Daily Perricone

Scientists long ago established that exercise greatly reduces both the incidence and severity of age-related degenerative diseases.  But we don’t just want to live longer; we want to extend the number of our healthy years.  We want to stay fit and active with the capacity to enjoy life to its fullest.  Gerontologists refer to this as our ‘health span’ – as opposed to our simple “life span” – and universally agree that exercise is a crucial component to extend and improve them both.  The right exercise will strengthen our bones and muscles, improve and restore physical and emotional balance, relieve stress and improve physical, mental and emotional health.

Exercise will also significantly decrease the effects of what is known as “secondary aging”- the occurrence and severity of diseases associated with aging.  In fact, it is these degenerative diseases from arthritis to Alzheimer’s that are often responsible for reducing both the life and the health span.  Exercise is a key element in helping us to prevent disease and prolong our good health into our seventh, eighth, ninth decade and beyond.  In recognition of this, I would like to tell you about a wonderful story headlined “102 Year-Old Golfer Scores Hole in One.”  Elsie McLean, a golfer since the 1920’s set a new world record for the oldest woman, or man to hit a hole in one.  “Well everybody wants a hole-in-one, and I said, ‘Why can’t I have a hole-in-one?’ I came within inches once,” Elsie told television station KNVN. She broke the age record of 101 set by Harold Stilson in 2001 at Deerfield Country Club in Florida. “For an old lady,” she said, “I still hit the ball pretty good.” She added.

Elsie not only enjoys a physically active lifestyle and fresh air through her love of golf, she also has friends to enjoy the game with—thereby avoiding two of the sorrows of advanced age, loneliness and isolation.

As always I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, CNS