Chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, have grown by alarming rates in developed countries in the last 100 years, particularly in the last 50 years. Developing countries previously did not experience the same level of chronic diseases. But as these countries become more urbanized with an expanding middle class, the prevalence of chronic diseases has grown substantially and become a major concern. What is clear is that people in developed countries have terrible eating habits and do not exercise enough, and this lifestyle is spreading to developing countries.

Chronic disease generally starts very early. By the time a person becomes aware of one of the chronic diseases, it has been building for about 20 years. Again, it comes down to eating: the human body was designed to eat plant food, not animal food. The human body was also designed to be exercised – both body and mind.  

Click on each age group below to see what can be done at each stage of life, starting at least at age 12 and continuing the rest of your life.

The Cooper Institute® continues to lend its support of the PHIT Act, (Personal Health and Investment Today). The PHIT Act will give more individuals and families the opportunity to lead healthier lives. The PHIT Act expands the IRS definition of qualified medical expenses to include physical activity as a form of prevention, allowing consumers to use money in pre-tax medical accounts (HSAs, FSAs, etc.) to pay for physical activity expenses. To lend your support to the PHIT Act, click here: PHIT America