes across our screen via Twitter, a Facebook friend or some other means of information dispensation. "I'll have to read that!"

Below are a list of nine of those types of stories from last year that we think everyone should read and carry into the new year. From the best foods post-50 men and women should be heaping on their plates to an unexpected cause behind erectile dysfunction, you'll want to keep these great health tips handy in 2013.

What's the best piece of health advice you heard of in 2012? Let us know in the comments.

9 Best Pieces Of Health Advice For 2013
"Overeating Raises Risk Of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Study Shows"(01 of09)
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We know having seconds or thirds can affect what we see on the scale, but did you know overeating can have an affect on your cognitive abilities?A study presented to the American Academy of Neurology found that "elderly people who eat up to 6,000 calories a day may have a doubled risk of developing ... mild cognitive impairment." So stay ahead of the cognitive curve by consuming the 1,800 calories recommended for people 51 and up. (credit:Alamy)
"Memory Loss Could Be Caused By Your Meds, Not Your Age"(02 of09)
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Nearly 90 percent of people 65 and older take at least one form of medication -- but did you know certain types of medicines can affect your memory?The culprits include medicines that are prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, depression and allergies. (credit:Alamy)
"The Fiftysomething Workout: Your 5 Biggest Mistakes"(03 of09)
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What good is hitting the gym if you're not getting most from your workout? Next Avenue pinpoints the five most common mistakes people make at the gym. The number one offender? Not warming up before you begin your workout. "As we age, all of our systems take a bit longer to function at peak performance," says Scott Weiss, an exercise physiologist based in New York. "Warming up increases the body's temperature, stimulates blood flow to every organ, helps increase the uptake of oxygen on a cellular level and prepares joints and muscles for upcoming exercise." (credit:Shutterstock)
"5 Signs Your Parents Are Drug Addicts"(04 of09)
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More boomers are finding themselves unwitting members of a new generation: the Sandwich Generation, or adults who are caregivers to both their children and their parents. This responsibility includes watching out for your parents' health, which often times involves making sure they don't fall victim to prescription drug abuse."As people age, there is a general decrease in body fat and body-water," explains Dr. John Harsany, an addiction expert and medical director of the Riverside County (Calif.) Substance Abuse program. "This decreases the body's ability to process medications and makes seniors more prone to addiction from a physiological perspective."Keep this article handy to ensure you or someone you love doesn't fall prey to prescription drug abuse. (credit:Getty Images)
"Fiftysomething Diet: The 5 Foods Men Need to Eat"(05 of09)
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Tomatoes, rich in the antioxidant lycopene, is just one of five foods middle-aged men should include in their diets. A number of studies have linked lycopene has been linked to reducing the risk of stroke and prostate cancer prevention. (credit:Alamy)
"Fiftysomething Diet: The 5 Foods Women Need to Eat"(06 of09)
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Walnuts were found to reduce the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of women, in a study released by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the nut is just one of five foods women need to eat. (credit:Shutterstock)
"6 Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Stroke"(07 of09)
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In the most recent data available, strokes came in at number four as one of the leading causes of death. But there is some good news: 50 percent of strokes are preventable.Kicking your smokes habit is one way to prevent a stroke. Cigarettes have been shown to cause a fatty build up "in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain," according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This blockage is the leading cause of stroke among Americans. (credit:Shutterstock)
"Erectile Dysfunction Could Be Linked With Heart Disease"(08 of09)
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Erectile dysfunction can have many causes both physical and psychological. But did you know that an inability to have an erection could be linked to heart disease? According to doctors, experiencing ED can be the first sign that a man has the risk factors that can lead to cardiac disease. "As you age and if you don’t take care of your risk factors -- if you smoke, don’t eat healthy, don’t control your blood pressure," said Dr. Mehdi Shishehbor, a cardiology specialist at Cleveland Clinic. "Those things can lead to the same process that leads to blockages in the heart and can cause blockages in the penis." (credit:Shutterstock)
"Centenarians Spill 30 Secrets To Long Life"(09 of09)
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There are almost 62,000 people who have reached the big 1-0-0, according to the most recent Census data. Author Gwen Weiss-Numeroff wanted to find out how they did it, so she interviewed 30 centenarians about their longevity."The main thing they all had in common was that they all go with the flow... they have a remarkable ability to adapt to change and that is a huge thing," Weiss-Numeroff said. "They don't sweat the small stuff but they take things on, embrace life and move forward." (credit:Alamy)

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