We have all heard about trendy workout regimens and finicky diet plans. We have seen the commercials for supplements that promise to boost our immune system or surgeries that will restore our youthful looks. Do these things really work?
With my educational background in public health, I often get asked to answer this question: What is the best thing I can do to be healthier? Answering this question is certainly not easy. Everyone is different. But, what if my response could be: “Live like an Ikarian”?
I am looking forward to visiting Ikaria to experience their lifestyle and identify the ways in which it differs from not only mine, but many Americans. I want to know how and why these differences account for the gap in longevity and in quality years of life. I am especially looking forward to meeting our guests throughout the trip, including a dietitian, pharmacist and a centenarian and his family.
– Stephanie Woodcox, HHS Extension Health & Wellness Specialist