More and more research has shown that we actually do have some control over how we age. Many of our lifestyle habits, like diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management, affect our body's ability to repair the cellular damage that occurs with age. Certain foods have properties that help prevent certain diseases and keep us feeling young and healthy. Incorporating these foods into our diet early on helps ensure that the aging process will be gentle and healthful. Traditionally, modern medicine has focused on how to treat illness that has already occurred. Anti-aging methodology has followed this mantra as well. But why not try to prevent disease before it even starts? As a physician, I treat many patients with chronic conditions who feel like they have lost control of their health. And while most physicians aren't trained to discuss nutrition with their patients, I feel that it's a vital part of every patient's health and well-being, and something about which they should be informed. In addition to medicine, I also have a passion for cooking, and I enjoy making meals that are nutritious and full of flavor. Ten years after starting my medical training, I enrolled in culinary school to further pursue this passion. Now my goal is to share both my medical and culinary knowledge with others, to empower them so that they might make smart diet and lifestyle choices on a daily basis. [...] There are no short cuts to staying young. Rather, it is how we choose to live on a daily basis that can prolong our lives while also improving the quality of those years. Don't underestimate the importance that a nutrient-rich diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices can have on longevity and a feeling of youthful vitality. This book has a wonderful collection of delicious recipes that use nutritious ingredients with potent anti-aging properties. So, while there is unfortunately no way to turn back the clock completely, we can at least make simple changes to slow it down. Are you ready to get started? Let's get cooking! --Excerpt from the Introduction by Dr. Sonali Ruder Excerpted from Cooking Well - Anti-Aging: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Longevity and Youthfulness by Sonali Ruder All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
