Orange Health Alert by Norma

Last week I checked out a book from the local library called "Food Cures," published by Reader's Digest. The cover says, "fight disease with your fork." You wouldn't be allowed to say that on an actual food product by law, but you can say anything in a book title, even if it's false. In fact, if you open that book, there's not a single study cited.

But there are five things you can do that may help you live a longer life--and I've mentioned them many times.

1) You can't beat good genes. That's still the number one factor in good health and a long life, and you didn't have a thing to do with it. If you're still alive tomorrow, give thanks for your biological parents and grandparents who gave you a good start. My mother died in her 88th year, her brother at 99, her father at 94, and her sister is still going at 92. Dad died at 89, his father at 92, and his grandfather was 88 in 1950 when he died, and one of his daughters is still going at 92.

2) Don't smoke.

3) Drink alcohol only in moderation, and if you think a 6 pack after work is moderation, you need to relearn the meaning of the word. You're using Obamath.

4) Reduce your calories.

5) Get some regular exercise.

There are several to compete for the next five, and I'll just mention some I've noticed recently among my friends who are over sixty.

Bicycling doesn't seem real smart to me, even with a helmet. Motorcycles almost look safer.

Stay off ladders whether cutting tree limbs, cleaning gutters or painting the house. My husband who got 1-5 right, is really bad about this one.

Only the marriage bed is undefiled, as the Bible says. Think of the diseases and heartache you can avoid.

If your doctor can't be bothered to return your calls (or your wife's calls), you need to get a different doctor.

Colon cancer can be prevented through testing--and I think it's the only cancer that can--it's called a colonoscopy, and if polyps are found, they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Don't bother with the FOBT--by the time it finds anything it's probably too late--that's why they're cheap.

If you use sun screen because you're in the sun a lot, don't forget to increase your vitamin D, which your bones need to fight osteoporosis; broken bones kill a lot of us old folks, especially fair skinned women like me.

Remember to get your flu shots--ordinary flu kills a lot more people than swine flu.

Unless you or your spouse have allergies, get a pet. They'll add laughter and comfort to your life, and you may even need to take them out for a walk.