Possibly one of the remarks that I discover most frequently in my rooms is, 'I'll tell you what, Doc., getting old is not for the feint hear-ted!' What does this really signify? Because the contradictory consequences of aging are so common we have arrive to accept that it is inevitable, that, as we get older, we will automatically suffer with ill well-being.
The forms of ill health can vary dramatically from musculus-skeletal
aches and pains to more troublesome problems like arthritis, to a range
of cardiovascular diseases like arteriosclerosis, raised cholesterol,
hypertension and stroke, to digestive conditions and of course the
ultimate dreaded disease - cancer, to name only a few of the common
ailments we have almost come to expect will surface as we get older.
Is it really necessary to just accept this as inevitable, or is there actually something that we can do? Well according to research from the USA the whole process of aging is coming under the spot light.The
aging process is a natural process and as such should not necessarily
be associated with disease and often disease. In fact there may well
be aspects of aging that are highly desirable - wisdom for example.
Because
getting chronologically older is a process that is unavoidable we
should really be putting our attention on 'senescence. Senescence is the
term given to the processes of age related changes that adversely
affect vitality and function of the organism.
We have all known
folk in their 70's, 80's and often older that are hale and hearty and
the most common comment when around them is 'If I can be like him or her
when I'm 80 I'll be quite happy'.
It is commonly thought that
senescence is genetically determined and if we are unfortunate enough to
have inherited 'unhealthy' genes we will experience all the negative
effects of aging.
A study conducted by a group of investigators
at the University of Pennsylvania found that only 20% - 30% of our
longevity is determined by our genes. In fact, Dr Bruce Lipton, the well
known cellular biologist, believes that the genetic influence may
actually be as little 5% - 10%. This means therefore that, at best 70% -
80% and perhaps even as much as 95% of how long we live, and the
quality of our life, is determined by the influence of the external
environment on those genes.
This therefore puts the responsibility
for our health and longevity fairly and squarely into each of our laps!
It is no longer acceptable to blame anybody but ourselves for our state
of health.
What can we do then to help ourselves? Actually, as it
turns out, the anti aging research says that there is a lot that we can
do to prevent cellular destruction.
There are three areas that
need to be addressed when looking at taking responsibility for our
health, wellness and longevity: our physical / structural system, our
biochemical / nutritional system and our psychological / emotional
system.
Let's take a closer look at what this actually involves.
Our
structural system comprises the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons,
cartilage and connective tissue. The structural system is generally very
resilient, however the lifestyles that we live today subject this
system to ongoing 'repetitive strain'. Repetitive strain means
subjecting the body to continuous, repetitive activities such as driving
or sitting behind a desk or computer.
As a general rule the
hectic life styles that we live today, or the type of lifestyle we lived
in our earlier years, and the need to be busy all the time means that
we don't get enough R & R time. During time of rest the bodies
'repair teams' become active, replenishing energy stores, rebuilding
muscle, producing new cells and 'recharging the batteries'. Deprive the
body of rest and relaxation, not to mention sleep, and you place all
body systems under physiological stress, which will eventually lead to
tissue breakdown, quickened aging and eventually the manifestation of
symptoms.
My older patients often ask me what the single most
important thing is that I would recommend for an older person when it
comes to the structural system. Well, with out doubt it would be to
increase muscle tone.
As we age our muscles get weaker and
smaller. The muscles are the source of our energy production and
structural support. A light resistance exercise program, to strengthen
the muscular system, will offer remarkable support for many different
body systems.
The second portfolio that we need to invest more
thought and planning into is our nutritional and bio-chemical system.
Our bodies can essentially be described as complex chemical
laboratories. Chemical reactions occurring every Milli- second producing
pain killers, antibiotics, cortisone, hormones, enzymes, energy
molecules and thousands of other substances that keep us alive. These
chemical reactions are dependent on that wonderful substance called
food.
More important than food alone, it is the correct type of
food that is so crucial to the optimum functioning of our bodies. Every
meal should contain a combination of carbohydrates (potato, rice,
breads, grains), proteins (fish, meat, chicken, nuts, seeds, cheese,
eggs, beans, soya) and fats (olive oil, fish oils, flax oils). Meals
should always be eaten while sitting down and not 'on the run' and each
mouthful should be chewed 20 times!
Refined foods such as sugar
and white flour, processed foods such as frozen meals and packet foods,
'deli' meats and tinned foods, fast food and junk foods are all
'nutrient deficient' and should be taken in moderation, if at all.
If
these foods are consumed on a regular basis it places the bodies coping
mechanisms under stress, resulting in such conditions as 'insulin
resistance', which has been directly linked to cardiovascular disease,
adult onset diabetes, raised cholesterol levels and raised uric acid.
The body is at greater risk of free radical damage, also directly linked
to quickened aging. The bodies immune system is 'up-regulated' as is
adrenal gland stimulation, resulting in many of the adverse effects of
getting older e.g. increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral
infections, bowel disturbance, reduced libido, fatigue, menopausal
symptoms and the list goes on and on.
Finally our psychological /
emotional systems need to be considered as it is these systems that
allow us to cope with stress. It is a well known fact that on going
stress makes us 'feel' old. Why is it though that some people are more
negatively affected by stress than others?
It's quite simple. We
have learned responses to certain stimuli that we are subjected to on a
daily basis - time pressure, excessive deadlines, perfectionism, dealing
with on going relationship problems, living in regret of the past and
fear of the future, for example. These learned responses result in the
production of certain 'messenger molecules' (hormones) like noradrenalin
and cortisol that have the effect of 'up-regulating' virtually every
system and cell in the body in order to assist the body in coping with
the persistent stress.
As time progresses the body becomes less
and less able to cope, the coping mechanisms become exhausted and begin
to falter and symptoms start manifesting.
In order to handle these
stressful stimuli the subconscious memory banks, where the learned
responses are stored, need to be reprogrammed. Reprogramming a negative
stimulus into a positive is, admittedly, not easy, but it's not
impossible.
Meditation, visualization and affirmations, when
practiced regularly, are techniques that will provide the impetus for
reprogramming. The amazing power of positivity, as a healing tool, is
becoming more and more accepted, even amongst some of the die hard
traditionalist.
As we become more proficient at seeing everything
in a more positive light the body is less traumatized and therefore can
follow the process of 'youthful aging'.
So it's not too late, take control, make the necessary lifestyle changes that will add years to life and life to your years.
Meditation, visualization and affirmations, when practiced regularly, are methods that will provide the impetus for reprogramming. The astonishing power of positivity, as a healing device, is becoming more and more acknowledged, even amidst some of the die hard traditionalist.
As we become more proficient at glimpsing everything in a more positive light weight the body is less traumatized and thus can follow the process of 'youthful aging'.
So it's not too late, take command, make the essentialway of life alterations that will add years to life and life to your years.
As we become more proficient at glimpsing everything in a more positive light weight the body is less traumatized and thus can follow the process of 'youthful aging'.
So it's not too late, take command, make the essentialway of life alterations that will add years to life and life to your years.
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