I used to work in Cardiac Rehab. One of my duties was to teach the people about diet and exercise. One day I walked into a room containing a bright-eyed 84-year-old woman who was sitting in a chair dressed to go home. There was something about her that told me that she was not to get the normal teaching session. So I sat down and asked her some questions. I asked her if she grew up and lived on the farm all her life? She replied, "Yes, I did". She acknowledged raising her own vegetables, putting up fruit from her own trees and vines, eating yard eggs, butchering her own chickens, hogs and beef. She ate head cheese, souse meat, lungs and livers, fried chicken and fish from the lard melted from butchering her own hogs. I thought to myself, this can't be! This flies into the face of all I was taught to teach the people. Yet, this lady was 84-years-old and this is the first time she has had any heart problems. She was ready to go home and plant her garden. I told her that there was nothing I could say to improve upon her lifestyle and wished her well and to keep on doing what she was doing. While I also know genetics play a role, her healthy lifestyle is reinforcement to her long life.
My next patient was in is early 40s and ate store-bought food all his life. He moaned and groaned about getting out of the bed to walk the hall. She was strong at 84, up and out walking without complaint.
I wish I had the will to stay away from the hot fudge sundaes....
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