Skin Care

I was in my 30s and seated, one sunny morning in my then hometown of Santa Barbara, at an outdoor beachfront café. I’d just lifted a forkful of almond croissant toward my lips when a stranger leaned over from a neighboring table and whispered. “Do you know that has almost 400 calories, half from saturated fat?”

My brain flashed the thought-gee-that’s rather rude. After all I was young and fit, how much damage could a morning croissant do, and what business of it was hers anyway? But in a town peopled by celebs like Oprah, Catherine Zeta Jones, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie–this lady looked like a magazine cover photo of vibrant health. So I set down my fork, smiled, asked questions and listened.

Her named was Angie. Incredibly she was in her late 70′s. She offered that she’d never had plastic surgery and her only make-up was organic sun block. Her hair gleamed. Her skin was smooth and lightly tanned. Her blue eyes sparkled. She had a superhero-like defined and toned body. And what she was wearing I learned was her daily uniform: A short-sleeved, waist length white-T and equally body-hugging knee-length yoga pants, combined with chic sport shoes. And in that form-fitting outfit there was absolutely no chance of hiding even an ounce of excess fat.

She spoke like a pro about nutrition and completely blew-away my notions of what it meant to be ‘old.’ She said that her mornings started with a one-hour swim followed a 6-mile power walk. She was a living example that we become the result of our consistent choices in what we eat, think and do.

We became friends, and twenty years later thanks to Angie’s “Seven Forever Young Rules” I still have the kind of fitness that turns heads. And because it’s truly never to late to start, here they are:

1) Eat wild salmon or another oily fish 2-3 times a week. Replace meat, poultry and most dairy products with non-GMO soy substitutes from a reliable source like Amy’s or Morningstar organics.

2) Make your diet plant based: Whole grains, nuts, leafy greens, tomatoes, and a little organic red wine. Cut out all trans fats. Use olive or grapeseed oil.

3) Take a daily Omega-3 supplement. And 1,400-1,500 mg of Calcium with 1,100 IU of Vitamin D, and for painful joints try 1,500 mg of Glucosamine with 1,200 mg of Chondrotin after first checking with your doctor.

4) Drink 8 glasses of water daily and green tea. Use SPF-30, avoid mid-day sun, and at night use ROC Retinol Correction anti-wrinkle cream and Olay Regenerists.

5) Do an hour of cardio and weight bearing exercise everyday. Have a de-stress activity like yoga or meditation. Get adequate, restorative sleep.

6) Have friends and activities that make you laugh, learn and challenge you to really think.

7) Eat 5-8 servings a day of ‘colorful’ foods–obtained from organic Farmer’s Markets if possible: Yellow/Orange: Carrots, mango, melons, corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes. Red: Tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon. Green: spinach, kale, broccoli, and a real powerhouse, fresh-squeezed wheatgrass juice. Blue/Purple: Blackberries/blueberries, eggplant. White: Potatoes, cauliflower, garlic, onion, tofu. For snacks, try organic popcorn popped in grapeseed oil, sprinkle on some organic Parmesan cheese.

© 2008 -Suzanne de Cornelia. All worldwide rights apply. This article may be reprinted on websites as long as the entire article, including website link and resource box below are included and unchanged. Suzanne de Cornelia is a freelance writer and author of “French Heart.” Friend her on Facebook,Twitter @Suzanne de Cornelia, and click-on her site for a fascinating a free blogroll of resources: http://suzannedecornelia.com

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