Imagine a 120-year-old living like today's 50 year-olds. Is it possible? Well, according to the scientists in Robert Kane Pappas's new film, "To Age or Not to Age" (opening July 16, 2010), the answer is yes. Rather than the absolutes we once thought of them as, age, age-related diseases, and death are, apparently (unlike taxes) postponable events. "A lot of people think we're biologically programmed to die, but the truth is that we're biologically programmed for survival," explains Dr. Thomas Kirkwood, one of the scientists interviewed. "There is no mechanism inside us that turns on to kill us when a certain period of time has elapsed."
Interestingly, another of the researchers believes that aging can actually be reversed.
"To Age or Not to Age" tracks the pioneers in the field of anti-aging research at Harvard, MIT, Cambridge and other research centers. The scientists featured in the film, including Dr. Cynthia Kenyon, Dr. David Sinclair and Dr. Leonard Guarente, have found the means to postpone and possibly mitigate diseases tied to aging. The question is, of course: For how long? "This [breakthrough] ranks with the discovery of DNA," adds Dr. Kenyon. "People could age more slowly, stay younger longer, and remain free of disease for a longer time."
While the filmmaker addresses many of the moral, religious, practical and economic implications of increased lifespan, in truth, we just really wanted to know how.
Here are 10 ways they suggest to help you live long(er) and prosper: 1) Fight free radicals with a diet full of fruits and vegetables.2) Drink plenty of water.
3) Drink booze in moderation: for guys, that means 1-2 drinks daily; for women, 1 drink/day maximum, and preferably red wine.
4) Exercise! Also, do breathing exercises.
5) Follow a diet that restricts your calories.
6) Cut down on stress, and focus instead on the quality of your personal relationships; the power of love and connections is not to be underestimated.
7) Live life with a sense of purpose and passion.
8) Take supplements that are vegetarian food-based.
9) Don't blow off the doctor & dentist: schedule regular checkups and actually show up.
10) Stay smart by keeping abreast of the latest findings in how to live longer in style.
"To Age or Not to Age" opens July 16th.
- Lesley Scott
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