How to Live a Long, Healthy Life
Friday, October 7th, 2011
Would you like to live to be 100 years old? When I ask this question, most people say “Sure, as long as I’m healthy.” So what can you do to help insure that you will live to be a healthy into your later years?
I believe that the answer lies in a holistic approach to health – one that places importance on the connection of body, mind and spirit and encourages a life which is in harmony with nature.
I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York where I learned about the importance of Primary FoodsTM. This theory is based on the belief that the foods that are most important to us don’t come on a plate. They include satisfying relationships, work that fulfills us, physical activity that we enjoy and a connection with spirit. And when we have a diet rich in these “foods,” we have the best chance of being in a state of vibrant health.
Of course, the nutrition that come on our plates is very important to our health as well. And trying to choose between all the diets out there can be very confusing. One diet book says that you should stay away from carbs, another warns against fat, one says you must count calories, the next one says “calories don’t count.” And all the authors think that their diet is the one true diet – and that it will work for everyone.
Over the years I’ve studied many different kinds of dietary theories: eastern and western, ayurvedic, macrobiotic, vegan and vegetarian, the zone, Atkins, Pritikin, the blood type diet, the raw foods diet, fasting and juicing. And I learned that each diet had something valuable to add to what we already know about nutrition. I also learned that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. What’s perfect for me might be poison for you. There is not even one diet that is right for you for every stage of your life. Dietary needs vary depending on your heredity, your sex, your age, your current state of health, your level of activity, your work – all of which help to determine what foods are best for you. So experimentation is in order. Try taking notice of how you feel after eating certain foods. Grains give some people a burst of energy but can make others feel sluggish. One out of every 137 Americans suffers from celiac disease and cannot tolerate the gluten in wheat products. If they do eat wheat, it destroys their intestines and can be life-threatening. Dairy might be fine for you if you have the right genetic background. But more and more people are realizing that they are lactose intolerant. How do you feel after you’ve eaten something sugary sweet? Most people feel good initially, but many feel a letdown or a drop in energy a short while later. Keeping a food journal and making notes of how you feel after you have eaten certain foods has been both an eye opener and a life saver for many people.
Several scientific studies point to the fact that plant based diets are the healthiest, but this is a personal decision, and some people feel better with some animal protein in their diet. However, cutting back on animal protein and trying to buy organic meat whenever possible is a good choice. Toxins accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals and make them potentially hazardous to your health.
Almost everyone agrees that a whole foods diet is the healthiest choice. No matter what you are currently eating, adding a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruits (ones that are in season and local, whenever possible), grains, legumes, and limited amounts of nuts, seeds and animal protein (if animal protein works for you) is the way to go. Cutting back on processed foods (ones that comes in a box, usually laden with preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners) is a healthy choice. Contrary to what some people think, a grocery cart full of whole foods can save you money at the checkout counter. And for busy parents, getting the kids involved in cooking can be an education, a time saver and an opportunity to share some quality time together.
I am among a growing number of consumers who believe that organic foods are the healthiest and safest foods to eat. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers have long been implicated in causing cancer. It’s no wonder the cancer rates are as high as they are. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in seven woman can expect to get breast cancer at some time in her life and according to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Become proactive and decrease your risk of becoming another cancer statistic. Read more. Become proactive. Become a smart consumer. A study at Rutgers University showed that organically raised vegetables and fruits have significantly higher amounts of vitamins and minerals. They may cost more, but I can tell you from personal experience, my family hardly ever gets sick and my doctor bills are for well visits only.
Beware of chemicals in personal hygiene products and household cleaning products. We are bombarded by chemicals in our society. And don’t rely on the FDA to protect you. They are more inclined to protect big business.
Dairy is a subject that I think needs special mention. Conventional methods of raising dairy cows use growth hormones to increase milk production and this has been strongly implicated in an increase in breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. And these dairy cows are given large doses of antibiotics that get passed on to you and your family. If your family is stuck on milk, be sure to buy organic milk, yogurt, butter and cheese. It should interest you to know that although the milk industry spends millions of dollars advertising the supposed good qualities of milk, we drink more milk and have more incidence of




