longevity??

2010 is just around the corner and whats your new year's resolutions? Most of us have resolutions every year but never seem to achieve what we determined to do. Why dont we put what is past and do things from this moment forward. To live to the fullest we have to make amendments in our lifestyle. well..the choice is yours...

Speaking of choices, i suddenly remember i met my mom's eldest sister last hari raya in our hometown is JB. A petite 93 year old bouncing with energy. She cooks, walks up and down the stairs without help and even reads without glasses!! and let me remind you again... SHE IS 93 YEARS OLD!! Even her memory doesnt seem to fail her, she remembers me when i was little and was telling gory details of me as a baby with precised details!

After our goodbyes and as i entered the car, my first question to my mom was ' how did she do it?'Perhaps its in our genes' (ooo please God, let me have this in me!) she replied. Mom is a cool 77 year old babe and looks minus 20 years. I, for one, thinks its the habit and lifestyle we are living in. Although i must say the genes do play a part.

Habit as in Oxford ditionary is a thing that a person does often and almost without thinking esp something that is hard to stop doing eg eating/working habits, good/bad habits.

Habits can be change although some people say old habits die hard. It takes + - 3 months of repetitive behavior to form a new pattern in your brain. Once the pattern is formed, it becomes an automatic behavioral response or habit. Lets together develop new healthy habits and replace the bad ones. (Im not talking about myself alone here yea... lets do this together... we need all the support we can from each other) :)

Here are some tips i managed to gather here and there and from talking to some people. Lets start the minute the clock strike 12.01 am in 2010 shall we.... (ahaks) and let me remind you again, do it repetitively and make it a habit! We deserve to live well and healthy.

1) Eat 6 SMALL meals a day : - I mean tiny weeny ones. When you eat smaller portions six times a day, you deliver a steady stream of nutrients, blood sugar, and energy to your body throughout the day. Eating this way is less taxing on the digestive and metabolic systems and also reduces your risk of heart disease.

2) Regular exercise can help promote physiological well-being, strengthen the immune system, maintain joint mobility, increase energy and the list goes on...
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, dont grumble when you dont get the nearest parking spot to wherever you are going, do the housework yourself instead of paying huge amounts for maids!

3) Laughter increases the release of endorphins, compounds that give you a sense of feeling good , in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people live longer and healthier lives.
( that is why i love being around Malek, he never fail to make me laugh and guys... FYI gals are always attracted to guys with a sense of humour)

4) Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Water is essential for all healthy body functions. Centenarians from around theworld cite their native water as the source of their health and longevity (esp the ones in Japan, Korea and around the Alps) - and the scientists agree with them. What they all have in common is pure water sources located far from any city, free from chemicals and toxins.

Choose filtered water; the best filtration processes are the ones that use activated charcoal, which removes the impurities but leaves the water-soluble minerals. Also, do not store water in plastic containers because the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can leach into the water.

5) Believe in God .Unwind yourself with religion (bertasbih, solat malam, baca quran etc) or for the non muslims with meditation. Stress is the root cause of most of the diseases that shorten our life span. In our modern society stress will continue to increase - unless you find techniques to manage it. Meditation and a strong believe in religion is the best way to release tension and revitalize your being. Meditation teaches you to breath properly, which is critical for eliminating up to 70% of your body's toxins and wastes.Tahajud quiets your mind, lowers your stress hormones, and teaches self-discipline, which is a necessary attribute to achieving your health and longevity goals.

Good luck people, may we all live to the fullest, live strong, happy and grow old gracefully. Thank you aunt, you are my inspiration.

Wishing everybody a very Happy New Year!!