One brisk walk a day is enough to cut the risk of early death by as much as 15 per cent, according to Public Health England. I read this in my nightly download of stories of centenarians. Fifteen percent! That’s a pretty good payoff for one brisk walk a day, don’t you think?

I gave a talk about nutrition and lifelong wellness at a retirement community today. My advice on how to live long and die short?

Eat well, move and relax, don’t worry.

I was in the hall talking with a resident after the program. She pointed to the back of a man who was walking briskly down the hall. “He’s 104,” she said.

These are very informed residents who want to stay well. They are willing to do the work to live long and die short.

The Questions and Some Simple Answers

As a result, they had many questions: Are eggs good for you? Skim or full fat milk? Milk at all? What foods should I eat to support my under active thyroid? Is beef okay to eat? How about mushrooms?

It would take some time to thoroughly answer these questions, but briefly stated, the answer to all of them is whatever you eat, begin with simple whole fresh foods that have not been treated with antibiotics or hormones.

Food Is Important

Know the source of your food. Buy local whenever you can so you can know the answers. You may hear that eating quality food is too expensive. If so, contact me and I’ll give you a shopping list that will get you what you need for under 50 USD a week.

Take into account what you like to eat. There are enough foods to choose from – you can choose from more than 100 vegetables alone. You can always find a healthy choice. No one wants to suffer through vegetables or grains or fish or meat that they simply don’t like.

You may be someone who has dieted off and on throughout your life. If so, you may have missed the pleasure and satisfaction of consistently eating high quality foods and maintaining a healthy weight.

Well, it’s not too late to foster a new relationship with food. See what a program like 6 Weeks to Diet Freedom can do for you.

Longevity Is Almost Sure

Because of modern medicine and improvements in the general quality of life, most of us will live very long lives. What do you want that to look like for you? Will you be able to enjoy your later years? Will you be spending your money doing things you enjoy, or will it all be going to health care?

How we live in our 60s and 70s will either set the pace for a long healthy life or lead us toward a decline in our health. Taking that simple brisk walk, eating quality food, and connecting to people and things you enjoy will raise the likelihood for a happy end of life.

How motivated are you to do the simple things of walking and eating well each day? Do you think it’s worth the effort to live to be like that 104-year-old man I saw yesterday? Leave your comments below.