NUTRITION MEDICINE SECTION-1

Dear readers.

We are about to leave the summer heat behind. Now is the best season for healthy living activities. Our city is full of blessings offered by a natural environment that you won’t easily find elsewhere. Everything we need for healthy aging and a quality life is at our fingertips: parks, beaches, fresh air, and sunshine.

In fact, humankind has been diligently searching for thousands of years for the possibility of preventing aging. The “Water of Life” in Anatolian tales and the “Fountain of Youth” in Greek mythology are examples of this quest. Lokman Hekim, known as the father of medicine in Anatolia, was also in pursuit of eternal youth and life. From history to the present day, methods applied to delay aging have long become an integral part of established medicine. Following serious studies in this field, new things are discovered every day, and miraculous treatment methods are presented one after another.

In fact, what we call aging is, in some respects, a result of the gradual decline in the quality of our physical and mental functions over time. The speed and intensity of this decline vary from person to person. So it’s not directly related to what’s written on your ID card. However, it is directly related to the combination of various factors. What are these factors?

Negative impacts on our mental health, abnormal behaviors, smoking, alcohol and processed food consumption, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle. I’ve only listed a few.

Medically speaking, aging can definitely be delayed. Furthermore, concepts like “healthy aging” and “quality of life” have already entered the medical literature. Now you might ask, what exactly is quality of life, or in other words, “healthy” aging?

The primary condition for quality, or in other words, healthy aging, is the timely prevention of damage and even risk factors that may occur in our cells and organs, especially our intestinal system. Our psychological health, our behavior, and even the healthy or unhealthy changes in our personality at certain times depend on this. From a biological perspective, living a meaningful and vibrant life, both mentally and physically, and delaying, slowing down, or even reversing the aging process in such a life, as in the example above, is called nutritional medicine. The sole aim of nutritional medicine is to provide individuals with many biological advantages in terms of psychological health; to restructure youthful energy and provide a healthier, stronger, more meaningful life, and one that is aware of the bigger picture. Please remember: Our average biological age is 120.

I can almost hear the voices rising now. Why 120? And what will we do with such a long life? You’re right. Limits, awareness, and responsibility are personal choices, just like our responsibilities to our loved ones and children. I think the issue we need to focus on in this context is related to the concept of “intention.”

“Healthy aging” and “quality life” require a strong inner reckoning with ourselves, without hiding behind excuses. Because the biggest thief of time is indecision. However, anger is an emotion that resists time. Instead of despair, dream optimistic dreams. These dreams will enable you to move towards your goal with determination. We love you.

Stay healthy and with love.

Uğur Uğural