The Fountain of Youth Cannot Be Bottled

Take that, Coca-Cola!

I recently wrote a post for the upcoming Food For Your Whole Life blog (conference is coming in JUNE!) about how to live long and prosper; while my 25 years may not be a ton of time to draw wisdom from, my observations of what keeps others healthy, fit and happy are summed up in this rhyme-y little phrase: Live lean, eat clean, choose green, and exercise in between.

Easier said than done, no?

Live Long and Prosper: The Dietary Secrets to a Fountain of Youth

By Jessica Maillet MS RD LDN CPT-ACSM

While “live long and prosper” may strike a chord with Trekkies, to nutrition experts it has an entirely different connotation. The secrets to aging with grace are fairly simple: Live lean, eat clean, choose green, and exercise in between.

Live lean. Maintaining a healthy body weight throughout life will reduce your risk for chronic diseases related to overweight and obesity like diabetes and heart disease. As we age, our metabolic rate slows slightly; exercise regularly and eat the right number of calories for your size and activity level to maintain a rockin’ metabolism into your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and more.

Eat clean. Choose foods that are wholesome and contain the fewest number of ingredients in their original state. If a food has a label, check the ingredient list to determine if it is a whole food or a processed food; if there are words you cannot pronounce or the list covers most of the product’s side panel, it is probably highly processed. Even frozen fruit can contain other ingredients like added sugar, so do your research!

Choose green. Fill up your plate with plant-based foods. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant oils, and plant-based protein foods like beans, nuts, and seeds help to maintain a balance of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates filled with fiber to keep you body running like a well-oiled machine.

Exercise in between. Develop a love for exercise that you can take with you for years to come. This may be an enjoyment of taking a walk around your neighborhood, a ride on your bike with your child or grandchild, or a swim at your local health club. Exercise keeps your muscles, bones, brain, heart, and many other body parts working like a charm. I recently completed the Boston Marathon, and around mile 16, a woman with a “75” on her race bib passed me. Around mile 19, I realized that this woman was 75 years old and was completing the 2010 Boston Marathon! Now there’s a true love for exercise!

Adopting a healthy lifestyle of staying lean, eating clean, choosing green, and exercising in between can potentially improve the quality of your life. So, live long and prosper!