FOREVER YOUNG

Look younger and feel great all day with powerful and simple strategies from Frank Lipman, M.D.

Anyone who’s been told by a doctor that feeling tired and foggy is a “normal” part of aging knows it’s tough to get expert advice on how to optimize health. It’s a concern Frank Lipman, M.D., has heard a lot. “After working with thousands of patients over four decades, I realized what most people really want is a health mentor to guide them. Trouble is, if you’re saddled with fatigue, aches or metabolic challenges, you’re probably just left to your own devices. That makes for a lot of people feeling lousy.” So he dug into the science and created an easy plan to improve well-being, which he outlined in How to Be Well. Here, his top tips.

SUPPLEMENT YOUR SLEEP

“Sleep is the master conductor that keeps all your body’s rhythms humming in tune,” says Dr. Lipman. To sleep soundly, he advises taking 300 to 500 mg of magnesium citrate at night. In one study, people who supplemented with magnesium had a threefold improvement in the amount of time spent sleeping. He also recommends a nightly dose of 3 grams of the amino acid glycine, which boosts magnesium absorption.

EAT VEGGIE “SCRAPS”

The often-discarded stalks of kale, broccoli and chard are health superheroes, says Dr. Lipman. “They contain hard-to-digest carbs that give the health-protecting microbes in your stomach something to chew on.” That’s key since this gut microbiome helps regulate immunity, sleep, mood and weight. Try shredding stalks into a slaw or using them to make stock.

BRUSH AWAY TOXINS

Your skin is responsible for 10 to 15 percent of the body’s toxin removal — and dry brushing optimizes the organ’s detox abilities. As Dr. Lipman explains, using a dry brush to make short, rapid strokes toward your heart improves circulation and sloughs off dead skin cells so more toxins can be released. This in turn decreases the load on major detox organs (the kidneys and liver) for improved energy and well-being.

COUNT YOUR BREATHS

“Your breath is the most effective natural emotional management tool,” says Dr. Lipman. Deep breathing reduces heart rate and calms the nervous system—an effect that can relieve stress and reduce the risk of issues like high blood pressure. The daily to-do he advises: Inhale through your nose for a count of 4, hold for 7, then exhale through your mouth for a count of 8.

“As you get older, your needs change as far as vitamins. At night I take magnesium

and vitamin C.”

Lynda Carter, 66