How to Prevent and Even Reverse Chronic Disease
“There are just so many books and resources out there about how to improve our health and longevity. Frankly, it’s overwhelming! A lot of the suggestions and advice are just not realistic or practical...I might be able to keep it up for a few months, but after that I return to my normal habits. What do you suggest?”
Dear Looking for Longevity,
You’re right—there sure is a lot of different information out there, with lots of pills, programs, and potions promising the fountain of youth. The best way to extend healthy longevity is to avoid chronic disease.
A book I’d highly recommend on this topic is Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases by Dr. Dean Ornish. This lifestyle medicine program is based on forty years of research and is even covered by many health insurance companies due to it’s proven effectiveness. Many common types of chronic disease share the same causes, and can therefore be prevented or reversed by the same lifestyle shifts as well.
Dr. Ornish explains that there are a few key lifestyle changes that prevent and even reverse many types of chronic disease including:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Obesity
Early-stage dementia
Autoimmune conditions
Depression and anxiety
These lifestyle changes are refreshingly simple and straightforward. You don’t need to buy a gym membership, buy expensive supplements, or feel constantly hungry and deprived. They are based on four main pillars:
Eating a plant-based, whole-foods diet
Doing moderate (not strenuous!) exercise
Managing your stress levels
Having a loving social support system
That’s it!
Take some time today to think through these four pillars and jot down what changes you can make to your current lifestyle in each category. Remember, it is never too late to prevent or reverse chronic disease.