barefooter
Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2013
- Messages
- 218
Unfortunately, I think a lot of it has to do with never becoming unhealthy in the first place (nigh impossible). I think when you're healthy, hormones are good, digestion is rocking, there is a lot of room for error in the diet. The digestion is fierce and can breakdown nasty foods, use the good stuff, and detoxify/excrete the bad stuff. I think if you have at least an okay diet, move a bit, and have a lot of other good stuff going like friends, family, stimulating work/life, etc. you can remain in this state for a long time.
But, if you become unhealthy, then it seems like it's an uphill battle all the time. You have to eat perfect, because your digestion is weak. You need to avoid stress, because you can't tolerate it. You have to force yourself to move because you don't feel like it. Same for socialization, etc.
I think people who do eat a poor diet and stay healthy into old age, likely have many other healthy factors in their lives that we may not be aware of. I know just number of friends has a high correlation with longevity, and people tend to have very few friends these days. Maybe they really feel like they belong to a community, do good/meaningful work in the world, or have lots of love in their lives. Maybe all of the above.
I also think the thought patterns that you develop in early childhood play a big role. In my case, it seems my mind always assumes the world is an unsafe place, and my thought patterns cause a lot of stress hormones for things that are only in my head. I think my thoughts are probably what wrecked my health through chronic stress, but maybe it was bad health/digestion that started the bad thoughts, we can never know.
But, if you become unhealthy, then it seems like it's an uphill battle all the time. You have to eat perfect, because your digestion is weak. You need to avoid stress, because you can't tolerate it. You have to force yourself to move because you don't feel like it. Same for socialization, etc.
I think people who do eat a poor diet and stay healthy into old age, likely have many other healthy factors in their lives that we may not be aware of. I know just number of friends has a high correlation with longevity, and people tend to have very few friends these days. Maybe they really feel like they belong to a community, do good/meaningful work in the world, or have lots of love in their lives. Maybe all of the above.
I also think the thought patterns that you develop in early childhood play a big role. In my case, it seems my mind always assumes the world is an unsafe place, and my thought patterns cause a lot of stress hormones for things that are only in my head. I think my thoughts are probably what wrecked my health through chronic stress, but maybe it was bad health/digestion that started the bad thoughts, we can never know.