Longevity and Quality of Life

Longevity: As long as possible

There is a moment in the future when you will take your last breath. Starting from that moment, your loved ones will live on without you, doing the best they can under those trying circumstances, until they themselves join you in a better place. With this in mind, if you knew that every time you ate a meal high in saturated fat, sugar and total calories you were slicing off one to three hours of your life, what would you do? You might say eating saturated fat and sugar makes you happy so it is worth it, that it is difficult to stop, or that healthier food is not available. But living longer will also make you happy, and not only you but everyone that knows you. And no matter how difficult it is to eat healthier, there is little doubt that earlier death is significantly more difficult. As is true with anything in life, if it is important enough to you, you will find a way to make it happen. For example: You could bring a salad with you to work each day. The point of this book is to give you the facts you need so you know what to do.

Quality of Life (QOL): As much each day as possible

Living longer is only a part of the QOL equation. We want to live each day that we are here to the fullest. That means having more energy, more mental focus, faster recovery from injury, and for those who love to exercise or love the great outdoors, having an ability to take one’s activity to the next level. In short, we want a high quality of life: To live as much as possible every day and for as many days as possible. To achieve this, your body needs nutrition not only for fuel but also for replacement parts (mainly lipids and amino acids). On the other hand, over-nutrition results in fat stores not only in your fat cells, but also in your organs: The liver, kidneys, arteries (atherosclerosis) and elsewhere. Thus, finding the balance between meeting all of your needs without exceeding them is the best way to get the most out of your life today and tomorrow.