| Most of us, when we hear the term "anti-aging," | | | | listening to our bodies and taking action before |
| think of getting rid of wrinkles and improving our | | | | problems begin. |
| body image, but that is only packaging. True | | | | As we age, our bodies produce or absorb less of the |
| anti-aging means building health for a longer life, | | | | essential nutrients so we need to be more careful |
| staving off the degenerative diseases that make life | | | | about what we eat and to take supplements where |
| miserable and ultimately shorten our lives. Who wants | | | | they can help. We need to watch for new science |
| to live to a hundred with a perfect skin and slim body | | | | and apply it as appropriate. Vitamin D is a case in |
| if it means being bent over with the hump of | | | | point. For years, doctors believed only young children |
| osteoporosis, having our activities limited by heart | | | | needed vitamin D supplements to avoid rickets as |
| disease or emphysema, or dealing with the side | | | | their bone structure developed. Only recently has it |
| effects of cancer treatment? Real anti-aging involves | | | | been discovered that there is a huge deficiency in all |
| building good health to maintain strength and energy | | | | segments of the population right across the country, |
| so that we can enjoy our later years and really live | | | | north of a line from Atlanta to Los Angeles, and that |
| life to the full. The result of that will include the health | | | | deficiency does not only affect our bones. It is now |
| of our skin as it naturally reflects our inner glow. | | | | known that vitamin D is essential to heart health and |
| That is not to say we should not take care of our | | | | the immune system, and that vitamin K3 is needed |
| skin. There are many excellent reams and skin-care | | | | also to help the absorption of D. Anyone who is |
| products out there; but first and foremost, we | | | | serious about anti-aging should keep abreast of what |
| should concern ourselves with inner health. That | | | | is happening in science and medicine and learn what |
| means, as we all know, daily exercise. Even a short | | | | they can do to remain vital, energetic, and alive. |
| walk will help to move the muscles and get extra | | | | Anti-aging is also a matter of attitude. Reject that |
| oxygen into the body. It means adequate sleep. | | | | label "senior citizen." Do not put off doing things |
| Experts now say that seven or eight hours is most | | | | because you are in your sixties or older. Do not dress |
| beneficial - anything more or less can lead to earlier | | | | like your grandmother. Do not grunt when you get |
| death. It means frequent small meals rather than | | | | up out of a chair. Keep up with what is happening in |
| skipping breakfast, grabbing a quick lunch, and | | | | the world. Life is not just for the young. Under sixties |
| indulging at dinner time. Most of all, anti-aging means | | | | do not own the planet. Participate and live it! |