Column by Dr. Ann Hollingsworth
Recently I had the privilege of going to a Health Expo where I found out my health age as compared to my chronological age. As a person now in my senior years, this was useful information. It also was comforting to know that I can control much of what ages me or not. That is true for all of us. We can be guilty of buying into the notion that getting older just automatically means getting more disabled, sicker, etc. While a vehicle with more miles on it may require more preventive maintenance, it can still go strong for a number of years if that is done. So it is with our minds and bodies.
God has given us many natural resources with which to preventatively maintain ourselves. The old saying is so true that we can use it or lose it. In my health age assessment, I found these to be important:
How and what I eat both matter – The stuff that I eat in the state God created it has the most benefit to offer me – fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The further away from that a food item is, the less benefit it gives me. Feeding my body each day is much like fueling a car for a trip. The more fuel I put in at the beginning of the day, the longer I can go. The more fuel I put in at the end of the day, the more it is like topping off a lawnmower with gas at the end of the season. It can grow stagnant without being used soon.
Two other God-give supports are useful – sleep and exercise. I don’t have to go to a fancy gym. I can walk in the fresh air and sunshine for free and get the health benefits of those at the same time. Sleeping without distractions around me and sleeping in the dark while being active in the light will help me to be continually “younger” in mind, body, and spirit.
I found out that with improving my practice of God’s health regime, I can be a health age that is 18 years younger than my chronological age – I think that is a win-win.
