Tips for staying healthy and pain free

Pam Shriver, a Hall of Fame tennis star, ESPN broadcaster, mother of three and minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, explains how she herself keeps active and healthy and her advice to active adults.

“I’ve been very active my entire life and believe that keeping active into your 40s, 50s and beyond is critically important to ensure a happy and healthy life. As a working mom on the move, in addition to eating right, I go to the gym several times a week for strength-training and cardio workouts. I’m never far from a tennis court. Golf has also become a passion.”

Pam Shriver, a brand ambassador for Salonpas, www.salonpas.us, a line of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieving products, offers the following tips for staying happy and healthy at every age:

Move More and Sit Less — When you exercise, blood flows faster in your blood vessels and natural internal medicines are released. Exercise actually can lower high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar and can keep you from feeling depressed. It really doesn’t matter what type of cardiovascular exercise you do as long as you do it. Aim for three days a week at first and then go to five or more days for optimal wellness. I feel better when I exercise every day.

Eat Clean — We live in a world where people have easy access to processed foods that are laden with high sodium, sugar and trans-fats. Eating clean is about choosing fresh, whole foods with all of their nutrients intact. By enjoying more unprocessed whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats and fish which do not contain artificial preservatives, trans fat and saturated fat and sugars, you will feel and look healthier and have a lot more energy.

Give Back — I’ve made volunteering and being of service an important part of my life. These activities provide a meaningful and positive impact in my community and also benefit me — a win-win for everyone. Through volunteering, you receive the satisfaction of giving back, gain new life experiences, and have the opportunity to meet a diverse new group of people.

Turning Japanese — I first traveled to Japan to play tennis as a teenager. The Japanese are not a pill popping culture. They embrace a more holistic lifestyle with transdermal drug delivery being widely accepted which is why I turned to Salonpas products for pain relief. On the other end of the spectrum, some Americans are unaware of the active ingredients and potential side effects of popular over-the-counter pain relievers and exceed the maximum dosage of acetaminophen, which, for example, can cause severe and permanent liver damage.