I recently watched a 16-month old baby as she ate her lunch in a very diligent and delightful manner. She looked at the color of her carrots and, with utmost curiosity, she poked at the texture and softness of the vegetable with her finger before she put into her mouth. After careful amusement of the red watermelon pieces, she took a small piece and repeatedly rubbed it on her tongue before she took a bite. She was very pleased by the discovery of a new taste and also enjoyed the cold sensation. It was obvious to me that she was exploring her world with all her senses and living fully every moment.
In Chapter 9 of YOU: The Owner’s Manual there is an excellent metaphor that illustrates how our sense organs provide a window to the world that helps us experience not only the beauty of nature but also the aches and pains of every day life and aging. What we see, feel, taste, hear and smell creates the world that we experience every second we are awake. I was impressed to learn that almost 80% of the information processed by our brain is based on what we see. Equally impressive is that our eyes have over 2 million working parts and the ability to process 35,000 bits of information every hour. A doctor can look into your eyes with an ophthalmoscope and actually see the retinal components of the eye and the optic nerve that transmits information directly to the brain. In this manner, your eyes are a direct extension of your brain and a very powerful sensory organ and the authors remind us that your eyes continue to work even while you sleep.
“Action 1: Practice Preservation” provides some very wise advice to retain the integrity of your sensory organs. In particular we should note that our skin is the body’s largest sensory organ and needs to be protected from excessive sun exposure with a level 4 or more UVA blocker. Avoiding exposure to loud noise for prolonged periods can help us retain our hearing acuity as we live longer. Please note the decibels scale on page 269 and see what steps you can take to avoid damage to your hearing. Always protect your eyes from UV exposure; I also really like the idea of pampering your eyes with an optical eye spa.
Chapter 10 provides an excellent overview of our body’s immune system. It is no coincidence that this chapter follows a discussion of our sensory organs. The sensory organs and the body’s immune system work together to keep us safe and healthy. What I find most amazing about the immune system is the ability to heal the body as well as protect it using focused antibodies and specialized defense cells. Please note the discussion on stress and it’s ability to increase your risk of infection. It’s equally important to know that having fun and a positive attitude improves your immune response to stress, illness, or infections. You can start today to increase your Real Age and enjoy life through all your senses.
Dr. Tony
