Want to defeat diabetes? Are you looking for a magic elixir to maintain a healthy heart? What about just keeping the energy necessary to climb a flight of stairs?

It must be the way we think that causes us to believe the myth that if we follow a dietary direction we will eventually lose weight. The business end of weight control boasts as many professed practitioners as there are gullible overweight Americans standing in line to beat a path to every diet guru's door. How many times have you heard the commentary that weight reduction is tied to calorie reduction?

As seniors, we have a vested interest in attempting to live at least long enough to see our great-grandchildren graduate from high school. If we make it that far, you can bet we'll find another reason to hang around a few more years. If we expect to live a long and healthy life, we have to find a way to get rid of those love handles.

While we try not to believe everything we read or hear, and only half of what we see, many of us fall prey to a slick infomercial where two perfect strangers talk about the wonders of a natural herb, or yeast, or lotion, that will not only make our skin appear years younger than it is, but also rejuvenate our digestive system and speed up our metabolism so we can eat all we want and fit into a size 4 again.

If you feed your dog or cat one-third fewer calories, it lives longer. It stands to reason if seniors restrict calories they can expect the same result with their own diet. Sorry to say, the body seems to interpret caloric reduction as a signal the environment is turning hostile. This message activates master regulator gland genes to slow down our metabolism to hunker down and wait out the bad time.

By tinkering with these genes in simple organisms, molecular biologists have extended life spans remarkably. The secret is to continue to eat, in fact, six or more times a day. Work to keep your body from feeling uncomfortable or your stomach complaining to you by growling, telling you it's time to feed it.

Success can be as easy as the crunch of a celery stick, and pledging to read labels on food. Reduce your consumption of processed foods in favor of fruits, and maybe a vegetable you can really enjoy. New blenders in America's kitchens can turn some of the most disliked age-friendly vegetables into a delicious drink that can perform miracles for your body's nourishment. Snacks can be raisins, grapes, raw carrots, apples, whole grain bars and other non-processed foods.

One of the best-kept secrets of controlled and successful aging is mild to regular exercise. Our fixation on overcoming old age can sometimes blind us to the logic of healthy aging. Push those feet one in front of the other to convince your body you're serious about maintaining the ability to walk, and your body will start to believe you, and support your efforts. Stay hydrated and your body will help you age gracefully.

Diabetes will take a back seat in your life, and your heart, eyes, and skin will say thank you.

Human Services

For seniors who need a leg up on life and don't know where to turn, perhaps Human Services can help. It offers information on Medi-Cal (low income medical assistance), food stamps (allowance for food) and general relief (financial assistance). The service is at 2003 Royal Ave., Simi Valley, CA 93065, phone 584-4842.

Dial-a-Ride tickets

Free tickets worth $1 each toward a Dial-a-Ride fare are available at the Simi Senior Center main reception desk. There is a 10-ticket maximum per person, and you must be 60 or older to qualify.

— Star columnist David Nankivell may be reached by fax at 482-6167.