IN FRATERNAM MEAM

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

Friday, April 30, 2004

DEFYING AGING
by: Dr. Miriam Stoppard
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CAN WE DEFY AGE?

There's probably no single mechanism to aging. In fact, one scientist listed nearly 300 different theories. It follows that there can be no single gene responsible for aging. In fact we have no death genes. Aging is NOT inevitable. We are not programmed to die. We can lengthen or shorten our lives by how we live..

That's because longevity lies more in your hands thn it does your genes. You're in teh driver's seat when it comes to setting the limit on your own mortality.

THE OKINAWAN LIFESTYLE...

But if lifestayle is so important, what's the best lifestyle? We can learn from looking at the Okinawan people, who live on a chain of islands stretching from Japan to Taiwan. The 1.3 millions inhabitants have the longest life expectancy on the planet, with four times as many centenarians as western countries and their lifestyles holds many clue to long life. People in Okinawa still show signs of age of course, but they're better at curtailing the classic life-threatening symptoms of old age. So, for instance, heart problems and strokes are virtually unknown and hormone linked cancers are much rather rarer that in the west.

The reason we know that genes arent' so crucial is that Okinawans who migrate to the West and take up the western lifestyle lose their knack for living a long time.

MAGIC INGREDIENTS IN THE OKINAWAN LIFESTYLE
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** Okinawan don't drink alcohol of smoke.

** Okinawan eat little meat. three quarters of their food comes from plants, with a lot of fruits, vegetables and fiber. we're encouraged to eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day -- with rice and bean sprouts they eatr wee over ten.

** They eat little fat and refined sugars.

** HAThey practice a cultural habit called HARA HACHI BU- they stop eating at the very first hint of fullness. this means they eat 20 percent less food than we do or 400-500 fewer calories per day.

** Most Okinawans are not sedentary. they dance, walk, do gardening or engage in gentle martial arts.

** Okinawans don't turn to alcohol or antidepressants. to combat stress and anxiety they meditate and lean on the strong family and community support they've evoled.

** It's difficult to prove, but studies suggest that optmists tend to outlive pessimists and religious types outlive the atheists. the spiritual life pomotes long life, but then so does a willful, cantankerous frame of mind.

TO BE CONTINUED...ANTOK NA AKO. IT IS NOW 0415HRS HERE.

posted by infraternam meam @ 4:14 AM

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