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We live in a fast-paced world, where new wellness information comes out constantly. Each week, a new list of foods we absolutely must have or we should stay completely away from comes out, dismissing what was said before. New workout trends promising that coveted 6-pack within 28 days also emerge and die faster than Justin Bieber changes girlfriends.
A lot of us consume that health information the same way we do everything else: on the go, between two things, while multi-tasking. We don't take the time to look at it critically, and we get confused about what we really need to integrate into our lifestyles for the long-term.
But if we looked closer at current wellness trends, we'd find that many health practices from 100 years ago still have a lot of intrinsic value today. Not only do we now have research supporting these practices per se, but explorer Dan Buettner found several communities around the world where people have made it past 100 years old following them.
Let’s take a moment to step back in time and examine what I affectionately call "Grandma's Health Promotion Strategies." My grandmother didn't make it to be 100 unfortunately, but the guidelines below are well aligned with what she would recommend in terms of sleep, food, mood and exercise.
Grandma’s Health Promotion Strategies
Sleep. Grandma would never be up till midnight watching TV shows or catching up with email. Instead, she would follow the patterns of the sun a bit more, and take some time to ease herself to bed. Grandma was also very consistent with her sleep schedule, rising and going to bed early, always around the same time. Our brains and bodies are wired to follow the cycles of light and darkness, and they love regularity. If we were as serious about our sleep as Grandma was, we wouldn’t be so prone to insomnia, nor to the resulting overeating, anxiety and inactivity.
Food. In terms of food, eating right was always a top priority for Grandma. This is why she had her own garden, and supplemented it mainly with local, organic ingredients. Of course it was a little easier for her to go local and organic, because back 100 years ago, industrialized farms and chemical fertilizers were much rarer, and produce just couldn't be transported from Chile to the US without rotting. She insisted on home cooking almost anything she served, which today is shown to increase longevity. In fact, the thought of going out to eat or even buying a commercially-produced bread, sauce or pie wouldn't have crossed her mind. Grandma would also never let me have desert before I was finished with my vegetables! And what does research show today? Of course, Grandma was right.
Mood. Grandma also knew that being happy requires making an effort to look on the bright side. She knew that forming bonds and connecting with others help to increase our own level of happiness. Grandma did not have time to sweat the small stuff, and she was always the one that would help others take bad news with a grain of salt. And who could forget how important spirituality was to her? Praying was an integral part of her everyday. Well, today, there’s also research proving the benefits of such practices.
Exercise. Grandma just didn’t have all the technology that is available today. Her daily activities of cooking, cleaning, laundering, and going places required a good dose of elbow grease and some vigorous energy expenditure. In fact, she moved around so much that she’d put a lot of us to shame! Today, we’re increasingly recognizing that intermittent activity throughout the day is better than spending time at the gym and then sitting at a desk the rest of the day.
Other. When her kids were sick, grandma preferred to make chicken broth from scratch rather than to run to the pharmacy for some meds. I'm so glad that's a tradition that was passed to my Mom and then to me! Today's research shows that chicken soup may have more medicinal value than pharmaceuticals, with fewer side effects.
Even her cleaning products were a safer alternative than what’s on the market today. As more and more information shows how polluted the air is in our homes due to harsh chemical cleaning products, I started to go back to her water-vinegar solution.
Lessons from Centenarians
Grandma's lifestyle corresponds closely to what Dan Buettner describes in his book The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People.
So when in doubt about what to do for our own health, I suggest we spend less time looking for the latest trends, and invest that time emulating Grandma and Dan Buettner's centenarians instead. It will guide us to what nature intended.
And here’s to all of you, lovely Grandmas!
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MJ Shaar, MAPP, CPT, is the Founder and President of Smarts and Stamina, a company offering health promotion trainings and services. She is also the author of Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person’s Guide to Optimal Health and Performance.
MJ is regularly featured in the media and in industry conferences. She is available for speaking engagements, training workshops, and media commentary. To learn more, contact MJ at mj@SmartsAndStamina.com, or visit www.SmartsAndStamina.com.
Connect with MJ on Twitter, Facebook, or check out her LinkedIn profile.
