It’s common sense. You want to live to a ripe old age, then, you have to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Healthy” is, of course, relative. So is “old age”. But eating the “right” food and staying away from the “bad” ones always come up when anyone talks about a healthy lifestyle. What do people usually say? Stay away from fatty food, alcohol, sweets, and so on, and so forth.
Nine out of 10 people say drinking is bad. Then, resveratrol came into play.
Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and as a constituent of red wine may explain the “French paradox” that the incidence of coronary heart disease is relatively low in southern France despite high dietary intake of saturated fats. [Wikipedia]
Almost everyone used to say that coffee was an unhealthy drink–until a study came out saying that coffee contains tannin and antioxidants, which are good for the heart and arteries.
But beyond food and drink, what else does a “healthy” lifestyle entail?
Dr. Emer points to an abstract of a 20-year study involving some 5,000+ middle-aged Japanese-American men in Honolulu that says the “lack of a marital partner was associated with mortality before age 85 years.” Meaning, marriage can prolong the life of a male?
Of course, what is provided is a mere abstract of the 20-year study but that’s really mind-boggling. What the study subliminally suggests — to get married and stay married for the sake of living to see one’s 85th birthday — is really screwed. Not every person, male or female, has the emotional make-up to enter into a successful and lasting marriage.
In the first place, I don’t see what the big deal is about reaching one’s 85th birthday. I have always believed that how well a live is lived should mean more than how long one’s life lasts.
Hmmmm… My husband and I drink coffee together, we drink our wine together, we fight over who gets the bigger chunk of the chocolate bar, marriage works fine, we’re not suffering from any serious health problem and we both look forward to enjoying our golden years… We can finally go on that road trip around the Philippines that I have been dreaming of… see the world after sending the kids to college… plant a magnificent garden… I probably won’t take up knitting or crocheting though. Chances are, I’d still be writing. 
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Gloria 11.16.06 at 7:41 pm
you are right, the term eating healthy or living healthy is as relative as relative can be.
moderation in anything is always i believe to be the key and one’s genetic make-up.
thus making every scientific generalization irrelevant. i.e.two different persons may eat the same amount of fatty food but with varying effects. heck, one could even live longer than the other.
Connie 11.17.06 at 12:12 am
Hi Gloria. You know, most times, I feel that these “studies” are really only meant to get funding for the researchers. hehehe
pinayhekmi 11.17.06 at 12:52 am
Sounds like a nice plan you’ve got there!
I’m so glad to hear about the dark chocolate. Hubby has (of course) turned me into dark chocolate (i used to only like milk). And good for me! I have about a square or two (or three) a day. With almonds. Don’t like plain chocolate.
Connie 11.17.06 at 12:16 pm
I don’t like plain chocolates, either. hehehe Nakakasawa. I like chocolate with macadamia nuts.
Actually, my kids love buying stuff from a place called The Chocolate Lover which sells all kinds of chocolate (dark, white, milk, etc), nuts, and accessories (including moulds) for candy making. I was thinking of making some with pili nuts because pili nut is my favorite nut. hehehe
Gloria 11.17.06 at 4:13 pm
connie: he he he.
i get that feeling sometimes too but then the breakthroughs cannot be ignored. well I’m a coffee addict and a dark chocolate lover as well. i love the one with mixed fruits and nuts. but I’ve always been healthy as a horse. 
Connie 11.17.06 at 5:40 pm
I appreciate the breakthroughs as well. Like the findings about mercury, especially in seafood. And the ones that show that margarines are not necessarily healthier alternatives to butter.
And yeah, I love coffee. I actually posted an entry about the Batangas barako last night.
pinayhekmi 11.18.06 at 3:33 am
We brought a tin of cape barako with us from the Phils on our last visit. Ubos na.
BatJay, Ang Dating Folk Singer ng Ma Mon Luk 11.18.06 at 3:42 am
ok lang sa akin na hindi old, basta ripe lang eh pwede na.
i read about the dark chocolate study this week at tamang tama naman kagabi, nasa grocery kami ni jet. sa counter ay may sale na Ghirardelli dark chocolate. it took me a long while to decide.
honey 11.18.06 at 6:11 am
It is my fervent hope that someday,someone will come out with a study that says eating chicaron is good for you.
Connie 11.18.06 at 10:21 am
Pinayhekmi, ummmm I wish you can smell what I smell right now. Barako brewing… LOL 10.18 a.m. and I just woke up
Batjay, it took you a long time to decide whether to believe the study or to choose whether you wanted the ones with mint or raspberry filling? LOL
honey, oh yes! especially chicharon bulaklak!
eric 11.19.06 at 8:53 am
Connie, do you know where else other than in the duty free shop I can get Godiva Truffles here in Metro Manila? They are, to me, worth getting acne for
Anyway, I wonder why not attaining inner peace and joy given more attention instead of all these dreadful diseases that prevent humans from living long lives similar to that of tortoises.
I like your winning formula for a joyful living!
Enjoy your Sunday
Cameron 11.19.06 at 2:04 pm
Hi Connie,
I have a unrelated question that i hope you might answer here, as i couldnt find your email address.
I read your about page. I am from Brisbane, Australia and i am also interested in writing. My question is - do you make much money from your blogs? Also, are they difficult to set up?
Many thanks, I enjoyed seeing your various blogs.
Cameron
Connie 11.19.06 at 7:02 pm
Hi eric. oh, sorry, i only enjoy godiva chocolates by looking at magazine photos hehehe but, really, i have no idea where they can be bought in the Philippines.
Cameron, “do you make much money from your blogs?”
Ooooh, I can’t answer that. Or, let’s put it this way: “much” is a relative term. But I have something for bloggers… will announce it by Wednesday.
Josie 10.20.07 at 6:45 pm
Happy Birthday, Connie, and may all your dreams come true! (I wish that same road trip around the Philippines for me and my hubby.)
Connie Veneracion 10.20.07 at 11:40 pm
Thanks, Josie. I hope you do get a chance to do a road trip too — like a second and very extended honeymoon.