[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by pooh

You may assume that TV is like any other retirement community, I do not. There are many aspects to being "healthy" VPl, and it isn't always showing lab results that are considered optimal.

No one knows for sure; that's my point. There are many aspects to being healthy, as you said. But that can be turned around, as follows: There are many aspects to being unhealthy as well. For example, some people may feel well but their sense of well-being may be propped up by medications. And too many medications usually spells trouble in the long run.

USF stated, in one of their lectures, that they would eventually compare the results of our health survey with other surveys of other communities. They also said they would have a follow up lecture to give us the results of our survey. I'm waiting.

This community offers lots of activities, programs, sports, community services, things shown to keep people active, healthy and happy. Many other retirement communities do not offer as much.

People usually adapt to whatever is available. I visited a small retirement community in Zepherhills FL one morning (several years ago). I was amazed at how many people where out walking.

Time is the true test of what really "does a body good.". Many studies show positive results and those are the ones brought to light. Negatives might not initially show up or if they do, they may be minimized. Over time, a study either continues to prove itself or it is shown that the negatives outweigh the positives.

I'm glad you brought that up. That's exactly why I always look to large long term studies to keep things in perspective. I'm talking about studies that last 20+ years. One is "The Okinawa Program" and another is "The China Study".

LL&P, VPl.....I'm starting to sound like a Star Trek movie.....

Beam me up, Scotty!

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by ariel

Eating healty is a wonderful thing. There are many opinions on how to do it and avoiding sugar, white flour seems to have many advocates and the support of science. It's also important to enjoy life and "splurging" every once in a while is probably not a bad thing. Especially if it makes us happy. I believe I recall a few studies on the impact of happiness, contentment, moderation in life being linked to health and longevity. I have two people in my life who are extremely concerned with eating - they don't really eat, they "fuel". Going to a nice restaurant, sitting down with friends for a long, leisurely meal is not something they are able to do. They are both extremely intelligent people, very opinionated, and not too tolerant of others who don't subscribe to their beliefs on matters of nutrition and exercise. Their relationships have suffered as a result. It's important to ensure that a balance occurs in our lives so that we don't miss out on something that could enrich us as well as impact our health and well-being.

In your post above I put the word "moderation" in bold print. Why? I guess it's because I'm fascinated by the concept. Sometimes I wonder what it really means. On average, I go out to eat about twice per month and I call it moderation. Another person might go out to eat once per week and call it moderation. And another might go out to eat twice per week and call it moderation.

As a result, just about everyone claims to practice moderation. Think about that for a minute: Have you ever met anyone who said they don't practice moderation? I have never met such a person. I think it's because the word "moderation" is a relative term and it usually applies to processed foods. So, whatever amount of it we eat, we tend to rationalize and catagorize it as "moderation".

I'm so glad you brought this up because it has to do with my point about sugar and other unhealthful items being put on blackberries. People will say it's okay as long as you practice moderation. Sounds good, doesn't it? Yes, it does, until you realize that the average person in the U.S. consumes 150 lbs. of sugar per year.

Then keep in mind that obesety, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative diseases are very high and continue climbing.

This is why we certainly don't need The Daily Sun publishing recipes calling for refined sugar, white refined flour, butter and ice cream, especially due to the fact that The Villages claims to be interested in being America's healthiest home town.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

[snip]
This is why we certainly don't need The Daily Sun publishing recipes calling for refined sugar, white refined flour, butter and ice cream, especially due to the fact that The Villages claims to be interested in being America's healthiest home town.

villages pl - YES WE DO need the d.s. to continue to publish those recipes. and PLEASE stop trying to foist your dietary habits on the rest of us and let us go on our merry SWEET way!

thank you!

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You are right. As usual.

you are sweet to post that - but my post is a small semantic change from yours. we share the same intention.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

In your post above I put the word "moderation" in bold print. Why? I guess it's because I'm fascinated by the concept. Sometimes I wonder what it really means. On average, I go out to eat about twice per month and I call it moderation. Another person might go out to eat once per week and call it moderation. And another might go out to eat twice per week and call it moderation.

As a result, just about everyone claims to practice moderation. Think about that for a minute: Have you ever met anyone who said they don't practice moderation? I have never met such a person. I think it's because the word "moderation" is a relative term and it usually applies to processed foods. So, whatever amount of it we eat, we tend to rationalize and catagorize it as "moderation".

I'm so glad you brought this up because it has to do with my point about sugar and other unhealthful items being put on blackberries. People will say it's okay as long as you practice moderation. Sounds good, doesn't it? Yes, it does, until you realize that the average person in the U.S. consumes 150 lbs. of sugar per year.

Then keep in mind that obesety, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative diseases are very high and continue climbing.

This is why we certainly don't need The Daily Sun publishing recipes calling for refined sugar, white refined flour, butter and ice cream, especially due to the fact that The Villages claims to be interested in being America's healthiest home town.

It is difficult to define moderation; actually, it’s difficult to quantify most things that are outside the realm of mathematics. My use of the word was more in reference to one’s overall approach to living a healthy lifestyle, i.e. it may be unwise to focus too much attention on any single aspect of ones’ life. A more “moderate” approach for me has been to try and bring multiple things into balance – nutrition, exercise, rest, meditation, relaxation, relationships – what I take from them and what I give back, etc. I’m a work in progress, but the ultimate goal is happiness while I’m here and some positive impact that will, perhaps, live beyond me. I’m very blessed, I’m past 60, have no chronic ailments and feel pretty darn good every day – probably in most part due to heredity, some to good luck, and much to lifestyle and choices. I don’t disagree with much of what you say and your message is valuable. But value can be missed if delivery is uncomfortable.

[graciegirl]

Sugar isn't essentially bad for us. It is a component in breast milk. It doesn't matter if we use refined sugar, corn sugar, cane sugar, sugar from nectarines, apples, pears, bananas or an ice cream sundae, it only harms us if we eat too much all of the time.

The bread you eat is good for you but not a heck of a lot different than other forms of carbohydrates which our bodies also need.

Humans are carnivores. We need protein and that is easier to obtain from meat than from nuts etc. It is the excess of fat that harms us in most meats.

Fiber is important too and most folks do not consume enough plant material to get it. But you can get it from taking fiber supplements and eating oat bran cereal too.

Because the human species is so smart we have discovered reliable medicine that will and does extend our lives. There isn't anything wrong with taking medicine prescribed by a qualified physician and a hell of a lot wrong with NOT taking it.

That is what I call a moderate approach.

[rubicon]

What the heck does The Villages have to do with our health. Is there anyone doing anything differently that they would not be doing or have done over the years? I mean cities throughout the country have health centers, bike paths walking paths specialty stores for those health foods we believe assists our longevity. i am dumbfounded when I read someone's post attributing health to living here as if the moment you move into this place all of a sudden all of those nastythings we did to our bodies disappears.

Frankly genetics is the main factor and moderation as the Greeks have told us help. As Irama bombeck once said " Just think two minutes before the Titantic sank some women waved off the dessert cart."

I don't smoke, laugh a lot, drink a glass a wine a day, continue to exercise just as I have done for many years before moving here,,,,and best of all I continue to enjoy my mother's cookiing thanks to an attentive wife.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by ariel

It is difficult to define moderation; actually, it’s difficult to quantify most things that are outside the realm of mathematics. My use of the word was more in reference to one’s overall approach to living a healthy lifestyle, i.e. it may be unwise to focus too much attention on any single aspect of ones’ life. A more “moderate” approach for me has been to try and bring multiple things into balance – nutrition, exercise, rest, meditation, relaxation, relationships – what I take from them and what I give back, etc. I’m a work in progress, but the ultimate goal is happiness while I’m here and some positive impact that will, perhaps, live beyond me. I’m very blessed, I’m past 60, have no chronic ailments and feel pretty darn good every day – probably in most part due to heredity, some to good luck, and much to lifestyle and choices. I don’t disagree with much of what you say and your message is valuable. But value can be missed if delivery is uncomfortable.

Thanks, ariel; nice post. I can't find one thing to disagree with, and that's rare. All the things you mentioned like nutrition, exercise, rest, meditation, relaxation, and relationships are the things that I work on and value.

I'm 71 and in excellent health. The first time I went to my new doctor for a check up, he looked at me like he couldn't believe I was so healthy. Everything on my blood test was perfect and my blood pressure was 100/50. So I have never needed any medication. The last time I took an aspirin was in 1979. Sorry to get carried away but being healthy is one of my biggest pleasures in life.

And I feel like my good health is well deserved because I have paid attention to it. Regarding food, I never think in terms of how much I can get away with. Rather, I think in terms of how much good can I do. And that's part of what I enjoy. When I know that a particular food is healthy, I enjoy it all the more by having that thought.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

villages pl - YES WE DO need the d.s. to continue to publish those recipes. and PLEASE stop trying to foist your dietary habits on the rest of us and let us go on our merry SWEET way!

thank you!

I take it you are not a fan of the health alliance between The Villages and USF.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Sugar isn't essentially bad for us. It is a component in breast milk.

I have nothing against breast milk. I love breast milk!

It doesn't matter if we use refined sugar, corn sugar, cane sugar, sugar from nectarines, apples, pears, bananas or an ice cream sundae, it only harms us if we eat too much all of the time.

Your statement is too generalized to be of much help to anyone. But I'll try to give a reply. The problem with refined sugar, corn sugar and cane sugar, is that they represent empty calories. Sugar that comes from fruit contains fiber, vitamins and minerals. Each piece of fruit is balanced buy nature and the fiber slows down the absorbtion of sugar into your blood stream. Non-sweet fruit is better to keep your blood sugar at optimum levels. That's why I choose grapefruit over navel oranges.

Ice cream is one of the worst "foods" a person can eat. It's high calorie with very little food value. If you're looking for calcium or protein there are much better ways of getting those nutrients than by eating ice cream.

The bread you eat is good for you but not a heck of a lot different than other forms of carbohydrates which our bodies also need.

I believe a person should stick to one serving of one starch per meal. In other words, if you're having one serving of white potatoes for dinner, then you shouldn't have bread, corn or rice in the same meal.

Humans are carnivores. We need protein and that is easier to obtain from meat than from nuts etc. It is the excess of fat that harms us in most meats.

I don't know about easier. What's so difficult about getting protein from lentils, beans or split peas, for example. Balanced protein comes from most of the whole foods that we eat. And protein from plant sources has the added value of more fiber. We need at least 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day.

Fiber is important too and most folks do not consume enough plant material to get it. But you can get it from taking fiber supplements and eating oat bran cereal too.

Oat bran and fiber supplements will give you fiber but not the other nutrients you would get from eating natural whole fiber foods.

Because the human species is so smart we have discovered reliable medicine that will and does extend our lives. There isn't anything wrong with taking medicine prescribed by a qualified physician and a hell of a lot wrong with NOT taking it.

Well, that's your judgement call. It's between you and your doctor since I have no idea what your health status is. Personally, I prefer to eat right and hopefully never have to take any medications.

[graciegirl]

You can lead a horse to water but


UNCLE!

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by ariel

Eating healty is a wonderful thing. There are many opinions on how to do it and avoiding sugar, white flour seems to have many advocates and the support of science. It's also important to enjoy life and "splurging" every once in a while is probably not a bad thing. Especially if it makes us happy. I believe I recall a few studies on the impact of happiness, contentment, moderation in life being linked to health and longevity. I have two people in my life who are extremely concerned with eating - they don't really eat, they "fuel". Going to a nice restaurant, sitting down with friends for a long, leisurely meal is not something they are able to do. They are both extremely intelligent people, very opinionated, and not too tolerant of others who don't subscribe to their beliefs on matters of nutrition and exercise. Their relationships have suffered as a result. It's important to ensure that a balance occurs in our lives so that we don't miss out on something that could enrich us as well as impact our health and well-being.

Originally Posted by ariel

It is difficult to define moderation; actually, it’s difficult to quantify most things that are outside the realm of mathematics. My use of the word was more in reference to one’s overall approach to living a healthy lifestyle, i.e. it may be unwise to focus too much attention on any single aspect of ones’ life. A more “moderate” approach for me has been to try and bring multiple things into balance – nutrition, exercise, rest, meditation, relaxation, relationships – what I take from them and what I give back, etc. I’m a work in progress, but the ultimate goal is happiness while I’m here and some positive impact that will, perhaps, live beyond me. I’m very blessed, I’m past 60, have no chronic ailments and feel pretty darn good every day – probably in most part due to heredity, some to good luck, and much to lifestyle and choices. I don’t disagree with much of what you say and your message is valuable. But value can be missed if delivery is uncomfortable.

Ariel,
You are one smart cookie. I like you and hope to meet you one day.

Oops, did I say cookie? No offense, VPL.

[ariel]

Thanks, PTurner. I hope so too!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ariel

Thanks, PTurner. I hope so too!

Me too. I want to meet you Ariel.

There are so many good ideas that get presented here and discussing people's views always adds insite to the person. Some just jump off the page with fairness and kindness and quickness.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I take it you are not a fan of the health alliance between The Villages and USF.

i give not a flip one way or the other about that health alliance - i have my alliance with my physician, my god and my common sense...has worked well for me for more than 60 years!