How to Age Well, by Dr. Ed Bauman
Our speaker for August 14, 2025, was Dr. Ed Bauman, a nutrition and integrative health specialist with master’s degrees in education and nutrition, as well as a PhD in community health promotion. He’s a teacher, author, nutritional evaluator, and founder of Bauman Wellness.com. He also sees clients at Bauman Solutions, LLC. His topic Thursday was “How to Age Well.” He is the author of “Eating for Health.”
Ed gave us a brief introduction into the aspects of living that allow us to live better, longer lives, as well as some of the key challenges (and solutions to those challenges) to aging well. Five “blue zones” in the world have the highest number of centenarians: Okinawa; a region in Sardinia; Ikaria, Greece; the Nicoya Peninsula in Cost Rica; and 7th Day Adventists. People in these blue zones have several characteristics in common. The #1 characteristic is an abundance of social connections; generally, people with strong social connections tend to live longer than more isolated people. These connections are often faith or spiritual-based, family, and social circles that support healthy behaviors. Successful centenarians put their families first! Healthy eating is also an important factor in longevity and life-long health. Ed stressed that eating plants is the key to health. Moderate wine drinking also is a characteristic in centenarians in these blue zones (other than 7th Day Adventists). Exercise is also tremendously important, and you don’t need to go to a gym to get the right exercise. Be physically active and involve yourself in environments that nudge you into moving.
One of the main challenges to aging well is stress. Stress causes chronic inflammation, which in turn can cause a variety of life-threatening illnesses. Ed stresses that blue zone centenarians develop routines that shed stress. Some pray, others acknowledge their ancestors, and all stay busy. Lifelong learning and spiritual intelligence are other factors that help alleviate stress. Ed suggests that we all try to give up the past, see the power in focusing on the present, find routines that help us out of stressful situations, make new friends, and eat healthy! Ed also asked Sunrisers to identify some of the activities that help us live in the moment. Katharine Anderson plays the violin, Harry Coffee loves to travel to distant lands, and others agreed that retirement is the key to avoiding stress!
Thank you, Ed, for the helpful and informative presentation. Now all we have to do is put some of your strategies into place!
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of Ed's engaging talk.
