A SHORT GUIDE TO A LONG LIFE (David B Agus, MD)

Settle in for a couple of hours and read this useful guide to taking charge of your own health.  In a very down-to-earth series of do's and don'ts, Dr. Agus, a leading cancer specialist, presents some very thought-provoking and sensible rules for preventing illness and living a long life.  It's not a trendy booklet hawking the latest diet fads or vitamin supplements.  Dr. Agus provides practical suggestions for good health, like getting 8 hours of sleep each night, eating REAL food, getting regular checkups, knowing the details of your family health history, enjoying regular exercise, and avoiding vitamins and supplements.  He offers interesting facts, like that frozen vegetables and fruits are actually fresher (i.e. more vitamin-filled) than out-of-season foods shipped from other places, and that wearing good, comfortable shoes is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.  You might be thinking that everyone KNOWS these things (except maybe the part about avoiding vitamins!), but the fact is that most of us don't practice many of these good health habits.  I'm not doing justice to Dr. Agus's book.  It is inspiring, down-to-earth, and a little scary.  What it boils down to is that many diseases are preventable by simply paying attention to our daily habits and caring for ourselves.  Take the time to read it.  It's amazing how simple changes can make a big difference in your quality of life.