 The
answer is yes and no. While you were born with a genetic disposition
toward certain basic characteristics, there is flexibility in how
you will age based on your lifestyle, and your eating and exercise
habits. You may have inherited your mother’s body type, but if she
lived her life doing nothing more strenuous than sitting on the
sofa eating Bon-Bons and you became an Olympic track and field athlete,
you would wind up looking pretty different. You may start with the
same canvas as your mother, but it is up to you to paint the picture.
Every month it seems there’s a new diet book on the market. How
do I know which plan is best, when they all seem to contradict each
other?
It is mind boggling to sort out all the different diets, many of
which are based on flimsy research. Most are extreme because let’s
face it, a message to eat in moderation just doesn’t sell as many
books. There are a few standouts, however. If you’re interested
in a diet program, good old Weight
Watchers is the soundest plan I’m aware of. I know many people
who’ve done well with this plan and have managed to use what they
learned for long-term maintenance.
My favorite book of late is Dr. Andrew Weil’s new book, Eating
Well for Optimal Health (Knopf) . It is a non-diet approach
to eating healthfully and keeping weight in check for life.
I have an embarrassing amount of gas. How should I change my diet
to deal with this?
Ironically, many foods that are best for
your health can kill your social life. Healthful foods like beans,
broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, dried fruits, apples
and onions are all major gas producers. You may want to avoid them
for a while. Another common cause of excessive gas is lactose intolerance,
so lay off dairy products to see if that makes a difference. Also,
avoid sugarless gum and candies, and aid digestion by chewing your
food well, eating slowly and calmly, and not talking too much during
your meal. Not only will you have less gas; you’ll be a better listener.
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