Put simply, anti-ageing is all about good health. In some ways we are similar to a motor car or a house – with good maintenance we can look good and keep going for years and years.

Anti-ageing is not about getting testosterone shots, taking human growth hormone, nips and tucks or botox.  No matter how good looking a person is on the outside, without a good diet and lifestyle the body will still age on the inside.

Some research tells us that the length of life is not greatly different in those who have abused or looked after their health but what is different is the quality of life. So it is a matter of deciding if you want to be playing your favourite sport or doing your favourite leisure activity up till the day you die; or do you want to spend the last 10 years having numerous hospital visits, being  immobile or perhaps suffering with a degenerative  disease such as Alzheimer’s?

Other research into the life of centenarians however, shows that people that live to a great age have some common

factors in their lives. Firstly most centenarians are extremely active all their lives (doing farming work daily). They tend to be very social, living with their extended families and having regular contact with friends. They eat large amounts of freshly picked vegetables and fruit and smaller quantities of meat.  Stress tends to be lower with time set aside for spiritual rituals and community.

I am sure some of us would like to change our genes or our family health history. Unfortunately you cannot change your genetics, but what you can change is the expression of your genes. And it is the expression of your genes that is vitally important. A healthy diet and lifestyle positively influences gene expression and subsequently turns down disease expression (i.e. reduces your risk of disease).

If there is one word that you should become aware on your path towards health and longevity, it is “inflammation”. Think of inflammation as “a fire within”.  Inflammation affects your genes in a negative way and predicts the appearance and progression of disease. Inflammation is the leading cause of ill health and death. It is the trigger for heart disease, pain, skin problems, cancer and more.

There are numerous causes of inflammation including:

1.     Diet - * excess sugar intake

           * excess refined starches (cereals and grains)

                 * excess saturated fat and trans fatty acids

           * poor omega 3 intake

           * poor antioxidant intake

            2.   Excess body fat or obesity

            3.  Stress (physical, including injury or mental)

            4.  Exercise deficiency

            5.  Toxicity

            6.  Gut barrier problems i.e.  dysbiosis & irritable bowel syndrome

            7.  Infection

If you are truly concerned about maintaining your health and want to look and feel young for as long as possible, there are a number of things that you must do.

1.  Ensure you are getting regular exercise, enough to get your heart rate up and make you feel puffy. Despite what some of my patients try to tell me, this does not include running around after the kids or having sex!! This means 40 t0 50 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days a week. Aerobic exercise includes fast walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, rowing or playing an active sport such as netball or football.  If this is too much initially then, set yourself a goal for when you will achieve this – add a little bit more time to your exercise program every day.
2.  Eat plenty of vegetables especially the green leafy ones. You should have around 4 or 5 serves of vegetables daily. Enjoy 1 to 2 pieces of fruit daily also (keep is to one if you are over the recommended body weight).
3.  Increase your proteins until they make up around 30% of your diet. Decrease your carbohydrates to 40% of your diet. A good way to do this is to get rid of all breads, biscuits, cakes and cereals – you will be amazed how by doing just this, you will decrease your total carbohydrate intake and trans fatty acids. A bonus is you will probably decrease excess body fat also – another cause of inflammation. For most people breakfast is the worst meal of the day. Try replacing cereals and toast with a protein shake or an egg or two (yes eggs, they do not cause cholesterol problems and are a fantastic food).
4. Decrease sugary foods. This is easy if you are sticking to vegetables and proteins such as fish, dairy, cheese and moderate meat intake. One of the worst habits in society today is consuming soft drinks and cordials. Try cooled herb teas or watered down juice. Read the labels of all processed foods and buy the product with the lowest total carbohydrate content.
5. Learn to love good old water and drink 2 litres of it daily. This will flush out toxins and help balance the acidity of your body.
6. Eat fish 2 to 3 times per week especially the cold water varieties that are high in omega 3.
7. Decrease your exposure to chemicals (e.g. drink filtered water) and if you think your body might be toxic (due to internal stressors or environmental toxins), do a proper 6 week detoxification program. It is estimated that 95% of people in our modern world have some stress. If you don’t already have a lifestyle plan to decrease stress then start one. Things you can introduce include practices such as meditation, yoga or tai chi.  Regular treatments with alternative treatments such as kinesiology or massage. And don’t forget that exercise program. Regular exercise is a powerful way to decrease pro-inflammatory hormones.
8. Avoid infection and build up your immunity with supplements such as zinc and Vitamin C. 
9. Ensure you have good gut integrity. Signs of abnormal gut problems include belching, burping, bloating or excessive flatulence. Bowel motions should be regular (daily) and formed. If this is not the case consult with a naturopath for testing and treatment. The gut is an incredibly important organ and poor gut integrity can increase the risk of multiple health disorders such as cancers, pain, allergy or skin problems. Periodically take some good gut bacteria such as lactobacilli.
10.  Eat unprocessed foods such as nuts and seeds every day. They are full of minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Nuts are particularly good for heart disease prevention- they increase good HDL cholesterol and prevent cardiac arrhythmias. They also have an ideal balance of proteins, carbohydrates and good fats.

Anti-ageing is about looking after your health on a daily basis and not just when you have a serious health warning. Anti-ageing is about the habits and the decisions that you make every day. These habits should address the physical/structural, the mental/emotional / spiritual and the nutritional side of your being.

In essence anti-ageing and longevity is preventative medicine.

Here’s to a long and health life.

Written by Vivienne Savill, Naturopath & Nurse. For more informative articles & books visit www.recipetohealth.com 

5 May 2011

Recipe to Health Profile | Email | Website Empower yourself to heal naturally, with books by Naturopath & Nurse, Vivienne Savill. This unique series combines research & practical experience to give you answers including tests & diagnostic info, nutrition, herbs, diet, lifestyle & recipes for health. Candida, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypothyroid, or feel tired & unwell? You will find enormous value in these books. 38 Bayview Bvd Darwin NT Australia 0820 0889810047