and more common in the United States. In 1950 there were 2,300 U.S.
centenarians and today there are more than 40,000. According to one
researcher in the November 2003 issue of Discover magazine
<http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-03/cover/?page=1> , the number of
centenarians is doubling every decade.
There are different theories as to just how long the human body can last,
and why certain cultures have longer life expectancies than others, but one
would expect that since the United States spends more on health care than
other nations <http://www.mercola.com/2003/may/24/health_care.htm> , the
life expectancy would reflect that spending. However, the United States
ranks 24th on the list of disability-adjusted life expectancy
<http://www.mercola.com/2000/jun/10/us_healthcare.htm> , while Japan ranks
first.
Naturally, this is pretty explicit evidence that traditional U.S. health
care is not the secret to longevity. In fact, health care in the United
States would be more aptly named if it were called "disease care," as the
system only serves to treat disease--not protect health.
There are obviously other factors involved in living to be 100 years old or
more. Some scientists believe that people may be able to live for hundreds
of years based on their study of round worms.
The study, published in the October 2003 journal Science
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_u
ids=14576426&dopt=Abstract> , found that by manipulating the worms' insulin
signaling and removing their reproductive systems, the worms could live six
times longer than normal. According to the researchers, this corresponds to
a healthy, active lifespan of 500 human years.
It is quite clear that elevated insulin levels
<http://www.mercola.com/2003/feb/8/longevity.htm> are indeed one of the
most significant physical influences that contribute to rapid aging, and
there is no question that optimizing insulin levels
<http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/14/insulin.htm> is the key to optimizing
the aging process.
However, I firmly believe that our maximum lifespan is about 120 years and
manipulation of even insulin genes will be highly unlikely to improve our
lifespan significantly beyond that. Ironically, even though most people
express an interest in living to their maximum potential, many people refuse
to use the available methods that are sure to slow down aging. If they did,
we would surely not be facing the ever-increasing epidemics of obesity,
diabetes, heart disease and cancer in this country.
If you want to increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life, one
of the first things you should do is start practicing a nutrition plan, like
our Body By God "Un-Diet" nutrition plan. You'll notice that at the heart of
the program is the elimination, or at the very least a large reduction, of
grains and sugar in your diet. Consuming sugar and grains will increase your
insulin level, and that is the equivalent of slamming your foot on the aging
accelerator. There is simply no more potent way to accelerate aging than
eating sugar and grains.
Fish oil is another strong factor in helping people live longer, and many
experts believe that it is likely the predominant reason why the Japanese
are the longest lived race on the planet
<http://www.mercola.com/2002/aug/17/life_expectancy.htm> . When choosing a
fish oil brand, it is important to find one of high quality to ensure that
it has been purified of mercury and other toxins.
You may also want to look into some specific foods that may slow down aging.
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that have anti-aging effects. Most
fruits and especially vegetables contain antioxidants, but blueberries have
been ranked #1 in antioxidant activity by the USDA when compared to 40 other
fresh fruits and vegetables. I try to maximize my antioxidant (anti-aging)
intake by consuming the greens powder supplement we have in the office.
This is the most effectively efficient way I know of to consume large
amounts of nutrients typically found in vegetables.
Another excellent anti-aging food is coconut oil
<http://www.mercola.com/forms/coconut_oil.htm> , and this one is doubly
beneficial because it can be eaten and applied directly to your skin.
Coconut oil can be used in place of oils, margarine, butter or shortening
and used for all your cooking needs. It can help you lose weight, or
maintain your already good weight, reduce the risk of heart disease and
lower your cholesterol, among other things.
Researchers are also looking into the anti-aging effects of resveratrol, the
antioxidant found in red wine
<http://www.mercola.com/2003/sep/10/red_wine.htm> that has been found to
extend the lifespan of yeast cells by up to 80 percent.
Easily, implementing a nutrition plan is an excellent way to slow down aging
and improve your quality of life. There is no quick fix with this, no pill
and no magic fountain. For most of us living a healthy life well into our
100s will take some dedication and planning, and it's up to you to decide if
the effort is worth it for you.
TRIVIA QUESTION: What famous actor once said "If I could do it all over
again, the one thing I would definitely change is- I would take better care
of my health."?
REMINDER
Our Wednesday night seminar, "Lifetime Wellness, Maximizing Health and
Minimizing Stress" is tonight. If you want to live to be 80, 90 or even
100... you better have a plan in place to do so! Tonight we will be helping
people develop a strategy for living a longer, healthier life. Please join
us!
See the front desk if you are not already signed up for this seminar.
Your Maximized Health Mentor,
