Pumpkin-Chia Seed Muffin

Adapted from Mom-A-Licious by Domenica Catelli

From Dr. Oz Reveals the Ultimate Checklist for Great Aging

The other day, my friend, Helen, called to tell me she watched the Oprah Winfrey Show and one of the guests was the popular Dr. Mehmet Oz. As Helen was telling me about the anti-aging, anti-inflammatory episode, it triggered memories of Dr. Perricone's anti-aging suggestions, as well as bringing to mind the list of fourteen SuperFoods Rx that may be very beneficial to health, well-being and longevity.

For anyone just starting out on the road to taking charge of his own health through diet and exercise, the multitude of programs, suggestions, books, and websites with their attendant gurus, can be very confusing. So many different plans, so many different points of view, so many authorities.

On my daily walk the other day, I listened to a podcast of an interview with noted author, Michael Pollan. I encourage everyone to read his books, The Omnivore's Dilemma and certainly his brief and clearly to the point, newest volume, In Defense of Food, An Eater's Manifesto. In seven clear, concise words, the author gives us simple, common sense direction for how to eat. Not only to survive, but to be slim, trim and well.

"Eat food, not too much, mainly plants."

Good advice that sounds so simple. I would add two more words so it reads: mainly plants, mostly raw. That certainly sounds a simple formula, doesn't it?

If you aren't ready for a 100% raw lifestyle, if you like a bit of meat and dairy in your menu planning, if juice feasting isn't calling your name, yet, but you are concerned about doing something good for yourself, then eating whole, organic foods, avoiding all processed foodstuffs, exercising portion control and limiting the number of servings of meat and dairy, will go a long way toward achieving good health and in doing so, contribute mightily to the anti-aging process.

Making a few small dietary changes is the first step toward gaining control. Drastic lifestyle changes are hard to maintain and can be demoralizing. Take small first steps. The Raw Divas seven day detox is a great example of 'trying out' a system to rid your body of accumulated toxic build-up, it gives the whole digestive system a much needed rest, and it may even result in a few pounds of quick weight-loss.

If seven days seems a daunting block of time, try a weekend. Pamper yourself with a good book, a few old movies on DVD's, long naps, plenty of filtered drinking water, and some mono fruit meals for a couple of days. In this hectic world we live in, a couple of quiet days is a wonderful gift to give ourselves.

Digesting food is the biggest energy drain we impose on our systems. If you want more energy, eat foods that provide their own enzymes for digestion, leaving your energy stores available for other tasks. Learn more about how your body operates. In general, most people know more about how their cars operate than how their bodies operate. The car gets traded in at regular intervals, the body has to keep on running over a lifetime. How long that lifetime is and the quality of the service, depends on the care and upkeep — much like the car.

Dr Norman Walker made this astute observation, "If it is too much trouble to learn how to attain and maintain health, and to put such knowledge into practice, then the easier way out is to follow the line of least resistance, and hope fervently that the grave is not too far away."

Take an easy step toward health,

make a pumpkin/chia seed muffin!