Thankfully, there are more and more people showing us the way. Proving it can be different. Hopefully, inspiring you to not use age as a reason … or excuse.

Below is a video of a person for whom age really is just a number. This lovely 91-year-old is in good health and more flexible than most people half her age. She credits yoga. That could be something you already do – or want to consider making part of your lifestyle – that will keep you youthful, too. If not, there are plenty of other choices that will help you age well.

What I want to see you do with this is feel encouraged, not treat it as a specific how to. (Unless it speaks to you.) Encouragement leads to you thinking differently about aging, and that’s the best start. Then you begin to put in the unique pieces that will allow you to age well – and enjoy your later years.

Where will you be at 91? It’s not too late to start.

The truth is that we’ve been heavily marketed to … again. We haven’t been offered the real facts; we’ve been given what will make drug companies millions. A natural aging process – one that can alleviated by natural, safe methods – has been turned into a billion-dollar disease.

The definition for osteoporosis was developed by a study group hosted by the World Health Organization. Seems pretty straight-forward, right? Not if you look at some other facts. One, the study group ignored the fact that loss of bone mass is a perfectly normal part of aging, especially in post menopausal women. Two, their definition turns healthy women whose bones are aging normally into “patients” at risk of having a frightening bone “disease.” Finally, the WHO study group was funded by three drug companies. Could still be nothing alarming there, but it sure raises a red flag conflict of interest to me. And it’s interesting that the WHO group’s findings were in the drug companies’ interest.

You know how often natural remedies are discounted because there aren’t randomized, controlled studies to prove their benefits? Well, guess what? There never has been one to determine if screening women for osteoporosis leads to better health either.

In Overdo$ed America, John Abramson, M.D., writes, “If a fraction of the resources spent on the exaggerated risk of osteoporosis were invested in these other ways to improve women’s health, hip fractures could be greatly reduced and overall health greatly improved.”

So, again, we come back to natural methods not only being safer but being more effective. What are these? It includes the basics in the 9 key areas of health: movement and nutrition. More specifically:

Movement

Strength training is one of the best ways to increase your bone density. Unfortunately, women too often steer clear of this important element. You don’t want bulging muscles, and you don’t know what to do. One, it’s really difficult for women to build huge muscle mass. We just aren’t designed for that to happen. You’d have to do a lot of work and have a pretty restricted diet to create the kind of muscles you see in body builders. That is not going to happen casually. Two, if you feel gun shy of weight training, get some help. Look for a book or, better yet, video about strength training for women. There’s a lot out there. Hire a personal trainer for just a session. Join a gym; many come with a complimentary session to teach you about the machines and give you a plan to start.

In addition, exercises like Tai Chi help improve balance. If you don’t fall, you don’t risk a fracture. It’s been shown that Tai Chi cuts the risk of falls in half for people 70 years or older. You’re younger than that? It’s never, ever too soon to start. What you build now will carry effortlessly through as you age.

Nutrition

Vitamin D builds strong bones. Yes, vitamin D. Calcium has gotten all the attention, but we are in severe need of vitamin D. You can’t have strong bones without enough vitamin D. If calcium is important – and there is beginning to be a lot of information that it doesn’t play as huge of a role in bone health as we’ve been told – you may well get plenty in your diet. But vitamin D is what’s needed for your body to properly use that calcium.

Also, diets with a higher ratio of animal to vegetable protein increase the rate of bone loss in women over 65. In a study, women who ate the highest proportion of animal protein were four times more likely to suffer a fractured hip as those whose primary consumption of protein came from vegetables.

This sort of information isn’t as readily found in mainstream media. I want you to realize how much good health – and healthy aging – is in your control. I want you to stop relying on a pill creating safety for you, when, in fact, you can give yourself that insurance. At a lesser cost and with fewer risks.

Does it take some time and effort? Yes. But can it flow naturally into a healthy, happy life? Absolutely. Create a plan, begin to take the steps, and, eventually, this all rolls into an easy routine that’s simply your daily life. A daily life unhampered with the risks and expense of medication. If you ignore these natural ways to build health, you still will have to make time – and spend money – on visits to the doctor or hospital.

Personally, I’d rather my time and money be spent on things like nutrition and movement. They are a natural, enjoyable part of my life.

How about you? What’s your choice? Look at it as good news: You have control over this. You’re in charge. Behaviors you are able to change can dramatically influence how healthy you are or even how well you recover from illness.

Why exciting? Because more people learn about a choice that will boost their well being and help counter all the items damaging their health.

Why worrisome? Because when that item hits the mainstream, it often gets corrupted.

So, awesome – more people know to reach for this healthier choice. But they don’t know what they’re looking at so they may buy what they think is a healthy item and … it isn’t.

Case in point: Stevia. Stevia, long used in other countries but long banned in the U.S. That was fine, plenty of us knew and used stevia. We bought it in health food stores and added it to various drinks and foods to lend more flavor and sweetness. It wasn’t approved by the FDA, but it was allowed to be sold as a supplement none the less.

Then, lo and behold, the FDA decided to approve stevia for use in food and drink. I won’t, at this time, comment on why I think the FDA changed its mind. All for the common good, I’m sure. (Said very sarcastically.)

So, now, voila, we have access to stevia all over the place. Heck, you even can buy stevia in mass discount stores. But, guess what? It’s not pure stevia. It’s stevia mixed with something cheaper. Something that is not going to benefit your health. Another long discussion I’ll perhaps save for another time when I feel like getting on my soapbox to rant and rave at how many food/drink manufacturers corrupt our food supply.

What to do? I can tell you. It’s simple. If you use stevia or want to try it, look for this in the ingredient list: stevia. Yeah, that’s it. Not stevia and maltodextrin. Not stevia and xylitol. Or any other additives. Stevia, pure and simple. (Also known as stevia rebaudiana.) That’s the plant that helps you sweeten your food and drinks more safely. No blood sugar spike. No addictive properties.

Thankfully, there are plenty of choices. Check online, at a local health food store or in places like Trader Joe’s. But, please, read the label. Stevia by any other name isn’t the health star you’ve heard about.

And I know you know. But you learn more by hearing the message in different ways at different times. Finally, the reality – and the urge to get proactive about decreasing your killing stress level – kicks in.

So, here’s one more. Once again, the HeartMath Institute brings us an infographic that shows you, at practically a glance, what’s happening to you when stress rages on unchecked. Better yet, it gives you ideas what to do about it.

Look it over, then begin to change your statistics by noticing where/when you are stressed. Then, notice where/when you feel calm, energized, happier, at peace. What’s happening then? What are you doing? That’s your clues to how you can de-stress … without getting stressed about the process.