Key To Longevity

The New 40, 50, 60...
By: Shari Mycek for Spa Magazine


People come from all over the globe to hear Dr. Andrew Weil, director of integrative health and healing at Miraval resort, speak on longevity. In case you can't make it to his three-day Healthy Aging seminar just yet, we've outlined his five key strategies for living well longer below.

Adjust Your Attitude "Growing old should increase, not decrease, the value of human life," Weil says. "Just as with bourbon, time has the potential to smooth out roughness, add agreeable qualities, and improve character. If we change our attitude about aging, the way we age will change."

Maintain Connections Weil encourages people to stay socially and intellectually connected. "Make a list of people in your life in whose company you feel more alive, happy, and optimistic, and make an effort to spend more time with them," he suggests. Weil explains that any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others and to nature, less isolated, and more comfortable with change is beneficial, helping you enhance your physical and mental health and accept the fact of aging.

Keep Healthy and Active Regularly moving the body with activities that raise the heart rate is central to healthy aging, according to Weil, who personally stays fit by swimming, biking, or walking daily. Of course, he also advocates the obvious: Watch your weight, have annual checkups, and don't smoke.

Honor Your Spirit Weil is big on mindful breathing. "Simply minding the breath is a way of expanding consciousness beyond the ego," he says. Yoga is also on his list. "I couldn't be more pleased to see yoga becoming so mainstream in our part of the world; I think it will increase the numbers of happy and healthy people here," he says. Equally important is reaching out and giving time and energy to help others. "Our spiritual selves resonate with others, and that connection is healing," Weil explains.

Eat Well Last, but certainly not least, for Weil is eating well. In his personal life, he follows a modified Mediterranean anti-inflammatory diet and adds a few of his other favorite longevity-boosting foods and condiments. For example, he regularly consumes turmeric — which is being studied for its possible role in preventing Alzheimer's. "I add a teaspoon to soups, stews, and bean dishes," Weil says. He also indulges in dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cacao) for its antioxidants and polyphenols.