Aging is an inevitable process that involves an accumulation of changes to the human body over the course of one’s lifetime. It’s something many of us try to avoid, often through the use of cosmetics or surgery, but to no avail. Some people age gracefully and never appear to grow a day older, and some are not so lucky. But why is this? Is it that some have the gift of great genetics passed down from their parents? Or is it something else? Hippocrates (460–377 B.C.) once said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” While this statement was made thousands of years ago, it couldn’t be closer to the truth, particularly with regard to aging.
I started my work in the field of aging more than two decades ago as a fellow of the American Institute on Aging. Since that time, I have conducted numerous studies looking at the health benefits of dietary factors on human health. I was amongst the first to show that estrogen and estrogen-like compounds from plants can enhance intestinal calcium absorption; that soy protein may alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis; that regular consumption of flaxseed not only lowers cholesterol but more importantly, prevents the formation of fatty lesions, the culprit of arterial plaques; that consumption of a couple apples per day can lower bad cholesterol by 23 percent in a few months; and that the incorporation of a few prunes into our daily diet not only can prevent bone loss but more amazingly can bring back the bone we have already lost.
Fortunately, in recent years, the American Medical Association has stocked all its journals, including its flagship, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), with articles on such alternative remedies. And though several techniques have withered under scientific scrutiny, others have emerged looking better than mainstream treatments. Hence, isn’t it time to change our usual view of medicine as the cultural equivalent of George Washington, while the typical opinion of nutritional intervention is equated with that of Rodney Dangerfield? It is not naive to offer a simple solution to a complex condition. These simple remedies are not really that simple when practiced for an extended period of time. Next time, instead of having an ice cream, try to have a few wedges of watermelon; eat a couple apples or a few ounces of prunes instead of popcorn with added fat; try not to find the closest parking spot when you go to work or shopping; and try to take the stairs instead of the elevator when feasible. Do these things from this day onward, and see the results for yourself.
In Cheat the Clock, Margaret Pressler provides an easy-to-understand, yet insightful and scientific, look into how making modest dietary and lifestyle changes can help you look and feel younger, even as you age. This book will be a unique and delightful read for both the lay person and the scientist. Not only does she thoroughly explain the science behind the claims, but she also provides practical tools and suggestions. In her enthusiastic book, Margaret clearly demonstrates the impact we can have on our own health and the rate at which we age through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. This book will provide its readers with a broader understanding of the science behind the aging process and will likely inspire people from all over the world to take control of their health and the way they age.
Bahram H. Arjmandi, PhD, RD
Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, and director of the Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging, Florida State University