http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/studies-suggest-low-salt-die…

I know we have a whole other thread on salt — mainly about WHICH ones are healthy and which to avoid.

http://theblueprintforlife.com/forum/topics/replace-salt-with-herbs-and-spices?page=1&commentId=6567573%3AComment%3A10296&x=1#6567573Comment10296

But for me, the verdict is still not out. And this blog/discussion is not really just about salt.

Yesterday, a client/friend came over to take the Longevity Community Questionnaire, and he cares a LOT about age-prediction factors. I’m not really focused on age-prediction, but I humored him because he REALLY wanted me to take the Vitality Compass questionnaire by BlueZones.com. I took the Questionnaire, and apparently, I’m going to live to 99.7 years old. lol. But, interestingly, the first recommendation the Vitality Compass gave me to IMPROVE my longevity… was to reduce my salt intake. On the questionnaire I had indicated that I add salt to food or eat salty food 5 days per week. Well, I don’t favor salty food, and I do not add it at the table, but Edgar and I use some salt while cooking, pretty much daily, so I figured I’d answer conservatively, saying 5 days a week.

So the Vitality Compass thinks I should have even less. I have to tell you: I trust my own compass more. I trust my own research more. And I think it’s an interesting thing about the head, the heart, the community, and our relationship with “knowledge” and “research”. And with God. And with “the salt of the earth”.

This is why I LOVE having the Longevity Hot Spots as a living example of what “works”. Because look at how much my friend stresses about his individual age-prediction! That is not healthy. Meanwhile, he’s pushing people away from him by his rigidity. We need to foster Community. I believe it’s way more important than Ivory Tower studies. (When was the last time an Ivory Tower professor or student came down to bring you chicken soup when you were sick?) I mean… look at the “results” of “research” that came from Stanford University… about how supposedly organic produce is no more nutritious than non-organic produce. I value knowledge and studies, heck, I did plenty of that myself… but HOW do we study? Who do we study? Who do we trust?

The BluePrint for Life is exactly what it says. And people can modify how they follow it, and contribute to it. It’s a living community… modeled on living communities. Our faith is not reducible to a score on a chart or in a mathematical or electronic formula. These tools may be very valuable… but they do not, and cannot replace community. Thank you all for being here for each other, and for me.

God bless you,
T. Bergenn
Longevity Consultant
510-292-9976