© 2008-
“Although this age group (over 60’s) has received relatively little attention as regards primary prevention, the acceleration in decline (of health) caused by external factors (lifestyle) is generally believed to be reversible at any age. Interventions aimed at supporting the individual and promoting healthier environments (including diet, nutrition and physical activity) will often lead to increased independence in older age.”
Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases (2002 : Geneva, Switzerland)
The World Health Organisation is careful about any claims they make, so if they say something is true, it would be very hard to disprove it. The quote above says that it is never too late to change your lifestyle to improve your health. Many people (both young and older) think, or at least say “I am too old now to do anything about my health...”
What they mean is that they are too settled in their ways and do not know anything about becoming healthier. Many people take pills daily and visit the doctor, so they clearly do not really believe that they are too old to address their health!
Diet and lifestyle will help prevent against heart disease and cancer; in many instances reversing damage already caused. Obviously if it is relevant to the elderly, it is also relevant to the younger generation, so whatever age you are, the time to start doing something is NOW!
Cataracts, arthritis and even deteriorating eyesight are also regular age related conditions that can be reduced or reversed by changes in diet and lifestyle.
As a rule of thumb we are born with a huge supply of antioxidants and the ability to absorb vital nutrients from the food we eat.
As babies, we are mostly fed a healthy diet because our parents tend to buy baby foods which have been blended carefully to provide essential nutrients.
Once toddlers start to eat solid foods and share their family food, their diet changes and in many instances, becomes far less healthy. Some parents provide a decent supply of healthy items, while many others resort to crisps, sweetened drinks, biscuits and other unhealthy food that should not be given to our children (or indeed anyone!)
As we grow older, we face many toxic attacks, and our reserve of antioxidants and other chemicals that fight threats to our health, gradually erode. By the time we are about 40, we mostly deplete our reserves, and we deteriorate as we now fight more invaders in our bodies with fewer beneficial nutrients to do the fighting! If you eat badly at any age, you need to change, but once you hit 40, you have no choice and if you want your health, you need to feed it!
