Healthy Aging

A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being

By: Andrew Weil M.D.

Narrated by: Andrew Weil M.D.

Spontaneous Healing... Eight Weeks to Optimum Health... Eating Well for Optimum Health... The Healthy Kitchen–in each of his widely acclaimed, best-selling books, Dr. Andrew Weil has been an authoritative and companionable guide through a uniquely effective combination of traditional and nontraditional approaches to health and healthy living. Now he gives us a book about aging that is unlike any other in the breadth and depth of its information and understanding. Hugely informative, practical, and uplifting, it is infused with the engaging candor and common sense that have been the hallmarks of all his books.

At the heart of Healthy Aging is Dr. Weil’s belief that although aging is an irreversible process, there are myriad things we can do to keep our minds and bodies in good working order through all phases of life. To that end, he draws on the new science of biogerentology (the biology of aging) as well as on the secrets of healthy longevity–diet, activity, and attitude–that he has gathered firsthand from cultures around the world.

In Part One–“The Science and Philosophy of Healthy Aging”–he explains how the body ages, and he explores the impact of gender, genes, environment, and lifestyle on an individual’s experience and perception of the process of aging. He describes the various would-be elixirs of life extension–herbs, hormones, and antiaging “medicines”–separating myth from fact and clearly delineating the difference between the spurious notions of preventing or reversing the process of aging and the real possibilities of inhibiting or delaying the onset of diseases that become more likely as we age. He writes movingly about the ways in which an acceptance of aging can be a significant part of doing it well, and of recognizing and appreciating the great rewards of growing older: depth and richness of experience, complexity of being, serenity, wisdom, and its own kind of power and grace.

In Part Two–“How to Age Gracefully”–Weil details an easy-to-implement Anti-inflammatory Diet that will protect the immune system and aid your body in resisting and adapting to the changes that time brings. And he provides extensive practical advice on exercise; preventive health care; stress management; physical, mental, and emotional flexibility; and spiritual enhancement–all of which can help you achieve and maintain the best health throughout the lifelong process of aging.

Healthy Aging–a book for people of all ages–is Andrew Weil’s most important and far-reaching book yet.

©2005 Andrew Weil (P)2005 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Dr. Weil has arguably become American’s best-known doctor.” —The New York Times Magazine

“Forget plastic surgery. Skip the pricey face creams and the drugs for creaky bodies. Natural-medicine champion Weil, who’s now in his sixties, covers longevity research, aging, and how he’s embracing the experience.” —Life Magazine

“Weil wants us to be sensible about growing old. . . . He argues that we should not fight aging. There’s no winning that war. Instead, we should concentrate on aging well. —The Washington Post

Scientifically Presented Facts-Fascinating!

Author not only has a strong, clear voice, he shares a deeper explanation than most who write books such as these. Rightly so, he has credentials and a highly recognized reputation to back it up. I’m now a new fan. From biological genes, recent studies on foods, supplements and exercise this book is wonderfully jam packed with excellent information. Enjoyed it immensely.