Living Disease Free, by Dr. Mark Pedersen

Even if you have a genetic predisposition to age-related diseases like diabetes or heart disease or cancer, lifestyle factors can have a big influence on whether or not YOU will develop that disease.

In otherwords, just because your father or mother suffered from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer or Alzheimer’s, you are not necessarily destined to be stricken by that disease.

In a recent study from Boston University, researchers found that most people who live to 100 and are healthy have genetic variations in common with each other. However, researchers Paula Sebastiani and Thomas T. Perls pointed out that lifestyle factors are critically important in determining whether an individual will develop a disease state even if they have a genetic predisposition for that disease.

Lifestyle factors including regular exercise, keeping one’s weight under control and consuming a diet high in healthy antioxidants can make a tremendous difference in whether disease strikes or not.

Antioxidant rich fruits such as grapes and pomegranate have been used and revered for their medicinal value in cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. How do antioxidants like these and other whole fruits in ViaViente help prevent disease from taking root?  The polyphenols in these superfruits are potent antioxidants that strengthen and protect cell membranes from oxidative stress and free radical damage.

Getting too much sun, eating unhealthy foods, stress and pollution all contribute to increasing free radicals which can damage the cells in our bodies. These free radicals can set off a cascade effect by “turning on” the genetic switch that initiates disease.

Increasing your intake of antioxidants is a powerful weapon in neutralizing the free radicals that cause cellular damage. Also adding exercise to your weekly schedule, keeping your weight under control, getting enough sleep and reducing your stress will help overcome a negative genetic history.

So if cancer, diabetes, heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease runs in your family and you are concerned that you might be next, get a healthy dose of antioxidants daily. It is one of the most important things you can do to protect your body and your health.