Kavin Austin Blake Shares some Tips for Healthy Living

Kavin Austin Blake has spent years looking into the benefits of diet and healthy living as pertains to a long lifespan. Today, Information Nation talks to Kavin Austin Blake about beating the calendar and the clock.
Information Nation: What’s the secret of healthy living and a long life?

Kavin Austin Blake: The secret is that there’s no secret. It’s not the kind of thing you get to with a crash diet, a pill, a shake or a fad exercise regimen.

Information Nation: Well, what’s a good starting point, then?

Kavin Austin Blake: There’s just no substitute for eating right and exercise.

Information Nation: Exercise, meaning what exactly?

Kavin Austin Blake: Really, about anything that you enjoy. The human body was meant for action, not for sitting around inactive on a couch for hours on end.

Information Nation: But what if you’re already getting up in years?

Kavin Austin Blake: It’s all about strength and flexibility. Even older people can at least go out for walks, if they don’t have too many orthopedic problems to get in the way.

Information Nation: You mention flexibility along with strength…

Kavin Austin Blake: Absolutely. As we get older, our muscles shorten and muscle tone fades. Stretching and flexibility are every bit as important as strength. Things like yoga are great for that, you don’t necessarily need a hard gym workout.

Information Nation: Exercise has all sorts of benefits beyond strength and flexibility, though…

Kavin Austin Blake: Oh, no question. Regular exercise goes a long way toward fighting depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, even some cancers.

Information Nation: Let’s switch to food for a minute…

Kavin Austin Blake: Sure, what do you want to know?

Information Nation: I know that caloric intake needs decrease as we get older. What other advice can you offer up?

Kavin Austin Blake: Avoid junk food and processed foods, or anything with too much processed flour and sugar in it. All those kinds of foods are tied in to weight gain and diabetes.

Information Nation: What have you tried personally?

Kavin Austin Blake: I’m a big believer in the Mediterranean Diet.

Information Nation: What does that entail?

Kavin Austin Blake: Lots of fish, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, easy on the red meats.

Information Nation: I’ve heard about the Okinawa diet, too.

Kavin Austin Blake: Yes, that’s a good one as well. Lots of yellow and green vegetables, fish, and fewer calories overall.

Information Nation: Do you cut out alcohol?

Kavin Austin Blake: Well, look. Most people know that alcohol is bad for your health in large amounts, but red wine is an exception. There’s so much resveratrol, anti-oxidants and other ingredients that are actually beneficial to your health by fighting free radicals in your system.

Information Nation: Any other advice?

Kavin Austin Blake: Don’t make yourself miserable with diet and exercise. If you want to take a day off from exercise, do it. If you want a bowl of ice cream once every couple of weeks, go ahead. Extending your life is great, but life’s still too short to not enjoy it!