Choosing a Long and Healthy Life

If you want to have better health and vitality, you have to make the right choices. Life is all about the choices you make. Every choice confers certain benefits and certain consequences. You can choose to eat food that has the short term benefit of good flavor and the consequence of long term health problems. You can choose the benefit of great health and vitality with a simple and effective exercise program or the benefit of little effort that comes with a sedentary lifestyle. Just don't be surprised when the time comes to pay the price for the choices you made. It always comes.

Photo by danagraves

"Oh, but it's all in the genes," some people say. "You'll only live a long and healthy life if you've got good genes. Otherwise no amount of exercise and proper diet will do you any good." It is true that genetics can be beneficial or detrimental to your efforts, but they are not the only important factor. They're not even the most important factor for the vast majority of people.

Recent research at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona supports this fact. A research team led by Adolfo Díez Pérez studied the genetics of a man who remained healthy, staying physically and mentally sharp well past the century mark, and the members of his family. They found none of the expected genetic mutations in the KLOTHO gene, which determines mineral density and bone health, or in the LRP5 gene, which is associated with longevity. While there could be other as yet unknown genetic mutations that have an effect on longevity, it appears that the important factors for this man and his long lived family is largely due to their healthy Mediterranean diet and regular physical activity.

Photo by peter.macdonald

While there are no guarantees on your lifespan, you will certainly have a much higher quality of life if you choose to eat healthy (and delicious!) food and get plenty of exercise.