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There is a
longevity
revolution in
the making, but
will you be
around to take
advantage of it?
We absolutely
know that it is
possible for
human life to be
extended for up
to 122 years,
164 days.
That is the time
period that
Jeanne Calment
of France lived
from February
21, 1875 to
August 4, 1997.
It is the first
case confirmed
of someone
living to this
age.
 Such
a life extension
to most of us is
a mere
curiosity, but
life is getting
closer to the
extreme of human
survival.
In the last 50
years, average
human life has
increased almost
30 years.
People who tell
you that human
life can be
significantly
extended usually
also want to sell
you snake oil
and miracle
pills. And
who would want
to live that
long? The
photos of these
supercentenarians
don't give us
the idea that
life is so
great at that
extended age.
Yet if we dial
back to a mere
90 to 100 we see
people living
independent
lives and
playing tennis
(more slowly,
that's granted.)
What is making
lives of 120
years and beyond
plausible is the
completion of
the human genome
and affordable
technology that
will be able to
analyze every
one of your
genes, with the
possibility of
changing out the
pesky ones that
brought our
ancestors down
and threaten us.
Organ storage
may soon be
possible in
biological
warehouses where
we can order up
a new kidney or
heart at will.
Then there are
stem cells to
eliminate
disease and new
techniques for
tricking the
body into
extending life,
something that's
happening in
laboratory
animals.
There's a big
wait a minute,
however.
Most of these
modern miracles
will occur
gradually over
the next 10 to
20 years.
They won't come
all at once.
That's one of
the big
motivators to
keep yourself
healthy now,
enjoy great
health and
vitality, and
take advantage
of the new
medical
advances.
 The
following things
you have heard,
but it's worth hearing them
in the context
of a longer,
healthier life.
1.
Nutrition.
You probably
won't make it on
a constant diet
of chicken fried
steaks and
enchiladas.
It's hard to
believe, but
it's
true that your
diet may be
killing you.
Nutrition and
weight control
is 75% of health
management.
We know that a
diet rich in
vegetables and
fruit and low in
animal products
keeps you on
course and helps
you control
your weight.
But it's not just
weight control.
It's the job we
give our whole
systems
digesting those
extra calories.
There are three
principles of
nutrition: 1)
What you eat, 2)
How much you
eat, and 3) When
you eat it.
There is a huge
reservoir of
great
information
available.
Learn about food
and you'll learn
about your life.
2.
Exercise.
Busy people in
organizations
always tell me
that they just
don't have time
to exercise,
which really
makes me mad
because I
believe I'm
busier than most
people.
The most telling
thing is that
although people
say they don't
have time to
exercise, they
have all the
time in the
world to manage
the kinds of
diseases caused
by neglecting their
bodies.
In order to live
a good healthy
life, you need
at least an hour
of vigorous
exercise a day.
3.
Stress
Management.
Stress is
killing more
people
prematurely than
many of the
things that come
to mind first.
Stress really
makes life suck
and darkens the
years we have
here on earth.
The best
antidotes to
stress are
mental,
emotional, and
spiritual tools.
An isolated life
brings on stress
and depression.
Antidepressants
are one of the
biggest traps of
all because they
keep you from
developing
emotional and
spiritual tools.
They mask the
real problems.
Antidepressants
are absolutely
necessary in
some cases, but
if they are used
as a substitute
for personal
growth, the will
take you down
early.
4. Have
fun! People
in organizations
talk about
work/life
balance, but
many of us take
pride in working
all the time.
Don't do it!
Go home! Play!
Enjoy life!
5. Avoid the
bad stuff.
Drugs and
alcohol are
killing America
and will kill
you. The
old rock stars
who are still
drawing crowds
of young people
quit drugs years
ago, and if you
haven't, you'll
finally quit
them or they'll
take you out
before medical
science can help
you. If
you honestly
drink a glass of
wine and it is
something you
don't feel you
have to consume,
fine. If
you build your
life around
getting a drink,
it's a good time
to stop.
I admire a
person like Mike
Wallace, of CBS
60 Minutes,
who said his
most creative
time and best
work years were from
70 to 80 years
old. We
have the
opportunity to
live long and
live
successfully--and
with today's
401Ks, it's a
good thing!
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