A Lesson in Health From an American Hero
I flew across the country yesterday, and had the pleasure and honor of flying with real, true American hero, Lt. Colonel Lee Archer of the 322nd Air Expeditionary Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Mr. Archer was returning from the Presidential Inauguration at which he and many of his comrades had been guests of honor.
I have to say, that despite a knee injury, which visibly hobbled him, Mr. Archer was probably the spryest 89-year old man I have ever seen. It’s hard to explain, but he just had that “alive” look in his eyes, that kids playing ball on summer afternoons have. He looked like he was ready to live another 89 years.
I talked with his daughter-in-law for a bit, and together with a flight attendant, we talked about the subject of aging, and aging well. The F/A told us that her grandfather had recently passed, at the ripe age of 108. One hundred and eight!!!
What was his (and Mr. Archer’s) secret to such happy longevity?
Don’t drink, don’t smoke, and only eat food "out of your own hand" she quoted him as saying. Meaning, live a healthy life, and your body will reward you with a long and happy life.
The “don’t smoke” part is obvious (don’t smoke, and if you do, find a way to quit!), but the “don’t drink” part is a little tougher for most of us. Come on, who doesn’t enjoy a beer or three occasionally?
The thing that intrigued me the most about her grandfather’s statement was the “eat food out of your own hand” bit. Meaning, only eat what you yourself prepare – don’t eat out too much.
If you know what goes into your body, you can control what your body is burning for fuel. This is probably the most important, and the most often overlooked part of wellness. Fresh, unprocessed food is what our bodies evolved to “run on”, and keeping your diet as close to that primitive ideal will insure that our bodies run optimally. Like a well-tuned, taken-care-of engine of a car that runs for 20 years, our bodies, if taken care of well, will also run well for many, many years.
I for one am going to prepare all my own food today, even as I drink a glass or two of wine with dinner. But no cigarettes!
posted by KJ Wojciechowski at 2:47 PM
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