As we get older, the ending of each calendar year can be reminders of the years gone by. The future brings nervousness with regards to health. Some make resolutions but fail to keep them.

Actually, there is some good news with regards to getting old and the resolutions that you might be making to get healthy.

Actually, only humans will not live to their highest innate genetic potential. The tree will grow to as high as it is genetically possible. The orang utan will live to his highest genetic potential lifespan. But this is not so with us humans who fail normally due to abuse and lack of self care.

Yet, if you understand the majesty of Nature and the fact that we humans are the greatest creation in the universe, than you must also believe in the amazing self-healing ability of the human body.

Corrective attempts, no matter how late, can positively influence your health and longevity.

Weill Cornell Medical College professor of medicine Richard S. Rivlin could not agree with you more. He believes that it is not too late for older individuals to change unhealthy lifestyles in order to prevent disease and promote well-being.

He served as the editor for the "Keeping the Young-Elderly Healthy" symposium summarised in a supplement to the November, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

He conducted a review of the medical literature which revealed a number of encouraging studies concerning older individuals.

He suggests we recognise the dramatic body composition changes that occur with aging:

- increase in body fat and weight

- decreasing bone mass

- decreasing muscle mass.

These changes can be modified by lifestyle. You can do it by improvements in diet, taking supplements and exercise.

Among the findings noted by Dr Rivlin was that reducing high blood pressure through improved diet and exercise had a greater benefit for the elderly than any other age group.

This could potentially prevent 20 per cent of coronary heart disease cases in men and 30 per cent in women.

Additionally, up to 45 percent of future cardiac risks experienced by older men and women with heart disease can be prevented by improving serum lipid concentrations.

Similarly, controlling blood sugar leads to better diabetic control and superior health and longevity.

Other findings included the ability of a low calorie diet combined with exercise to cut cancer risk by a third to one-half, increased calorie burning and osteoporosis prevention through weight training, and a reduction in bone loss and bone fractures among older individuals who used calcium and vitamin D supplements for three years.

We have long known that calcium supplementation helps. Now here is the proof.

Dr Rivlin is an attending physician at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. "Many elderly people feel that it is too late for them to improve their health, but that is simply not true" he said.

"When measures to combat chronic diseases are started when people are in their 60s and 70s, there are still definite benefits.

"But older adults must realise that there is no quick fix. They must change their lifestyle."

"Our study reviews present the most up-to-date information showing the influence a healthy lifestyle can have on cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

"I also believe that the risk for other diseases, like diabetes and pulmonary disease, can also be avoided through change in lifestyle."

If you make the change in lifestyle, you will see benefits. The sooner the changes, the better.

Here are some quick suggestion on what you can do:

- Take charge of your health

- Observe all the basic tips -- drink lots of water, eat wholesome foods, exercise and keep those bad habits at bay, like smoking and excessive alcohol

- Eat less

- As you get older, certainly, after 40, make sure you do your annual diagnostic check.

- Talk to your doctor and pharmacist

- Eat well and if you think you don't, make sure you take good quality supplements.

- Take care of stress. Mediate and sleep well.

- Live close to nature and enjoy your life. All other creatures do.

As you read this, its just two days to a whole new year. It is the time of the year when we take stock of the years gone by and look forward to the year that looms ahead. It is also the time for us to make those resolutions and try to live by them.

Maybe, it is time to reflect on the discipline needed because science has just shown that any determined effort that you make for your health -- no matter how late will pay dividends that really mean something as long as you stick with it.

You owe it to your self to stay healthy.

Dr Rajen M. is a pharmacist with a doctorate in holistic medicine.

This article was first published in the New Straits Times on Dec 29, 2007.