Conscious Choice: Dr. Andrew Weil’s Healthy Aging

March 2006 | Whole Health

Dr. Andrew Weil’s Healthy Aging

By Bob Condor

Along with a flowing beard that gives Dr. Andrew Weil a distinct natural health look, the Tucson-based physician has always been as calm as the desert is dry. His demeanor is almost soothing, even during media interviews. He walks the holistic talk, including on grocery store trips.

So it is balm for any yellers among us, and let’s agree somewhat alarming for all, when Weil starts getting worked up about the emergence of anti-aging medicine as a professional field.

The turning point for Weil’s newest book, Healthy Aging, which debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list, was attending a 2003 conference sponsored by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Weil is not one of its 12,500 physician-members but he did attend some “intriguing” sessions on inflammation as the major cause of age-related disease.

But that’s not what moved Weil to write the book. What provoked him was listening to some doctors talk about how to significantly increase revenue — “quadruple it,” one speaker urged — by specializing in anti-aging medicine

And that was just during the morning sessions of the conference. One afternoon, he toured the massive exhibit hall, increasingly dismayed by the number of products being pushed as anti-aging solutions. He accepted that brands of antioxidants, fish oils and “miracle herbs” might have some scientific grounding, but questioned the promises and guarantees of not aging.

Weil especially struggled with “pseudoscientific devices” such as one for reading and adjusting energy fields as a way to keep patients young. The exhibit hall made it hard for Weil to stay calm. After three days at the conference, he went home and started writing.

“We need to give up on the goal of stopping aging,” said Weil. “What we should be doing is delaying the onset of age-related diseases.”

Weil proposes that the most effective way to slow disease is to control inflammation in the body, especially at the cellular level. Some inflammation is good and the natural way for a body to heal. Too much inflammation overloads cells and stands to be why we are experiencing epidemics of heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.

Part of Weil’s solution is an anti-inflammation diet proposed in the book. One important strategy includes eating more omega-3 fats (salmon, sardines, omega-3 eggs, hemp/flax seeds and walnuts) but controlling the omega-6 fats in vegetable, corn, regular safflower and regular sunflower oils.

“People need to know the promises we will hear from practitioners of anti-aging medicine are going to become more extravagant in coming years,” said Weil.

“What I really want to help change with the book and tour is our culture,” said Weil. “I want to endorse the idea of aging gracefully. I am aiming to have people mobilize people to look at and value what can improve with aging, such as wisdom, life experience, relationship skills and being more creative.”

Weil is getting positive reviews from the critics and readers alike. One reason is the new book follows the form of his earlier bestsellers by providing practical information. Some highlights: Making sure you sleep in complete darkness to encourage the body’s production of melatonin. Learning another language (“you don’t have to master it”) to enhance your brain and memory skills. Learning and practicing breathing relaxation techniques to decrease stress — which Weil says is highly underrated as a breeder of disease and even death.

Weil continues in his role as founder of the University of Arizona’s integrative medicine program, which has now trained more than 300 physicians. Soon he will partner with the Miraval spa to create a whole new type of integrative medicine center, one which will encourage people to check in for five to seven days of exams, treatments, therapies and self-enhancement education. You can be sure anti-aging medicine won’t be among the treatment options.

For more information visit drweil.com

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