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Originally Posted by Steven You seem to be assuming that at 80, you will be helpless. But what Zoe was talking about was the possibility of slowing down the aging process. So at 80, perhaps you could be the equivalent of a 60 year old in terms of vitality. |
Yes, I think that is the general idea. I know I personally want to be as active as possible when I'm older. I want to be one of those white-haired, smiling elderly people who still walk straight with a brisk spring in their step. I see a lot of elderly who are stooped over and can barely shuffle one foot in front of the other while leaning heavily on a walker. I do NOT want to turn into that, I'd rather be hit by a bus and put immediately out of my misery.
The Syndrome X book is making 3 main points, the first of which was regarding the sugar and carbs. The second point is kind of the flipside of that coin, which is nutrition. Most grains are high in omega-6 fatty acid, which competes with the less-common omega-3. The vast majority of people are omega-3 deficient, which means cell walls are less flexible and nutrients have a harder time getting through. The final point is exercise, but I haven't gotten to that chapter yet. I think most of us already knew how important exercise is to human health.
I have a "tale of two grandmas" to share. I knew an elderly lady who was about 74, she lived in the States. She had an older sister living in Guatemala, who was about 80. The younger sister was diabetic and spent most of her day sitting around the house. The older sister was not diabetic and walked every day to the market and on various errands. The older sister came to visit and I took them both to go sightseeing. The younger sister shuffled a lot and was winded and tired within a couple hours. The older sister walked with a robust stride and was eager to continue the tour.
I didn't know the older sister very well so I don't know what her diet was like, but I do know that the younger loved her sugar/carbs to the point of becoming diabetic. Couple that with her lack exercise and you have the kind of elderly person you never want to become.