As I look at my little snowmen marching across my mantle, I cannot believe another year has passed. The holiday season is upon us and I feel like summer had barely ended.
Is that what “getting old” does to us? It doesn’t seem possible that the children in our lives are so grown up! It makes me want to even more take the time to enjoy the present.
One thing for certain ~ I am paying more attention to ways I can improve and instill habits that will help me live healthier long into the future. I loved this video by Dr. Oz where he shows us in just 7 minutes how we can get going.
I came across some interesting health trivia the other day ~
- At age 20, our health is affected by genetics 80%, by the environment 20%
- At age 30, genetics is a 50% factor in our health and the environment 50%
- But, by age 50, genetics is responsible for only 20% of our health ~ the environment and our lifestyle choices contributes 80% to our health!
- AND the average 50 year old weighs 15 to 20 pounds more than they did at 30
One of the things I have done consistently for the past 18 years is to take a protein shake each morning. It is a complete meal for me (24 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, lactose free, non-GMO protein, gluten free, and low glycemic index. I often add frozen organic berries (which are filled with antioxidants and help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress). At times I just mix it with water and add organic kale and berries for a “green shake.”
Taking a break in the afternoon with an Energy Tea Mix (I love my Pomegrante tea) is a great alternative to sugary snacks and coffee (particularly since I have had to give up coffee) for a quick energy lift.
Probably the most helpful addition to my diet has been to add a resveratrol and proprietary phytonutrient blend liquid dietary supplement each day. I just learned that in a well-designed human clinical study, (Cell Metabolism) researchers showed that taking a resveratrol supplement for 30 days significantly lowered multiple markers associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other chronic diseases. This was very exciting new to hear about.
Of course we all know that stress plays a big role not only in the breaking down of our immune system According to Deepok Chopra, M.D., in his book, Ageless Body, Ageless Mind, most of the time our cells are occupied with renewal ~ roughly 90% of a cell’s energy normally goes to building new proteins and manufacturing new DNA and RNA. When the brain perceives threat, however, the process of building is set aside. Whatever you decide to do in fight-or-flight situations, your body needs a massive burst of energy to propel your muscles. To allow this, the normal style of metabolism that builds the body, called anabolic metabolism, converts to its opposite, catabolic metabolism, which breaks down tissues. This adrenaline launches a cascade of responses ~ blood pressure rises, muscles tense, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, sexual desire and hunger are suppressed, digestion stops, and the brain becomes hyperalert. At times this stress response is vital, but if not terminated in time, Chopra states that the effects of catabolic metabolism are disastrous, leading to such illnesses as hypertension, ulcers, impotence, wasted muscles, and diabetes, all of which are common signs of aging
I just recently learned that processed meats such as bacon, sausage and hot dogs, all of which contain nitrates, may be linked to Alzheimer’s. Perhaps that “fake bacon” is not so bad after all? In a society that eats half of its meals at fast-food stands and runs record-high rates of obesity,, alcoholism, eating disorders, and crash dieting, we can see that improper diet is clearly linked with disease and premature aging. Choosing a diet consisting largely of plant-derived foods, with occasional bits of meat and fish, along with nuts, seeds and grains and certainly eliminating sugar as much as possible (average American diet contains 130# of sugar per year) can help add to our healthy years.
My other “tool” to avoid aging too fast has been to take care of my skin. I chose a product that was nutrient based, pH balanced, never animal tested, always hypoallergenic, with no Parabens, FD&C or D&C dyes, Propylene glycol, animal products or by-products, mineral oils or petrolatum, Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate as well as no Phthalates. As a result, my skin looks and feels great.
What about you ~ what are your “anti-aging tools?” In closing I found this quote and found it very appropriate:
“People don’t grow old. When they stop growing, they become old.”
