Now, let me introduce or reintroduce your healthy choices to construct a healthy longevity diet from.

CHINESE MEDICINE FOOD THERAPY for LONGEVITY 

These food choices are generally beneficial for most people. The exception will be determined by individual constitutions. If an individual is basically cold or hot, damp or dry, deficient or excessive, then foods need to be selected according the effect these foods make on your body. This process will nourish the potential for a long life.

Foods that Benefit Longevity:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Avocados, Alfalfa sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Vegetable juices, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard greens, Cucumbers, Fennel, Garlic, Green beans, Green peas, Kale, Leeks, Micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), Seaweeds (irish moss, kelp, etc.), Turnip, Scallion, Saltless sauerkraut, Mushrooms (Ganoderm, Maitake, Shiitake, YunZhi), Pumpkin & seed
Meat: Cod, Halibut, Salmon, Scallops, Tuna
Fruit: Apples, Apricot, Bananas, Bitter melon, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemon/Limes, Oranges, Papaya, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon
Legumes: Black beans, Dried peas, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Miso, Navy beans, Pinto beans, Soybeans
Whole grains: Amaranth, Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Oats, pearl barley, Quinoa, Spelt, Whole wheat, Whole rice
Nuts & Seeds: Fox nut, Chestnut, Sesame seed, Flax seed, Walnut, Rye
Sweeteners: Royal Jelley, Stevia, Agave Nectar, Bee pollen
Healthy oils: Sunflower seed, sesame oil, ghee & coconut oil

Foods to Avoid: Artificial Sweeteners, Coffee, Wine (beyond 1 oz. per day), Baked Beans (sugar), Baked Goods (doughnuts, cakes contain excess trans fats, sugars), Breakfast Cereals (sugar, processed grain, low nutrition), Campbell’s Condensed Soups (hi sodium), pot pies (hi calory/fat), Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, Hotdogs (unknown ingredients, sodium nitrate), Luncheon Meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), Margarine (highly toxic), Ramen Noodles (no nutrients, excess sodium), Refined Vegetable Oils (corn, cottonseed, soybeans, safflower seeds and canola), Saltines (excess carb & sodium), Sausages & cured meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), White & Wheat bread (no nutrition), White Pasta (extremely hi carb & sodium), White Potatoes (solanine-calcium depletion & arthritic pain), Chips & French fries, Cocktails (excess sugar/liver toxicity), Fruit Juice (loaded w/ sugar), Fruit Smoothie (loaded w/ syrup, make your own), Dairy products except goat’s milk (pure mucous), Sodas (removes rust from metal, excess carbon dioxide, imbalances digestive system), Excessive Protein (loss of calcium, damages kidneys)

Chinese herbs for longevity: astragalus, mushrooms (ganoderm, yunzhi, mataki), Chinese wild yam, lingusti fruit, schisandra berry, eucommia bark, ho shou wu (fo ti) root, cistanches root, lotus seed, china root, longan fruit, ginseng 

The above healthy foods will go a long way to not only a long life but will bring quality of life. Additionally, the prior mentioned food medley delivers freedom from incapacity while the impairing foods will obtain a short, painful and an ailing life. Now you know, its time to find your drive for 90-180 days to anchor your healthy body.

Longevity has been a quest by many people for aeons of time. There are pockets of the world’s population where people live much longer than the longevity nations (China, Japan, Korea) such as the Hunzas in the Himalayas, the Vilcambas in the Andes, the Abkhasians and Georgians on the Black Sea, the East Indian Todas and the Yucatan Indians. Researchers tracking cultures living the longest have found that its not unusual for these peoples to live a life of quality. Work and play beyond 80 years and beyond is typical. A majority, attain 100 years remaining active and honored by all they live with. Here are the longevity habits of these people. Sections that will be covered are the main pillars of longevity health: 

1. Longevity Supplements
2. Sleep
3. Stress Reduction
4. Exercize
5. Nutrition & Water
6. Positive Mental Attitude
7. Environment

THE 7 PILLARS TO A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE

  1. SLEEP

Sleep more, age less…Sleep is not an optional activity. It is as essential to life as water and food and is essential for a strong immune system.

Any book dedicated to the topic of aging will cite the necessity for enough sleep, which is 7-9 hours.

There is a strong relationship between deep sleep and the release of Growth Hormone as well. It is during sleep that adults secrete the greatest amount of HGH.

2. STRESS REDUCTION

You cannot deny the health benefits of stress reduction.

Stress reduction can go a long way in reducing symptoms of aging along with the onset of disease.

In a recent article by Dr. Paul E. Lemanski from the Albany Medical College writes,

‘Stress causes the release of ‘fight or flight’ hormones which increase blood flow to our large muscles, increase our heart rate, respirations and blood pressure, and decreases blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract including the saliva glands.

3. EXERCISE

In the 1998 book called ‘Successful Aging’ a summary of the MacArthur Foundation study on aging in America, which had begin in 1987, showed that almost all healthy seniors had been physically active throughout their life.

Dr. Andrew Weil, a well-known proponent of alternative or complementary medicine and the author of, ‘Healthy Aging’, supports the idea that up until modern times, humans have almost always been physically active, simply by surviving off the land. Today we work off computers. Bottom line is that we need some form of daily exercise. Any yes, walking counts, if done briskly.

4. NUTRITION

In the interest of keeping this newsletter brief, but informative, I think I can say with confidence that long elaboration on this pillar is not necessary. We all know the importance of good nutrition and a balanced diet.

However, I can cite many studies that suggest that the Mediterranean Diet is among the healthiest in the world with its fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish, mild to moderate amounts of alcohol and low amounts of red meat and dairy products, not to mention lots of healthy fats like olive oil.

5. WATER

Like that of nutrition, lots can be said and studies can be cited all day long as to which type of water is best for us.
One thing is for sure however. Drinking ‘enough’ (and that is the keyword) water on a daily basis is essential for proper elimination and detoxification.

6. SUPPLEMENTATION

Today it is becoming very hard to argue against proper supplementation in order to maintain health. Skeptics are falling like flies in the light of all the convincing studies that show the importance of proper supplementation.

It seems we always need studies to confirm what common sense naturally tells us and studies are abound.

Many well-respected scientists, researchers, and medical professionals have discovered the relationship between mineral deficiencies and a wide variety of health conditions, which afflict the human body.

Our soils just don’t have the minerals necessary for optimal healthfulness, so supplementation is crucial.

Herb medicine is another beneficial natural source of highly mineralized, vitaminized food. Besides the health engendering alkalods contained there are dense nutrients which provides the human body the potential for correction. The key is the knowledge of the practitioner and chooser of the herbs essential for balance to be achieved. 

7. POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

In the book ‘power of positive thinking’ Norman Peale writes that having faith in yourself makes good things happen to you. This same theme has been written about over and over, each book with a different angle, but with the same basic, underlying message.

There are of course other pillars to support a long and healthy life, but these are what we consider the most fundamental. More in-depth information can be found at “Longevity Secrets“ 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

-          Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

-           

Now, let me introduce or reintroduce your healthy choices to construct a healthy diet from.

fresh vegetables      fresh fruit         whole unprocessed grains    seeds & nuts 

This regimen is simply low in fat, low in cholesterol, low in salt while high in fiber. This listing is not the most encompassing but merely a beginning to start from:

FOOD THERAPY for LONGEVITY 

These food choices are generally beneficial for most people. The exception will be determined by individual constitutions. If an individual is basically cold or hot, damp or dry, deficient or excessive, then foods need to be selected according the effect these foods make on your body. This aspect will increase the likelihood of further life extension.

Foods that Benefit Longevity:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Avocados, Alfalfa sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Vegetable juices, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard greens, Cucumbers, Fennel, Garlic, Green beans, Green peas, Kale, Leeks, Micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), Seaweeds (irish moss, kelp, etc.), Turnip, Scallion, Saltless sauerkraut, Mushrooms (Ganoderm, Maitake, Shiitake, YunZhi), Pumpkin & seed
Meat: Cod, Halibut, Salmon, Scallops, Tuna
Fruit: Apples, Apricot, Bananas, Bitter melon, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemon/Limes, Oranges, Papaya, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon
Legumes: Black beans, Dried peas, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Miso, Navy beans, Pinto beans, Soybeans
Whole grains: Amaranth, Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Oats, Quinoa, Spelt, Whole wheat, Whole rice
Nuts & Seeds: Fox nut, Chestnut, Sesame seed, Flax seed, Walnut, Rye
Sweeteners: Royal Jelley, Stevia, Agave Nectar, Bee pollen
Healthy oils: Sunflower seed, sesame oil, ghee & coconut oil

Foods to Avoid:

Artificial Sweeteners, Coffee, Wine (beyond 1 oz. per day), Baked Beans (sugar), Baked Goods (doughnuts, cakes contain excess trans fats, sugars), Breakfast Cereals (sugar, processed grain, low nutrition), Campbell’s Condensed Soups (hi sodium), pot pies (hi calory/fat), Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, Hotdogs (unknown ingredients, sodium nitrate), Luncheon Meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), Margarine (highly toxic), Ramen Noodles (no nutrients, excess sodium), Refined Vegetable Oils (corn, cottonseed, soybeans, safflower seeds and canola), Saltines (excess carb & sodium), Sausages & cured meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), White & Wheat bread (no nutrition), White Pasta (extremely hi carb & sodium), White Potatoes (solanine-calcium depletion & arthritic pain), Chips & French fries, Cocktails (excess sugar/liver toxicity), Fruit Juice (loaded w/ sugar), Fruit Smoothie (loaded w/ syrup, make your own), Dairy products except goat’s milk (pure mucous), Sodas (removes rust from metal, excess carbon dioxide, imbalances digestive system), Excessive Protein (loss of calcium, damages kidneys)

The above healthy foods will go a long way to not only a long life but will bring quality of life, free from debility while the harming foods will bring short, painful and restricted life. Now that you know, what’s left but to find the fortitude for 90-180 days to discover your healthy body.

Mark Hammer, CMH, Master Herbalist-Chinese Medicine    Longevity Mountain