5 Ways to Live to 100
More and more medical experts believe the potential is there for many of us to reach the century mark. An award-winning medical researcher and a distinguished physician wrote a book about it. In "Healthy to 100: Aging with Vigor and Grace," Roanne Weisman and Dr. Alexa Fleckenstein point out five ways to prolong your life.
1. The healing effects of water: Believe it or not, they say wearing wet socks to bed can help fight insomnia. Putting two brewed chamomile tea bags on your closed eyes can be just as soothing as a face mask. Taking a warm saltwater bath can detoxify your body and relieve muscle and joint pains. You can even inexpensively transform your bathroom into a healing hydrotherapy spa. The list goes on and on with all sorts of preventative and reactionary uses for water that can improve and aid your health.
2. Move your behind: Once we finally decide to get off the couch, too many of us overdo it and either get hurt, get discouraged or put more stress on ourselves than we were relieving. Dr. Fleckenstein believes movement is the key. She says we spend all day sitting in front of the computer, the television and in the car. The bottom line, so to speak, is that anything you do that requires moving your bottom is good enough! Just move!
3. Eat fresh foods: If it grew out of the ground, it's probably pretty good for you. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially ones that are full of water. There's that hydration issue again!
4. Supplement your diet with herbs: They recommend you consult a qualified herbalist for help with this one, but both believe that combining conventional medicine with alternative medicine is the best way to go. Both feel our society is greatly over-medicated, but both understand the great advances in conventional medicine. It's best not to go off the deep end one way or the other. Instead, strike a balance.
5. Stay connected: Both agree this is critical. Many people who live to be 100 are socially involved, socially active and socially aware. The brain is the engine that drives the body. The more active you stay mentally, the more you connect with friends, families, events and activities the better your chances of a long and vibrant life.
Dr. Fleckenstein says exercise doesn't need to be too strenuous.
"It's not the big things you do, it's the little ones that may end up helping you the most," she said.
In fact, Dr. Fleckenstein told Growing Bolder that all it takes is two minutes a day.
"I'm a big proponent of the two-minute workout. Do whatever exercise you want. In fact, it doesn't have to be an exercise at all. If you're moving your behind, you're doing it right. The biggest mistake we make is not moving. We're sitting in front of the computer, the TV and the car. Don't let that be you. You have to put movement back into your life."
Weisman suffered a stroke and used a combination of alternative and conventional medicines. Integrative medicine is an approach that is growing in popularity. It allows you to add herbs and supplements without rejecting conventional medicine.
"I do not propose that at all, but what I found was the conventional system did not have enough for me. I was told I'd be an invalid for the rest of my life," Weisman told Growing Bolder. "But at the time, I was 43 and that was just not an option."
Dr. Fleckenstein says another big mistake we make is letting one person, whether its your physician, therapist, nutritionist or local heath food store clerk be the "boss" of your healthcare. "You have to listen to your own body. You need to be the sole person to make decisions about your health. You employ your doctor, your accupuncturist, your massage therapist, your trainer, but your health is not up to them, it's up to you."
Want to know more? Click the play button below the photo on the right to listen to Growing Bolder's conversation with Dr. Fleckenstein and Weisman.