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07-25-2001, 11:33 PM
How to Slow the Body's Aging Process
December 1, 1999
Today people are living longer, but enjoying it less. Many of us fear "old age" as being a period of declining abilities and failing health. But if we learn to replace that fear with a positive attitude, an enhanced physical and spiritual awareness of our bodies and muscle movement (exercise), we can expect to enjoy the blessings of a vigorous and healthy old age.
A century ago, less than one person in ten reached the age of 6 and those who did live that long had bodies worn out by a lifetime of inadequate nutrition, widespread disease and backbreaking physical labor. Their remaining years were difficult, not because they were old, but because their bodies were in a state of breakdown.
With today's advancements in medical science and education, most of us will live well into our 60's and 70's... and the physical disease and mental breakdown we fear in old age is usually the result of internal stress that we can learn to avoid.
It is a known fact that people age differently.
A person's well being depends far less on chronological age (age according to the calendar) than on two other factors:
Biological age is how old your body is in terms of critical life signs and cellular processes. Every individual is affected differently by time. In fact, every cell and organ in your body ages on its own timetable.
Psychological age indicates how old you feel. Depending on what’s happening in your life and your attitude about it, your psychological age can change dramatically within a very short period.
Aging is reversible! Its not news that psychological age can decrease. We all know the old proverb "you are as old as you feel." Scientists have confirmed that biological aging can be reversed. Clinical research has proven that regular physical exercise reverses the following typical effects of biological age:
Reduced strength
Lower metabolic rate
Excess body fat
Reduced aerobic capacity
Higher blood pressure
Lower blood-sugar tolerance
Higher cholesterol/HDL ratio
Reduced bone density
Poor body temperature regulation
To get optimal benefits from exercise, the type and amount should be tailored to your body type and individual constitution. You don't have to be a fitness freak to gain benefits from exercise... just 20 minutes of walking three times a week will improve your cholesterol/HDL ratio. No expert advice is needed. Just get up and move the body so its primary functions get stimulated (especially the lymphatic, circulatory and elimination systems). This is why and how I created the T-Tapp System (especially the Primary Back Stretch exercise). Burning calories and fat is secondary to all other benefits the body receives from exercise. The human body is designed to move. Inactivity will accelerate atrophy and degeneration of primary body functions, thus accelerated aging occurs.
A study of 7,000 Southern Californians found that the longest-lived followed seven simple rules:
Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night
Eat breakfast
Eat small frequent meals
Maintain weight - don't be significantly overweight or underweight
Engage in regular physical activity - sports, gardening, long walks, etc.
Drink moderately - not more than two alcoholic drinks a day
Don't smoke
The study found that a 45-year-old man who followed these rules could expect to live another 33 years… but if he followed only three of them or less, he would probably die within 22 years.
The Role of Stress
The human body reacts to stress by pumping adrenaline and other powerful hormones into the bloodstream. This "flight or flight" response provides energy for taking rapid action and is vital when you are actually faced with pressing external danger, but this makes your metabolism work in the direction of breaking your body down instead of building it up.
If stress occurs too often or continues too long it produces lasting harmful effects including muscle wasting, diabetes, fatigue, osteoporosis, hypertension... all of which are typical of aging.
A perfect example of this is the well-known talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. After surviving the stressful situation of her cattle/beef lawsuit in Texas, Oprah prepared herself to be her thinnest and look her best for a Vogue cover and story (October 1998). For those of you who did not see her Vogue cover or the several pages of additional fashion photos of her inside, she looked incredible! I have never seen her look happier or more radiant. I really admire this woman for who she is and what she has done, but I believe that the stress of both lawsuit and preparation for Vogue has greatly damaged her metabolic rate, pancreas, and resting glucose utilization. Abundant stress may initially cause weight loss, but once the body "breaks down" it becomes a fat producing machine. I believe this is why Oprah is on a spiral of uncontrollable weight gain. I wish that I knew how to get a message to her that I am willing to privately teach her how to rebuild her body once and for all! (Without appearing on her show and/or receiving any publicity from it.) Oprah has done so much for others that its time someone gives to her. I've trained several celebrities in secret - it is tough being in the public eye. Perhaps one of you knows how to get in touch with her.
A major contribution to the aging process in modern life comes from dangerous levels of stress, often times "subliminal". For example, our cities are full of unavoidable noise, which is considered to be a serious source of stress. Studies have shown increased levels of mental disorder in people who live under the flight paths near airports, elevated blood pressure in children who live near the Los Angeles airport, and more violent behavior in noisy work environments. Think about the growing epidemic of "road rage" that seems to plague our roadways, which is only more evidence of abundant stress.
Fortunately, we have discovered a number of measures that can reduce the aging effects of stress and slow the aging process. Here are a few:
Experience silence. Research has shown that people who meditate or take "time out" without noise have higher levels of DHEA, a hormone that protects against stress and decreases with age. Spending 20 minutes twice a day in calm silence pays great benefits in detaching you from the mad bustle of the world and finding your true self.
Avoid toxins. Not just foods or drinks that stress your system, but relationships that produce anger and tension.
Shed the need for approval by others... it's a sign of fear and fear is another stress factor that promotes aging.
Use relationships with others to learn your own self. People we love provide something we need... those we dislike have something we need to get rid of. I've always liked the saying, "you cannot share what you don't have." In other words, if you don't love yourself how can you share love with others? If you don't have peace within yourself how can you give peace to others?
Change your inner dialogue. Change "what's in it for me?" to "how can I help others?" Selfishness is bad for you. Psychologist Larry Scherwitz found that people who used the words "I - Me - Mine" most often in their conversations had the highest risk of heart disease.
Be aware of your body's needs. Your body only recognizes two signals... comfort and discomfort... learn to listen and respond to its signals and you will be much healthier.
Remember "body balance" is important emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It takes effort to create balance, but it is not impossible to do. Often times, the holiday season creates more self-imposed stress than any other time of year. ‘Tis the season to be happy, thankful, and reflective! The countdown has started for the approaching New Year - make the most of who you are and what you have.
Best wishes,
Teresa Tapp
December 1, 1999
Today people are living longer, but enjoying it less. Many of us fear "old age" as being a period of declining abilities and failing health. But if we learn to replace that fear with a positive attitude, an enhanced physical and spiritual awareness of our bodies and muscle movement (exercise), we can expect to enjoy the blessings of a vigorous and healthy old age.
A century ago, less than one person in ten reached the age of 6 and those who did live that long had bodies worn out by a lifetime of inadequate nutrition, widespread disease and backbreaking physical labor. Their remaining years were difficult, not because they were old, but because their bodies were in a state of breakdown.
With today's advancements in medical science and education, most of us will live well into our 60's and 70's... and the physical disease and mental breakdown we fear in old age is usually the result of internal stress that we can learn to avoid.
It is a known fact that people age differently.
A person's well being depends far less on chronological age (age according to the calendar) than on two other factors:
Biological age is how old your body is in terms of critical life signs and cellular processes. Every individual is affected differently by time. In fact, every cell and organ in your body ages on its own timetable.
Psychological age indicates how old you feel. Depending on what’s happening in your life and your attitude about it, your psychological age can change dramatically within a very short period.
Aging is reversible! Its not news that psychological age can decrease. We all know the old proverb "you are as old as you feel." Scientists have confirmed that biological aging can be reversed. Clinical research has proven that regular physical exercise reverses the following typical effects of biological age:
Reduced strength
Lower metabolic rate
Excess body fat
Reduced aerobic capacity
Higher blood pressure
Lower blood-sugar tolerance
Higher cholesterol/HDL ratio
Reduced bone density
Poor body temperature regulation
To get optimal benefits from exercise, the type and amount should be tailored to your body type and individual constitution. You don't have to be a fitness freak to gain benefits from exercise... just 20 minutes of walking three times a week will improve your cholesterol/HDL ratio. No expert advice is needed. Just get up and move the body so its primary functions get stimulated (especially the lymphatic, circulatory and elimination systems). This is why and how I created the T-Tapp System (especially the Primary Back Stretch exercise). Burning calories and fat is secondary to all other benefits the body receives from exercise. The human body is designed to move. Inactivity will accelerate atrophy and degeneration of primary body functions, thus accelerated aging occurs.
A study of 7,000 Southern Californians found that the longest-lived followed seven simple rules:
Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night
Eat breakfast
Eat small frequent meals
Maintain weight - don't be significantly overweight or underweight
Engage in regular physical activity - sports, gardening, long walks, etc.
Drink moderately - not more than two alcoholic drinks a day
Don't smoke
The study found that a 45-year-old man who followed these rules could expect to live another 33 years… but if he followed only three of them or less, he would probably die within 22 years.
The Role of Stress
The human body reacts to stress by pumping adrenaline and other powerful hormones into the bloodstream. This "flight or flight" response provides energy for taking rapid action and is vital when you are actually faced with pressing external danger, but this makes your metabolism work in the direction of breaking your body down instead of building it up.
If stress occurs too often or continues too long it produces lasting harmful effects including muscle wasting, diabetes, fatigue, osteoporosis, hypertension... all of which are typical of aging.
A perfect example of this is the well-known talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. After surviving the stressful situation of her cattle/beef lawsuit in Texas, Oprah prepared herself to be her thinnest and look her best for a Vogue cover and story (October 1998). For those of you who did not see her Vogue cover or the several pages of additional fashion photos of her inside, she looked incredible! I have never seen her look happier or more radiant. I really admire this woman for who she is and what she has done, but I believe that the stress of both lawsuit and preparation for Vogue has greatly damaged her metabolic rate, pancreas, and resting glucose utilization. Abundant stress may initially cause weight loss, but once the body "breaks down" it becomes a fat producing machine. I believe this is why Oprah is on a spiral of uncontrollable weight gain. I wish that I knew how to get a message to her that I am willing to privately teach her how to rebuild her body once and for all! (Without appearing on her show and/or receiving any publicity from it.) Oprah has done so much for others that its time someone gives to her. I've trained several celebrities in secret - it is tough being in the public eye. Perhaps one of you knows how to get in touch with her.
A major contribution to the aging process in modern life comes from dangerous levels of stress, often times "subliminal". For example, our cities are full of unavoidable noise, which is considered to be a serious source of stress. Studies have shown increased levels of mental disorder in people who live under the flight paths near airports, elevated blood pressure in children who live near the Los Angeles airport, and more violent behavior in noisy work environments. Think about the growing epidemic of "road rage" that seems to plague our roadways, which is only more evidence of abundant stress.
Fortunately, we have discovered a number of measures that can reduce the aging effects of stress and slow the aging process. Here are a few:
Experience silence. Research has shown that people who meditate or take "time out" without noise have higher levels of DHEA, a hormone that protects against stress and decreases with age. Spending 20 minutes twice a day in calm silence pays great benefits in detaching you from the mad bustle of the world and finding your true self.
Avoid toxins. Not just foods or drinks that stress your system, but relationships that produce anger and tension.
Shed the need for approval by others... it's a sign of fear and fear is another stress factor that promotes aging.
Use relationships with others to learn your own self. People we love provide something we need... those we dislike have something we need to get rid of. I've always liked the saying, "you cannot share what you don't have." In other words, if you don't love yourself how can you share love with others? If you don't have peace within yourself how can you give peace to others?
Change your inner dialogue. Change "what's in it for me?" to "how can I help others?" Selfishness is bad for you. Psychologist Larry Scherwitz found that people who used the words "I - Me - Mine" most often in their conversations had the highest risk of heart disease.
Be aware of your body's needs. Your body only recognizes two signals... comfort and discomfort... learn to listen and respond to its signals and you will be much healthier.
Remember "body balance" is important emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It takes effort to create balance, but it is not impossible to do. Often times, the holiday season creates more self-imposed stress than any other time of year. ‘Tis the season to be happy, thankful, and reflective! The countdown has started for the approaching New Year - make the most of who you are and what you have.
Best wishes,
Teresa Tapp