The video on body mechanics/back pain management is on my website, but not on the home page. Just click on the top banner ‘videos’ and it will pop up. I hope you find some or all of it useful.

I blog a lot about exercise, but I also consider food an equal in importance. What you put in your mouth is paramount to good health and longevity. Aging isn’t a choice, but eating healthy is. The right kinds of food is probably the most important single factor in your own health, and the prevention of disease. I live by this credo, because my body is the only one I’ll ever have, and I want to enjoy my ride in this life the best way possible. Do I have to give up some of my favorite foods from my past? Yes. Is it worth it? A resounding yes. How about you? Do you want to nourish your body with healthy food or increase physiological stress and age yourself faster than you need to by eating the wrong foods?

Colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, are foods loaded with essential minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats (like omega-3 and 7’s) are some of the key foods to anti-aging. Without these foods in your diet, your cells can’t receive proper nourishment. Nutritional supplements are a back-up, but only a back-up; your main nutrients need to come from your diet. Without a diet rich in these types of foods, your cells don’t receive proper nourishment, resulting in decreased circulation and oxygenation of cells. End result? It allows toxins and free radicals to accumulate-if it becomes chronic, the cell’s mitochondria (energy factories) die. The cell then become susceptible to disease, infection, malnutrition, inflammation, and eventually death of the cell. Enough cells die, the organ dies. This process causes us to age faster on both the inside and the outside. Premature wrinkles, sagging, fine lines, puffy eyes and dehydrated skin dominate (anyone reading this get muscle cramps at night?) It is a sign your cells are not getting what they need, whether it’s water or minerals, and you suffer.

Slow aging inside and out by eating rainbow fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids, carotenoids, lycopene, and resveratrol are examples of antioxidants that fight the fight for us against the effects of the wrong type of foods and the effects of early aging. Flavonoids are proven to help prevent or delay the onset of heart disease, aging and cancer. They also increase blood flow to the skin. Fruits containing flavonoids are blueberries, red grapes, citrus, blackberries, and raspberries. Vegetables rich in flavonoids include onions, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, garlic, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Bottom line: Carotenoids protect our DNA.

Fruits and vegetables that consist of dark-colored pigments synthesize carotenoids. Beta-carotene (BC), lycopene, and lutein a some examples. BC is found in sweet potatoes, carrots, turnip and mustard greens, spinach, butternut squash, and red/green leaf lettuce, and provides powerful antioxidant effects. Lycopene has a major role in preventing heart disease and cancer. Lycopene-rich foods include tomatoes, guava, watermelon, grapefruit, parsley, basil, asparagus, and cabbage. Lutein-rich foods like Swiss chard, Bok choy, dandelion greens, basil, and parsley help protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.

Resveratrol is cool. It crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is very selective and allows only small molecules through it. This prevents viruses from getting into your brain (a good thing). Resveratrol delivers great protection to our brain and nervous system. It’s also been shown to be protective against obesity, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Resveratrol is found in grapes, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, and red wine.

Remember, there is no substitute for a healthy diet!

Stay well, John R Blilie< M.S.

HaveItHealth.com