Unusual Diet Tips from the World's Oldest Person

Here's a real Great-Grandmother:

From Dr. Weil.com

Just over 11 years ago, on Aug. 4, 1997, Jeanne Calment died at age 122. Born Feb. 21, 1875, the lifelong resident of Arles, France, was the oldest person who ever lived whose birth date was reliably confirmed.
Her quick wit, lifetime of exercise (she rode a bicycle until she was 100), and cheerful disposition - “I will die laughing,” she once said - all played a part in her longevity, but two of her dietary habits stand out: She reportedly ate nearly two pounds of chocolate a week, and was “devoted” to port wine.
I do not recommend eating so much chocolate (the caloric load could lead to obesity in many people), nor do I suggest “devoting” yourself to serious wine-drinking. But I will say that Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid is, I believe, the only food pyramid in wide circulation that includes both chocolate and red wine as health-promoting, antioxidant-rich food sources. I make no promises that these additions to an optimal diet will result in such remarkable longevity for everyone, but in moderation they are indeed healthy, and will possibly make a long life more enjoyable as well!

A bit of a reach

It's just not natural to be as desk-bound as some of us find ourselves during the day. Luckily, there are some great guides to stretches for computer users.

Or, if you prefer something more interactive, Richard Simmons has a video guide to simple stretches that can help those of us who find outselves sitting more than we'd like to:

Play Date

Playing outside used to be normal: hopscotch, kickball, even that hoop-and-stick thing in old movies. These days, though, sometimes things get so hectic we forget to make time just to play -- whether for ourselves or for our children.

The Play Pledge aims to change all that. Sponsored by the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (but still a good idea), the concept is we sign a contract with our kids (but I think it could be modified to be with ourselves) to get outside and have some fun.

Play builds intellectual, social and physical skills. Oh, and it's fun. So let's get out there and play!

Stories

In the last few days, I met two people in passing who confirmed the whole "great-grandmother's shopping list" concept.

The first was a gentleman at the garage, a big and tall man, maybe in his early 60s. He said when gas hit $3 a gallon, he began walking or biking to work. He said it was a 40-minute walk or a 20-minute bike ride each way. He said at first he was angry and missed driving his van. But, as time went by, he said he began enjoying the extra time between work and home and the interaction with nature. (It looked like most of his ride would be along busy streets, but he said there was nature to be found.)

This gentleman also said he has lost 12 pounds so far, has had his lowest blood pressure readings in years and his arthritis in his knees is vastly improved.

"The way things are going, now I'm gonna outlive my ex-wife," he said. "Serves her right."

The second person I met in passing was a clerk at a big-box store, probably about the same age as my garage gentleman. She admired by BYOBs and mentioned her mother came to this country from Germany.

"Over there, they never used this plastic stuff," she said, pointing to the store-emblazoned bags on her side of the counter. "I'm glad people here are getting sensible."

It sure is "greener" on the "sensible" side of the fence these days!

You Name It and Exercise Helps It

I love Tuesdays because the New York Times runs its excellent Science section.

In Jane Brody's column in today's Personal Health column, for example, she quotes Frank Hu, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, as saying: "The single thing that comes close to a magic bullet, in terms of its strong and universal benefits, is exercise.”

Brody writes exercise can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, dementia, osteoporosis, gallstones, diverticulitis, falls, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease and 12 kinds of cancer. It can also be beneficial if you already have one of those conditions, or ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, congestive heart failure or osteoarthritis.

But how can you exercise if you’re always tired or in pain or have trouble breathing?

Here are a few of the answers:

• Diabetes: Exercise improves glucose tolerance so less medication is needed to control blood sugar, reducing the risk of life-threatening complications.
• Joint and neuromuscular disorders: Exercise that increases strength and aerobic capacity can reduce pain, depression and anxiety and improve function, balance and quality of life.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Exercise that builds gradually and protects inflamed joints can diminish pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, depression and anxiety, improve strength, walking speed and activity.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Water exercises are particularly helpful as they avoid overheating.
• Parkinson’s Disease: Resistance training and aerobic exercise can increase the ability to function independently and improve balance, stride length, walking speed and mood.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Resistance training, along with aerobic exercise, is especially helpful as it counters the loss of muscle mass and strength from lack of oxygen.

For the complete article go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/health/29brod.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

Anxious? Here's Relief That's Good for You

Great-grandmother didn't take "mother's little helpers" like BuSpar, Ativan, Valium, and Xanax for her difficult times. Maybe she would have if they'd been available, but there are lots of advantages to getting at the cause of anxiety instead of just treating the symptoms.

Below are excerpts from an article on the subject. I especially recommend physical activity and EFT. For the full article, click: http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx.

Physical activity is the single best anxiety medication I know. It’s just essential to hormonal balance. In one study, people who engaged in 30–60 minutes of moderate exercise every day reported less anxiety than a similar group on anti-anxiety meds who did not exercise.

Get enough sunlight and fresh air. Fifteen minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) in the early morning and late afternoon stimulates the production of vitamin D in your body.

Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep is paramount to brain health. Women should get 7–9 hours a night. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid all caffeine (including chocolate and green tea) and set a bedtime for yourself that you stick to. Practice a calming technique like meditation or deep breathing before bed.

If you can afford it, find a counselor to talk to about your emotional experience. Ask for a referral from a doctor, family member or friend. The local Y, religious institution, or grief counseling center may have a list of therapists they can offer. Interview several to make sure you find someone you really like and trust.

Try using the Emotional Freedom Techniques, widely known as EFT.... I like it because unlike conventional relaxation methods, EFT gets at the root causes of anxiety rather than masking them.

Investigate integrative manual therapy (IMT). Using gentle applied pressure, IMT opens up blocked energy channels to help the body do what it does best — heal itself. Anxiety is in a sense blocked energy, and bodywork helps redirect that energy constructively.

If you are paralyzed by catastrophic thoughts and debilitating physical symptoms of anxiety, talk to your healthcare professional about the usefulness of short-term medication. If your doctor does not offer additional support techniques to help you in the long term, look around for an alternative or integrative medical practitioner. Long-term use of anti-anxiety medication will not cure you.

Power Play

Solar power, wind power, ocean wave energy -- all forms of renewable energy. How about treadmill power?

I co-owned a gym and I often wished we could harness the power folks create when they run or walk on treadmills and other cardiovascular equipment. I've been mumbling about this for years - and now it's happening! Here's an excerpt from the New York Times' Sunday Magazine, April 21, 2008; the "green issue" -

SWEAT EQUITY: Many people go to the gym to become more powerful. But at California Fitness in Hong Kong, an Asian-based subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, exercisers are actually powering the gym. The program, “Powered by YOU,” was conceived by Doug Woodring, a Wharton grad, and Lucien Gambarota, a French inventor, who run an alternative-energy company in Hong Kong. When a member begins to exercise, the machine she uses captures the energy she creates as electricity (which would otherwise be lost as heat) and uses it to run a light above the machine. Gambarota says that a person can produce 50 watts of electricity per hour working out at a moderate pace. “If you spend just an hour per day on a machine annually, you could generate 18.3 kilowatt-hours of electricity,” he says. That’s the equivalent of powering a three-bedroom home in New Jersey for 14 hours. Since the program made its debut last year, 13 exercise machines have been hooked up; the chain plans to extend the project to its 24 other clubs throughout Asia. ABBY ELLIN

For more "green" go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20Live-a-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gym+electricity&st=nyt&oref=slogin

Walking the Walk

Can you envision your great-grandmother waiting in line to use the eliptical at the gym? Can you picture her getting all tangled up in the ski machine? How about using the stepper?

When our great-grandmothers wanted to get their hearts pumping, they probably went for a walk -- or a run, if they were very athletic. Some of us are lucky enough to live near beautiful places to walk. (The picture at right is from a walk I am fortunate enough to be able to take in my neighborhood.) Others of us, due to timing or safety issues, have to use the treadmill.

The important thing is the joy in walking -- an old-fashioned, time-tested exercise. Among the benefits the Mayo clinic lists are weight loss, reduced risk of heart attack, better diabetes management and lower stress levels. Not bad for something that can cost as little as the price of a decent pair of athletic socks and walking shoes!

What was the best walk you've ever taken or the best walking buddy (either in person or over the cell phone) you've ever had?