INTRODUCTION
In Search of the Fountain of Youth
Ann Tyndall Ph.D.
The study of
aging, gerontology is a relatively new science, though lengthening the life
span has been a goal for centuries. The First Emperor of China offered huge
rewards for anyone who could find the secret to youth and prolonged life. The
great magicians of Shantung cast spells, concocted potions and induced trances
to lengthen life. Ponce de Leon spent his life following stories and rumors,
searching for the Fountain of Youth, an enchanted pool of water that could give
everlasting youth to those who drank from it. Leonardo da Vinci dissected many
corpses, hoping to discover the secrets of life and death.
In their
attempt to uncover these secrets, researchers have begun to study the mechanism
of aging. For example, what signals the cells to stop multiplying, grow old and
die? Why do some people live to be ninety-five, continuing with an active life,
while others slow down at the age of sixty and die slowly of chronic disease? In
order to answer these questions, various studies have been done on long-lived
people. Other studies have involved the transplantation of aging organs into
young hosts to see if youthful qualities were observed in the transplanted
organs. (They were not.) Though the life span of one's biological parents
remains the most important predictor of one's life span, there have been some
important findings from recent research that allow anyone to extend their life
span many years beyond what they might normally expect. It is the purpose of
this book to explore the findings of this research and make recommendations for
positive changes you can make in your life that will help to prolong the prime
of your life.
For instance,
recent advances in medical science have shown that the two biggest killer
diseases in the United States, heart disease and cancer, are heavily influenced
by lifestyle. If lifestyle plays a major part in the prevention of these
diseases, then at a minimum that means we are in control of two of the major
factors that influence longevity and quality of life. Population studies that
compare the Asian diet and the Mediterranean diet with the American diet show
remarkable patterns that could be the key to why Americans die more from cancer
and heart disease than do the Japanese or the Greeks.
If there were
a fountain of youth, we'd have to say that it is exercise. Instead of a
fountain of youth, perhaps it would be more accurate to say there is a mountain
of youth. The peoples of the world who live the longest inhabit mountainous
regions that require them to engage in a great deal of physical activity during
their daily lives. Of all the populations studied, the single most important
common factor influencing the subject's longevity (other than genetic
inheritance) was exercise. The chapter on exercise and lifestyles outlines a
program of physical activity that is designed so anyone can follow it, no
matter what their current physical condition.
Did you ever
wonder why you never see very old people who are overweight? There is a reason.
In the chapter on lifetime weight control you will learn the techniques for
lifetime weight control and these habits can keep you healthier, longer.
As we grow
older the risk of hip and bone fractures, as well as osteoporosis (bone loss)
increases. The chapter on bones and aging recommends dietary changes and
physical activity that can decrease your chances of getting osteoporosis and
debilitating bone fractures.
This book
focuses on nutrition as a proven key to health and longevity. There are
powerful, natural chemicals in foods, called phytochemicals, that can fight
cancer, delay the aging process and provide energy for peak performance. This
book offers a total approach to lifestyle habits, including eating habits,
exercise, weight control, goal setting, life enrichment and finding meaning. It
was written not only for older people who are interested in maintaining their
health but for younger people who can reap long-term benefits from positive
health habits. Each chapter includes a section at the end, "What You Can
Do," that gives practical recommendations for putting research findings
into action.
There is a
massive amount of misinformation and false claims about nutrition and it is
difficult to know what is the right thing to do when faced with so many
conflicting choices. Some people have become convinced that there is no way to
get adequate nutritional benefits from the natural food supply; therefore, they
take a variety of food supplements, still feeling uneasy that something could
be missing. This book will answer many of the most frequently asked questions
about what foods are healthiest and will provide an easy to follow nutritional
program that will help prolong the prime of your life.
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