Here
is where I get really weird from the perspective of most people who will
be reading this. Indeed, I want to make the usual disclaimer: I have
no formal medical training, and you should consult with a physician before
making any substantive changes in your life-style (exercise, neutraceuticals,
etc.). I will, however, tell you what I do and why. Much of
this will be unnecessary for young people. If I were in college,
for example, in addition to exercise and attempting to eat a healthy diet
with fruits (berries particularly) and *lots* of vegetables, I would only
be taking a "reasonably complete" multi-vitamin/mineral pill every day,
making sure to get extra vitamen C and E. But, if you think your
parents aren't aging as well as they could (I'm probably much older than
most of them for comparative purposes), send 'em to this page!
In terms of diet, check
out the Barry Sears books, particularly The Anti-Aging Zone.
It is, I think, quite accurate in terms of general recommendations.
The basic point is that we should eat fewer calories in total, with a smaller
percentage of what we do eat coming from low-nutrient starches and sugars.
In short, give up or greatly curtail potatos, rice, white bread, desserts,
etc. and in their place substitute vegetables...you'll lose weight automatically
(not a "diet," but rather a permanent life-style change) and get more vital
micronutrients, fiber, anti-oxidants, and the like. Also, get more
"good oils" (fish, olive, etc.) and fewer "bad oils" (saturated fats like
butter, hard margarines, cream, and the like).
Some of the things I
do for health/anti-aging probably are doing little more than giving me
some of the most expensive urine in Boulder! Also, a few of the things
I take are not available except by prescription in this country, although
you can, as of this writing (the FDA is cranky and unpredictable!) import
a three month supply of things that are legal elsewhere for your own personal
use. The reasons that I take the things that I do are discussed more
fully on three internet websites: www.lef.org (Life Extension Foundation),
www.ceri.com (Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute), and www.antiaging-system.com
(International Antiaging Systems). The latter two are a bit more
"commercial" than the former, but their heart appears to me to be in the
right place. I particularly like the products and information of
LEF (they make the world's best vitamin pill!)--if you want to check 'em
out, click on: Life
Extension Foundation
The specifics of the
things I take vary (run out of stuff, etc.), but the following is approximately
my daily regimen: