Oldest man in history at 126 years

The great muscian, Eubie Blake, once stated that “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” He said this on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Seems like people are aging more, living to older ages in better health. Thanks to our medical system, our better nutrition and better drugs for staving off disease we are living longer. Essentially our better ways of living. A study having taken place since 1975 or thereabouts, in Okinowa, Japan and has illuminated  a great many secrets about aging successfully. The people on this tiny island are far outliving other’s anywhere else and have a greater amount of 100 year olds and above, than any other country in the world. This is all attributed to diet, exercise, their way of life, eating fresh food-nutritious food such as fresh grains, fruits and vegetables.

 The other aspects to long-life here are the practice of a religion, constant exercise, no alchohol consumption, and keeping active and social. We know through logistics and statistics that if we keep up this kind of lifestyle there will be over 600,000 centenarians world-wide by 2025. Where this will happen is a direct response to our ways of living and how we function diet wise and keeping our general health.

When my dad was dying I tried to get him on a macrobiotic diet; however he was not interested in my lecturing him about what he could or should eat. It seems that he just wanted to eat what he could. Many people with cancer and life-threatening diseases have altered their diets and have sustained life in better health than before the disease. We must remember that “we have a disease when this occurs, it does not have us!” We can help to eliminate it by adhering to strict nutrition standards, keeping active, allowing our minds to generate positive thoughts and staying social. We must live life to it’s fullest to be able to experience the joys and the pains that accompany it; each allowing us to know that we are living life. Live long and prosper….Dr Eric Shapira

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. this disease affects over 10 million Americans.

What about osteoporosis? This is serious as are broken bones, also called fractures. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women and one in five men over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. This disease causes more than 2 million fractures each year, including about:

• 300,000 hip fractures
• 550,000 vertebral (spinal or backbone) fractures
• 400,000 wrist fractures
• 135,000 pelvic fractures
• 675,000 other fractures

To prevent broken bones, many people have been given medication from a group of drugs called bisphosphonates. These include Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel and Reclast ( All retail drug names, not generic). Studies have shown that in many people taking these medications to help reduce the chance of broken bones, osteonecrosis of the jaw has occurred…that is a rare but serious damage to the jawbone itself.

If you think you have a problem and suffer from 1) an area of exposed bone that does not heal after more than 8 weeks, 2) have to history of radiation to the head or neck area, and 3) is taking or has taken bisphosphonates, then you should be checked by your dentist or physician for this possibility. About 94% of people diagnosed with  osteonecrosis are cancer patients who are receiving or did receive  repeated high doses of bisphosphoantes through IV infusion. The other 6% were people taking oral bisphosphonates.

Chances are small that a “normal” individual who is taking  bisphosphonate medication will develop osteonecrosis but the results are unknown. Ask your health provider before you endeavor to take these class of drugs about the risks involved and your probability of getting this disease. I always tell my patients and clients, “know before you go.” Dr Eric Shapira