I am on the verge of coming out with some breaking news about the power of food. Please just give me a week or two to get my latest thoughts to you. What I have discovered is so unbelievable, I never would have really believed it myself two months ago. But I now have the evidence myself and let me tell you my friends, this is powerful.

But until then, I have composed a list of some of the healthiest foods around. Note that I said “some,” because this is by no means an all-inclusive list. But everything on it is very healthy and you will not go wrong using this list as a guide to try some new foods!

Tomatoes - They have lots of lycopene which is a very powerful antioxidant. Tomatoes are low in calories and are a very rich flavored fruit.

Blueberries - are packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids. These berries are also high in potassium and vitamin C.

Pineapples - are high in bromelain, which is a great natural anti-inflammatory, as well as being high in fiber.

Cherries - Are packed with anti-inflammatory properties and full of anti-viral and anti-bacteria agents.

Beans - are a miracle food. They lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and insulin production, promote digestive health, and protect against cancer. If you think of fiber, protein, and antioxidants and immediately think whole grains, meats, and fruit, think again — beans offer all three in a single package.

Watercress - is a calorie-free food high in calcium and fiber.

Spinach - is high in iron and anti-inflammatories, as well as vitamin K, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, foliate, and magnesium. I also really love kale and collards. They are all full of lutein, a great antioxidant! Don’t ask for these at McDonalds though. They will throw you out!

Snow pea tips – get these at an authentic Chinese restaurant or Asian grocery market! Lightly sauteed in garlic (which is incredibly healthy) – delicious.

Bananas- are full of potassium and vitamin C, as well as fiber.

Apples- Apples are high in fiber as well their pectin takes the most amount of insulin to break down in the body, so they help regulate your blood sugar.

Did you notice that nowhere on this list are processed foods? All of the above foods are natural and can be found as organic.  Now is the time of the year that most of these are readily available.  I really suggest you find a local produce market or farmers market and make it a part of your weekend plan.

Eat well and rock on my friends. I’ll be back with some amazing news very soon!

This has been really tough on me. I have had laryngitis for the past couple of months and yes, it has been very difficult. As you may know, I speak for a living. And when I am not speaking, chances are I am in a meeting or on a teleconference or something like that.

I finally broke down and went to my ENT doc who told me I need to do the same thing an athlete does when he or she is injured – REST!!! Rest my voice!

But I have had numerous speaking gigs and meetings lately that it has been impossible. So after finishing up a seminar in Delaware yesterday with a very weak voice, I made the decision that I will not speak for the next five days. Sure it’s going to be tough! So many people count on my voice. My family, my friends, my business associates, my members… it’s so hard to not respond.

So I am now armed with my chalkboard app on my iPad that I will carry with me everywhere. I will try to use gestures. I will make faces. I just won’t talk!

I will ask you a favor. Please send your positive energy my way! My vocal chords need some help! I appreciate every little bit and I will return the favor sometime soon!

Yes, I will continue to rock on my friends. I will just do it quietly.

Birthdays – you either love them or hate them.  I personally love them! NO, not because I get lots of cool presents, but rather because each birthday is a confirmation that I am living a great healthy life!

Friends… I turned 56 last week. I am always hearing from people – “David that cannot be possible, you look 35. You’re still running marathons, you ski, you hike the Grand Canyon, etc.”

YES, I do all of that, and maybe that is what keeps me so young.

So here are my secrets to being 56 and looking 35:

I eat small meals several times a day. I eat a lot of fresh fish and seafood, and I avoid refined sugars, flours and pastas.

I drink a lot (and I mean a lot) of green tea and white tea.

I try to exercise outside daily, whether it’s a walk, run, strength training, or cardio- I move my body every day.

I keep a positive mental attitude. I really do welcome each day with splendor and joy.

I take a lot of photographs.

I do not harbor guilt or anger. If someone does something crazy, I quickly forgive and move on.

I limit the amount of alcohol I drink.

I try to make as many people smile each day as possible.

I NEVER smoke.

And mostly… I laugh and have FUN!!

Hope these tips will help you live to 102 and beyond.

Rock on

Dave

Please be sure to visit and like my Facebook Page!

Injuries are tough. I am just coming off a two-month leg injury. I didn’t want to tell you too much about it while it was taking place because I did not want to get you down. But it was not good.

I can’t tell you exactly what it was because I did not see a doctor. I figured it would heal on its own. Soft tissue could easily take 4-8 weeks to heal and I felt as long as my leg was progressively getting better, I would not see the doc.

As best as I can tell, I tore an attachment coming into my knee. Maybe hamstring, maybe quad, or a calf attachment. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a combination. I did it doing the Insanity Fitness workout. That is a real tough workout! I am not badmouthing Insanity at all. As a matter of fact I may try it again in the near future. But now I know what my limits are.

Here is what I did – these are the best ways to treat an injury, in my opinion.

Rest: If you are injured, do not stress the area. Please rest it. That is the only way it will heal. If you are like me, you will be impatient. The first few weeks it hurt so bad that I could not do anything even if I wanted to. But as it gradually improved I did something stupid. I skied a couple of days. Yeah, that was not smart. Luckily I did not seriously re-injure the area. I did however take about a 1-2 week step back, which was not good.

Ice: If you notice any swelling (which I did), ice the area and ice it frequently. I happened to be on a cruise during the initial phase and I requested ice delivered to my cabin every morning and afternoon. I simply applied the ice, which was placed in a ziplock type bag, directly to the area as often as possible. The idea is to keep swelling and inflammation away.

Avoid heat: Heat is not good for swelling and inflammation as it draws blood and fluids TO the area. You are trying to get rid of the fluids, not draw attention to more. So stay away from heating pads, hot baths, etc. as they will make things worse.

Elevation: I kept my leg up as much as possible… above the level of my heart. Again, this works wonders for decreasing the swelling and inflammation.

Analgesics: For those of you that have been following me for some time, you know I am not a big fan of pain medication. But I must tell you, I was in such pain that I had to break down and try something. What I found to work best was 6oo mg. of Ibuprofen 2 or 3 times a day. As the pain started to subside, I went down to 400 mg. once a day. Now I am happy to say that I am totally off the stuff.

Compression: I used a compression brace on my knee when things really were feeling awful. I picked it up at the local Walgreens. I think it helped but I found that wearing it all day long causes some really bad itching so please be careful.

Massage: A very skilled massage therapist can really work wonders. Just make sure your therapist totally understands muscle attachments, etc. This is crucial.

Chiropractic: Same as above! I did not seek chiropractic care but I do know there are some very good sports minded practitioners out there.

If you are not sure what the problem is, I would recommend seeing a medical doctor. Just because I am stubborn does not mean that you should be!

Most important, don’t let an injury ruin your psyche! Keep a strong eye on your eating program during an injury. You certainly don’t want to start gaining the pounds you have worked so hard to shed. Maybe this is a good time to get other things done that you have been putting off. There is always something good that can be made out of something bad.

Please check out my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/HealthyAt102! A “Quick Tip” for you every morning!

Rock On!!!

It’s allergy season and the pollen count has been incredibly high here in Maryland. I have a feeling it is the same where you are living as well. Those of you that know me personally may have heard that I have had laryngitis for the past few weeks. Is it allergy induced? I am not sure, but I am taking all of the precautions!

If you are suffering from allergies, what can you do? If you have read my book, you know I try everything possible before I take medication for something. So here are a few helpful ideas to try before you head off to your doctor to get a prescription for your allergies.

• Wash your face and hands frequently during the day – especially after coming in from the outside or shaking someone’s hand.
• Ladies – pollen will stick to your makeup and therefore stay on your skin longer, so try to take it easy with the makeup this time of the year.
• Flush your nose with saline in the evenings.
• As much as fresh air is good for you – driving with your windows open this time of the year overloads you with pollen. Same goes for the windows in your home.
• Chiropractic adjustments have been proven to be very helpful with allergies. If you have not tried chiropractic, go ahead. It is safe and there is nothing to lose.
• Invest in a clean air machine with a HEPA filter for your bedroom. These little machines are so worth the money! They will filter the air you breathe so that you are not breathing in pollutants and allergens all night long. Great if you have pets as well.
• Keep your car clean! My car is coated with pollen right now.  We touch the car every time we get in and out, the pollen gets on our hands, then into our eyes, nose and lungs. You know the story!
• Drinking spring water with fresh lemon juice will help your body curb mucous production.
• Ingesting “local” honey meaning honey made from locally bred and cultivated honey bees may help you be less sensitive to the pollens in your area – check your local farmers market.

Following these simple and easy tips should help keep you out of your doctor’s office this year. Please let me know if you have any other ideas!

Rock on!

Dave

I am always being asked about how I survive life on the road. As you know, being a professional speaker, I need to travel quite a bit! I have written blogs about how to eat on the road.  But lately I am being asked how I survive the rigors of travel, so here are some of my “tricks” to surviving life on the road.

When traveling on a plane I keep a small book, small pillow or small rolled towel with me, and about once an hour I slip the book/pillow/or towel under a different thigh – this shifts the weight off of my lower back. I find this very helpful especially on flights of more than two hours.

I try to at least roll my shoulders, roll my feet and ankles often on the plane. And I stretch just like I would for a workout prior to boarding and after de-planing. If I am planning to sleep on the flight (which is difficult for me) I take my noise reducing headphones.

When traveling by car, I make a point of stopping every two hours or so to get out and take a break. Sometimes I just walk a few circles around the car or take a quick trip to the rest room. But I have found that breaking the trip up into segments really helps me.

I pack lightly- I plan ahead what clothing I need to wear each day of the trip and take only those items with me. I used to take everything I own, but these days I find myself wearing the same thing many days in a row!

Traveling is sometimes difficult, but I try my best to make it fun and enjoyable. These simple tips can make it even more so. Safe travels my friend!

Rock on

Dave

Please look for me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HealthyAt102

Yeah, yeah, I know this blog is called “Follow Me to 102!”

And since the name of my Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/healthyat102) is the same, you wouldn’t believe many people actually ask me this question:

“Hey Dave, what makes you think you will live to 102?”

The answer to the question is this. I actually have no idea how long I will live. I could go tomorrow, I could live a very long life, or maybe somewhere in between. In the scheme of things, much of how long we will live is out of our control.

BUT!!! And this is a very serious but! I do believe if we live our lives in the healthiest manner possible without being fanatics about everything, we significantly boost our chances to live a long, prosperous healthy life.

So this is exactly where I come in. I do believe I can help you. I have figured out great ways to live your best life ever and I am here to teach. So please follow me and whether or not we make it to 102, I do guarantee that we will have some great times together for quite some time to come.

visit me on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/HealthyAt102

Rock on!