My mom is 94 and going strong. She grew up on whole milk, butter, bacon, etc and continues to eat that way. Of course as a child the milk and butter came straight from the cow.

Genetics trumps almost everything else, with the exception of smoking and obesity. At least that's my amateur medical opinion!

I guess the broccoli cancelled out the peanuts, although there is plenty of protein in peanuts.

Dedtired, do you mean there's something wrong with peanuts? I eat them all the time--the unsalted, dry roasted kind. I know there's a mold associated with certain peanuts, but otherwise they're a healthy food as far as I know.

Are you folks suggesting that there's no such thing as crap food?

Is genetics the main reason that our kids are suffering from such a large increase in obesity, juvenile diabetes, allergies, auto-immune disease, etc.?

Some are even suggesting that, in our part of the world, the present generation may be those who turn out to have lived the longest, for quite some time into the future?

Could sitting on our backsides with our eyes glued to some of the electronic stuff have something to do with it, as well?

But diets (or lack of them) not a major component?

ole joyful

Hey, OJ, who you callin' "you folks"? I'm the one who watched her father turn around his health--and his life--by changing his diet, and who has been following suit for years.

Certainly genetics plays a role--sometimes a major role, sometimes a limited role--but the bottom line is we are what we eat.

My Dh is diabetic and a heart patient. Broccoli makes it to our table at least 2 or three times a week and Dh comsumes at least one 16 oz jar of unsalted dry roasted peanuts every 7 to 10 days, plus a tablespoon of natural peanut butter daily. Judging by your post, he is going to live a long time in spite of his ailments...right?

Right!! LOL

I should add that when I went to the reunion of this class in 2007 I met the second oldest member, who was then 87, I believe. He attributed his longevity to one vodka drink every evening. Gazania, I don't know if you should tell your husband or not. :-)

Genetics plays a big part. Perhaps more than we realize.

PBS had an interesting segment on epigentectics a while back. In a nutshell the theory is that our diet/environment can act as a genetic switch for segments of our DNA. My paternal Grandfathers diet as he was going through puberty in 1900 - 1902 could determing how susceptible I'll be to diabetes in my old age. It's a fascinating area of science that is just now being explored thanks to DNA mapping.

Ron

Here is a link that might be useful: PBS Nova on epigenetics

That's scary, Ron! Your grandfather's pubic diet . . . no, wait--that's the wrong word. LOL Your grandfather's diet as he was going through puberty was probably very healthy, but when you consider what most pre-adolescents and teens are eating today, heaven help their grandchildren!

"Convenience", is the key word in the downward sprial of our diet. IMHO.... That, and sitting on our butts all day, which the ancestors did not do.

My opinion is, modern society has contributed to our poor health. DNA has lots to do with what happens to us, but environmentally, we are challenged.

"Pubic diet"; you crack me up, Susan!

As I understand it, the more sugar and fat a person consumes as they're going through puberty the greater the risk generations later for adult onset diabetes. This could explain the epidemic proportions of diabetes that we're seeing the last few decades.

There are many more factors at work, too. It's just that this particular gene segment is easy to trace from father to son. Men are XY while women are XX. Men always determine the sex of the child. The Y chromosone is passed on unchanged from father to son making it easy to track.

Ron, who use to tutor genetics in college

I attended the birthday party of a friend 3 weeks ago. It was his 99th. A tall very erect solidly built man who walks with a deliberate confidant gait and is very 'with' the world. You would never guess his age at anything over 80. His 90 year old wife is the same. A lovely tall fashionably dressed confidant woman who volunteers many hours a week at the library and a local soup kitchen. Neither of them take any medication. Their claim to their healthy longevity....they never had children! It is a shame that their genes are not being passed on. Not only healthy, but delightful.

We have lunch out once a month with them and 4 other couples. At 70 and 71, my dh and I are the "babies" in the group.

Oh no -- there's nothing wrong with peanuts. I guess I was thinking of the greasy salty cocktail peanuts.

I was Very Surprised, when visiting my Michigan hometown about 20 years ago. I stopped into the local historical museum for a few hours, & their focus exhibit that month was on the reprecussions of World War I on our medium-sized city (maybe 40,000 pop.)

Amongst the artifacts were newspapers from 1917, and several articles therein were from local draft boards bemoaning that only about 50% of the area's young men showing up for their military physical were able to pass. I mean this was 1917 & in a somewhat semi-rural area...little industry, heavy farming. No computers, no tvs.

There were statements from City Fathers that after the War, something would have to be done about the shameful health of our youth.

Like I said, I was Very Surprised...

Read up on the world's oldest woman - it shows that genetics has more than a little to do with how healthy and long one lives:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeanne Calment, world's oldest woman

My mother lived past 96 yrs.
Her father lived to 94 yrs.
Her grandfather lived to 98 yrs.

Their diets consisted of vetables they grew, wild berries, some tree nuts, peanuts (home grown), occasional fresh caught fresh water fish, and a lot of chicken, eggs, and hog meats.

It might have something to do with genes. It certainly was not easy lives for all of them. All were farmers and worked hard to survive. None had any spare cash.

Mother's grandfather was in the Civil War; her father was born during the Civil War; Mother was born in a farmhouse in Arkansas and remote from any medical center. Medical and dental care for all three people above were minimal. None of these people had health insurance.

So what about me. In my estimation, I'm not going to live that long. I've inherited too much from my father's line and most the menfolk in that line died in their 70s with a few making it into the 80s.

There are no wonder foods that can guarantee good health or prevent illness. However there are a lot of good foods that diet can lead to good nutrition and better health as part of a varied, well balanced diet.

I don't believe in foods that make one sick. Over-indulgence leads to eating less of the better nutritional foods. it can also lead to obesity. But there are no "bad" or "evil" foods unless you have a true health condition precluding them. People with diabetes need to count their carbs, not avoid them entirely. Right along with counting their protein, fats and other sugars. People with Celiac disease have a valid reason for avoiding gluten. The rest are on the bandwagon of a fad. We have become a nation of food hypochondriacs.

What we lack is hard work and exercise. Kids aren't fat v because of diet. Kids have always needed extra calories in the past. But we put them behind desks, with little recess, a shortened lunch hour, and lots of after school homework at ridiculously early ages and computer and TV time. Some kids do an organized sport but that is just a few hours per week for most.

Kids weren't as fat in the past because they MOVED.

Regarding the item about youth not being fit for service in 1917 I did not read anything in the post citing obesity as the reason. Back in that day many young people had bad hearts due to rheumatic fever and weakened immune systems due to childhood illness we don't see much today. Cholera, dysentery, TB, typhoid fever, influenza, yellow fever, and malaria were common maladies of the day.

I've read about this lately: there's some interesting evidence that the overweight issues of the baby boom generation in particular may derive from the fad in the 1950s-60s of not breast feeding babies but relying on formula.

People with Celiac disease have a valid reason for avoiding gluten. The rest are on the bandwagon of a fad. We have become a nation of food hypochondriacs.

Really? How do you explain the soaring numbers of children with life-threatening allergies to nuts and other foods? Schools have had to take drastic precautions. Are these kids a bunch of little hypochondriacs?

Funny you should say this a day after I realized I have good reason to believe I'm gluten-sensitive. If I am, it would be good news for me because it would explain (and fix) some health problems I've had for years.

Obviously, you have strong feelings on this issue, Wildchild, but I just as strongly disagree with you.

My friends mother passed away at the age of 103 and was doing quite well(living in assisted living) until the last year of her life. When visiting her son one summer at the age of 99 I asked her what her secret was and she said "eat anything you want, but in moderation." She also said she had a little sip of wine every day for most of her life. She was a registered nurse. It was very interesting to talk to her as she had been around the world seven times with her husband who was a reporter. She was a small woman and slim and trim. I need to get with the wine program! lol!

I wonder why the growth in peanut and gluten sensitivities? Is it over exposure? Are there studies? I know that it is not hypochondria, it is fact that gluten sensitivity is directly tied to my keeping my RA in check. Very uncientific.....when I stray from a low carbohydrate lifestyle I know it, not just in glucose levels but in inflammation and pain. They are just starting to unravel all the troubles that can come from excessive grain, and in particular, wheat, consumption. Coeliac disease is extremely debilitating, a friend of ours has a child that suffers with it and the food that he cannot consume is amazing to me. I'm so glad that there are now so many gluten free foods available, he had a very rough childhood.

Actually, Alisande, your friend may be onto something. I read an article by Dr. Oz once and he was asked what 3 things he would want if he was stranded on a deserted island and he said, "Broccoli, almonds and beer." (Beer because it has so much water which would be pure.) We all know the goodness of broccoli and the almonds (and all nuts) are full of antioxidants.

Really? How do you explain the soaring numbers of children with life-threatening allergies to nuts and other foods? Schools have had to take drastic precautions. Are these kids a bunch of little hypochondriacs?

More junk science and hysteria.

Here is a link that might be useful: Peanut Allergy Fact and Fiction

I don't understand why you posted that link, Wildchild. Did you not read the article? The author doesn't deny the widespread problem of allergies; in fact, here's his first sentence:

To meet the challenge of peanut anaphylaxis, it is natural and necessary for families to be meticulous in their attention to detail regarding their child's potential exposure.

The thrust of the article is that parent's needn't fear that their allergic child will react to the mere presence of a peanut product in a room. He says peanut products will not contaminate the "surrounding airborne environment."

He goes on to say that airborne exposure can trigger allergic reactions like severe asthma, but the more common
reaction to an inhaled food protein would be milder. To quote: The chance of a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction from airborne exposure is very small.

He then spends some time analyzing the process of smelling.

He concludes the article by saying Anaphylactic reactions from food are, unfortunately, very unpredictable. Food exposures can result in a wide range of symptoms, from no symptoms to fatal anaphylaxis.

Whatever the point you were trying to make, I failed to see it.

There is no soaring number of children. It's mass hysteria.
Interestingly the nut allergies seem to be more prevalent in higher income left wing environments. When my kids went to school hypoglycemia was the rage. Today it's peanuts and gluten intolerance.

One of my best friends in grade school, Bluebirds and Campfire was highly allergic to peanuts. A real allergy. Not a my kid is special one.

She had no special needs. We all ate peanut butter around her. her mother bought bakery donuts and didn't stress over the nuts in the display case next to them. When I ate at her house we got Hershey Krackle (crunched with rice) bars instead of nutty candy bars. Her mother was a nurse and read labels but certainly didn't obsess over whether the candy was make in a nut free zone. LOL Everyone knew she had the allergy. She did have a reaction one time where she used a knife that had peanut butter still on it at a party. Nobody got sued. She was treated and released. Stuff happens.

Here is a link that might be useful: More Peanut Hysteria

When I was in the Air Force one of my many sideline duties was a "Shelter Supervisor". Now keep in mind that we are not talking about the typical hurricane or storm shelter where they let you sleep on the floor at the local high school gym for a day or two, we are talking about long term shelters that would be necessary after a nuclear war breaks out. According to the information they presented to us the Air Force had spent millions of dollars trying to identify foods that could be stored for long term, require minimal prep to serve and that would provide a complete diet. What they finally came up with was Peanut butter & jelly on whole wheat bread or whole wheat crackers and whole milk. Believe it or not, that provides a complete nutritional balance of all our recommended daily requirements and they said one could survive quite nicely on just that diet for the rest of their life. They also pointed out that it didn't matter if the whole milk was fresh or powdered.

They said they had not been able to find any other food groupings that could provide that level of nutrition, including C-rations or the MRE's that we feed our troops in the field today.

Now, I am sure that one would soon get bored with just a PB&J sandwich and a glass of milk, but if you were stuck in a shelter for 6months to a year it would be nice to know that at least your diet is balanced even if the rest of your life is in a mess.

"It's mass hysteria."

"A real allergy. Not a my kid is special one."

Wildchild... you are a d**chebag.

A 7 year old in Virginia died at school over the weekend due to a peanut allergy reaction...why don't YOU go tell her parents that "stuff happens"

Yes my son (11) has a peanut allergy. No I do not expect the entire world to change to conform to his problems... has known for years what he can and can't eat and has only had 1 reaction, when he popped a SINGLE Reases Pieces candy into his mouth when he was 9 (though it was an M&M). He was in the car with his mom and he almost stopped breathing to the point where she had the epi-pen out and was ready to use it (she is an RN, not an over-reacting parent), but thankfully it didn't get that bad. And he is not as "severely" reactive as some kids, 5 out of 6 on the scale they use. He can be around nuts without a problem, but there ARE kids who cannot.

And I know other kids who are also allergic...none of these is a "my kid is special" thing...these are based on accurate medical assessments....not a parental opinion.

Keep chiming in, you are entertaining us with your moronic opinions....

Here is a link that might be useful: Girl dies from eating peanut

"Calment ascribed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance for her age to olive oil, which she said she poured on all her food[4] and rubbed onto her skin, as well as a diet of port wine, and ate nearly one kilogram of chocolate every week."

I knew chocolate was good for you!-lol Jeanne Calment also smoked but was very active physically for most of her life. I also noticed she lived a life of leisure...never having to work-very little stress. I think that and her genetics are what kept her alive so long.

I would love to be able to send my kids to school with peanut butter but never, ever if there was another child there who had an allergy. I have a friend who had peanut allergies growing up (we met in the past few years) and she said that her allergy was made very light of and all of her family members still ate peanut butter around her and it made her upset and scared all the time. There were a couple times she got peanuts in her system and she would have to be treated. Sure, she did not die, but the stress on not being able to breathe.. wow, no big deal???? stuff happens.Sorry, I strongly disagree with that one.
Until you have be made aware of your diet I don't think one realizes the harm food can cause some people.

I believe the growing gluten intolerance IS due to over exposure. There is wheat in EVERYTHING these days, it's a filler product. Unfortunately people aren't eating just whole unprocessed foods anymore, and wheat and other gluten filled food is very difficult to avoid.

My ex-boyfriend was gluten intolerant (not full on celiac), and I can assure you there was no fad bandwagon involved. He was sick for a week every time he inadvertently ate gluten...couldn't get off the toilet, extremely tired and lethargic, etc. etc. I had to learn to cook without gluten, which was a real challenge.

And one doesn't neccessarily outgrow it. We had a woman attorney in our office, probably then in her mid-20ties, who still had the peanut problem. She always carried her lunch & rarely attended social activities involving outside food nor indulged in office treats. Not my kind of "fad". She's probably now in her 40ties; I doubt her condition has changed.

Our neighbor's grandson came close to dying from his peanut allergy when his parents took a chance and all three ate at an upscale restaurant. They had the pen, but unfortunately forgot they had left it in the car. All's well that ended well I guess.

In my thirties, I began sneezing every time I peeled potatoes. The sneezing gradually progressed to asthma, and worse. I had never even heard of a potato allergy. My DH and I joked that it was un-American. We planted potatoes in our garden, thinking I was reacting to a chemical spray of some kind. But that didn't help, and I eventually faced the fact that I'd have to give up potatoes in all forms. My family had to give them up at home, too, because I couldn't be around raw potatoes.

It took me years to learn that the substance I react to is solanine, present in large amounts in potatoes but also present in the other members of the nightshade family: tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. It was not pleasant to give up these foods.

Just two years ago I learned (the hard way) that solanine is in artichokes and blueberries. I love artichokes! I love blueberries, too. I was surprised and disappointed to learn they contain solanine, but giving them up hasn't been difficult because eating them produced such nasty results.

I still haven't been able to learn much about my reaction to solanine. My doctor never heard of it, and there isn't even much on the Internet. I seem to find a new mention of it every year, but the Web certainly isn't flooded with information.

I blame stuff like this on all the radiation I had as a child. I could be wrong about that, and probably am. But one thing I know is true: I didn't make this up. I haven't imagined it, and I didn't invent it to get attention. In fact, I avoid talking about it, and I always hope people won't notice my unusual eating habits.

"Wildchild... you are a d**chebag."

Sweet. Wish you were hear so I could see you when you say that.

Nowhere did I say that allergies don't exist. But all real scientific studies show that the danger is highly overrated by media and mommy blogs.

As for the girl. There are too many holes in the story. A lot of blame gaming going on. Why would a 7 year old who is allergic knowingly eat a peanut? I await the autopsy results. Very sad that the child died whatever the cause but it wasn't breathing peanut dust that did it. It wasn't because someone was eating a PB&J sandwich near her. She ATE the peanut. My links refer to that but some people would rather name call than actually educate themselves.

"Wildchild... you are a d**chebag."

Sweet. Wish you were hear so I could see you when you say that.

Nowhere did I say that allergies don't exist. But all real scientific studies show that the danger is highly overrated by media and mommy blogs.

As for the girl. There are too many holes in the story. A lot of blame gaming going on. Why would a 7 year old who is allergic knowingly eat a peanut? I await the autopsy results. Very sad that the child died whatever the cause but it wasn't breathing peanut dust that did it. It wasn't because someone was eating a PB&J sandwich near her. She ATE the peanut. My links refer to that but some people would rather name call than actually educate themselves.

According to the Center for Disease Control/NCHS Survey, in the years 2004-2006, there were 9,537 annual hospital discharges related to food allergies for children 0-17 years. Makes one wonder how many "close calls" there were amongst those numbers.