Aging – What does it mean to you?

Wisdom, peace and fulfillment are part of the aging process. The passage of time does not mean the inevitable loss of mental power, sexual potency, physical attractiveness and energy. How badly and quickly you age depends on your genetics, diet, stress, lifestyle, pollution, and you, your own mental attitude.

The Hunzas in a remote area of ​​Kashmir, the Vilcabamba Indians in the Andes, and the Abkhazians in Soviet Georgia all live to great old age, some into the hundreds. The three cultures have several things in common…

• They lead an extremely active life, regardless of their age, and do physical labor every day.

• They are sexually active well into their 80s and 90s.

• They eat a low-calorie diet, averaging just 1,700 calories per day.

• Their diet is high in fresh foods, many eaten raw and low in fat.

• They never eat sugar.

• The elderly are respected and valued within their communities.

It is possible to incorporate some of these factors into our lives…

• Reduce your calorie intake and eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Cut down on coffee and tea. Limit sugar.

• We may not be able to work in the fields like the Hunzas, but we can stop the aging effects of a sedentary lifestyle by exercising. Regular aerobic activity can slow the aging process by increasing cardiac output, lung capacity, and blood volume. Oxygen nourishes our cells, but the maximum volume of oxygen decreases by one percent per year. Moderate exercise in an older person can achieve the oxygen consumption of a person 15 years younger. A very active person can capture a person 40 years younger. Ease the exercise gently and consult a doctor if necessary, before beginning.

• It is said that making love is like wine: it improves with age. The experience and a shift in emphasis toward friendship and companionship in relationships can enhance sex in later years. Growing together in a relationship gives a fuller and deeper sense of love. Making love not only relieves physical tension, but is also a means of emotional, physical, and spiritual expression and should continue long after the first bloom of youth has faded.

• Change your attitude! Psychologists have found that the changes in our bodies and minds associated with aging can be determined by our ‘programmed expectations’; if the midlife spread is supposed to be inevitable at 40, it’s likely to happen. A positive attitude towards life and age is a key factor in staying young. This is best reflected in laughter. Research has shown that the more we laugh, the longer we live.

• Look for positive role models, men and women who revel in their maturity, people who believe that life really begins after 40.