Basic Tips for Aging Healthy & Gracefully
By Steven Horne, RH (AHG)

Also read "My point of view regarding major health issues of our time" by Christian Domergue
Many people enjoy excellent health into their 70s. How do they do this? The best way is to establish good health habits and positive attitudes about life when you're young. However, it is never too late to start. Even if you are in the Baby Boomer generation and have been living on a diet of junk food, you can still reap positive benefits by adopting good health practices now. Here are some basic tips.

Eat Well to Live Well
Good nutrition is one of the fundamental principles of good health. The research is pretty clear that people who adopt a diet with lots of fresh and natural (preferably organic) foods live longer and are in better health than those who primarily consume modern processed and refined foods.

Most nutritional experts agree that one of the best ways to avoid cancer, heart disease, loss of memory and other degenerative diseases is to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are naturally high in antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals and environmental toxins. Some great antioxidant foods to include in your diet are berries, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables and a little dark chocolate (70% cocoa). Cruciferous and green vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale and Swiss chard can help protect your body from toxins and cancer as you age. Include some of these foods in your diet everyday.

Another good food to consider is nuts, which are a rich source of unsaturated fats, vitamins and antioxidants. Good fats and fat soluble vitamins are important for protecting the brain, so eating foods such as deep ocean fish, wild caught salmon, organic butter (from pastured cows if possible), free-range eggs and grass fed meats, is also very helpful for maintaining physical and mental health.

Good Oils to use include Olive Oil and Coconut Oil.

Minimize the Bad Stuff
To keep your health as you age, there are some things that are best to avoid. For instance, don't smoke. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years will put you at higher risk for heart disease, cancer and stroke.

It is also wise to go easy on the alcohol. Having an occasional glass of wine or a beer with a meal is fine, but regular consumption of beer and hard liquor is detrimental to the health of your liver and your brain.

Another major thing to avoid is too many simple carbohydrates (refined sugars and white flour). These foods raise insulin levels, promote weight gain, increase and contribute to the development of diabetes. Also avoid processed fats such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, margarine and shortening. Of course, it helps to avoid processed foods in general, especially ones that contain a lot of chemical additives. Keep in mind that it is easier to avoid the "bad stuff" when you concentrate on getting more of the "good stuff."

Use the Right Supplements

Super Trio
Since it is hard to eat right all the time in our society, it helps to take a few supplements. A good basic supplement is Super Trio. This product contains Super Supplemental (a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement), Super Omega 3 EPA (a fatty acid supplement) and Super ORAC (an antioxidant supplement). It comes in convenient packets that can be carried in a pocket or purse.

One of the major secrets to avoiding the problems associated with aging is to get your body the antioxidants it needs. This is one of the reasons fresh fruits and vegetables are so important to health. Super Orac supplements these antioxidants (Included in Super Trio). You can also increase your antioxidants by taking Thai-Go, a special juice blend with a certified high ORAC value. (ORAC is the ability a food has to neutralize free radicals).

Omega-3 fatty acids (also included in Super Trio) are also a critical anti-aging nutrient. They are particularly helpful for the brain, which is fat by dry weight. These fatty acids have shown to help protect memory and brain function. They can also reduce joint pain, protect the cardiovascular system and ease prostate problems in men. These good fats are found in both Super Omega 3-EPA and Krill Oil with K2.

Besides these basic supplements, you may also want to take supplements to reduce your risk of specific ailments. Check links above.


Anxious?
If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won‘t go away, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
- Are you constantly tense, worried, or on edge?
- Does your situational anxiety interfere with your work, school, or family responsibilities?
- Are you plagued by fears that you know are irrational, but can't shake?
- Do you believe that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done a certain way?
- Do you avoid everyday situations or activities because they cause you situational anxiety?
- Do you experience sudden. unexpected episodes of situational anxiety of heart-pounding panic?
- Do you feel like danger and catastrophe are around every corner
This excellent herbal combination [AnxiousLess] will be a great support.

Take Good Care of Yourself
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude is also critical to enjoying good health as we grow older. If you are experiencing emotional stress, try using some Distress Remedy or another flower essence blend to help you have a more positive mood. It also helps to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

For Starters, make sure you are staying physically active. Exercise strengthens your heart, reduces your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, relieves the pain of osteoarthritis, fights depression, and may prevent certain types of cancer. Adults over 50 should avoid strenuous, high-impact exercises in favor of walking, running, bicycling, swimming and other low-impact activities. As little as 30 to 45 minutes every other day will make a big difference.

Make sure you're getting 8-9 hours of sleep every night, too. As people age, they often experience difficulty sleeping. Sleep is very important to mood, immunity and overall health, so if you are having trouble sleeping, try taking Herbal Sleep, 5-HTP Power or Melatonin Extra before bedtime.
If you are tense and anxious, kava kava can also be helpful.

Maintaining meaningful relationships will improve your quality of life and your longevity. A study led by Julianne Holt-Lunstad at Brigham Young University found that people with strong social bonds reduced their risk of mortality by as much as 50 percent. So, stay socially active as well by spending time with family and friends on a regular basis.

Note from Christian Domergue (Co-Owner Four Winds Nutrition)
Being over 80, I have yet to see a medical doctor... so I guess I can share some thoughts about getting old and what to do about aging as healthy and gracefully as possible.