Humans have evolved to be extremely adaptable to their environments. In hunter gatherer times, the food supply was whatever one could find in the area, supplemented by meat if hunting was successful.
But life was short. As people began settling down, ranching and farming became common, the food supply became more dependable, and lifespans increased. In fact, life expectancy is now the highest it’s ever been in the history of the world.
However, in the US life expectancy has declined in recent years. There are many reasons for this, of course, but one factor we can control is our diet, the foods we put into our bodies every day.
I am often asked, “What is the best diet?” That is a complicated question. Put simply, the best diet is the one that provides nutrients your body needs, and one that you can stick with and afford. You also need to consider your goals. Do you do a lot of strength training? Ironman? Or do you simply want to live a healthy life and feel good?
The people with the longest, healthiest lifespans in the world live in Japan and around the Mediterranean. They tend to eat a plant-based diet with seafood and limited amounts of meat. They also tend to be more active than the average person and prioritize community connections. In other words, they consume healthy food, exercise, and have strong connections with other people.
The healthiest communities also do not eat fast (junk) food. As you know, these foods are high in calories and low in nutrients. There is also evidence that certain aspects of these foods may have addictive qualities. The combination of fat, sugar, salt, and intense flavors and textures can stimulate the release of the brain chemicals associated with pleasure and reward. The more you eat, the more you want, leading to the current problems of obesity and its associated health issues.
I realize, of course, that sometimes you don’t have much of a choice of healthy foods. Working late, trying to pick up kids from different schools and bring them to different activities, long commutes, and general exhaustion can make cooking at home difficult, to say the least. Slow cookers, meal kits, and healthy meals that require minimum prep may help ease the strain. And some people have jobs that require travel, and the offerings at airports and road stops are not known for their nutritional content. Some suggestions I offer for travelers are to pack your own healthy snack and meals, and try to order the least unhealthy food on the restaurant menu. And walk. Airport terminals are a great place to walk between flights, and most hotels have fitness centers with gym equipment.
The bottom line is to do your best to consume nutritious foods every day. Some days will be better than others. And get out and move. Pick an exercise that you like and do it. You have to get older; we all do. After all, what’s the alternative? But we can be older and healthy if we work at it.