According to the American Psychological Association (2024)
Approximately 80% of adults aged 65 and older globally live with at least one chronic disease, and about 68% have two or more. In the United States, nearly 95% of adults aged 60 and older have at least one chronic condition, with almost 80% having two or more
According to the World Health Organization (2024)
While specific global data for individuals over 70 are limited, it’s reasonable to infer that the prevalence of chronic diseases in this age group is at least as high, if not higher, than in the 65 and older demographic. Common chronic conditions among older adults include heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and dementia.
At the age of 83, I feel as healthy as ever. I’m free of chronic diseases, have a high energy level, and am passionate about my purpose and mission to inform and educate others about what it takes to live a long and healthy life. As a result, I would like to share some of the healthy principles I’ve learned and experienced during these past 17 years on whole food plant-based nutrition.
Principle #1: When you trust your body’s self-healing powers, it will gift you with optimal health and a robust immune system. Keeping you healthy is your body’s priority; all that is required from you is to help it do the work it has been doing since before you were born.
2,500 years ago, Hippocrates, widely considered the Father of Medicine, is quoted as saying:
“Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well.”
Principle #2: It’s time to start trusting your inner doctor who has cared for you, free of charge, since you were born. Since medical errors and pharmaceutical drugs are considered the third leading cause of death, I recommend reducing your dependency on doctors and hospitals. This occurs when you become proactive and accept responsibility for your health and well-being.
Principle #3: When you are healthy, it’s a sign that your immune system is doing its job. This results in natural protection against pathogens, including COVID-19 and its variants. Also, since natural immunity has no side effects or adverse reactions, it should be considered a safe and default choice during pandemics.
Principle #4: The body thrives on real food. It’s been that way since humans began walking the Earth 300,000 years ago and our ape ancestors 2,000,000 years ago. Although there may be exceptions, we should be skeptical about accepting vitamin and mineral supplements as viable substitutes for the real thing. Remember that vitamin and mineral supplements are a multi-billion-dollar industry, mostly unregulated.
According to T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and author of the NY Times bestseller “The China Study”:
The process of nutrition is profoundly holistic, in that the way the body uses a particular nutrient depends on what other nutrients are ingested along with it. Suppose we take an isolated vitamin C pill. In that case, we miss out on the cast of ‘supporting characters’ that may give vitamin C its potency. Even if we add many of those characters into the pill too, which some manufacturers have done with bioflavonoids, we are still assuming that whatever is in the apple and not in the pill is somehow unimportant.”
Principle #5: There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants. Plant-based foods are nutrient-dense and calorie-light, while animal-based foods are nutrient-light and calorie-dense. This is why the most sustainable and effective path to weight loss is by consuming whole plant foods.
Principle #6: Genes do not act on their own. Nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices play a vital role in whether or not good or bad genes express themselves. If we make the right food choices, we can avoid diseases that may have affected our parents, grandparents, etc.
Principle #7: Whole plant-based nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices can prevent and reverse chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis). Studies on the healthiest and longest-living populations on the planet support this claim.
Principle #8: Consuming whole plant-based foods is the safest, most efficient, and sustainable way to lose weight. Hopping from one weight-loss diet to another rarely leads to positive long-term results.
Principle #9: A healthy and diverse microbiome produces a strong immune system, which helps prevent chronic diseases and diseases that cause suffering and premature death. Since fiber is the favorite food of our gut microbiome, the more plant foods we consume, the healthier we will be.
