The Genetics of Healthy Living

I recently returned from visiting my 93-year-old grandfather, Gino in New York. He is one of five children of first generation Italian immigrants. Four of his five siblings are still living and are 85-years-old or greater, including my Aunt Ida who is 93 and has the youth and vitality (she was raking leaves when we left) of a 60-year-old (and that is young!) Every time we visit, we learn more about their childhood; what it was like growing with parents who grew their own, organic food, not because it was the ‘in’ thing to do, but because that’s what people did in order to eat.

As a little girl my grandma would always have a plate of roasted peppers, olives, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes for lunch. She made fresh pasta and tomato sauce. My mom recounts stories as a little girl sitting at my great-grandma’s kitchen table peeling tomatoes, peaches and plums for canning until her fingers were raw. Great stories! I know kids today that think tomatoes come in cans, not grown on vines.

What can we learn from Aunt Ida and Grandpa Gino and the secret to health and longevity? Is it genetics? Clean air? Clean water? I think that’s part of it, but I’m convinced it’s due to clean eating and putting nothing synthetic in their body. Gino and Ida didn’t grow up on McDonald’s and Applebee’s, or overpreserved and processed food like hot dogs and Lunchables, and they’re living active, disease free lives. They are living proof of the benefits of whole foods and the Mediterranean diet: red wine, LOTS of olive oil, vegetables, fresh meats without pesticides – simply REAL FOOD as living fuel for a vibrant and healthy life.

Now, when I’m tempted to buy something that I know isn’t the greatest, I think ‘would Gino or Ida eat this?’ If the answer is no, I put it back. Having that barometer as a basis for the healthiewst consumer choices is so important, but not all of us have an Ida or Gino. But there are some great resources to help us make the right choices. Our health and 'breeding' the health of our kids depends on it.

Nourish Your Kids www.nourishyourkids.com
Organic Consumers Association www.organicconsumers.org/
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce http://www.foodnews.org/
NSF Organic Buying Fact Sheet www.nsf.org/consumer/newsroom/pdf/fact_fs_organic.pdf