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Tips for Healthy Aging

By Ryan Rosenthal of Advanced Physical Medicine

Every second of every minute is precious. Every hour of every day will only happen once. Time is ticking, and whether we like it or not, aging is inevitable. So if this is true, why are so many of us treating our bodies poorly? Why do we take better care of our cars than ourselves? When was the last time you visited your doctor for a health screen?

According to the American Medical Association, the average American is living longer. Statistics show that as environmental factors are changing around us, our lifespan increases. Studies show that more and more Americans are turning to alternative care to combat and prevent diseases of the body. People are now using preventative methods such as Chiropractic and Acupuncture to avert pathology.

As a physician who practice alternative medicine, there are many questions I am confronted with. One of the most vital questions I encounter at our Chicago Chiropractic clinic is what fruits are the best to eat?

A recent study in the British Medical Journal of 11,000 subjects for 17 years reported that fruit was the only food associated with a decrease in mortality. Those who ate fruit regularly had a "24-percent reduction in deaths from heart disease, a 32-percent reduction in deaths from strokes, and a 21-percent reduction in deaths from all causes.

The fruits highest in glutathione, a master antioxidant associated with longevity are avocados, watermelons, grapefruit, strawberries, oranges and cantaloupes. These fruits should not be cooked, but rather raw or frozen.
According to nutritional expert Jean Carper, high levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, predict both good health and a longer life. The opposite is true for people with low levels of glutathione. For the most part, fresh and frozen fruits are high in this "master antioxidant," as are carrots, tomatoes and raw tomato juice, spinach, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli.

Consider adding soy beans to your diets as well. In one study soy protein extended the life span of animals by 13 percent. Other studies show that it appears to lower LDL, the bad cholesterol, and triglyceride levels by at least 10 percent. But soy sauce or soybean oil won't do it. You must eat the protein. Best sources: soy milk, tofu, soy nuts, miso, tempeh. Also, you must eat soy protein every day because the beneficial chemicals, such as genistein and diadzein, remain in the body only 24 to 36 hours at most.

We know that we just gave you a lot of information to think about. But take a list of these items with you the next time you go to the grocery store. These fruits and vegetables are ones that we usually pass bye. Try adding avocado to your next salad, or turkey sandwich. Try raw carrots, broccoli and cauliflower in a light ranch dip. Get the antioxidants you need by having fun with your food.

Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Rosenthal came to the Midwest to study medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. A serious car accident, however, changed his mind about practicing the traditional medicine he was studying, leading him to refocus his career path on becoming a specialist in chiropractic medicine. With more than ten years of experience in chiropractic medicine, Dr. Rosenthal guides his patients through gentle protocols to allow a smooth return to optimal health. Not only does Dr. Rosenthal practice health and medicine through his Chicago Chiropractic clinic, but he actively works to give patients and knowledge seekers alike meaningful content, advice, and help on helath related issues through published research. In addition to published research presented at the American Academy of Pain Management on spinal decompression, he has published numerous articles on health and nutrition and is the chief editor of a bimonthly article in the Austin Voice Newspaper called "Dr. Backs". Most recently, Dr. Rosenthal has launched a wellness blog at advancedphysicalmedicine.wordpress.com with the vision of teaching the online audience easy-to-follow wellness techniques.

Staying healthy is a struggle, Ryan. The fast food, fast life styles and constant stress of todays economy are raising havoc.
Thank you for sharing this information.
Best wishes.
Frederick

Frederick, thanks so much for your comment! I agree, people are under unprecedented strain at these times, which is why I try to encourage my patients to be even more careful about their health now. Even little things make a difference.

Thanks for the dietary information Ryan. I've just started to learn what we should be eating. Every bit helps.
Reg

Hi Reg,

Thanks so much for your comment! I am glad to hear that you are learning how to eat healthy, this is paramount to your health. As you know from my bio, I have a blog (which I am guilty of not updating in the last 2 weeks), but there is a good post there about healthy deserts one can enjoy, check it out, hope it will help you along the way: advancedphysicalmedicine.org/blog/2010/02/08/a-valentines-day-massacre/

I really appreciate all of this information. Eating right can be difficult due to social pressures too. Anytime I opt to avoid eating something and eat a more healthy option, I have other people pressuring me. Aren't you going overboard? Well, I prefer to eat things that TASTE good, and so forth. People are constantly pushing food at me that I don't want to eat, literally. Here, have this big three layer cake after dinner. Saying no, makes them mad or self-righteous. I finally asked if I was an alcoholic if they would be pushihng drinks at me.

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