Longevity is a hot topic these days, which isn't surprising considering the largest generation of the last 100 years, the baby boomers, are beginning to hit their golden years. In response to that, more and more interest in how we can live longer has come to the fore and analysis of centenarian's lifestyles and eating habits has become common front page coverage. And, of course, anti-aging beauty products are flying off the shelves. If fighting the sands of time is one of you priorities, here's some good news to aid in your battle.

A new study conducted at Canada's McMaster University, published in the current issue of the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, found they were able to extend the lifespan of mice by an impressive 10 percent using thirty different vitamins, minerals. and herbs. They based the carefully chosen nutrient subjects on dosages recommended for humans and adjusted for mouse body size.

Unlike past studies of this type, the researchers decided to look for "youthful markers" as well as lifespan. In this way they were really looking at quality of life while aging rather than just how long the mice lived. They looked at declining physical movement as a biomarker of aging and mortality risk.

We've just passed through the first week or so of official winter, so there's truly no escaping the fact that cold season is upon us. To combat the possibility of catching a cold, many Canadians turn to vitamin C, vitamin D, multivitamin and mineral support, and maybe even echinacea or resveratrol. But several studies have given credence to the use of an old Chinese Medicine remedy that you may want to add to your arsenal of cold-fighting nutrients.

A study out of the University of Alberta published in The Canadian Medical Association Journal a few years back found that supplementing with an extract of North American ginseng lowers your chance of getting a cold and reduces the severity of colds once you have them. North American ginseng, grown primarily in Ontario, British Columbia and Wisconsin, is a root that resembles a parsnip in appearance and is highly valued for its medicinal properties.

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.

Have you ever been caught grabbing a bit of shut-eye at your desk? What was your excuse to your boss? New sleep research may be your best answer.

A 2002 study from Harvard University considered worker burnout over four days of training and the effect of napping. As the four days of training wore on, the workers began to experience burnout. But the good news is - the study found that workers who were allowed to take a 30-minute nap on the second day of a four-day training session experienced less decline in visual tasks. A one-hour nap was actually found to return performance back to normal in the last two sessions.

That is not to say that curling up for an hour or so at the office should be sanctioned, but keeping it to less than 30 minutes might not be so far-fetched. It seems that half-hour naps should not only be recognized as acceptable by companies, but also beneficial. This is old news to many European countries where afternoon siestas are standard practice and many shops close for an hour or so each afternoon.

Afternoon drowsiness is a major problem for many corporations: it is estimated that lost productivity costs billions of dollars every year. A possible solution is to allow 20 to 30 minutes of napping per day when it is deemed necessary, creating a work environment that may actually help boost workplace productivity rather than hinder it. In today's fast-paced society and tough economy, however, most companies frown on napping in the workplace rather than encourage it.

Can't squeeze in a nap? Use these nine tips to boost your energy and productivity during the day: