As you navigate your way through Midlife, I thought it would be helpful to outline one of the most important concerns and/or interests of those of us who are going through that period (of adjustment) in our lives. According to Yahoo.com "baby boomers are finding that 60 is the new 45".

While we cannot turn back the clock, we want to be around to see our grandchildren go through their formative years - and, if we're fortunate enough, be around long enough to see them get married and start their own families. That is a big reason why so many baby boomers are exploring a lot of avenues today - the key focus is longevity through good health. It doesn't have to be a dream, it can be a reality.

We want to stay away from nursing homes as long as possible, or avoid them altogether. So, in a nutshell, keeping your health, thus your independence, is key to your goal. Aside from the topics of retirement and finances, Anti-Aging is one of the most crucial and researched subjects by us baby boomers:

Staying independent through diet, exercise - self care

I have listed some websites which I have found very informative on the topic of Health, Wellness, Anti-Aging:

www.mercola.com
www.drweil.com
www.mayoclinic.com
www.webmd.com
www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com
www.nvperricone.com -- Dr. Nicholas Perricone's website
www.knowledgeofhealth.com -- Bill Sardi, health researcher/reporter/advocator
www.cancerdecisions.com

There are things you can do to keep yourself in your best health. Here are some tips:

MASSAGE THERAPY

-Loosens the toxins that are embedded in your muscle/tissue and flushes them; that is why you read about many celebrities having massages. Marilyn Monroe used to have a two hour massage every night by her own private masseuse to keep those gams in tip top shape.

STAYING ACTIVE -- WALKING

-Even walking just 20 to 30 minutes a day (1 mile) helps your body immensely; and, as my doctor told me, swing your arms as you walk - that adds even more benefits to your walk. Walking is one of the least strenuous exercises and yet one of the best for your overall health. You don't have to work out 2 hours a day, 5 days a week to stay in good shape. Everything in moderation.

DRINK WATER

-8 to 10 glasses of water a day flushes toxins out of your system. No tap water, please - studies have shown fluoride is not good for your health. I keep a small bottle of spring water by my bed at night - whenever I open my eyes I take a couple of gulps. Structured water would be the best water for our bodies. The term 'structured water' means water that has smaller molecules which enables it to gain entrance into each cell unlike regular tap or bottled water. Lourdes, the miracle site in France, is one of the few naturally-occurring sites in the world where you can find this water. You can buy this water on the internet. Google 'structured water'. Bill Sardi, (www.knowledgeofhealth.com) see above, touts a water company in Modesto, CA, as having the highest count of magnesium in their water, which according to experts, most people are sorely lacking in their systems.

Also, once a week mix one tablespoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in an 8 ounce glass of water -and drink up! great health benefits - flushes out all the gunk in your system!

EMT - EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE

This is a tapping technique that you perform on your Meridian points - as explained and illustrated on Dr. Mercola's site below:

http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse3.htm

MINERALS

Linus Pauling, the two-time Nobel Prize laureate said the following:
"You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency".

ENZYMES

According to Suzanne Somers' book "Sexy Forever" she quotes Hippocrates at the beginning of the book..."Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small daily sins against nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illnesses will suddenly appear" - which brings me to ENZYMES. In her book it states that "aging can knock out most of the Hydrochloric Acid in our digestive system"... which ultimately can lead to gas, bloating, heartburn, weight gain and our system 'unable to extract nutrients from our food." When HCL production is low it can also result in problems with bacterial infections or parasites." You can supplement with tablets called Betaine HCL.

Suzanne also states in her book that because of the radiation she received when she was treated for breast cancer - it killed the Hydrochloric Acid in her system FOR LIFE. She must take the Betain HCL tablets every meal.

I have also discovered a product called 'Serracor NK'. You can google this product and read all about it. It has fascinating testimonials on various websites. It will be my next purchase for my health.

EATING HEALTHY

Fruits and vegetables are the order of the day. You reap enormous rewards when you have a variety of each every day. Don't forget the greens - extremely important. Hippocrates said "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Eating salmon, salmon and more salmon is one of the best things you can do for yourself; it's loaded with essential fatty acids.
According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, in one of his books, The Perricone Prescription, he states eating fresh wild (not farm raised) salmon tops the list for total body rejuvenation.

BEST ANTI-OXIDANT JUICES FROM THE HIMALAYAS, AMAZON RAIN FOREST

From this website, http://www.cancerdecisions.com/012906.html, here is what Dr. Perricone says about the açai fruit:

"Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, açai tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. Açai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Although açai may not be available in your local supermarket, you can find it in several health food and gourmet stores (often in juice form). A new product featuring the unsweetened pulp is now also available, and I highly recommend that you choose this form of açai."

Other wonderful anti-oxidant juices: Mangosteen, Goji Berry, Noni, Pomegranate. There is a powerful antioxidant juice called 'Fruits of the World' which contains Pomegranate, Acai, Noni, Mangosteen, Blueberry, Cherry, Grape Seed, Aloe Vera, Goji Berry, Green tea, Concord Grape, Gingko Biloba and Resveratrol that I try to take consistently - it is somewhat pricey, but well worth it. You only need to use 2 tablespoons in a glass of juice or water once a day. Check out Walmart or Walgreen's for this amazing juice.


LIVER / COLON / GALL BLADDER CLEANSE

Flushing these organs of toxins, mucous and waste by cleansing them with a variety of herbs, juice and/or purified/spring water. The famous 'Master Cleanse' has been around for a while now and consists of lemon juice, apple juice, organic maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Check out Shirley's story of her journey back to health(www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com); also,(therawfoodsite.com/mastercleanse.htm); other products: 7DMC (7 day master cleanse); the Almighty cleanse; Dual Action cleanse.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

No man is an island. We all need emotional support. Women usually are able to make these connections through friendships with other women, not just family.

Men need to give themselves permission to feel vulnerable at times - and know that there is nothing wrong with that. It is one of the healthiest things they can do for themselves - have someone to talk things out with - your spouse/partner, friends, family members, counsellor, clergy.

PETS

Research has shown that having a pet gives a boost to your health and increases your longevity

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM (Our biological clocks)

Did you know that we have something called 'Circadian Rhythm'? (emedicinehealth.com); This is our internal, biological clock. It operates as cycles within a living organism, 24 hours a day (www.colostate.edu, Jennifer Lanier); for instance, at a certain time each night, usually between the hours of 10 pm and 12 pm, your liver starts to cleanse itself of toxins and other impurities - this process usually takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours; this can be thrown off kilter by jet lag, postpartum depression, menopausal disorders and infertility among others. http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/circadian-rhythm-disorders

Some items of interest:

*IP-6 ("The Overlooked Cancer Cure from Japan")
www.lewrockwell.com/sardi, www.knowledgeofhealth.com

*Neprinol - by Arthur Andrew Medical this is a proprietary blend of enzymes which break down fibrin in the body; as we age damaging fibrin builds up in our system and causes all types of unhealthy conditions;

*Transfer Factor (www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com)

*Chyawanprash - Ayurvedic jelly/jam loaded with antioxidants (sold thru Shirley's site among others)

Enzymes - Being touted as the new "Fountain of Youth" - as we age, our enzyme levels diminish; enzymes are needed to break down the food we eat which helps it to be absorbed and eliminated much more efficiently

Kefir - a powerful probiotic that replaces the bad bacteria in the gut with good bacteria;

Bitters - has an overall stimulating effect on the body including the digestive system and the hormone-producing endocrine system that the thyroid gland is a part of;

It's never too late to take positive steps to regain that bounce in your step and lead (a) productive, energetic life! Jump off that couch and take a little walk for yourself. It truly is rejuvenating. I am always glad when I've pushed myself to take a long walk. I feel so much better afterwards. As my friend told me - she walks to 'flush out the pipes'. Also, check out some of the products mentioned above. Change always starts with small steps. You have nothing to lose - but everything to gain - vibrant health!