The basic principles for longevity are simple, but few people around the world, and especially in the United States, understand these principles. Even if they do understand these principles, they dont incorporate these principles into their own lives.

Its one thing to know what principles promote health and fitness and a long, active, productive, and purposeful life, and quite another to muster up the determination to put these principles into practice.

Too many of us chase the Fountain of Youth, hungry for a quick fix.

Our whole culture is youth centeredthe look, the clothes, the sports, the activities, the advertising.

We exult our youth while we neglect to honor and revere our parents and grandparents, the very people who have gathered a lifetime of experiences and wisdom. In fact, we put them away when they become too much of an inconvenience, a nuisance.

The message is loud and clear: youth is beautiful and old age is not a pretty picture.

And lets face it. The way we age in this country, who wants to get old? When we look around us and even at ourselves, old age walks hand in hand with pain, stiffness, immobility, disease, and lack of purpose.

The question remains: does the inevitability of aging bring about the inevitability of pain, suffering, and disease?

Interestingly, the gerontologists, the old age specialists, tell us that the human body is designed to live and function well for one hundred years. Yes, we are made to live one hundred years. Furthermore, we are made to live one hundred years with health, fitness, vitality, mobility, and purpose.

How many one hundred year olds do we see around us who are healthy, mobile, and vibrant? The chances of knowing such a person is about as rare as seeing a unicorn, is it not?

If we do happen to know someone who has reached the benchmark year of one hundred, what kind of shape is she or he in?

In this country, we think it is nothing short of a miracle if we live to be eighty even if we can barely get out of a chair or walk around the block, much less fully participate in our favorite activities with our favorite people.

The Fountain of Youth is within our reach, but it can not be bought. We must be work for it, constantly, every day. If we choose not to, then premature aging is inevitable right along with disability, premature diseases, and early death.

So would you like to discover the Fountain of Youth? Look for it in what you eat, how much you move, and how you live your life.

Of all the longevity factors known to influence aging, the only longevity factor that has been shown in studies is body weight.

In other words, if these studies are accurate for human beings, carrying around too many pounds automatically wipes out the number of years that you live.

In a nutshell, what are the factors that increase your chances of living a longer life? According to Dan Georgakas in The Methuselah Factors, some of the factors critical for a long life are:

Lean body weight Fresh fruits and vegetables Raw nuts and whole grains No smoking Lifelong daily moderate exercise such as walking Lifelong work and purpose Regular sleep habits More easy going personality

Ask yourself this question. Do you care if you live a long life and do you care if your life is one of quality with a well performing body, a bright mind, and an active and purposeful lifestyle?

If you do care, then now is the time to take that first step for preserving your most valuable assetyou!