Longevity with Cameron Diaz

The Longevity Book by Cameron Diaz

The Longevity Book by Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bark is a wonderful and deeply exploratory guide that is both practical and empowering.

In this post, I want to share some of the highlights and what this book can offer you should you decide to read it yourself.

When I came across this book in a local newsagent it stood out straight away. Not just because of the strikingly beautiful photograph of Cameron Diaz on the cover but also due to the large, bold word Longevity.

Longevity has been a passion of mine for some time and I’m always seeking out great books on this topic. Not just for my benefit but the benefit of my clients and anyone who is interested in reading my insights on blog posts, articles, social media and the like.
Longevity from the inside
Like many books I read on this topic, The Longevity Book certainly did not disappoint. Cameron Diaz expertly weaves her own life stories into the text. Revealing that around her fortieth birthday was when she started to think about ageing.

She shares stories of her early role models, including her mother. How her mother enhanced her natural beauty in subtle ways, allowing her beauty to shine from the inside.

As the author points out, we get to choose our role models and by doing so can lead us to becoming the healthiest, most vibrant version of ourselves. We certainly don’t need to accept how society expects us to age and what getting older should look like. Forget all those fake, touched up images splashed all over the media – social media especially!

Women Live Longer Than Men

Currently, the average life expectancy of women is five years longer than men. There are many reasons for this including that women are more careful about their nutrition than men. Women tend to visit doctors more often, take fewer risks and often drink less alcohol.

Additionally, women value connections far more and the final chapter in this book is dedicated to just that.

On a biological level, women and men have different cells. Women are XX and men are XY. The larger X chromosome is a powerhouse and contains additional genes, therefore, additional information.

The genes in our X chromosomes are responsible for more than three hundred genetic diseases meaning women have the advantage of having an extra X chromosome should one be faulty.

The Longevity Book goes into a much deeper explanation of this relationship but suffices to say, this is a very compelling reason why women live longer than men.

Epigenetics

DNA and Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the relatively new branch of science that focuses on the processes that determine individual genes being turned on and off.

The study of epigenetics suggests that the DNA we inherit from our parents is influenced by the lifestyle of not just our parents but our grandparents, great-grandparents and even their parents.

Cameron Diaz shares the wonderful role model her grandmother was to her when she was a young girl. Her grandmother’s attitude towards ageing as well as her lifestyle have both had an impact on her own ageing.

Positivity and Ageing

Speaking of attitude, the authors cite a study that found people who live to be one hundred years or more are, overall, positive people. They are far less anxious as well as generally being agreeable people who often seek connection with others. There’s that ‘connection’ connection again! 1

Another study the authors cite by Dr Becca Levy demonstrates how people who were exposed to positive attitudes about ageing showed physical improvements such as how quickly they could walk. 2

With that in mind, wouldn’t you prefer to embrace the idea of ageing knowing that this could make you healthier both physically and emotionally?

Attitude is, of course, a choice and something I help many of my clients with using Rapid Transformational Therapy.

Telomeres

The Longevity Book goes deep into understanding how everything begins with our cells and how this self-knowledge will allow you to heal your body from the inside out.

If you don’t already know what telomeres are, this book will explain in great detail.

Briefly, telomeres have one of the most important functions in our bodies. Their job is to protect the fragile ends of our chromosomes. Having short telomeres increases the effects of ageing while longer telomeres slow the ageing process.

If you are a woman reading this, you’ll be pleased to know that women generally have longer telomeres than men. Another reason why we live longer. 3

Reading this fascinating section on telomeres will help you to understand the effects that stress, poor nutrition and lack of fitness has on the length of your telomeres. This understanding alone will have you think twice about that extra glass of wine or bar of chocolate, or skipping your morning walk!

Hormones

Hormones are also discussed at great length in The Longevity Book. The authors delve deep into our various hormones and how they affect our ageing. From thyroid disease to cancer, to how having kids or not can affect your health, this chapter will be an eye-opener for many.

As you’d expect from a book on longevity geared towards women, there is a chapter dedicated to menopause and it’s effects on ageing.

And So Much More …

The book includes many useful and actionable tips and insights into how you can age well and live a long and healthy life.

It includes a plethora of information on nutrition, fitness, rest, brain health, healthy weight, strong bones, mood elevators, stress relief techniques, and much more.

The science behind this well-researched book will prove to be highly valuable for those of you who need to see concrete facts and figures.

If you are in any way curious about the inevitable process of ageing and what steps you can take to slow it down then this book is a must on your bookshelf.

As an interesting aside, the UK edition which I own has the bi-line Live Stronger. Live Better. The Art of Ageing Well. While I notice on Amazon the US edition has the bi-line The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time. Which do you prefer?

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384436/
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15313104/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24365661/

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