In my book, Organic Manifesto, I write about how studies are finding that genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are now found in almost all our processed foods including nonorganic corn and soy, cause accelerated aging.
Then, last week I read about a new study that shows that soda, specifically the phosphorous in soda, causes accelerated aging too.
For a culture that is so obsessed with youth, I find it ironic that we are not only accelerating aging with our bad behaviors, but that the current generation of youth will be the first generation of children who won’t live as long as their parents (namely us, who have done this to them and to ourselves).
When I think of aging well, I think of Catherine Deneuve. Why her? Years ago I read that she said a woman has to decide between her face and her buttocks when it comes to aging well. Her premise was that if you want a beautiful face, you must let your buttocks be full. If you want small buttocks, your face is going to sag. I just watched her in a wonderfully atmospheric and really great movie called Changing Times (with my all-time favorite, Gerard Depardieu).
Some women have naturally small buttocks and beautiful faces. Like Robin Wright, who is most famous for her classic performance in The Princess Bride, one of the best movies of all time, if you ask me. In a recent issue of People, she’s photographed without any makeup on, and says, “the more wrinkles you have, you don’t want to wear makeup; it sits in the wrinkles and you see them more.” I agree, and noticed that on my own face. She’s only 44.
At 48, people don’t tell me I look “so young” anymore. I do have my mother’s good skin (although it’s reddish from all my outdoor activities). My grey hair probably distracts them so they don’t focus on my face, anyway. However, when people have told me I look younger than I am over the years, my response has always been “it’s all the organic butter.” I’m joking, but I’m also not joking. Because now we know that nonorganic foods DO accelerate aging. And like Catherine Deneuve, I’ve chosen not to fixate on the size of my buttocks.
Life is still good. And hopefully, long. And definitely, organic.
Thank you Maria!
You are a gift
Wow, I loved this, Maria. Which is a bit strange, for me, I’d say. I kind of wonder what’s going on. I’m not generally worried about the size of my buttocks or the wrinkles on my face (for me it’s all about hair, whether I’m keeping it or not, I think) but because of the way you make this information personal. What was it? GMO’s and phosphorous in soda advances aging? But somehow we’re talking about Catherine Deneuve and the effect of age on our looks.
For someone who is as public as you to be as personal is, as Robin above said, a real gift, and the information is, on top of that, pertinent and useful.
I’ve always considered aging to be a gift. Many people didn’t live to be the age that I am now (58). My lines and wrinkles are evidence of a life lived with laughter and passion. My gray hairs are tiny medals of honor awarded for service to my husband, kids, parents, friends and employers. I’m proud of them and would not think of covering them up even if I could. And I am humbly grateful to my Maker that I have been blessed with enough food to be overweight.
I knew of a elderly lady in my home town whose face did not match her age. Mrs. H. had a routine she did each night, I had learned she made a light paste of oatmeal. putting this on her face kept her complexion very fine and this lady was robust in stature and short but her face was that of a 20 year old. When she finally went to an assisted living place she evidently wasn’t able to continue this regiment and her face showed her age..so go to the oatmeal!!!!
Hey Maria-was the soda study referring to the phosphorus in soda leeching calcium from bones as the mechanism for acceleration of aging? I remember learning this in pharmacy school 20 (!) years ago and being shocked but I haven’t been much of a soda drinker ever since.
I am with Linda S on this- every wrinkle and gray hair is a badge of honor won raising my kids and keeping my family together, in service to my community and faith. It doesn’t hurt that whenever possible, I have chosen organic, local and sustainable since the mid 1970’s.