At a seminar I attended, the speaker asked what we would do to our car if we knew we had to make it last our lifetime. Some suggestions included: using high octane fuel, having regular oil changes and maintenance by a trusted mechanic, and not driving in a reckless manner. He then went on to compare the “one car in a lifetime” concept to our “one body in a lifetime” and suggested we would be wise to treat ourselves as kindly as our car.
There is not any magical potion to extend human life. It is believed there is a biological limit in each species. One human was documented to have lived to 122 years of age. The findings in a recent study indicated that the main personality predictor of a long life was conscientiousness. Those researchers believed that exacting individuals developed healthy patterns and then maintained them. Each person has a great deal of influence on his or her longevity. Present-day information indicates that stem cells (which are the master cells of the body for tissue and organ development as well as replacement and repair) can be influenced by healthy lifestyle choices.
Whether from medical publications, health, fitness or other household magazines, the same areas to improve our health keep surfacing:
1. Diet
2. Exercise
3. Rest and relaxation
4. Family and support
5. Stress

1. Diet –
• Eat well- adequate protein, healthy fat, fruit and vegetables
• Eat “green”-as natural as possible
• Eat bright colours- purple, orange, greens
• Eat breakfast- equal grams of protein and carbohydrates
• Eat “real”- minimally processed
• Some top food picks:
i. Salmon- omega 3’s reduce inflammation and potential for blood clots
ii. Blueberries- antioxidants for free radical scavenging
iii. Olive oil- decreases (LDL) bad cholesterol and increases (HDL) good cholesterol
iv. Oatmeal- fibre, whole grains, aids in cholesterol control
v. Nuts- omega 3 Fatty acids, vitamin E, B vitamins, Zinc, Potassium, and iron

• Eat quality not quantity- one study on men over 60 years of age showed that their caloric requirement was 1000 calories less than when they were 20 years of age.

In future issues, the remaining areas of health maintenance will be covered.

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This information is provided by Pat Stapley Chase to help educate and stimulate consideration on life style habits for anti aging and enhanced quality and performance in life.