Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums
  • My alerts
The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • RSS feeds
  • Follow cfp Template on Twitter
Book ReviewBook Reviews

Healthy aging: a lifelong guide to your physical and spiritual well-being

Carol L. McWilliam
Canadian Family Physician December 2007, 53 (12) 2160;
Carol L. McWilliam
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading
AUTHOR Andrew Weil, PUBLISHER Random House of Canada Ltd, 2775 Matheson Blvd E, Mississauga, ON L4W 4P7; TELEPHONE 905 624-0672; FAX 905 624-6217; WEBSITE www.randomhouse.ca, PUBLISHED 2005/304 pp/$36.95
Figure

OVERALL RATING Excellent

STRENGTHS A thorough, evidence-based instructional text presenting both biomedical and natural homeopathic strategies for achieving healthy physical, psychosocial, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aging throughout life

WEAKNESSES Although stories of healthy older people do much to change the dominant negative conceptions of aging, detailed explanations of how the aging process enhances the value of whiskey, wine, cheese, beef, violins, and antiques might not

AUDIENCE All primary health care practitioners and anyone with at least a secondary education in biochemistry and an interest in promoting their own health throughout life

Combining biomedical and natural strategies for health, Healthy Aging provides a comprehensive overview of how to promote health throughout life. The first part of the book answers questions about aging. The potential for immortality is debunked with a rational scientific explanation of cellular function, of the fallacies of antiaging theories and remedies, and of the myths of longevity. To soften the harsh reality thereby exposed, Dr Weil elaborates the value of aging, drawing parallels with the greatly appreciated complexity of aged spirits, the perfection of aged cheese, the aging of lesser into more desirable qualities of beef, and the connections to the past afforded by antiques. Much more powerful, however, is the story of his aged mother and the sage lessons her life offers.

The second part of the book presents practical information. It begins with disease prevention, but quickly moves beyond that to much more proactive health promotion. Using the science of nutrition, inflammation, and glycation, Dr Weil promotes an “anti-inflammatory diet.” Dietary supplements are thoroughly and scientifically addressed, and evidence-based recommendations are presented. Chapters on less controversial strategies related to physical activity, rest and sleep, touch, and sex are also provided, with advice on how to overcome potential barriers. Subsequent chapters on stress, memory, and spirituality provide information on less widely recognized strategies, including breathing, meditation, visualization, body work, cognitive behavioural therapy, memory enhancers, and ethical wills. A glossary of terms and an appendix of suggested reading, resources, and supplies provide further assistance.

No one who reads this book is likely to continue denying the realities of aging. Perhaps, however, only readers can determine whether the author’s aim of promoting healthy aging has been fulfilled. Undoubtedly, physicians and other health professionals will find this book an excellent reference for guiding patients.

  • Copyright© the College of Family Physicians of Canada
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Canadian Family Physician: 53 (12)
Canadian Family Physician
Vol. 53, Issue 12
1 Dec 2007
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on The College of Family Physicians of Canada.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Healthy aging: a lifelong guide to your physical and spiritual well-being
(Your Name) has sent you a message from The College of Family Physicians of Canada
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the The College of Family Physicians of Canada web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Healthy aging: a lifelong guide to your physical and spiritual well-being
Carol L. McWilliam
Canadian Family Physician Dec 2007, 53 (12) 2160;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Respond to this article
Share
Healthy aging: a lifelong guide to your physical and spiritual well-being
Carol L. McWilliam
Canadian Family Physician Dec 2007, 53 (12) 2160;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Inside chronic pain
  • Canadian Pharmacists Association guide to drugs in Canada
  • The fifteen minute hour
Show more Book Reviews

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Archive
  • Collections - English
  • Collections - Française

For Authors

  • Authors and Reviewers
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Permissions
  • Terms of Use

General Information

  • About CFP
  • About the CFPC
  • Advertisers
  • Careers & Locums
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • Subscribers

Journal Services

  • Email Alerts
  • Twitter
  • RSS Feeds

Copyright © 2022 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Powered by HighWire