Health Span vs. Life Span
I have two friends who are both about the same age, around their mid sixties. One friend lives a healthy, active and vibrant life. The other friend passed away this week from “causes associated with aging;” he had type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It was the cancer (or more accurately the cancer treatment) that finally got him. Health experts claim that age is the “biggest risk factor” for these degenerative diseases such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. But there is enough evidence to suggest that it may be a big mistake to equate “age” with the risk of these diseases.
The degenerative diseases typically associated with aging have little to do with our chronological “age.” If they did, then nearly everyone over the age of 85 would have Alzheimer’s or cancer or heart disease or macular degeneration. But not everyone does. In fact, these diseases used to be very rare – even at an advanced age.
If we want to be honest with ourselves, we need to stop blaming these diseases on aging and start placing the blame where it belongs. Degenerative diseases are simply the long-term compounded effects of unhealthy choices that became everyday habits. These diseases don’t just click on at a certain age. They are the consequences of a lifetime of poor nutrition and toxic overload.
Of course everyone eventually dies of something. It’s been said that, “no matter what, none of us are getting out of this life alive.” So the goal is not to live for ever as mortals. The goal is to enjoy healthful longevity. There is a very important difference between your lifespan (how long you live) and your healthspan (how long you remain healthy and vital). About 25 years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, which is known throughout the world for its expertise in preventive medicine. Here is where I first learned about “functional fitness.” (Dr. Kenneth Cooper is known as the “father of aerobics.”) Although we may not be able to extend the number of years we’re going to live to far beyond a certain point, we do have some control on how physically active we can be all the way up until the end of our lives. The unhealthy or healthy choices we make throughout our lives can determine whether we’ll be bed ridden and on medications and oxygen in our later years or enjoying Disneyland with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
When I learned this, I did what I call “future pacing.” I imagined myself in my 60s, 70s and 80s and asked myself “If I was suffering from the effects of poor health due to unhealthy choices would I have regrets and wish that I had made healthier lifestyle choices when I was younger?” The answer was, of course, “yes.” Just as we’re all going to die, we’re all going to age. We’re born, we age, we die. When you accept this reality, then you can live your life on purpose and with intention. Unfortunately most people live in denial of this reality and live their lives on “accident.”
So it’s not enough to just live a long time. In fact, a long unhealthy life can be, and is for many, worse than death. As we hit our “AARP eligibility age” (50) we want to maintain the benefits of youth – joints that work without pain, a mind that is sharp, energy to last all day, a strong immune system and skin that is supple and smooth – well into our later years. The great news is that you can have all of that and more.
Because living a healthy and vibrant life well into my later years has been a desire of mine, I’ve brought education and people into my life “on purpose” that could teach me the principles of health. It’s a tremendous privilege to now be working with the team at PlantPure Foods to bring the message of health to the world. Nutritional researchers have studied the factors that cause our bodies to break down. These researchers have found – actually proven – that there are five conditions involved in just about every form of degenerative disease. So here’s where accountability and personal responsibility come in as to what state of health we’ll be experiencing in our later years: Control these five conditions and you can significantly diminish your risk of the diseases typically associated with “aging.”
The five conditions associated with aging:
- Inflammation – Inflammation in your body is a process where your defenses are constantly responding to damage. Chronic inflammation is the foundation of most degenerative diseases and physical aging.
- Glycation – Glycation is where excess sugar in the diet causes the blood to thicken. The blood then has a hard time circulating through the small blood vessels, damaging the integrity of tissues and organs. Glycation also destroys collagen, leading to wrinkles. (I have to admit that this is a challenge with me because I have a sugar addiction and have to really watch myself with this.)
- Oxidation – Oxidation in your body is when what is referred to as “free radicals” attacking your cells. This is perfectly natural. Oxidation can be controlled by eating healthy fats, a low-glycemic diet and antioxidant-rich foods. When it is not controlled, it can damage DNA, cause cells to mutate and it ages the body from the inside out.
- Toxification – Toxification is when your body’s “filters” (such as your lungs, kidneys, liver and immune system) become overburdened due to poor nutrition and toxic overload. Although some of these toxins come from external sources that may be outside of our control, sadly most toxins put into our bodies are done so knowingly.
- Depletion – Depletion is the steady and gradual draining of vital nutrients from our body. The process used to take longer, but today with fast-foods and processed foods devoid of nutrients vital to our bodies, depletion is happening at a faster pace. Most obese people are malnourished – overfed but undernourished. Our bodies crave nourishment, and so we feed our bodies more food in an attempt to get more nourishment. It’s no wonder America’s biggest health crisis is obesity. The typical American diet is high-fat processed foods devoid of nutrition that we keep eating more and more of because we’re starving for vital nutrients that have been depleted from our body.
So you can see now why virtually every single disease and symptom typically associated with “aging” involves at least one (and usually all) of these conditions. Poor health, low energy, aches and pains, muscle loss, and loose, wrinkled skin are NOT unavoidable aspects of getting older.
Simply put, “aging” is what happens when your body breaks down faster than it repairs itself. Youth is when your body repairs faster than it breaks down. The key to maintaining your youthful looks and energy and vibrant health is to provide your body with the raw materials it needs to rebuild and repair. At the same time, reduce or eliminate those elements that cause you to break down.
By eating nutrient-dense foods – ideally a plant-based diet – and exercising regularly, you can avoid degenerative disease and the outward signs of aging… or at least put them off for a long, long time. It sounded worth it 25 years ago and sounds even better today. I feel very fortunate to still enjoy a healthy an active lifestyle with no aches or pains as I turn 52 this month.
Crusading for Your Health,
D. Scott Elder
