Longevity and Health
As THE BABY BOOMER generation matures through middle age, more and more of us are not only hoping, but we are also expecting to live longer and more vibrant lives than our parents lived. Powerful scientific breakthroughs promise us the hope of vigor throughout centenarian years. As science begins to unlock the secrets of aging, some of us even hope to defy death altogether. From the beginning of history, mankind has pursued the fountain of youth. We have never completely accepted the limitations of time and mortality. Though most everyone accepts that they will probably not escape death, you do not have to accept a rapid deterioration of your body and a feeling of "blah" in your twilight years. You can choose how well and young you feel.

You Hold the Keys
Most of us want a long, happy, ailment-free life. But too many of us believe that it is obtained by luck or because of special genes. This kind of thinking is all wrong. Like anything else in life, longevity-living long and well-is achieved by doing the things that are good for us and avoiding practices that are harmful. We each must accept the responsibility for our own health and longevity.

Although genetics and chance play a role in how long you can expect to live, the greatest determining factor is you. You can drastically impact the length and quality of your life. And the human body is amazingly forgiving. Even if you've made all the wrong health choices up to now, you can still make a great impact by starting today to make better ones. You hold the keys to your own longevity, and not only to your length of days, but how you will spend those days as well. Some important keys to longevity follow.

Eating to Live Longer
If you are like most people, you pack your plate with piles of processed carbohydrates, too much refined sugar, loads of saturated fats and pounds of heavy red meats. Such dietary habits are cutting short our life span. Looking to the Japanese would help us Westerners.

A diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and healthy proteins will extend your life in two ways:

1. Since poor nutrition and unhealthy dietary factors contribute to disease, changing the way you eat can save you from premature death.

2. Supporting your immune system with a healthy diet will actually lengthen your expected life span. In addition to living longer, you will actually look younger and feel better, too!

Heart disease caused by poor eating habits is taking a huge toll. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, if cardiovascular diseases were eliminated, the average life span would increase by almost ten years.

Research and epidemiological findings prove that heart disease, hypertension and cancer of the breast, prostate, pancreas, ovaries, endometrium and colon are directly linked to poor nutritional habits. What's more, these diseases account for about 60 percent of all premature deaths. If you want to live longer, feel better and look younger, change the way you eat!

Give Your Body the Best Resources
An individual whose body is deprived of vital nutrients will probably not notice a great effect for years, unless the depravation is very severe. This person will contact colds, flu and other diseases more often. He or she may enter middle age feeling fatigued all the time and generally unwell. Eventually chronic fatigue and serious disease will follow, with the end result being a premature death.

This doesn't have to happen to you. You can choose to provide your body with all it needs for optimal health. Begin learning what micronutrients your body requires. The sooner you begin giving your body everything it needs for peak performance, the better. If you are younger than thirty-five years, you can get all of the micronutrients your body requires by eating a healthy, well balanced diet and taking a good daily multivitamin/multimineral supplement. If you are older than thirty-five years, be aware that the aging process that has already begun to take place in your body at the cellular level has the same devastating effect on your cells as a ravaging disease. You must begin to counter this effect by becoming very smart regarding your body's micronutrient requirements.

The Triumph of Vigorous Exercise
Vigorous exercise significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart disease. A recent study showed that men who ran the most had lower blood pressure and higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is good cholesterol. Long-term endurance increases longevity by reducing blood pressure, body fat and bad cholesterol.

A new Harvard study that followed the lives of 17,300 middle-aged men for more than twenty years found that vigorous activities dramatically reduced the risk of dying. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that men who did at least 1,500 calories' worth of jogging, brisk walking or other vigorous activity each week had a 25 percent lower death rate during the study period than those who expended less than 1,500 calories a week.

An Attitude That Says Youth
Having the right attitude is clinically proven to extend your days on earth. As a matter of fact, researchers say that much of aging is in the mind. Many researchers are realizing that your prospects for good health and long life are remarkably dependent upon your attitudes-your psychological, emotional and philosophical outlook on life. Your attitudes cause emotional reactions in your body that strongly and very directly impact your immune system, circulatory system and even your risk of accidents.

Conclusion
I have seen that many more people are not just talking about taking control of their health, they are doing something about it. I was really motivated to write The Hope of Living Long & Well, because I know that people who intend to live longer and healthier will take advantage of what I have to share and it won't just be another book to adorn their home or office. My deepest desire is to help people live a high quality life. I want to encourage and empower you. If you see yourself getting old and you feel tired all of the time, you can turn it around. The choice is yours. You can do it!