'What Your Doctor Hasn't Told You and the Health Store Clerk Doesn't Know'
Dr. Edward Schneider gives you his Top Ten Longevity Enhancers.
The Longevity Top Ten
Countless alt-med products and services promise to stop aging or even turn back the hands of time. Most are all hype and little fact, and many come with price tags that are jacked up to support the heavy costs of advertising. You can often sniff out the worst offenders by using your common sense. Shun any products or services that claim to reverse or stop aging—sorry, but that’s just not possible (at least not yet). Remember that anything boasting to be a “miracle” or “fountain of youth” is probably miraculous only for the people who make a profit from the sales.
Instead, turn to my Longevity Top Ten for therapies that are proven to ward off some of the worst disorders of aging and keep your body in peak condition for as long as possible. Most of them are easy on your budget and feel great—so enjoy! I wish you a lifetime of good health.
Get ideas and advice that can improve your health and quality of life. Check out more from AOL Wellness Coach Dr. Edward Schneider, plus get additional tips and information on better living from all of our AOL Coaches.
1. Cardiovascular Exercise
Exercise is the number-one way to increase the pleasure you take in living and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, memory loss, many cancers, diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and osteoporosis.
You don’t have to put yourself through grueling workouts to receive the benefits of cardiovascular exercise. Just find an enjoyable activity, such as walking or swimming, and push yourself just until you start breathing deeply. I advise getting a minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise daily for at least five days a week. If you can do more, go for it!
2. Weight Training
Most of us don’t fear aging as much as we fear losing our independence. If you want to maintain your ability to hoist shopping bags, get yourself out of a chair, and walk up a flight of steps, start weight training now. In addition to beefing up your muscles, you’ll also strengthen your bones and take some of the load off arthritic joints.
You don’t need heavy weights or a youthful body to begin weight training. Even 80- and 90-year olds can benefit from lifting just a few pounds. To start a weight-training program, consult with a personal trainer or physical therapist. Plan to work out two or three times weekly for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
3. The Mediterranean and More Diet
Forget multivitamins. The real power of nutrition is in food—real food, not pills, and definitely not the prepackaged, denatured, and flavorless stuff that so often passes for food these days. If you want to age well, eat the great-tasting foods that support healthy cell division, biochemical processes, and heart function. The best place to start is my Mediterranean and More Diet, outlined in detail starting on page 174. Enjoy fish, chicken, nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and even chocolate as you knock down your chances of heart disease, cancer, and dozens of other disorders that could stand between you and a long, exuberant life.
