Is 100 really the new 60?
Absolutely! I learned this first-hand from the “Grande Dame” of Alternative Medicine, Dr. Hazel Parcells. When I first met Dr. Parcells, she was 84 years young with a schedule half her age. She was teaching 8 to 5, five days a week. She lived to the ripe old age of 106 with an incredibly sharp intellect and youthful spirit – all intact. On her 106th birthday, she famously wrote, “So many times I’m asked about the secret of my longevity. I can assure you that there are no secrets. There is only the understanding of nature and the everyday practice of nature’s laws.”
When I began writing Radical Longevity, I thought about the invaluable lessons I learned from Dr. Parcells. She taught me about the importance of not chasing symptoms, but looking at root causes as the underlying triggers of all disease. Over 40 years ago, she taught me to be aware of heavy metals and chemicals, many hiding in plain sight, that were sabotaging the foods we eat, the cookware we use and the environment around us. She was decades ahead of the curve when it came to recognizing and dealing with the insidious effects of radiation, mold, fungus, and yeast toxicity. All of these concerns are looked at through the lens of modern-day science. In the book, I dig deep into the latest research to offer the most practical and actionable
health and healing advice.
Dr. Parcells was often quoted as saying, “If you want to be healthy, you need to trade your wishbone for a backbone and get to work.” So, in that spirit, let’s get started!
3 Basic Principles To Maintain Your Youth Span
As fate would have it, I stumbled upon a book that discussed a remarkable discovery made by clinical researchers from Rockefeller University. It provided a huge clue regarding the types of food and cooking practices that could potentially ensure long life and boost immunity. The discovery focused on advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, naturally occurring toxic substances that are innately found in certain foods and produced by common food cooking practices that use high and dry heat. These compounds are majorly responsible for inflammation in immune cells.
#1: Protect the Life Energy in Foods
It is critical to preserve the natural, electromagnetic energy in foods so your body can reap the full vitamin and mineral benefits it needs for maximum energy and vibrant longevity. In Radical Longevity, I put a magnifying glass on AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) and their connection to inflammation, oxidative stress, cross-linking of proteins and every age-related and autoimmune disease known to man: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, heart disease, kidney issues, liver disorders, and joint and skin conditions. AGEs are glycotoxins formed when high heat cooking methods alter the fat and proteins in your food.
It all comes down to how you cook being just as important as what you cook. You can mitigate the effects of AGEs with simple kitchen substitutes. Instead of searing, grilling, baking, frying and other high-heat AGEs producing methods, think “low and slow” and “wetter is better”. Try slow cooking, braising, poaching and steaming instead. In Radical Longevity, I discuss all the best long-life foods (like beets, berries and broccoli), cooking methods, and non-leaching cookware available in today’s market. You’ll find some of my favorite recipes to get you started, like Salmon En Papillote, Braised Coconut Chicken and even scrumptious desserts like Red Wine Cranberry Poached Pears and Blueberry Crumble.
#2: Activate Cellular Rejuvenation
Rejuvenation and repair truly start at the cellular level. Restoring the optimal acid-alkaline balance in your cells is critical for health and longevity. The role of your cellular membranes is key here. I have found the right dietary fats (especially the unaltered, unadulterated omega-6) in the right 4 to 1 balance with omega-3s, is essential to restoring the cell membranes so that toxins can move out and nutrients can move in.
One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to add hemp seed oil to your diet. I recommend at least 1 tablespoon of oil per day or hemp seeds at 3 tablespoons per day. On page 151 of Radical Longevity, you’ll find a great way to incorporate the power of hemp seed oil into your diet with my tasty recipe for Cilantro Lime Dressing. It’s delicious on salads or drizzled over steamed veggies.
#3: Supplement Smart
Most of us recognize that today’s food is not what it was in our grandparents’ or even our parents’ days. I can remember the exquisite taste of freshly-picked, sun-ripened tomatoes that doesn’t resemble even the organic ones I buy today. Our soil is depleted and we’re exposed to an overwhelming amount of toxins in the environment from chemicals to heavy metals, not to mention the onslaught of EMFs from the ever growing digital age that surrounds us. And, toxic overload accumulates in our bodies over time, so it’s imperative that we implement a strategic plan to get the poisons out of our foods and bodies.
Dr. Parcells credited her longevity to her daily use of tissue glandular extracts taken in a variety of supplements. She believed that the RNA and DNA blueprint of the tissue glandulars were able to restore and repair function of our own glands, organs and tissues. The formulas she used herself on a daily basis were the foundation I used to formulate many of UNI KEY Health’s premier supplements. These include Thyro-Key, Adrenal Formula and Immune Formula. The glandulars for these products are sourced from Argentina and New Zealand. They are certified to be free of bovine disease and growth hormones. The myriad of positive testimonials we’ve received from customers over the years are not surprising to me because I saw how these types of supplements helped extend Dr. Parcells’ life way beyond her peers.