“I need to retire so I can live the lifestyle needed to maintain this body,” said my husband, Jim. He is looking forward to retirement and enjoys imagining a new and improved structure to his day. We are noticing that as we age, we need to be more deliberate about our health choices and creating exercise opportunities. We generally eat healthy meals and incorporate exercise, but there is always room for improvement. He envisions days filled with physical activities and shopping for healthy ingredients to incorporate when cooking delicious meals. 

In our Wisewords column [page 20], Dr. Mark Hyman addresses Living Healthy to 100 and Beyond. When asked about the role of exercise in longevity, he said, “If it were a pill, exercise would basically fix everything.” I must agree, an exercise pill would be simple to fit into my schedule. He also shares that we have built-in longevity pathways, and that this innate healing intelligence can be activated at any time. A major way to influence the healing pathways is through food. 

I believe we all want to make healthy food choices, but being human makes it is easy to find a few extra pounds when stepping on the scale. In the article, Converting Food to Energy: Learning How Metabolism Works [page 22], naturopathic physician Alan Christianson shares that metabolic imbalance occurs when the body stores fat but can’t access it or burn it efficiently. Overconsumption of carbohydrates, processed foods and caffeine can throw our metabolism out of balance. So, it seems that Jim may be onto something, he has the right idea for daily priorities.

In honor of Father’s Day, this issue is focused on men’s health. Our feature article, What Every Man Wants shares how to have sexual vitality at every age [page 16]. Find tips for good posture and a healthy spine in Straighten Up and Feel Right [page 28]. Consider a holistic approach to vision health in Keeping Eyes Sharp [page 30]. And for dad’s, enjoy ideas for building a better family in Conscious Fatherhood [page 26]. This month, I hope you share the love with the men in your life and envision your healthy days ahead.

Happy Father’s Day,

Kris Urquhart, Publisher