Declining health as we age is typical, but not normal OR inevitable
Typically, Australians (and worldwide) spend the last 20% or one fifth of our lives in poor health.
This means that if we live to be 80 years old, we spend our last 18 or more years in declining health and on medications, often with side effects.
In Australia, nearly 79% of people have at least one long-term health condition, and nearly half of us have at least one chronic condition like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, dementia and more.
This picture worsens with age. 80% of Australians aged 65 and over have at least one chronic health condition, with 28% having 3 or more!
While it is TYPICAL now to be unwell as we age, this doesn’t make it NORMAL or INEVITABLE.
Are genetics to blame?
No. Epigenetics tells us that our behaviours and environment are what cause the changes that affect how our genes express, whether we have a disposition or not.
What’s caused this health decline?
Our stressful lives, the inflammatory processed foods we eat, the chemicals in our water and air and on our food, and our lack of belonging and meaning.
These lead to insulin resistance, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut health decline, oxidative stress and stress – the foundations of disease.
But the good thing is that YOU – and no one else – have the power to improve your own health, quality of life and longevity.
It’s never too late if you’re willing to take responsibility and make some foundational changes like...
Eating a real food diet – not inflammatory foods like sugar, refined carbs, hyper-processed and processed foods, seed oils, and gluten for some, but a diversity of clean vegetables and fruit, natural proteins and good fats
Moving daily, which our cells’ batteries need
Reducing chronic stress, which ruins our immunity and digestion
Finding belonging and meaning in your life, because our thoughts and beliefs influence cell function
Beyond that we’re learning much about how we can age better. But we must overcome chronic health problems first.