Will Eating Less Let Boomers Live Longer?

Will eating less let boomers live longer?  Apparently the answer to that question, unfortunately, is "No." In a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Aging and reported in the journal Nature, August 23, 2012, it was determined that large calorie restrictions by humans will not prolong your life despite the fact that other studies in monkeys and rats have shown just that effect. Those studies convinced some people that the fountain of youth lay in eating significantly less than most people need to function.

So, what type of restrictions are we talking about?  Well, the average adult human consumes about 2200 calories a day.  The believers in extreme calorie restrictions have cut their calorie intake by as much as 30 to 40 percent.  Earlier studies in mammals and other animals suggested an increase in lifespan by as much as an astounding 50% as a result of such restrictions.  While there is no question that many people consume too many calories which may shorten their lifespan, it appears eating too few calories will not necessarily have the opposite effect.

While the Nature article is certainly intriguing for its conclusions, it is unlikely that it will end the debate over calorie restrictions. As with anything else, people will continue to believe what they want to believe.  If they feel better eating less, I am sure people will continue doing so.  As  for me, I think moderation in caloric intake, as well as most other things, is still the key to good health and longevity. On the other hand, I am reminded of the statement once made by Edwin Land, the inventor of the Polaroid camera, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing to excess." 

Let us know what you think.

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A Boomer in Florence: The Ponte Vecchio and Mille Miglia

Last year, we had occasion to visit Florence, Italy as part of our Mediterranean cruise. One of the highlights of our visit there (and there were many) was the Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio or "Old Bridge" was built across the Arno river in 1345. At the time it was built up to the present, it has served as a sort of mall of shops.  Originally, the shops were mostly butcher shops.  Today, they are mostly jewelry shops with beautiful items and high prices.

The bridge seems always to be crowded with shoppers, although we rarely saw anyone actually go in the high end stores.  Most people were window shopping as we were.

As we were leaving the bridge  we came upon several police officers, carabinieri, stopping traffic and people from crossing the street.  Soon we found out why as several vintage sports cars came whizzing around the bend in front of us.

We learned that this was the famous "mille miglia" or 1000 mile race.  It is held each year in May.  Originally it was an endurance, open road race between Brescia, Italy and Rome and back again. It was held  from 1927 until 1957 (except for the years during World War II) but was stopped after numerous deaths during the course of the race. It was renewed in 1982 as a road rally. It was exciting to see the vintage sports cars race through the streets of Florence with crowds of people on all sides.

Travels with Charley Revisited

One of my favorite travel books and probably the one I enjoyed reading the most is "Travels with Charley In Search of America", by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck, the Nobel Prize winning author of "The Grapes of Wrath" describes his cross-country adventures with his beloved poodle Charley. In a truck with a camper attached (whimsically called, "Rocinante" in honor of Don Quixote's horse), this slim book details an America very different than that encountered by the Joad family as they traveled from Oklahoma to California.

Recently, I had occasion to dip back into the book and was as excited by it as I had been when I first read it years ago.  Steinbeck's prose and facility with words demonstrates why his fiction work is so enduring. "East of Eden," "Cannery Row," "Of Mice and Men",  these, as with "The Grapes of Wrath" itself, describe places we all would like to see---our own America. In "Travels with Charley," Steinbeck uses his skills to describe not only a part of that country such as Salinas, California, the setting of several of his books, but the entire country.

 If you are an armchair traveler or if you want a guide to an America which you may never have seen before, pick up a copy of the book. Amazon is pre-selling a 50th anniversary paperback edition for $10.88 and a Kindle edition for $9.99. www.amazon.com. Reading or rereading this book will undoubtedly satisfy your wanderlust or maybe just fan the flames that get you started down a similar path as Steinbeck. I am sure that not a few baby boomers in their RVs have done or will do just that.

Recently there have been some efforts to debunk the Steinbeck stories, most notably in the New York Times, "The Truth About Charley", April 9, 2011, www.NYTimes.com. Some of the stories may be implausible as the opinion suggested, but the fact is that it is still a good read and travel adventure.

Melatonin, iPads and Sleep: Science You Can Use Today

How many of us check our iPads or tablets for emails before going to bed?  I know I do and I suspect that most of you do too.  Well, it turns out that might be why you are having trouble getting to sleep because the light from your iPad or computer may be suppressing the production of the sleep inducing hormone, melatonin.

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland located above the middle of the brain. According to the National Sleep Foundation, it is "turned off" during the day and becomes active around 9 pm as light is reduced. Melatonin remains in the blood for about 12 hours and is virtually absent from the blood during the day. Many people with sleep problems take supplements of melatonin in the hopes of elevating their levels of melatonin to aid in sleeping.  The answer to their problem, however, might be to just turn off that iPad several hours before going to bed.

In an article in The New York Times today, there is a discussion of a study published in the journal, Applied Ergonomics which strongly suggests that there is a connection between the bright light of the iPad and the suppression of melatonin in the hour or so before trying to fall asleep.  According to the article, studies have shown that two hours of exposure to the iPad's screen can reduce the amount of melatonin in the bloodstream by up to 22 percent.

Given these studies, it seems like a no brainer:  stop using that iPad or other device and sleep better.

On the Road to Ephesus

 Located about 200 miles miles from Istanbul is the Turkish town of Ephesus, Turkey.  It is the place where, according to the Bible, St. Paul was imprisoned and where Mary, the Mother of Jesus is reputed to have lived when she was brought there by  St. John the Evangelist following the Crucifixion..  Some twenty-nine years of excavations have revealed one of the most intact Roman and Greek ruins in the world.. At one time it was the second largest city in the Eastern Mediterranean and the capital of the Roman province of Asia.  Originally a Greek city first built around 1000 BC, it became the chief port on the Aegean Sea with a population of around 290,000. 

Today, the ruins of those ancient civilizations can be seen in a mile-long corridor of a marble road rutted with the wheels of chariots.One of the most impressive of these ruins is the  Library of Celsus. The library was built in honor of the Governor  of the Roman province of Asia between 117 and 125 A.D. Much of the facade of the library remains. Plaster copies of statues which represented the intellectual virtues of wisdom , goodness , thought and knowledge adorn  the niches .

                                                          Library of Celsus
Located nearby is the house of the Virgin Mary. It was discovered by a German nun, Katharina Emmerich in the 19th century. In 1891 the Lazarian priests established   a shrine in honor of the Virgin Mary. It has now become a pilgrimage site for both Muslims and Christians alike. While we were there, we met a nun who was going to come to the United States for a retreat not far from our home. Quite a remarkable coincidence !

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A Boomer's Guide to Travel Sites in Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a small Greek island located in the Aegean Sea.  Located 126 miles southeast of Athens, it has been called "The Pompeii of the Aegean" by one French geologist. It is located on the rim of a volcano which erupted in 1600 BC.  Some people believe it is the site of the mythical kingdom of Atlantis (see my post on the modern Atlantis at Atlantis; Found on Paradise Island).

We visited Santorini by cruise ship and were overwhelmed by the spectacular island. The ship docked on the west coast of the 12 mile long island.  That side of the island is extremely steep and rocky. The capital, Fira, is accessible only by a winding stairway up the volcano some 1000 feet or a gondola.  For those who wish to ride up the steps, donkeys are available.  We took the gondola up the hillside but actually walked down the steep steps. at the end of our stay.  Because of the donkeys, be prepared to watch your footing as there is the occasional donkey dung to deal with.

Once at the top of the mountain, there is a spectacular view of the Aegean Sea on the one side and of incredibly beautiful church domes on the other.

 

 

Santorini is home to about 13,600 permanent residents.  The island is famous for its white grapes and wine, as well as its eggplant and tomatoes. For those interested in staying overnight on the island, one of the most interesting places to stay is the Astra Apartments and Suites, in the village of Imerovigh, located above the volcano and said to have spectacular views.  www.astra.gr. For beautiful travel sites, Santorini is one of the best in the world.

 

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Are Organic Foods Really Better for You?

We all have seen the growth of the organics food section at the supermarket. Each day it seems like a new product is added to the shelves, particularly in the produce section.  For the most part, those products cost more--and in some cases, considerably more--than the non-organic variety of the same fruit or vegetable.  Most shoppers who buy the organic product justify the additional cost because of the belief that organic means healthier.  In other words, people believe that the organic product is better for you than its non-organic cousin.  A new study reported on by ABC News this morning suggests otherwise and people may just be wasting their money.

In a report on Good Morning America, it was revealed that as a result of a study conducted by Stanford University, it was concluded that organic foods were no more nutritious than the same non-organic food.  In addition, the study also showed that the chances of bacterial contamination of the foods are virtually the same, with some difference with regard to antibiotic resistant germs.

In an article reported by Lauran Neergaard for the Associated Press, she quotes Dr. Dena Bravata, a senior research affiliate at Stanford as saying that when it comes down to questions of individual health, "there isn't much difference" between organic and non-organic foods.

Of course, as with any food product, it is always a matter of taste.  But it appears from this study that organic foods are no more nutritious and only slightly safer from contamination than the same non-organic food. So, keep that in mind as you are shopping and maybe you will want pass by that organic aisle.

For more information on health and food related issues, including a yummy recipe for blueberry cobbler, see other blog, www.notjustaboomer.blogspot.com.