7 Bold Rules for Healthy Aging

In her new book, nutrition pioneer Ann Louise Gittleman, now 72, offers a comprehensive plan for growing older with health, high function, and vitality.

- By Melissa Diane Smith

Q: I just turned 70, and my husband is 75. We’re generally healthy but have experienced mild signs of aging, such as stiffer joints, more wrinkles, and decreased desire for lovemaking. He is especially concerned about preventing Alzheimer’s, which runs in his family, and I am concerned about heart disease, which runs in mine. How can we continue to enjoy vibrant health and prevent the diseases our parents had in these later years of our lives?

A: First, we need to change how we think about aging and realize that our genes are not our destiny. What we inherited from our parents shows potential for disease or health. But our environment—both inside our cells and outside our bodies—determines how those genes are expressed. We have the ability to change our environment and diet to address these issues and help our bodies age in good health.

Health visionary Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, explains these messages in her new book Radical Longevity. Gittleman, who is now in her 70s, should know. The author of more than 35 books draws on more than four decades of experience and research in age-defying and restorative medicine to create a fundamentally different guide to reversing the symptoms of aging and overcoming the root causes.