75 years old and no health problems whatsoever

I am an old man of 75 years but I am living life to the fullest doing more things now with more energy and greater ambitions than I ever had when I was 40 years younger.

By experimenting with herbs and spices I believe I have found the secret that stalls the aging process to keep me going for another 20 years at least as an active individual. Like everyone else I am going to die someday but in the meantime I am going to have a hell of a good time.

At this time I can truthfully say I have no health problems whatsoever: my blood pressure is normal, [I check it occasionally at a machine conveniently installed in the pharmacy section at Wal-Mart’s] and diabetes is non existent. I have not as yet experienced low cholesterol symptoms and I have neither an ache nor a pain anywhere in my body, although I admit after a full round of golf I feel a bit stiff at times.

In the following pages I reveal all that I do day in and day out in the hopes of helping others who may be wasting away awaiting the final outcome. I am not suggesting they do as I do but if they feel they would like to try some of my activities I suggest they consult a medical doctor for approval. I personally have not consulted a doctor in 40 years for any reason and none of my experiments with herbs and spices have had any ill effects upon me whatsoever. Maybe it’s because I have not been prescribed medical drugs and since I have never taken antibiotics that my immune system is working so well. However it is a known fact that medical drugs and natural products often do not mix well and can cause adverse reactions. To protect myself I suggest whoever tries to do as I do please go and see a physician.

My life as I live it day by day

My first supplement is a little clove

I arise in the morning and force myself to do a one minute exercise.

I stand upright then bend over and touch my toes twenty times. Yes, I bend my knees for the first twenty but I keep my legs as straight as possible for the next ten then I complete the activity with twenty knee bends.

That is the extent of my exercising for the day. I perform this grueling task every day without fail to keep my joints healthy.

While I prepare to shave I put a clove in my mouth and grind it with my teeth. The clove usually lasts about 10 minutes before it softens enough to chew and swallow.

The little clove is my first health supplement that benefits my body in many ways

I have been eating cloves since I was a child .It was an old farmer in Ireland who told me that if I ate cloves every day I would always be healthy and live to be a hundred and ten.

First time users will find the heat of the clove uncomfortable in the mouth but it doesn’t take long to get used to it. My 9 year old grandmother eats them like candy.

The clove supports a healthy digestive function and relieves nausea and other digestive upsets,

Cloves apparently reduce the sensation of bloating and gas pressure within the stomach bringing relief to people with peptic ulcers and gastroenteritis.  Clove is considered a warming herb that improves the assimilation and digestion of foods. .  Its antiseptic, antibacterial properties help in the treatment of diarrhea and food poisoning by killing many types of bacteria. Its disinfectant properties make clove oil a fine mouthwash, breath freshener and toothpaste ingredient.

Cloves are said to be anti-parasitic, and its antimicrobial properties destroy intestinal parasites, thus supporting its traditional use by the Chinese in treating intestinal worms.

The most obvious benefit I get from the clove is the nice warm and fresh feeling it leaves in my mouth. If you ingest a few cloves daily you can say good bye to sensitive teeth.

If you suffer the occasional bout of heartburn the little clove will do a better job of relieving the discomfort than other well known antacid tablets.

Incidentally, I used to smoke fifty cigarettes a day and one day I decided to quit cold turkey. I actually found it easy to kick the habit because each time I felt for a cigarette I put a clove in my mouth instead and found myself enjoying it. I haven’t smoked a cigarette now for almost 40 years.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

After I shave and take my shower I perform another one of my many healthy rituals. I pour small amounts of apple cider vinegar on my hands and massage it into my legs and arms and wherever I can reach. This is how I get the potassium into my body through the pores in my skin. It’s a ritual that spares me from weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles

Potassium is an essential mineral found in most foods. Along with sodium and calcium, potassium helps regulate major body functions, including normal heart rhythm, blood pressure, water balance in the body, pH balance (acidity and alkalinity), digestion, nerve impulses, and muscle contractions. The body cannot make potassium on its own and must get it from supplements or foods such as apricots, potatoes, bananas, oranges, pineapples, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and lean meat. Most salt substitutes also contain large amounts of potassium.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is the author reporting on his daily lifestyle and describing his nutritional intake. It is intended for educational purposes only. These statements are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. Spices and supplements may affect other people differently. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

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I love mixed spices

When I get dressed and descend thirteen stairs to the kitchen the first thing I do is give my cherished wife a hug that tells her simply without words that she’s the most important person in my life.

My breakfast is usually a bran muffin or a cereal and maybe a small fruit but before i sit down to eat I take a half level teaspoon of mixed spices from a recipe of my own making and pour it into a glass containing about an ounce of water. I stir the contents and drink it down like a shot of whiskey. I believe this concoction to be many times more potent than the most expensive multivitamins available in health food stores.

My wife complains about the taste but she takes some anyway as she finds it keeps her blood pressure and cholesterol from going too high.

It’s not the most pleasant drink to take but once swallowed in one shot with a full glass of water as a chaser there is no bad aftertaste.

This stuff must be good because I have energy to burn every day.

My spice recipe consists of a mixture of ground powdered products thrown in together and mixed thoroughly. I used leafy spices once but found that they were hard to swallow so I discontinued that practice.

Is this a scientific idea of mine? No! It is common knowledge that spices and herbs provide healing benefits far greater than the manufactured stuff forced on us every day by aggressive and rich pharmaceutical companies.

I just decided one day that spices might be good for me so I went to the pantry and the spices I have listed below are the ones I found in my wife’s spice tray. Later I checked to find out if they had any integral medical benefits and boy was I surprised to learn that the ingredients all had something to enrich the human body.

I select one full ounce of each of the following powdered spices [not leafy or seeds] and mix them together: it’s a quantity that lasts a couple of weeks.

I put the spices into a jar and shake it well. i also shake the contents every day before taking my half level teaspoon.

Ginger, peppermint, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, capsicum.

Arrowroot powder, fennel, allspice, coriander, cayenne pepper

Here are some of the health benefits attributed to the spices;

Ginger

• soothes nausea, motion sickness and other stomach upset
• relieves morning sickness
• has anti-inflammatory properties
• eliminates intestinal gas
• relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract
• has antioxidant properties
• relieves dizziness
• boosts the immune system
• protects against bacteria and fungi
• encourages bile flow
• promotes cardiovascular health

Peppermint

• is soothing to the digestive tract
• relieves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
• may protect against cancer
• inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungus
• relieves the symptoms of allergies and asthma

Cardamom - contains oil that helps to stimulate digestion and relieve flatulence. to help relieve indigestion, mix a handful of crushed seeds in a half cup of water with some ginger root. bring to a simmer, and then add a little warm milk and honey.

Cinnamon - cinnamon has health boosting compounds including eugenol, which is used to relieve pain and cinnamaldehyde which has sedative properties. it is also useful for improving the circulation and has anti-inflammatory and blood thinning properties. research shows that it may also help to lower blood sugar levels. it is a delicious, fragrant spice.

Cumin: is a good source of iron and manganese and is thought to help digestion and bloating.

Turmeric - this spice gives curry powder and mustard their deep yellow color. rich in antioxidants, researchers have discovered that it may help in the fight against cancer as well as containing inflammation fighting compounds called curcuminoids. Studies show that these curcuminoids may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and joint inflammation. use in soups, curries and stews.

Capsicum

Capsicum has beta carotene, which is beneficial to the mucous membranes, eyes and skin and wards off infection.  it also has antioxidant properties that neutralize the free radicals that damage tissue and cells, and it promotes cardiovascular health by cutting blood pressure.

Arrowroot

Is now known to soothe irritated mucous membranes and can aid in the relief of the temporary discomforts of colic and indigestion.

it is a rich source of digestible calcium, particularly nourishing to children after weaning and delicate persons during convalescence.

Arrowroot is said to be valuable in the treatment of bowel complaints: it is used as a mild laxative but will also help relieve diarrhea.

It is said that when taken internally, arrowroot is a good antidote for vegetable poisons and a remedy for pus in the urine.

Fennel has been primarily used to stimulate good digestion.  because it relaxes the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract, it has helped alleviate acid-stomach, flatulence, food poisoning, motion sickness, feelings of fullness and gas, nausea and vomiting.  fennel is an aromatic stimulant that is good for the gastrointestinal tract and relieves abdominal pain, colon disorders, and gastrointestinal tract spasms and also helps to expel gas.

Allspice

The health benefits of allspice are similar to the health benefits of cloves. it is a digestive aid and can be used to help expand blood vessels to make the skin feel warmer. that's one reason that it's a popular home remedy for arthritis and sore muscles.

Coriander

Coriander seed is an herbal medicine used for upset stomach, loss of appetite, and to improve digestion.

Cayenne pepper,

Cayenne has been used to relieve gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachaches, cramping and gas, and other circulatory related syndromes. Today many take cayenne internally to help improve blood circulation, while others apply cayenne to the skin, as a counterirritant, to treat pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is the author reporting on his daily lifestyle and describing his nutritional intake. It is intended for educational purposes only. These statements are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. Spices may affect other people differently. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

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Garlic:

Garlic helps to detoxify the body.  It is said to stimulate the lymphatic system to throw off waste materials. This powerful natural detoxifier helps to strengthen blood vessels, providing protection against pollutants and heavy metal toxicity.  It also works to cleanse the kidneys and increase urine flow.

Garlic appears to help promote healthy heart function by maintaining normal blood pressure and blood lipid levels.. Moreover, Garlic also helps to dilate peripheral blood vessels, thus also helping to balance blood pressure levels. Other studies have indicated that people who suffered heart attacks, and then were given Garlic, had a lower incidence of a second attack.

Garlic is considered a powerful anticoagulant that normalizes blood platelet adhesion by reducing the stickiness of the blood and stimulating fibrinolysis, a process in which blood clots are dissolved. This action also helps to improve blood circulation and combat arteriosclerosis. According to the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Garlic is recognized officially by the Japanese FDA as a treatment for hypertension.

Garlic is called a powerful antibiotic that destroys harmful bacteria and leaves behind beneficial bacteria for the body to utilize as an infection fighter. Garlic has been thought to be beneficial in ridding the bowel of parasites Its antibacterial properties are also believed to relieve bladder infection, strep throat and vaginosis.

Garlic is considered to be an antioxidant that helps to promote healthy immune system function and inhibit destructive, free radical or oxidative damage to tissues or cells.  Garlic includes germanium, a mineral that is said to strengthen the immune system and build the body's defense against harmful infectious invasion. It is believed to activate germ-eating macrophages, cells that are produced by the immune system, and it is thought that chemicals in Garlic reduce the production of toxic, free radicals in liver and lung tissue.  Some researchers claim that Garlic use may retard proliferation of unhealthy cells, including hormone-sensitive breast and prostate cells, among others.

British medical journal, Lancet, it was noted that Garlic (and onion) is very hypoglycemic in nature and can lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, and it should be mentioned that people with high or low blood sugar levels should always consult their physicians before using.

Garlic is said to be an effective expectorant that helps to loosen and rid the respiratory tract of phlegm.

After breakfast

What you have read so far is my before breakfast routine.

Following my morning meal I make it a point to brush my teeth and refresh my mouth. [Hey! I still have my teeth which are considered rare for my generation.] Unlike the majority of people influenced by billion dollars advertising who use branded toothpaste my cleaning rituals could be described as bizarre.

In the morning I use baking soda moistened to a paste by hydrogen peroxide and I brush thoroughly using an electric toothbrush. When finished brushing I rinse the mouth with about an ounce of water into which I sprinkle a few grams of cayenne pepper. After rinsing I swallow the liquid. This not only leaves me with an exceedingly warm feeling in the mouth and body it also eliminates all mouth odors which are socially offensive. Why do I swallow the cayenne? Because I believe that cayenne pepper is the miracle food of the century and perhaps of all time.

I’m convinced it is because of the cayenne pepper mostly that at 75 years of age I do not have any heart problems such as high blood pressure or a cholesterol imbalance. The last time I checked I had a blood pressure reading of a 25 year old.

Don’t take my word for it. You will find hundreds of sites on the Internet that will prove my point. I suggest you just type in Cayenne pepper health benefits and all of these sites will pop up to inspire you with medicinal miracles you would never dare to imagine.

If I am attending a social event where I will be in close contact with others I substitute the cayenne with an ounce of water into which I put one drop of peppermint tincture. Boy! Condensed Peppermint tincture is so strong that one drop is all you need. This not only leaves the mouth fresh as a daisy it also projects a kissing sweet personality. Not bad for an old geezer.

Before bedtime

At one time a few years ago I began to feel some aches and pains in my hands and legs, especially around my knees. All indications were that at an advancing age I was experiencing osteoporosis or arthritis and this worried me to the extent that I began doing research looking for a cure and lo and behold I found the magic formula,……. raisins soaked in gin.

I began preparing myself the cocktail consisting of a tablespoon of raisins soaked in an ounce of gin which I let sit for several hours. Later in the evenings while watching television before retiring I would add juice and drink it slowly.

I didn’t feel any improvement for several weeks but since I found the taste and experience pleasurable I continued this habit of drinking this cocktail nightly. It was only after several weeks that I found the difference in my comportment; all the aches and pains had gone and left me with free movement all over the body. You can bet that I am still continuing the habit of gin and raisins to this very day.

A day in my life

Strange as it may seem people look down on and condemn drug addicts. Of course heroine, hash and other substances are dangerous for their health and sanity but why condemn these people and treat them like trash.

Aren’t we a society of drug addicts in a sense? Who doesn’t take pills of one sort or another prescribed by doctors? When doctors prescribe pills for blood pressure or diabetes or for the hundreds of other ailments which affect the public these prescriptions generally are for life. Wouldn’t you call this an addiction? Pharmaceutical companies use high pressure marketing strategies to make sure the doctors push their products offering them free trips and gifts for prescribing certain profitable products. Isn’t it possible multitudes of patients are prescribed drugs that they don’t need and which are harmful to their health just because of this unscrupulous and immoral incentive?

Isn’t this how drug pushers operate as well? It is reported that thousands of people die every month due to the terrible side effects attributed to many of the prescribed drugs. It is also reported that the illustrious group of hard core drug addicts who are condemned by society have a lower percentage death rate than the puritans who only follow the doctor’s orders. Look in the mirror and ask yourself “am I a Drug addict?”

This being said I probably owe my good state of health at this stage of my life to the fact that I haven’t consumed a prescribed pill in the pas 60 years. I remember when I was 14 years old and had my appendices removed I was given Penicillin for cautionary measures but since then I have been lucky to abstain.

It could be said, though that I am a spice and vitamin addict,

In  addition to the herbs and spices that are part of my daily regime I do take pills to keep going, not drugs ,however, I take Echinacea and Goldenseal mix at the first sign of a cold coming on followed by a couple of Garlic tablets three times a day for a day or two.

I take a few Zinc Lozenges if I notice the beginning of a sore throat. If I feel I need a tonic I’ll take a B complex for a couple of days and I always take a good one a day vitamin. I’ve learned also that if I have leg cramps when sleeping I can eliminate them with a magnesium supplement.

These keep me going pretty well even though I realize that no matter what kind of lifestyle I live now someday it is all going to end and I will have to face my maker like everyone else. In the meantime that time is not here yet and I feel fit and free from any encumbrances in spite of my age. I am not ready to go yet for a long time to come.

Bowling and golf are my passions

Regarding physical exercises; I am not one to go to a gym and torture myself daily with strenuous workouts, this is good for the egoists who pride themselves with having big muscles and hard as rock midriffs.

Instead I go bowling with friends twice a week and love every minute of it. I also hold a very good average and seldom bowl under 200. At the end of the year I am right up there with the top

guns fighting for the year’s high average. Not too bad considering some of my opponents are 50 years younger than me.

Golf is a different story, my tee off distance needs a good breeze to get the ball to travel 200 yards, and my chipping lacks consistency while my putting is atrocious, however I manage to keep the ball reasonably straight and keep my score regularly in the nineties.

In the summer months play golf several times a week in a foursome that includes my wife Theresa and two lifelong friends Dennis and Francis Calcutt. Since we are all seniors we take the electric carts but even with this convenience there is still a lot of walking and physical contortions to provide a healthy workout.

Whenever I get a chance I jump into the car and run down to the local golf course which is only 10 minutes away and walk a round of 18 holes. I don’t carry my bags, instead I load them onto a little golf cart and drag it around the course. At my age when I get home after this workout I have to take a nap.

While winters are extremely cold in Canada and golf courses are covered for six months with snow I have discovered indoor cyber golf which is just as physical and challenging as outdoor golf for the upper body and an excellent alternative. I don’t get to walk playing cyber golf; instead I drink a beer sitting down at a comfortable table while waiting for the other members of the foursome take their turn.

This year marks 50 years of wedded bliss for me and Theresa. At the beginning we had our ups and downs, a lot of ups and downs and I can’t say the road was smooth, I bug her sometimes, but looking back over the years if I had to do it over again I don’t think I would change anything.

In all if one is in good health life is pretty good and fulfilling.