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Why am I ahead of the curve?

Every morning, shortly after rising, showering and dressing, I sit down at this computer and do some research.

I trawl the internet for new papers and studies on the various factors that affect our health. In particular I look for things relevant to Parkinson's sufferers but also specifically for news in relation to diet and supplementation.

This is a routine I started about six years ago and it takes me an hour or two every morning to sort through the new material I uncover, analyse the implications and add notes to the database I've created.

As a result of this activity, I've found myself well ahead of the curve when it comes to identifying and embracing things that improve my health.

For instance, when I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's, I asked my doctor whether exercise would be a useful mitigation. I was told "no, just take the drugs".

I wasn't satisfied with that answer so I did the research and discovered some very interesting and seemingly obvious links.

Sustained or high-intensity exercise results in the body releasing endorphins and there is plenty of evidence that endorphins stimulate the release of dopamine -- the neurotransmitter that Parkinson's sufferers are short of.

I joined the dots and started exercising regularly, at a level far higher than most average people my age would normally do.

The results were quite dramatic -- and totally in line with what I hoped would happen. The progression of my PD slowed dramatically and my tremors even reduced slightly.

Several years later, the medical community began recommending exercise as a first-line treatment for PD sufferers. It looks as if they also connected the dots, eventually.

During my research I also uncovered a couple of papers that hinted at a link between the supplement creatine monohydrate and a reduction in PD symptoms. I started using this supplement and noticed further improvements over and beyond that which were obtained by exercise alone.

Now, several years later, everyone's dosing on creatine and claiming all sorts of neuro-positive effects.

My research also pointed at the benefits of certain nuts, due largely to their Omega fatty acid profiles and positive effects on our gut biome. I began regularly consuming walnuts and almond butter, based on what I'd learned. Yogurt is also a key staple of my diet because it works with the fibre in nuts to further enhance the gut biome and provides great protein.

Just today I read another article in which almonds are being touted as a superfood, for all the reasons I'd already identified (albeit they are, once again, years behind me).

I should add that I always accompany my daily handfull of walnuts with a good slice of full-fat tasty cheddar. No surprise then that today I also came across this study that provides a link between full-fat cheese and a reduced incidence of dementia.

Ahead of the curve once again!

Regular readers and viewers of my videos will also be aware that I do a lot of walking. Around 5-10Km on an average day and up to 20-25Km at least one day a week. Well knock me down with a feather if a video didn't pop up on my feed advising that walking 15 minutes a day slashes the risk of heart disease by 300 percent.

Now I'm not a trained health professional nor a trained researcher but I wonder why it is that some old fart can spot the obvious *years* before it becomes mainstream. Have I just been lucky or are the answers out there if we only take the time to do the research, join the dots and apply that knowledge?

This year I enter the fourth year of my eighth decade on the planet and I've never felt fitter, stronger or healthier.

I'm not "shredded", I'm not training for triathalons, I'm not following some crazy fad diet -- I'm simply applying the knowledge I've gleaned in a way that seems to be having extremely positive results well before the mainstream catches on to the same realisations.

The only problem is, tomorrow I could be hit by a bus :-)

Carpe Diem folks!

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