Life Beyond 100: Secrets of the Fountain of Youth

Shealy promises readers unprecedented life spans by accessing energy pathways in the body. According to the nationally known researcher in the fields of energy medicine and intuitive healing, simple lifestyle changes (no smoking, limited alcohol, increased activity) can add years to life, but for dramatic increases in life expectancy, we should concentrate on keeping our DHEA (hormones indicative of stress reserves) and calcitonin (hormones maintaining skeletal integrity) levels optimal and decreasing free-radical damage. Doing so, he says, will make living to 120, even 160, the norm in the next stage of human evolution. To this end, he offers a system for activating specific chemical pathways in the body, tips for relieving stress and depression, dietary guidelines, simple exercise routines and illness-specific remedies. Readers interested in energy medicine will likely find Shealy's explanation of alternative theories and therapies useful, while others may find the procedures (photo- and electrical stimulation; quartz crystals; etc.)—some of which call for products developed by Shealy—time-consuming and expensive. Shealy's depth of knowledge is impressive, but his focus on achieving a specific number unfortunate. For a different view of aging, one that includes acceptance of human mortality and aims for well-being, see Andrew Weil's Healthy Aging (Reviews, Aug. 8). Agent, David Alexander. (Dec.)