Life Coaching for Baby Boomers

Back in the seventies when I was studying population demographics as part of my science degree, the common teaching was that the world would not be able to produce the amount of food needed to supply the anticipated population explosion by the year 2000.

Now in 2008 we can clearly see that although some parts of the world are starving, we do indeed have the capability to produce enough to feed the world, even if we do not have the motivation to distribute it equitably.

This has come about due to approaching food production as a science to achieve higher yields at the lowest possible price and changing food preservation and production processes making many more types of highly processed foods available.

However, the ability to feed the western world has come at a price in terms of our health. In countries where the diet is still predominantly traditional home cooked meals there isa much lower level of so called “lifestyle” diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart attack, cancer, stroke, attention deficit disorders (ADHD) and so forth.  Whilst it is accepted that diets high in animal fat,refined carbohydrates such as sugar, high in salt and low in nutrition, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle are responsible for the logarithmic increase in lifestyle diseases, there seems little motivation for society wide lifestyle changes.

Peter Dingle in his article in the Oct edition of Nova observes that people who come from countries where these chronic lifestyle illnesses are non-existent take on the patterns of these diseases within one generation of moving to their adopted country due to the adoption of the new lifestyle and diet. Indeed, evidence is appearing of an increase in obesity in China since the inclusion of western fast-foods, as a significant part of the diet, by younger people.

Fresh fruit daily.

Evidence supports that increasing the amount of fresh raw & cooked fruit and vegetables and the inclusion of more fish high in Omega-3 oils, in the diet, along with the reduction of processed foods high in fat, sugar & salt processed carbohydrates and daily moderate exercise such as walking can reduce the risk of lifestyle illnesses occurring and in some cases reverse the symptoms without prescription drugs.

So lets do everything we can to enjoy our longevity as we baby boomers get older by adopting the following simple steps.

1. Daily exercise in the fresh air
2. Eat at least 5 portions of fruit & vegetables per day
3. Eat grilled fish at least 3 times per week
4. Eat wholemeal cereals and breads
5. Drink at least 2 litres of water every day
6. Eat 6 small meals per day rather that 3 large ones.
7. Limit or eliminate processed foods from your diet
8. Consult a nutritionist, dietician, naturopath or your doctor if you are either underweight or overweight before  commencing a new exercise or diet.
9. Join a Yoga or Tai-Chi class
10. Volunteer for a community service - proven to contribute to the release of endorphins - the happy hormones