In last week’s article, we discussed the role of genes, environmental factors, and our daily living habits in the promotion and prevention of disease. Today we’re going to take this discussion one step further and review the relationship between our age and our wellbeing. In other words, as we grow older, does that put us at increased risk for health complications and illness? With that in mind, take a moment and ask yourself the following question:
Are fatigue, aches and pains, and disease a natural progression of getting older or can you do something to prevent them?
The idea behind this question is to get you thinking about what plays the primary role in causing aging and long-term illness. Before we get started, however, let’s make a quick distinction between aging and getting older. When we talk about aging, we’re really talking about the slowing down of the mind, the breaking down of the body, and the degenerative disease that accompanies most folks as they get older. The question is, can we grow older without experiencing these symptoms of aging? In other words, is there a way for us to outsmart the aging process? Can we be energetic, enthusiastic, passionate, purposeful, mentally sharp, physically active, and free of disease regardless of how old we are? Let’s take a closer look.
Are We a Disease Waiting to Happen?
Another way to think about the relationship between our age and our wellbeing is to ask yourself the following question: are we a disease waiting to happen, or are we engineered to be well? Interestingly enough, modern thinking might have you believe that aging–at least in our definition of the word–is inevitable; that if you live long enough, it’s just a matter of time before you face some sort of debilitating health complication. When you consider that 4 out of 5 Americans have at least one chronic illness by the time they are 65–such as cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes, or arthritis–it’s easy to look to age as a primary factor in the development of long-term disease. But I don’t want you to buy in to this kind of thinking. I often tell my patients that this type of mindset has set the medical industry back hundreds of years. Contrary to popular belief, mental lethargy, bodily fatigue, aches and pains, and chronic illness are not a natural progression of getting older. From my experience, they’re primarily a reflection of aging-related habits–and really the accumulation of a life-time of nutritional stress, mental strain, emotional tension, and unnecessary wear and tear to the vital systems in our body that keep us well.
So does our age play a role in our mind and body slowing down and in the development of chronic and degenerative disease? To some extent, yes. But it’s important to point out that it isn’t the primary factor. Our age only comes into play when we have a lifestyle that wears out our immune system and our body’s ability to self-govern and self-repair.
You see, burnout and disease, just like health and wellness, need a certain environment in the body to take hold. This works in the same way a plant needs certain environmental factors to grow–such as water, sunshine, and minerals from the soil. When we nourish our bodies with self-enriching living habits, it prevents nutritional and emotional stress, and creates an environment for energy, vitality, and long-term wellbeing to prosper. Alternatively, when our living habits lead to excess nutritional and emotional stress, it puts a tremendous strain on our mind, body, and immune system. Overtime, this promotes an environment in the body that can trigger genetic predispositions and age-related complications such as burnout, fatigue, weight gain, serious health complications, and degenerative disease.
We Are Engineered to Be Well!
Keep in mind, your body was engineered to be well. You can be in your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond and still be full of life, vital, youthful, energetic, and free of disease. How do you go about achieving this? When you make a commitment to some simple wellness plannning–that is, by combining a Smart Nutritional program with a positive mental attitude, the habits of physical fitness, and effective stress management–you’ll be developing the Immune Power you need to stay active, vital, and free of disease, regardless of your age! In other words, when you take steps to live a vibrant, energetic, passionate, and purposeful life, you can truly outsmart the aging process!
Looking to get started in developing a wellness plan that protects you from accelerated aging, fatigue, weight gain, burnout, and disease? Let us know how we can help!