But some people don’t read newspapers or magazines, and perhaps they don’t pay attention to all of the news on TV, especially as it relates to their health.

For them, there may exist some an inner voice that says, “I don’t need anyone telling me what to eat or what to do, and I don’t believe that stuff anyway.”  Do you know anyone like that?  Yeah, me too.  For those who do think that way, I don’t want to be thought of as a columnist who ignores such an important segment of our audience. So I’d like to present a brief list of seven things to do that will virtually assure those people who follow this list that they will not have to be concerned about living to be healthy 100-year olds:

#1 - Avoid all contact with healthcare professionals, because as you’ve said so often, “You know your body better than any expert, and there’s nothing wrong.”

#2 – Smoke at least one or two packs of cigarettes every day.  Ignore the label warnings, because you know someone who smoked his or her entire life and was never sick and didn’t get cancer.

#3 – Ignore signals you get from your own body, like pain, skin discoloration or changes in your appetite or mobility. They are, as you’ve said for years, “…Just normal aches, pains and part of the aging process.”

#4 – Eat as much of anything you want, because you know that there are really no such things as obesity or moderation when it comes to enjoying food and drink.

#5 – Forget about taking quality vitamins or supplements because you know that your body gets all the nutrition it needs from your diet and lifestyle – better yet, besides saving all that money on vitamins, toss those old bottles of vitamins in the trash to prove your point.

#6 – Sit around for as much of the day as you can –especially before and after work if you go to a job - so you can avoid doing anything of value for yourself or others. It’s okay, because you know that there are others who will volunteer or help their neighbors and you don’t want extend yourself if you don’t absolutely have to do so.

#7 – Don’t form too many outside friendships or social contacts because they take too much work, and you know that you don’t need anyone.  If you’re single, stay that way.  Don’t marry, and for that matter, avoid having too many lasting relationships so you won’t have to worry about caring for anyone but yourself.

If you accept this simple approach to living your life, you can be assured of never having to worry about living to be the ripe old age of 100 – because it’s been proven that inactivity slowly destroys our bodies. Enjoying excessive food and drink and a lifestyle of poor choices is a sure way to become a “world class” couch potato. Besides, you may look really good in large, baggy, stretched out clothing.

HOWEVER…for those who can’t stick to such rigid rules for disaster, there is an alternative for healthy aging:

1. Exercise – it keeps you young, healthier, and adds quality to the years of your life.

2. Eat those fruits & vegetable, especially brightly colored veggies. Cut back on red meat & fast foods. Add oily fish like salmon to your diet – it has Omega 3, a fat that is good for you. Avoid saturated fats, processed foods, excessive sugar and salt, and all trans fats.

3. Experience life.  Volunteer in your community, read a book, learn a new language, or travel to places in your local area that you’ve never visited. Don’t accept the idea that you’re too old to try something new.

4. Be part of the larger community.

5. Stay active – mentally and physically.

6. Keep in touch with family and old friends and make new friends.

7. Maintain a sense of humor – laugh, it makes life a lot more enjoyable.

8. Stay in touch with your spirituality.

9. Breathe.  Take some deep breaths several times throughout the day – they’ll help relax you and bring more oxygen into your blood system and therefore to your muscles and brain.

There’s no guarantee that if you do all of this that you’ll live a healthy, happy 100-years or more, but it will enhance and improve the years you do live.  And the best part is, the choice is yours.

Ron Kauffman is a Certified Senior Advisor, radio talk show host and an expert on issues of aging and caregiving. He is the author of Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease, available at www.seniorlifestyles.net, where you can also hear his weekly Podcasts. He can be reached at 561-626-4481 or by email at drron407@bellsouth.net.