Dr. Manlove: An Innovative Approach to Your Health

They say aging isn't for sissies but consider the alternative! Whatever your health now you can take charge and make a positive difference in how long you will live and how good you will feel.

We all grow old. And more and more of us are living longer. The question is how well will we age. Will we be healthy enough to enjoy our later years. I can help you turn your health around, take charge of the direction of your life, and maximize your genetic potential.

Dr. James Fries, MD, a researcher from Stanford University, wrote an article on The Compression of Morbidity, first published in 1980. His theory is that while it may not be possible to extend life beyond a certain limit, we can drastically reduce the amount of time in which we are unhealthy. This has enormous consequences for public health, the financial well being of our nation, and the personal lives of us baby boomers.

The chart at the left gives you some idea of what is possible. Notice that the strength trained men at age 80 had about the same strength as untraiined men at age 20, while the untrained men went way downhill.

Good genes? Maybe but the more we learn about genes the more we learn how to overcome their limitations.

The answers may not seem glamorous or enticing, but the rewards are huge. And there are two main aspects to taking care of yourself: Information and Motivation.

There is a great deal of new, solid information that can help you make room in your life for each of these vital areas of health. Much of this information is available on this website. But just as important is motivation. I have seen some patients who only need to be told what to do and they do it. But others seem to struggle. I wondered about this for years until I found the tools of energy psychology combined with kinesiology. So when a patient is having a struggle, I have they say something like "I want to be healthy," while I test an indicator muscle. Many times the muscle will go weak, indicating that at some, usually unconscious, level, the person does NOT want to be healthy. There can ba many reasons. A common one is feelings of low self worth -- again these are usually unconscious and the person may not be aware of them. Whatever the reason there are a number of techniques to overcome these barriers and get on with choosing health.

In simple terms Dr. Fries is suggesting that we should live our lives like a candle, burning brightly to the end, and then going out. My mother lived to be 94. She did become frail (she never exercised) but she was mentally sharp, socially involved and lived by herself, happily until the end. Her last illness lasted about a week. I am actually convinced that if she had exercised and followed some of the recommendations here, she might well have lived longer and certainly would have had a higher level of functioning toward the end of her life.

Paul Bragg, right, a pioneering "health nut," died at 93. He was surfing in Hawaii, was pounded into the surf, fractured a hip and died in surgery. He was active and vital to the end -- obviously if he could surf at 93! He ate well, exercised until the end and got a chiropractic adjustment every week.

If we use the Triangle of Health as a guide we can classify the areas that might need to be addressed:

Structural. There are many recent studies showing that elderly people who exercise can maintain bone mass and muscle mass well into old age. Exercise has a powerful and positive effect on the brain, on the endocrine system, and on virtually every system of the body. Our bodies are designed to be used and respond with health when they are used correctly.

The right kind of exercise is iimportant. Based on research, it appears that weight training, also called resistance exercise, is essential. Aerobic training is also important, but I am convinced that "Burst Training," or High Intensity Interval Training, is absolutely the best and easiest way to keep up aerobic function.

The structural aspect also includes chiropractic. I vividly remember seeing a patient who was at that time, 83 years old. He was remarkably fit, had a military bearing and excellent muscle mass. But he had developed spinal stenosis and was in quite a bit of pain. He had untreated back pain for years. The denenerative process in his back had reached the point that it was basically irreversible.

There is good evidence that chiropractic can slow or reverse the degenerative process in the spine. The same is true of addressing old injuries and physical insults in all the joints, tendons and muscles of the body. Joints need to move! Stiff, stuck joints with impaired function will develop the wear and tear arthritis we call osteoarthritis. In my experience osteoarthritis can often be slowed or even reversed if treated early enough in the process of degeneration.

Nutritional/Biochemical. You are what you eat! All foods are made up of some combination of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. A good balance is extremely important. Protein deficiency contributes to loss of muscle mass, poor mental function and can interfere with the body's ablility to get rid of toxins. We also need

enough fat and the right kind of fats. This includes getting enough of the omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids but we seem to need some of the saturated animal fats for optimum health. Carbohydrates are technically not needed in the diet, but most people do well with moderate amounts of carbohydrates. White flours, white bread, white potatoes, and particularly white sugar all have negative efects on aging. This is even more true of high fructose corn syrup found in most candy, baked goods and sweetened drinks including many so-called fruit juices.

There are many nutritional interventions, most of which have been researched in animals but not yet in humans, which have great promise of improving the course of aging. Many of these do have other short term benefits and few or no side effects so anyone intent on improving the odds of having a healthy and fuflilling old age should consider them. The goal of biochemical interventions, starting with die, is to reduce blood insulin and reduce the level of inflammation.

Many hormones and neurotransmitters show a statistical decline with age. Diet, exercise and stress reduction can no doubt improve these functions well into old age, but nutritional and herbal supplements can help restore more youthful levels.

Mental/emotional/Spiritual. Stress is a killer and a cause of many degenerative diseases. Here we are talking mainly about mental or emotional stress. This has to do with the meaning we make of the circumstances and

events of our lives. When we perceive these to be stressful we produce changes in hormones and neurotransmitters whcih tend to increase blood sugars, decrease the immune system and have a negative effect on mental health. While life stress sometimes can't be changed, our response to stress can be improved by energy psychology, (EFT, TAT, ART, PKP. etc.), meditation, exercise and other interventions.

Following the principle of use it or lose it, using your brain, challenging it with new tasks and ideas and keeping social contacts, have both been shown to help maintain function into old age. Having a sense of spiritual connectedness also seems to prolong life and happiness.

The Choice is Yours

To find out how you can add years to your life and life to your years call my office. I am always available for a free brief phone consultation to discuss your health issues.

Related Articles:

Why You Need Alternative Healthcare

Convincing Skeptics of the Efficacy of Alternative Healthcare

The Triangle of Health

Treatment Choices - It's Up to You

Your Health Goals

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Manlove, unless otherwise noted. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Manlove. Dr. Manlove encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed in these articles are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using any product.