Product Description

Spontaneous Healing . . . Eight Weeks to Optimum Health . . . Eating Well for Optimum Health . . . The Healthy Kitchen–in each of his widely acclaimed, best-selling books, Dr. Andrew Weil has been an authoritative and companionable guide through a uniquely effective combination of traditional and nontraditional approaches to health and healthy living. Now he gives us a book about aging that is unlike any other in the breadth and depth of its information and understanding. Hugely informative, practical, and uplifting, it is infused with the engaging candor and common sense that have been the hallmarks of all his books.

At the heart of Healthy Aging is Dr. Weil’s belief that although aging is an irreversible process, there are myriad things we can do to keep our minds and bodies in good working order through all phases of life. To that end, he draws on the new science of biogerentology (the biology of aging) as well as on the secrets of healthy longevity– diet, activity, and attitude–that he has gathered firsthand from cultures around the world.
In Part One–“The Science and Philosophy of Healthy Aging”–he explains how the body ages, and he explores the impact of gender, genes, environment, and lifestyle on an individual’s experience and perception of the process of aging. He describes the various would-be elixirs of life extension–herbs, hormones, and antiaging “medicines”–separating myth from fact and clearly delineating the difference between the spurious notions of preventing or reversing the process of aging and the real possibilities of inhibiting or delaying the onset of diseases that become more likely as we age. He writes movingly about the ways in which an acceptance of aging can be a significant part of doing it well, and of recognizing and appreciating the great rewards of growing older: depth and richness of experience, complexity of being, serenity, wisdom, and its own kind of power and grace.

In Part Two–“How to Age Gracefully”–Weil details an easy-to-implement Anti-inflammatory Diet that will protect the immune system and aid your body in resisting and adapting to the changes that time brings. And he provides extensive practical advice on exercise; preventive health care; stress management; physical, mental, and emotional flexibility; and spiritual enhancement–all of which can help you achieve and maintain the best health throughout the lifelong process of aging.

Healthy Aging–a book for people of all ages–is Andrew Weil’s most important and far-reaching book yet.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #927682 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-27
• Released on: 2005-09-27
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From Amazon.com
Dr. Weil has raised dispensing health advice to an art form. Instead of making his audience feel inadequate or guilty about bad habits, he seems to subconsciously convince readers to do better merely by presenting health facts in a non-threatening way. Healthy Aging is his most scientifically technical book yet (you'll learn all about enzymes like telomerase and cell division and the chemistry behind phytonutrients like indole-3-carbinol, and the connection between cancer and other degenerative diseases like diabetes) yet by far his most fascinating.

His main mission here is to recommend "aging gracefully," which he considers accepting the process instead of fighting it. As the director of the country's leading integrative-medicine clinic (combining the best of traditional and alternative worlds), of course he disses Botox and the slew of $100-a-jar face creams out there. It's also no surprise that he focuses on proper nutrition, moderate exercise, and meditation and rest among his "12-point program for healthy aging." (Triathletes and exercise addicts should take special note of the research linking excessive exercise and ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.) He occasionally references his earlier works, including 8 Weeks to Optimum Health. But the most eye-opening sections are those that discuss the spirituality of aging and its emotional aspects. "Aging can bring frailty and suffering, but it can also bring depth and richness of experience, complexity of being, serenity, wisdom, and its own kind of power and grace," he writes. At 63, Weil is still a bit shy of senior status, but is aging well indeed, with the legacy of his late 93-year-old mother (who’s touchingly eulogized by Weil in this book) to guide him.--Erica Jorgensen

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. America's best-known complementary care physician offers a convincing portrait of aging as a natural part of life that can be active, productive and satisfying. Using the examples of his mother, who died at age 93; centenarians from Okinawa and Sardinia; and myths and legends, Weil (Eating Well for Optimum Health) explores common Western beliefs and attitudes about aging and urges readers to develop healthier perspectives. The 60-year-old author assesses the growing and lucrative field of anti-aging medicine, takes the position that aging is not reversible, and offers many ways for readers to prevent conditions and illnesses that limit mortality and ensure well-being into the later years. He provides scientifically based information on why and how the body ages and advice on key components of good health at every age: exercise, nutrition, vitamins and herbs, and stress-relieving activities. Much of this advice is available in Weil's previous works as well as on his Web site. The real value is Weil's courageous stand, one likely to meet resistance in a culture devoted to external indicators of eternal youth. Refreshingly, Weil embraces the notion, popular in Eastern cultures, that age brings wisdom, peace and prosperity of a different kind.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
To absorb this technical lesson on aging, listeners will need to be comfortable with medical detail and be able to tolerate the ever-present flatness of Dr. Weil's professorial narration. But persistence pays off handsomely with useful insights on the biochemical mechanics of aging bodies and fascinating glimpses into lifestyles and diets around the world that influence how people age. He offers many practical suggestions for improving our physical and emotional health as we age. Most comforting is the author's wisdom regarding what we can change and what we need to accept as we move into our 60s and beyond. An indispensable addition to anyone's health and fitness library. T.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Bringing back old wisdom

First of all I like the author's respectful attitude for old age, a rather rare attitude in our society...

"Healthy Aging" is a good guide for adopting healthy lifestyle in order to avoid many ailments that are usually associated with old age. However, this book is not only a nutritional guide. Dr. Weil focuses not only on your body but he also gives a lot of attention to your soul. It turns out that from the point of view of longevity, your healthy spirit and your healthy mind are equally (if not more) important as your healthy body. In that sense the book very much reminds me of another popular title: Can we live 150 year

3.5 STARS - "Guru" status sometimes gets in the way
A good, but somewhat lacking, discussion of aging and health. The "guru" status of Dr. Weil can sometimes overwhelm his writing, and he has significant gaps in his work. Also, the book is clearly targeted at Southwestern US upper middle class folks. However, we do not all have middle-class means (e.g., organic foods, expensive suppliments, optimal health care), nor bountiful produce and fresh fish available; one example of the limitations of his views. Dr. Weil also neglects to deal with real disabilities and suffering often inevitable with aging (often in spite of taking care of oneself)...

But it is still a very worthwhile view -- even if sometimes unrealistically positive -- of aging and health.

Thoroughly researched, fascinating and very valuable!
It is rare to find so fascinating, in-depth and of great value book! Dr. Weil has done an outstanding job in explaining many aspects of the process of aging in a pleasant, understandable and useful way. His style of writing is very calm, delicate and it is a pleasure to read his entire book.

I completely agree that your efforts and money will be better spent on turning your aging into a nourishing and valuable part of your life instead of fighting it as something malignant. I am sure that Weil’s unique and very wise approach to aging will cause a paradigm-shift in his readers.

It is enough to look at him and feel his serenity, dignity, wisdom and sense of well-being which he radiates. All of these qualities reflect on his work and hopefully will guide you towards a better health, aging and spiritual depth. Additional bestseller, which also reveals key biosubstances and processes is” “Scientifically guaranteed male multiple orgasms and ultimate sex” by Alan Ritz. I whole heartedly recommend both books.
Ekaterina Kingry M.D.