Lifelong Health: Achieving Optimum Well-Being at Any Age

Dr. Goodman welcomes you with an engaging overview of the critical importance of lifelong health. Here, he teaches you how to recognize sound medical advice on healthy living, reveals his personal approach to well-being, and charts the major themes of the course.

There's no avoiding the fact that your body ages over time. But how it ages is something you can try to control. In this first lecture on aging, explore the science behind this inevitable process with a look at how common aging factors—both internal and external—all begin at the cellular level.

Continue your exploration of the aging process by examining what causes cells, tissues, and organ systems to lose some of their function over time. In addition, study the external stresses that cause aging, and learn a few tips on ways to slow this progression over time.

For thousands of years, the quest for eternal youth has captivated human society. Learn the difference between your chronological age and your biological age, explore two fascinating legends about immortality, and discover some cultural lifestyles that promote longevity.

Dispel the myths behind medicines and procedures widely promoted to prolong life or stave off the aging process. As you investigate the uses of human growth hormones, anabolic steroids, cell therapy, and other methods, you uncover both the risks behind these "cures" and the ways they fall short on their promises.

What health tests, screenings, and examinations can help you stay ahead of the curve? Discover the answers in this lecture, which teaches you the best times to consider mammograms, colonoscopies, exercise stress tests, and more—as well as routine blood tests and blood-pressure screenings.

Preventing a disease is always better than trying to cure it. Here, look at some important measures you can take to prevent serious illnesses before they start, including quitting smoking, reducing high blood pressure, and immunizing yourself from the flu and other preventable diseases.

Examine the realities of reconstructive surgery (which primarily restores or improves function) and cosmetic surgery (designed to improve appearance to reflect cultural norms). Also, focus on ways to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, acne, and other dermatological conditions.

Dr. Goodman candidly discusses the topic of death and dying, the awareness and acceptance of which is essential to optimum living. He discusses two programs that have shed new light on this difficult subject for the dying and their families: meaning-centered therapy and hospice and palliative care.

Cast your gaze onto the future of medical care with a study of current and future advances in medicine designed to prolong our lives, such as genetic research and immunotherapy.

Turn now to a focus on guidelines for good nutrition. Here, Dr. Goodman introduces you to some of the major themes he'll discuss in following lectures, including the role of food in our culture, the value of eating whole foods, and the search for nutritional balance.

To best understand nutrition, it's necessary to break down the components of food into manageable pieces. Examine the important nutritional roles of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and end with a close look at how to read the USDA's revised food pyramid.

Learn more about vitamins, those essential nutrients that your body requires from external sources for normal growth and development. Among the vitamins covered in this lecture are Vitamins A, D, E, C, and K. Also, learn why you should always use vitamins to supplement—not substitute for—a well-balanced diet.

Investigate antioxidants, fiber, herbs, and other supplements that may lower your risk of health problems and improve your body's overall function. In addition, learn how to distinguish supplements that can serve a valuable role in your diet from those that serve no benefit—or that can even be harmful.

How can you get the benefit of vitamins and supplements without going into areas of unproven benefits and possible risks? The answer: whole foods. Here, discover the amazing benefits of "power foods," such as berries, apples, garlic, teas, and turmeric.

Good fats such as omega-3 fatty acids and monosaturated fatty acids are greatly misunderstood and have the potential to maximize your health and well-being. Clear up the myths surrounding this group of whole foods and learn how to best integrate them into your daily diet.

Some foods can evoke unpleasant and unhealthy responses in different people. Dr. Goodman examines the risks of eating too much salt, sugar, and additives; offers you commonsense tips on how to control your intake of these foods; and discusses the differences between food allergies and sensitivities.

Obesity is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the United States. This lecture covers a host of topics about obesity and weight management, including the differences between being "overweight" and "obese," the roles played by genetics and the environment, and practical eating and dieting advice for managing your weight.

Learn how to view your way of eating as a way of living. As you debunk the myths of popular low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets, you discover why a Mediterranean-style diet (with its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats) is the perfect template on which to craft your own whole-food diet.

What are the physical benefits of moving your body? How can you create an exercise plan that is optimum for your lifestyle? Discover the answers to these and other questions about physical activity.

Delve into the physiology of muscles and weight training, including a closer look at the three basic kinds of muscle (skeletal, cardiac, and smooth), the differences between isotonic and isometric exercises, and why it's never too late or too early to start moving your body.

Discover why weight training doesn't have to be uncomfortable or intimidating. Dr. Goodman reveals how to get the most effective (and safe) workout from the muscles in your body through resistance training, free weights, calisthenics, and more—at any age.

Any well-rounded workout involves the use of aerobic and anaerobic activities as well as weight lifting. Examine the benefits of moderate and high-intensity exercises, learn how to draft a basic workout plan, investigate reasons that walking might be just as good for you as running, and more.

Contrary to popular belief, exercising can be extremely beneficial for people with diseases such as diabetes, emotional disorders, and osteoarthritis—but only if done properly. Find out how in this lecture, which also offers you tips on preventing and recovering from common exercising injuries.