I just turned 65 and I can say that the subject of nutrition has been a passion of mine for many years.
At the age of 20, I remember reading a cookbook, (Sugar Blues) for health reasons. Who does that? Then, when I was around 35, I remember reading the Cancer Battle Plan, after watching the author give her testimony of being healed from terminal stomach cancer after she radically changed her diet. As I watched her on TV, I noticed how vibrant her skin was and it was hard to believe that she had escaped the very same cancer that had taken a close friend of mine a few years earlier. When I saw how healthy she looked, it got my attention. I read her book and started to do some of the things she did to reverse her cancer.
Over the years, I have noticed that our human bodies will only put up with so many years of abuse before they start to protest through various sicknesses or organ failures. This protest usually starts to happen around the age of 40. I am in my 60’s now and the following behaviors are what I do today to fight this good fight. I truly believe that my quality of life is more dependent on my good health choices than ever before.
Diet:
When you ask most people if they eat healthy foods they will tell you they do. But if you are sick a lot, you most likely are not giving your body what it needs. Bad gas will not run a car for long and neither will a bad diet run your body for very long. When my children lived in my house we ate very little junk food and we experienced very little sickness. Then, when they became young adults and moved out, they started to eat their food according to convenience and taste. Soon, they noticed they were sick a lot and it didn’t take long before they returned to eating healthy foods once again.
Because of all the high fat, high sugar, fast and convenience foods that are sold to us, you will have to make an effort to search out good health. At the same time, for any diet to be successful, a person must like the food they choose to eat. That is going to be different for each of us. So, the challenge we all face is to find tasty healthy foods. With Pinterest and the internet, this is easier than ever. Most of my friends and sisters like to cook and are also wanting to find tasty foods that are healthy and we share recipes.
My highest goal is to eat low glycemic foods to keep inflammation low in my body. Low sugar is important for both good health and anti-aging. Keep in mind that your body converts starches like bread, pasta, and rice into sugar so it’s not just deserts or candy bars you have to avoid, you must limit simple carbohydrates as well.
Although I vary my eating plans somewhat to allow for eating out or going to family parties, this is what I eat on a regular basis. For fruits, I eat mostly low glycemic berries. My proteins are eggs, salmon, chicken, turkey, and nuts. Vegetables are salad greens and any vegetable I like. I use cauliflower rice to substitute for rice or I mash them to substitute for mashed potatoes. My beverages are filtered water, green tea (with chia seeds) kombucha (for probiotics), one cup of coffee a day, and occasionally, Seltzer water. For dessert, I make avocado ice-cream or I have one cup of steel-cut oatmeal with fruit, walnuts, and sweet cream. There are so many great vegan dessert recipes today that are easy to make without flour and sugar and are very satisfying to a sweet tooth.
Supplements:
My main supplement is Protandim NRF1 & NRF2. NRF2 is a revolutionary supplement as it “is the only supplement clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress by an average 40%, slowing down the cell aging process.” This is the most expensive thing I do for good health, but I am convinced it is worth the price. If you want to check them out, I have added an informative video by ABC Primetime Live. Protandim is sold only through home sales. I signed up to sell Protandim because I believe in this product. If you would like to purchase Protandim through me, go to my web site to do so. http://barbarakeisman.lifevantage.com/
Exercise:
I believe in lifestyle exercises like taking the dog for a walk, hiking, swing dancing, or bicycle riding. Once again, to be successful. you must find enjoyment in your exercise choices. I also go to the gym to exercise because I live in the cold north. I swim laps for 30 minutes or walk/jog for 30 minutes with floor exercises. I usually do this 3 to 4xs a week. I also have an exercise CD I use when I do not have time to go anywhere.
Mental Health / Stress Management
Stress is a killer and will age a person. All you have to do is to look at our past presidents to see how stress ages a person. Doctors believe that a high percentage of illnesses are stress-related. I consider stress management to be as important as good nutrition to attain good health.
I mostly maintain my peace through my faith in God and prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6 (NASB)
Other things I do for stress relief is to live a simple financial and social life, spend quality time with my loved ones, avoid people who love drama, find a park, river or any quiet outdoor place to collect my thoughts.
Staying Positive
To stay positive in a very negative world, I watch or listen to one inspirational speaker/preacher a day and watch very little of the news. I have noticed that people who watch a lot of news or listen to radio talk shows tend to become angry people.
Rest
This is also where we miss it when it comes to health. We are too busy and too stressed out, to get the rest we need. I had a sleep disorder for over 40 years. For me, a combination of taking magnesium and Protandim helped me get better sleep.
DARE TO DREAM ONCE MORE 