A Plan for Living a Long and Healthy Life (Part 2)
by Tony Isaacs
NaturalNews
May 6 2008

Source: Natural News

In part one of "A Plan for Living a Long and Healthy
Life" we concluded with the good news that it is never
too early or too late to begin living a healthy
lifestyle, regaining lost youth and energy and adding
many healthier and more enjoyable years to your life.

Yes, the good news is that it is not too late -- no
matter what your age may be. People in their 40's,
50's, and 60's can change their diet and lifestyle and
undo most of the damage that a lifetime of neglect has
caused. Even people in their 70's, 80's and beyond can
add quality years to their lives by changing their
diets and exercising. The important thing is, no
matter what your age, you should take action now,
because a neglected body in poor shape is a ticking
time bomb that you want to defuse before it really is
too late. So, with everything to gain and nothing to
lose, let's get started!

Good Things to Do & Consume:

* Boiling, Baking (low temperature), poaching,
steaming & roasting -- low temperature keeps more of
the good vitamins, nutrients, phytochemicals and so
forth; heat destroys the nutrients in food and can
cause the formation of harmful substances.

* Keep and use fruit and vegetable broth left over
from cooking (that's where a lot of the vitamins and
good stuff goes).

* Get a juicer! Use it for fruits & vegetables (fruit
and vegetable juice in big quantities are some of the
healthiest things you can consume).

* Eat smaller meals with healthy snacks such as nuts,
vegetable and fruits between meals (helps you maintain
a constant energy level and avoid overeating).

* Chew each bite at least 50 chews -- helps pre-digest
food with saliva and makes it easier for digestion
once swallowed.

* Drink filtered, distilled, or reverse-osmosis water
only, and drink plenty of it, but avoid tap water (the
average municipal water supply has trace amounts of
over 2,000 bad chemicals, including pesticides,
solvents and carcinogens).

* Drink a large glass of water before each meal and
snack and drink a large glass of water with each meal
and snack -- not only is the water good for you, it
will help you feel full and prevent overeating.

* Garlic - preferably 3 cloves of raw garlic every
day! Garlic, long recognized as a natural broad
spectrum antibiotic, is also a potent and proven
natural cancer preventative and it is the natural
enemy of cholesterol as well because it prevents
cholesterol from sticking to the sides of our
arteries.

* Turmeric (or curcumin) - This is one of the really
important ones! A highly potent cancer fighter that
recent tests have indicated protects cigarette smokers
from developing cancer, it has also been reported
recently to not only prevent Alzheimer's but even
reverse it! Turmeric, a member of the ginger family,
contains a variety of bioactive substances called
curcuminoids. The curry spice turmeric is also found
in yellow mustard. The most active component is
curcumin, an orange-yellow volatile oil that includes
three curcuminoids–turmerone, atlantone, and
zingiberone. Research shows that turmeric and its
curcuminoids have a number of beneficial properties:
(1) good antioxidant activity, comparing well with
vitamin C, vitamin E, and superoxide dismutase; (2)
anti-inflammatory activity that is comparable to
steroidal and non-steroidal drugs; (3) anticancer
properties influencing all the steps of cancer
formation: initiation, promotion, and progression; (4)
protects the cardiovascular system by lowering serum
cholesterol and inhibiting platelet aggregation; (5)
protects the liver by several mechanisms; (6) in vitro
and in vivo studies show curcuminoids can help with
HIV in a number of ways, including acting as
biological response modifiers, resulting in
significant increases in CD-4 and CD-8 counts.
Supplementation may prevent, or be helpful with, the
following conditions: Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS, HIV), Aging, Asthma, Atherosclerosis
(heart disease), Cancer, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
Cataracts, Immunodepression (immune function),
Inflammation (including bursitis), Peptic Ulcers and
Rheumatoid Arthritis.

* Cayenne Pepper, Ginger & Sage (all potent cancer
fighters). Cayenne pepper also promotes cardiovascular
health, helps cure stomach ulcers, and a tincture of
cayenne pepper can stop a heart attack in three
minutes or less. Ginger also enhances circulation and
acts as a catalyst for other herbs, to increase their
effectiveness and it helps the body relieve
congestion.

* Broccoli and other Cruciferous Vegetables
(cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, horseradish, turnips,
radishes, wasabi, and kale, etc). One prominent
researcher said, "If broccoli were a drug, it would be
worth billions!" Broccoli boosts your immune system,
reduces the incidence of cataracts, builds bones, and
fights birth defects and heart disease, and, like
other cruciferous vegetables, helps ward off various
cancers such as stomach, colon, breast, etc.

* Apple Cider Vinegar - Truly one of nature's miracle
substances, use of apple cider vinegar for medicinal
purposes has been traced back as far as 3000 BC, and
was used by Hippocrates, the Babylonians, Julius
Caesar's armies, Christopher Columbus's crewmen, and
ancient Samurai Soldiers to ward off disease and keep
strong and fit. Be sure to use only natural
non-distilled apple cider vinegar available at most
health food stores –- the kind you find on grocer's
shelves has been distilled to remove the natural
cloudy appearance and has had most of the healthy
life-giving enzymes, acids and trace minerals removed.
If you do not have cancer, mix a teaspoon of organic
locally produced honey with two teaspoons of apple
cider vinegar three times a day. After a few months of
regular use, you should notice improved health and
vigor and the elimination of stiffness and joint pain.

* Tomatoes - Excellent source of lycopene. Tomatoes
and tomato products lower cancer risk, increase your
skin's sun-protection factor, and play a role in
preventing cataracts and age-related macular
degeneration. Eat one tomato a day. tomato sauce is
great, the more the better, just avoid ones with added
sugar. Tomatoes combined with broccoli enhance the
effect of both vegetables! Don't like tomatoes? Try
watermelon, persimmons, or pink grapefruit instead.

* Green Tea (or black) enhances health –- especially
cardiovascular health, boosts the immune system,
prevents cancer, restricts bad cholesterol, controls
high blood pressure, suppresses aging and more. Drink
at least one cup a day.

* Shiitake Mushrooms - lowers cholesterol and improves
immune system function, good for preventing high blood
pressure and heart disease, for controlling
cholesterol level, building resistance against
viruses, and fighting diseases such as AIDS/HIV and
cancers. Often available fresh, Shiitake mushrooms are
very flavorful when used in cooking! If you cannot
find them fresh, they are available as a supplement
also.

* Maitake Mushrooms - high in nutrients including
Vitamins B-2, C, D, niacin, magnesium, potassium,
fiber, and amino acids, contains the polysaccharide
compound beta-1.6-glucan which naturally stimulates
the immune system and lowers blood pressure.
Beneficial for obesity and diabetic patients, the
Maitake mushroom may be best known for its cancer
fighting ability. Tests in mice prove that it blocks
tumor formation and boosts the immune system. They are
available fresh or as supplement.

* Reishi Mushrooms. The Reishi mushroom can increase
the production of interleukin 1 and 2, resulting in
inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi
can have a number of other positive effects on the
body such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon
production), lowers blood pressure. It also acts as a
cardiotonic by lowering serum and increasing the
production of interleukin 1 and 2, which results in
inhibition of tumor cholesterol, has expectorant
qualities, liver protecting and detoxifying,
protective against ionizing radiation, antibacterial,
and anti-HIV activity. Available fresh or as
supplement.

* Grapefruit (Be careful on this one if you take any
prescription medications). Grapefruit helps keep
weight down and is a good source of vitamin C and
lycopene; however unique among fruits, grapefruit (and
possibly grapefruit hybrids like the tangelo)
interfere with stomach enzymes that break down certain
drugs and may result in higher blood levels of the
drugs than desired.

Grapefruit Cautions: Drugs that are known to have
potentially serious interactions with grapefruit
products include: Anti-seizure drugs such as
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) Antidepressants
such as buspirone (BuSpar), clomipramine (Anafranil)
and sertraline (Zoloft), Benzodiazepines such as
diazepam (Valium) and triazolam (Halcion), Calcium
channel blockers such as felodipine (Plendil),
nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop),
nisoldipine (Sular), and possibly verapamil (Isoptin,
Verelan), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease
inhibitors such as saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
and indinavir (Crixivan), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
such as simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor) and
atorvastatin (Lipitor), Immunosuppressant drugs such
as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), tacrolimus
(Prograf) and sirolimus (Rapamune), Antiarrhythmic
drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone).

Note: Even waiting to take these medications up to 24
hours after you drink grapefruit juice doesn't prevent
an interaction. The best advice is to avoid grapefruit
products if you take any of those drugs, unless your
doctor or pharmacist approves.

* Omega-3 fats (found in fish oil, particularly cod
liver oil). Omega 3 fats are not produced by the body,
but are essential for good health, it lowers
cholesterol, helps control blood pressure, and has
strong anti-cancer properties.

* Dark Green Vegetables (especially spinach, and other
dark greens such as mustard greens, collard greens and
turnip greens). Good source of calcium, lowers the
risk of cardiovascular diseases, a variety of cancers,
age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts.

* Healthy Oils - Olive oil, hemp oil, pumpkin oil,
sesame oil, coconut oil and palm oil -- preferably
first press cold-pressed organic versions in dark
bottles. Other cooking oils are unhealthy.
Mediterranean men are 10 times less likely to die of
heart disease and that is attributable to the fact
that they use mostly olive oil instead of other
cooking oils, and they use other oils in salad
dressings instead of butter or margarine. Olive oil
reduces cholesterol levels, protects against cancer,
is full of vitamin E, and beautifies skin, hair,
nails. Coconut oil is one of the most healthy oils on
the planet and Palm Oil is loaded with anti-oxidants
and carotenoids.

* Almonds - Eat 6 or more every day! Anti-cancer, a
leading source of vitamin E and magnesium and offers
protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and
iron in 246 calories. As an added bonus, almonds and
other nuts contain phytochemicals, which are plant
chemicals that may provide powerful protection against
heart disease, stroke, and other chronic disease. In
addition, almonds contain an antioxidant compound
called ellagic acid that supports the immune system
and appears to have several anticancer properties.

* Walnuts - These are an excellent source of omega-3
essential fatty acids. Walnuts' concentration of
omega-3s: a quarter-cup provides 90.8% of the daily
value for these essential fats -- has many potential
health benefits ranging from cardiovascular
protection, to the promotion of better cognitive
function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in
asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin
diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, also a good
source of ellagic acid.

* Flaxseeds - Best when ground, flaxseeds are even
more beneficial than flaxseed oil, because flaxseeds
contain the lignans and fiber that is removed in
making the oil. Good source of omega-3s, lowers
cholesterol, helps keep the colon clean, regulates
blood sugar and anti-cancer, especially breast and
prostrate cancer.

* Flaxseed Oil Mixed with Cottage Cheese - flaxseed
oil mixed together with cottage cheese has been
successfully used to prevent, treat and cure cancers,
even inoperable "hopeless" ones, for many years by
multiple Nobel prize nominee, German biochemist and
research scientist, Dr. Johanna Budwig, whose work
followed up on the work of two previous Nobel
laureates.

* Blueberries - They lower the risk of heart disease
and cancer and help maintain youthful, healthy skin.
Eat 1 to 2 cups a day. When they aren't in season, eat
cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries,
currants, and purple grapes.

* Other vegetables - These include: asparagus;
escarole; avocado (actually a fruit); fennel; beet
greens; green and red cabbage; bok choy; kohlrabi;
Brussels sprouts; romaine, red leaf, & green leaf
lettuce; mustard greens; celery; onions; chicory;
parsley; Chinese cabbage; red, green, yellow and hot
peppers; chives; collard greens; turnips; turnip
greens; dandelion greens; endive; zucchini and summer
squash.

* Beans, Lentils & Chickpeas (as long as you don't
have an insulin problem –- the signs of which are
excess weight, obesity, high cholesterol and high
blood pressure). Beans lower cholesterol, fight heart
disease, stabilize blood sugar, reduce obesity, lessen
cancer risk, and relieve hypertension. One California
study showed that those who ate beans weekly were 40
percent less likely to die prematurely than those who
ate them less than once a weak. Eat four 1/2-cup
servings a week.

* Pomegranate Juice - Higher in anti-oxidants than any
other common fruit juice. Contains a very high
concentration of the potent cancer-fighter ellagic
acid. According to research presented in May 2005 to
the American Urological Association, eight ounces of
pomegranate juice had significant anti-cancer effects
on prostrate cancer patients. Other recent studies
suggest that pomegranate juice helps prevent hardening
of the arteries and even reverses heart disease.

* Oranges and Tangerines - They support heart health
while preventing cancer, stroke, diabetes, and other
chronic ailments. Eat one a day. Want more variety?
Try lemons, grapefruit, kumquats, or limes.

* Dark Grapes - Contains resveratrol, the potent
anti-cancer and anti-aging ingredient found in red
wine, effective with leukemia, melanoma, pancreatic,
esophageal, breast, lung, colon, prostate, squamous
cell, liver cancer and others. Grape leaves are
supposed to contain 100 times the resveratol as
grapes.

* Black Cherries & tart cherries - These contain the
antioxidant anthocyanins which are responsible for the
red color and which is higher in antioxidant
properties than vitamins C and E. Tart cherries added
to ground beef reduce mutagens in ground beef by 90%
when cooking, and the flavor is equal or better than
plain ground beef.

* Apples/Apple Juice - It turns out that grandma was
right –- an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Apples
are an excellent source of fiber, phenolic compounds
(phytochemicals) and phytonutrients, such as the
flavonoid quercetin. Apples help reduce cholesterol,
protect against cancer, especially prostrate cancer,
reduce heart attack risk and promotes cardiovascular
health. Note: If you have cancer, or have had cancer,
apples are much preferred over apple juice due to the
much higher sugar content of apple juice. Plus, whole
apples include the added benefits of fiber and the
phyto-nutrients contained in the apple skin.

* Apricots, muskmelons and other fruits high in
beta-carotene - In test-tube studies at Harvard
University, beta-carotene had a direct toxic effect on
cells taken from malignant tumors. It also reduced the
growth of lung cancer cells and altered the proteins
needed for tumors to grow. Research also shows that
beta-carotene can change in the body to retinoic acid,
a substance used in clinical trials to treat certain
cancers.

* Berries - Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries,
and other Berries are all excellent sources of vitamin
C, phytochemicals and phytonutrients and are a good
source of ellagic acid.

* Pecans, Brazil Nuts, and Pumpkin. Pumpkin lowers the
risk of various cancers, while it promotes youthful,
healthy skin. Want an alternative? Try carrots,
butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and orange bell
peppers.

* Pumpkin seeds, Pistachios, Sesame Seeds (Unsalted)

* Yogurt with beneficial fruit such as blueberries
(avoid artificially sweetened yogurt, yogurt with soy,
or high carb yogurt with added sweeteners). Yogurt
helps the body's ability to build bones, helps prevent
and heal arthritis, and protects against ulcers.
Yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures may help
you to live longer, and may fortify your immune
system. Research studies have shown that increased
yogurt consumption, particularly in immuno-compromised
populations such as the elderly, may enhance the
immune response, which would in turn increase
resistance to immune-related diseases. Some yogurt
manufacturers pasteurize their yogurt products, while
others do not. Although the aim of pasteurization is
to kill any harmful bacteria, it also kills the
beneficial lactic acid bacteria in the yogurt,
substantially reducing its health benefits. Therefore,
to fully enjoy the benefits of yogurt, look for those
that feature "live active cultures" or "living yogurt
cultures" on the label.

Tips:

Wash all vegetables and fruits –- especially those
that aren't organically grown (if you don't wash your
vegetables from the grocer's, you very well may be
doing more harm than good from the pesticides and
preservatives they have been sprayed and treated
with).

Note: Eat raw, organically grown fruits and vegetables
whenever possible and don't peel except when necessary
–- you are often peeling away the best vitamins and
nutrients! A good rule of thumb is that raw fruits and
vegetables are better than steamed, frozen or dried
ones, which are better than boiled, baked or grilled
ones, which are better than home canned ones, which
are better than store-bought canned ones, which are
better than no vegetables at all! Juices may
substitute for raw fruit/vegetables, but avoid added
sugar or other sweeteners.

About the author
Tony Isaacs, is a natural health advocate and
researcher and the author of books and articles about
natural health including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and
"Collected Remedies"as well as song lyrics and
humorous anecdotal stories. Mr. Isaacs also has The
Best Years in Life website for baby boomers and others
wishing to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream
managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier
lives naturally. He is currently residing in the
scenic Texas hill country near Utopia, Texas where he
serves as a consultant to the Utopia Silver colloidal
silver and supplement company and where he is working
on a major book project due for publication later this
year.