April 5, 2007 by Domenic Thomas, M.S.O.M., L.Ac.
The most consistent piece of advice I receive from my older patients is, " Don’t get old! " Well if I could figure out how to stop time, this would be an easy task. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to reduce the effects of aging and improve our health.
In our early adult life many of us feel invulnerable, as unhealthy actions seem to offer limited, if any effects on our well being. The problem is, most of these effects will not be felt until years later, when it is very difficult to undo the damage to your body.
Early adulthood is an important time to "invest" in your health by developing healthy habits which stay with you throughout your lifetime. It is common for people to "invest" their money at this stage in their life as no one wants to deal with undue financial pressure later in life.
Well I can’t imagine any of us want to deal with poor health after a lifetime of hard work either. Developing good eating and exercise habits along with regular healthcare maintenance is essential to well being and is the perfect antidote to aging.
Much like a financial investment, the earlier in life we contribute to our health, the greater the payoff. The good news is, taking care of oneself at any stage of life is an investment with a guaranteed payoff. I think most of us wish this were true in our financial life as well.
Preventative care is the best way to avoid chronic disease and assure a higher quality of life as we age. Making your health a priority is essential to every aspect of your life, and is the foundation of being a great parent, friend or co-worker. Take some time to improve your health this spring, enjoying the dividends in the warm summer weather with your family and friends.
