[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Here's my advice and I don't think it has to be complicated: My advice is to eat only natural whole foods like fresh fruit, fresh non-starchy vegetables, whole intact grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Basically, the only processed foods I eat are extra virgin olive oil and Ezekiel bread. Also, cooking is a form a processing and I do cook some foods.

Moderate exercise daily.

Vitamins: B12 because I'm a vegan and D3 because I'm not very good at converting sunlight to vitamin D.

Drink plenty of water: Not too much and not too little.

Avoid stress: I enjoy doing some meditation from time to time.

Keep mentally active: Read and do puzzles etc..

So far it's working very well. I'm 70 and in good health. I don't take any medications; no over-the-counter medications either. Usually, when I go to the doctor for my yearly check up, they tell me my blood pressure is 100/50. That's after sitting for a few minutes. If they take it as soon as I sit down it will be a little higher, like 110/60.

Overall, I believe in eating as few calories as possible while maintaining an ideal weight and optimal nutrition. (It's my own version of the CRON diet.)

Pet peeve: When people tell me they practice moderation, that gets me. The concept of moderation was promoted by the processed food industry. Remember this slogan from years ago? "There's room for all kinds of foods in a healthy diet." (This assumes you practice moderation.) It's a fallacy that the general public has fallen for, hook, line and sinker. Here's why: If you start with a healthy diet and then proceed to include all kinds of highly processed foods, you no longer have a healthy diet.

I am south of seventy and enjoy good health as you do. I do have a mild case type 2 diabetes but I do not take medication. I have it under control for five years with eating healthy and ecercise.

I agree with:
1. Drink plenty of water as it does a lot more than keep you hydrated as it helps all the internal organs to function better.
2. Avoiding stress is always a good thing.
3. Exercise three or four times a week where your heart rate climbs from 60%
to 80% from the max heart rate, (220 minus your age times the percentages just stated).
4. Keep mentally active.

Eating whole grain type foods or whatever is healthy is sometimes subjective, as there is a lot of people who have type 2 diabetes and they need to watch whatever is consummed. Eating several small meals a day is what has worked for me so far in being able to maintain a consistent weight. Processed foods are not healthy for anyone.

I think longevity has a correlation to genetics. If a family history supports longevity, then one can make a reasonable assumption that one will be blessed with good health and the chance of living to a ripe old age. That is assuming that one does what one can to promote their good health.

Unfortunately some people have medical issues that prevent exercise at a vigorous level or have special conderations.