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Healthy Aging By Sharon Johnson Living right is natural for aging spaniel An aging cocker spaniel lives in our home. He has an extraordinary amount of energy for an 11-year-old dog. And he has taught me a lot about healthy aging. Take the importance of sleep, for example. I require seven or eight hours. He prefers about 20. And, as many healthy aging people do, he recognizes the importance of naps. Buddy's health, in part, is the result of eating a high-protein, fiber-rich diet. (I am imprinted with the recollection of how too-spicy, overly rich foods can play havoc on the mature digestive system, after observing his reaction to our granddaughter's giving him leftover pepperoni pizza.) Our pooch prefers premium quality food, tailored to his body type. Like many health-conscious eaters, he seems to thrive on food where nutritive information is comprehensive - and clearly displayed on the package label. He knows the importance of exercise. I walk 20 to 30 minutes each morning. When I do not take the dog with me, he addresses his need for physical activity by repeatedly tossing his stuffed animals down the stairs and running to retrieve them. (I know he needs attention when he releases his bone instead, and it loudly thumps against the wall.) Like all humans, old or otherwise, our pet likes to be acknowledged. A few minutes of stroking his neck and back and he is "good to go" for days. Simple life. Simple pleasures. It is those simple things such as rest and exercise, a balanced diet and loving relationships that make the largest difference in longevity and quality of life as you age. Eat right. Exercise right. Have a little love in your life. How can it be that our pets are instinctively better at knowing and observing these truths than we are? I have always thought the languid, slow-moving behaviors of a cat teach us a lot about relaxation and fitness. A cat stretching after a nap or a kitten frolicking in the sun is a pleasurable memory many of us hold. And it is a reminder that exercise does not need to be particularly complicated. Recent research at a nutrition site for rural elderly people demonstrated that a low-intensity physical exercise program done just twice a week produced significant health benefits. A larger study of 13,000 people published in 1989 found that modest amounts of exercise substantially reduced a person's chance of dying prematurely of heart disease or cancer. Literature (professional and popular) on aging continues to document that each person ages uniquely. However, the benefits of simple lifestyle changes on the quality of the aging process are increasingly noted as important. Buddy, our healthy (albeit, sometimes yappy, always scrappy) old dog sits at my feet. As I look down at him, his stubby black tail wags vigorously. Yet another indicator of health and well-being. In a recent and ongoing study, optimism was found to be a significant indicator of increased length and quality of life. As I ponder all this, I have a new respect for this pooch. He deserves a treat. What should it be? Ah. A 20-minute walk. Good for both of us. Sharon Johnson is an assistant professor in family and community development at OSU Extension and a member of the Senior Advisory Council. Reach her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.