The Blue Zones: Secrets to Living a Long and Healthy Life

Wouldn't it be great to live a long and healthy life? I mean REALLY long! And REALLY healthy!

There are certain places in the world where lots of people live to 100 and beyond, and even better, many of those people remain healthy, and active, and independent, to the age of 100 and even beyond.

This great book identifies five of these wonderful places and tries to uncover their secrets.

Some of the keys seem to be plant-based diets, close families and communities, and plenty of outdoor exercise.

The five blue zones discussed in this book are:

• The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica,
• The island of Sardinia, Italy
• The island of Okinawa, Japan,
• The island of Ikaria, Greece
• Loma Linda, California

Most of these places I had not heard of before but I had heard about Loma Linda. Recently I was reminded of it by this Prudential ad on TV.
Long Lives in Loma Linda, California

People in Loma Linda, California live almost 10 years longer than other Americans, on average.

The ad does not say exactly WHY people live longer in Loma Linda, but here is what I heard years ago:

There is a big Seventh-day Adventist college, and hospital, and medical school in Loma Linda. Because of that there are LOTS of Seventh-day Adventists living in Loma Linda. And Seventh-day Adventists don't smoke, and don't drink, and, most of them, don't eat meat. That's the reason I heard WHY people in Loma Linda live longer!

I also remember an interview with a medical researcher I read years ago. The interviewer said "When will we have a cure for cancer." The scientist irritably said "We ALREADY have a cure for cancer. Don't smoke, don't drink, don't eat meat!"

Now if you love wine, don't despair. Loma Linda residents may not drink wine but apparently it is popular in the Blue Zones of Sardinia and Ikaria.

This should be a fascinating book about different places and people and cultures. And if it can also help us to live a longer and healthier life.... I'm buying my copy today.

And if you want to get started right away here is what one the subjects of this book has to say, “Eat your vegetables, have a positive outlook, be kind to people, and smile.”

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[If you want to learn how to live a long and healthy life that could help you stay active and independent to 100 and beyond, this is the book for you!]

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Copyright © 2019 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

Beating Alzheimer's....

This is an important and hopeful book.

As the author says early on: "Here, finally, is nothing less than the first good news about Alzheimer's disease. It is a chronicle of joy, of the blessing of getting your life back. One of the patients you shall read about said he has allowed himself to think about the future once again when he talks to his grandchildren. Another said her memory is better than it has been in thirty years.... What you read about here is the beginning of a changed world, the beginning of the end of Alzheimer's disease."

We learn about a specific patient named Kristin who was noticing some decline in her mental abilities. She would get lost driving on the highway and forget which exit to take. She was finding it more difficult to analyze data at work and started thinking about resigning. She couldn't remember simple bits of information and had to start writing everything down.

Kristin worked with her own doctor to start following the author's ReCODE protocol and within three months she saw great improvement! No more worries about work, no more getting lost on the highway, no more forgetting little bits of information.

If his theory is correct Dr. Bredesen thinks there are three threats the brain is trying to protect itself against when it produces amyloid that is associated with Alzheimer's:

1. Inflammation from infection, diet, or some other source.
2. Lack of proper nutrients for the brain.
3. Toxic substances such as metals or biotoxins.

The goal of the ReCODE protocol is to:

1. Remove these threats to the brain.
2. Then remove the amyloid.
3. Then rebuild any damaged synapses.

As an overarching principle the author says that anything that is bad for general health or cardiovascular health is probably going to increase your risk of Alzheimers, so many of the things he mentions will sound familiar.

Here are some of the things that can increase our risk of Alzheimer's according to this book:

1. Too much sugar
2. Lack of rest
3. Being overweight
4. Too much stress
5. Lack of exercise
6. Lack of sunlight
7. Eating trans-fats
8. Smoking
9. High blood pressure
10. Too many Omega-6 fats and too few Omega-3 fats

The author also mentioned some things that surprised me a bit:

1. Too much dairy (which can trigger inflammation)
2. Too much gluten (which can damage the gastrointestinal tract and trigger inflammation)
3. Taking too many antacids (which reduces the body's ability to extract nutrients from food)
4. Too many statins (Cholesterol too LOW can increase risk of brain atrophy! I never heard of this one!)
5. Poor oral hygiene

I am not a doctor so I cannot evaluate the medical advice given by Dr. Bredesen in this book. However, I do feel confident that if you want to help a loved one with Alzheimer's or avoid Alzheimer's yourself reading this book will NOT be a waste of time.

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[Read this great book on beating Alzheimer's.]

[If you want to support "Anything Smart" just click on book links like the one below to buy your books. "Anything Smart" will receive a commission. Thanks!]

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Copyright © 2017 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

Great Book - "How Not to Die"

This is a great book.

The author first describes when he decided to become a doctor.

When he was a child his grandmother suffered from heart disease, had multiple bypass surgeries, suffered from chest pain, and was finally sent home in a wheelchair to die, told she had only weeks to live.

But that's NOT when the author decided to become a doctor.

The 65-year old grandmother went to a live-in program in California run by Nathan Pritikin. She was put on a plant-based diet and a program of regular exercise. Three WEEKS later she didn't need the wheelchair anymore and she was walking 10 miles per day.

THAT's when the author decided to become a doctor.

The grandmother - she lived 31 more years - enjoying life with her family.

Good food and good exercise leads to good health. Sounds reasonable. Let's give it a try! 

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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This is a great book about how good diet and good exercise can lead to many years of good health!

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