[ithos]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

In my opinion, genetics has a lot more to do with it than what you choose to eat. Weight is very important but a lot of people will gain weight regardless of how disciplined they try to be with their diet. Also, certain diseases are determined by your genetic chemistry. You can try to force yourself to develop healthy habits, but it usually doesn't work.

Fortunately that is not the case with most people. There is a term called gene expression Gene expression is the process by which the information encoded in a gene is turned into a function.

The Western diet, characterized by high intake of saturated fat, sugar, and salt, is associated with elevated inflammation and chronic disease risk. Few studies have investigated molecular mechanisms linking diet and inflammation; however, a small number of randomized controlled trials suggest that consuming an anti-inflammatory diet (i.e., a primarily plant-based diet rich in monounsaturated fat and lean protein) decreases proinflammatory gene expression.

A proinflammatory diet is associated with inflammatory gene expression among healthy, non-obese adults: Can social ties protect against the risks? - PMC


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[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Why is every food group (listed below) so bad in our senior years when we've been eating them all our lives?

Don't preach to me why you think they're bad now, preach to me why they haven't killed most of us yet.

Lunch meat,
Pizza,
White bread,
White rice,
Soda,
Microwave popcorn,
Can soup,
Breakfast Cereal,
Fruit in a Can,
Coffee creamer.

As one who doesn’t eat processed food, since we raised bees, poultry, beef, pork, grew, or bartered fresh, I really can’t comment.Honey only no sugar. We can or freeze fruit, make jam, white rice is like tofu, no flavor unless you add something.

I was in my late 20s before I had milk from a store.. it was awful. Most of my family has lived to be alert and active until late 90s, grands lived to 100s. Happy with whatever age as long as I can continue to not be a burden on anyone.

[Byte1]

My father was a meat and potatoes guy, diabetic and drank a glass of Wild Turkey every night before bed and lived into his 90's before he gave up. MY mother is close to 100 and still running around assisted living.
Personally, I don't know how I have made it through life without using seatbelts in all our motor vehicles growing up. Didn't even have them in transport vehicles in "Nam. And Airbags! How did we ever manage without airbags?
I love butter burgers, pizza with pepperoni and sausage, steak, and ice cream. The only green I want to see is in my wallet. Although, on occasion I am forced to eat broccoli or green beans. I take NO prescription meds, and I see a doctor once a year to have him tell me that my lab work is excellent. Not bragging, just stating that some folks can eat whatever they wish and live a long life. Folks that insist on a "healthy" diet think that just because they believe they will live longer if they eat healthy, that everyone else should. I asked my father once that if he knew then when they are saying now about a health diet, would he change his eating habit. He replied that why in the world would someone suffer not eating delicious foods that they love, just to gain ten more years of life....if that. I agree, but then I probably have another 20 years to go. If not, oh well. Never expected to live past 50 anyway.
All those things on the list have been on my list as great eating, all my life.
Life is great, and food makes it more delightful.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Eclas

I believe most people are predisposed to health problems more than others.
I'm 73 and have never eaten what the 'experts' say you should eat. I eat massive amounts of salt along with red meat (med rare) and all the other bad things. I usually only eat 1 meal a day now. I take zero medications.
Just saying that some people don't need to sweat their diet. I'm very fortunate and I wish everyone had my metabolism.

Metabolism? My works in reverse. How do I fix that?

[PanamaKim]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Why is every food group (listed below) so bad in our senior years when we've been eating them all our lives?

Don't preach to me why you think they're bad now, preach to me why they haven't killed most of us yet.

Lunch meat,
Pizza,
White bread,
White rice,
Soda,
Microwave popcorn,
Can soup,
Breakfast Cereal,
Fruit in a Can,
Coffee creamer.

I didn’t grow up drinking soda (born 1961) - it was a rare treat, usually after we had been “good” while Mom grocery shopped, she would buy us a Coca Cola or Orange drink in the bottles from the Coke machine.

I did grow up on white rice, white bread, lunch meat (bologna - probably the cheapest), breakfast cereal (sometimes), and can soup.

There was no microwave popcorn when I was a kid because there was no microwave. My mother cooked popcorn on the stovetop for us and it’s still my favorite way to eat it. I don’t care for the bags of microwave popcorn. And no coffee creamer for me because I didn’t drink coffee until my 30s.

Why hasn’t it killed us? Drugs, I suppose, better medicine. And activity. We were outside all day every day as kids. Even in high school, there was sports and marching band. And, we didn’t snack “back then” like we/they do today. There was no snack time in school. You ate before school and then lunch, and a snack when you got home. If you had practice after school, you might not get home until dinnertime. That’s a long time without food by today’s standards.

But, I don’t eat many of the things on your list. Why? Am I afraid it will kill me. Goodness no, but it’s certainly not going to add quality to my life.

[manaboutown]

This woman was born in 1909 and is celebrating her 114th birthday - The Jerusalem Post.

[Blackbird45]

I'm a junk food junkie.
But as I've gotten older and have slowed down, I've also gained weight.
I'm not worried about dying, we're all going to die sooner or later.
I just can't stand what I'm seeing in the mirror.

[cjrjck]

There are factors that are difficult to control, like genetics, so it is best to focus on those things which we can control: anything we put in our bodies and exercise. As for things we put in our bodies, there is a lot of debate over what is healthy and what is not, but generally speaking it is clear that sugar, excessive alcohol, and smoking should be avoided to the extent possible. Exercise is important to complement a healthier diet to avoid obesity which is linked to a number of debilitating diseases.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Blackbird45

I'm a junk food junkie.
But as I've gotten older and have slowed down, I've also gained weight.
I'm not worried about dying, we're all going to die sooner or later.
I just can't stand what I'm seeing in the mirror.

The biggest concern is how you die. Do you spend the final months or years immobile, with chronic pain, a burden on family, and or institutionalized.

My grandfather had carotid artery surgery to remove plaque and a part of it broke off and paralyzed him from the neck down. He spent his last few months like that bedridden. Up until then he was thin and active for his age. My mother, grandmothers and uncle also were very debilitated when they passed.

That is no way to go. But it has motivated me to strive to change my lifestyle to the healthiest possible and undo the damage I've done already. And I have found out all those cravings I had have been replaced by a much stronger sense of well being. There is no guarantee but if motivated you can substantially improve your health and significantly increase your odds of a peaceful passage from this earth.

[Michael G.]

Everyone talks about old age and how wonderful it is to live into our 90's and beyond.

The chances of any of us living in our 90's + comes with pain and suffering inside and out.

How is that so wonderful?

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Everyone talks about old age and how wonderful it is to live into our 90's and beyond.

The chances of any of us living in our 90's + comes with pain and suffering inside and out.

How is that so wonderful?

Well you are not alone in that thinking.

States Where Medical Aid in Dying is Authorized

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Everyone talks about old age and how wonderful it is to live into our 90's and beyond.

The chances of any of us living in our 90's + comes with pain and suffering inside and out.

How is that so wonderful?

I guess someone needs to tell Warren Buffet that he is not really happy. He just thinks he is.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Everyone talks about old age and how wonderful it is to live into our 90's and beyond.

The chances of any of us living in our 90's + comes with pain and suffering inside and out.

How is that so wonderful?

Charlie Munger will be 100 years old on January 1, 2024. he seems happy and active.

[mntlblok]

Originally Posted by asianthree

As one who doesn’t eat processed food, since we raised bees, poultry, beef, pork, grew, or bartered fresh, I really can’t comment.Honey only no sugar.

You can rot yer teeth out just fine with honey or raisins or orange juice. Sugars are sugars as far as Streptococcus mutans is concerned - all provide the necessary energy.

[NavyVet]

My father smoked non-filtered Lucky Strikes, 2 packs a day, for more than 65 years. He was a fussy eater, meat and potatoes, real butter, real heavy cream, buttermilk, and either a ton of salt or sugar on everything. Never tasted the food first, covered his steaks in salt until they were white and added Maggi or soy sauce to soups. 4-6 teaspoons of sugar in every cup or coffee/tea. Added sugar to foods he didn't think were sweet enough; cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, to name a few. Such a weird eater - butter and sugar sandwiches on white bread. He never had high blood pressure or diabetes or ever gained weight. Of course, COPD/emphysema finally did him in, but that was at age 96!
Guess he had good genes.