Integrative Health Blog

Life expectancy is one of those statistics we just knew would inch up every decade and with each generation.

We were sure we would live longer than our parents and our kids will live longer than us.   As health research improves, health challenges are identified and the population becomes more informed, so it makes sense that we would continue to live longer.  Until now, common sense would suggest that the odds of reaching 100 years old in great health would continue to steadily improve.

Sorry to break the news and dampen your life longevity celebration- but The National Bureau of statistics just revealed that life expectancy decreased for the first time ever. This means that we will not live longer than our parents and our children will not reach our life expectancy.

The shortened life expectancy may be able to be explained by several health challenges conspiring to “hijack” the health of every individual. These health challenges have become widespread, yet are not widely understood. Although research on longevity continues, these health challenges may derail the common expectation that each successive generation will live longer than the previous one.

What are the health challenges and reasons for lowered life expectancy?

Toxicity

The first is the increase in environmental toxicities. We are exposed to many more toxins than previous generations. Our water, food, houses, personal care products, electromagnetic frequencies and much more all may have a damaging effect on our bodies. Increasingly, our food contains glyphosate, an amazingly toxic pesticide distributed by Monsanto. The population is exposed to higher levels of aluminum, which our immune system has not yet evolved to detoxify.  These are just a few of the many toxic exposures which can damage our health. These toxins negatively impact every tissue and cell in our body, and may contibute to the decrease in life expectancy.

The "symptom approach" to health care

The second major factor is the approach of our health care system which advocates treating every symptom of illness or potential disease with a drug. While pharmaceuticals can be life saving, some of these drugs don’t allow our body to evolve and become stronger.  They may also introduce more toxins into the body, or have other negative side effects.

The pharmaceutical approach to illness and disease simply masks symptoms rather than address the underlying cause of illness. Medications introduce a myriad of severe health challenges and may subvert our body’s natural defense mechanisms.

Poor quality food

The other major trend shortening our life expectancy is the dramatic reduction of nutrients in our foods. Vitamin D, magnesium, trace minerals and critical antioxidants are deficient in epidemic proportions throughout the human species. Isolated groups and tribes living the longest are continually exposed to mineral and nutrient nourishment elevating them to longer life expectancies.   We should learn from these groups and their intuitive health wisdom.  A recent report is that the country with the longest life expectancy – South Korea- just pushed past 90 years for women. Why do South Korea women have life expectancy of over 90 years yet the life expectancy in the U.S. is much lower? We need to educate ourselves and understand the reasons for this discrepancy and take individual action to direct our health.

The obvious question is: what can we do to buck the trend?

Reversing the downward direction of life expectancy

1. Educate yourself to become your own best physician and health advocate.

2. Have discipline to avoid damaging health behavior (e.g. drugs, smoking, high sugar intake, poor quality food) while incorporating health enhancing products and strategies.

3. Work with an integrative health team that practices and promotes healthy living, rather than just manages or suppresses disease.

4. Develop a healthy lifestyle in the key areas of nutrition, sleep and exercise. These are the areas which you can control.

5. Learn how to reduce and manage stress. There are many stress management techniques  including therapy, mindfulness, setting boundaries, exercise, etc. Find what works best for you.

6. Begin to use diagnostic and assessment technology that prevents illness and identifies disease earlier than traditional health care is now using.  Energy medicine and diagnostics are the coming wave of health care.

Although life expectancy now appears to be headed in the wrong direction, every individual can take control of their own health and longevity. Don’t leave your health in the control of someone who cares less about your health than you. Use health experts as consultants while you make the ultimate health care decisions for you and your family.

The tools and knowledge are available. The road map to reach your goal of ten decades in great health is available. Above all- remember to enjoy the journey.