Step 2: Nourish your Genes

Many destination spas and resorts have created “healthy” menus, with organically grown food where both the calorie and carbohydrate content has been modified. Eating for better aging is very different from a weight loss plan. Whereas the latter focuses on losing pounds, age management eating is a lifestyle modification that alters body composition for a more youthful ratio of fat to lean muscle and, therefore, improved health and daily function.

Focusing on body composition instead of just weight, enables people to:

• Burn calories more efficiently by increasing muscle mass
• Decrease age related conditions as muscle mass increases
• Improve your quality of life, as your body functions better
• Normalize hormonal levels and improve the balance between them, thus directly affecting the rate of aging
• Raise antioxidant levels
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve cellular function

There are some basic rules in age management eating that can be introduced at the spa and easily continued at home:

• Eat high density nutrition
• Eat smaller nutritious meals more frequently; don’t eat on the run
• Choose brown or tan carbohydrates, not white ones
• Emphasize protein, concentrating on vegetable sources
as much as possible
• Eat protein foods first, followed by non-starchy vegetables, then carbohydrates
• Drink plenty of liquids between meals instead of with them
• Choose seasonal fruits and vegetables with the most intense colors
• Use only high quality oils
• Eat meals at regular times of the day in a stress-free environment


Step 3: Exercise your Genes


An integral part of aging with good health is fitness activity, and that is usually scheduled on a daily basis at a destination spa. Age management exercise in particular, such as Pilates training or walking help to mold your body into more youthful contours, reduce stress and balance hormones.

Of course, the weight-loss benefits of exercise are well known. We have to make a serious effort to fit exercise into daily life because modern lifestyle provides too much psychological stress and not enough physical exertion.

As we grow older, our stamina, strength, balance, coordination and flexibility are all reduced. It happens gradually and we don’t realize it. While we lose physical strength and stamina as we age, hopefully we do gain some wisdom.

© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - SEPTEMBER 2004

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