A: Anti-Aging Medicine aims to help minimize or even reverse the aging process. I agree with you that, in word choice at least, "anti-aging" does have negative connotations. Aging with grace and vitality is the keystone to my medical philosophy in this area. I prefer to think of it as Rejuvenation Medicine.

No matter how old you are, there are a lot of things you can do to help yourself age more healthily today. The most important is to take care of your body. The better you can prevent disease the healthier you will be as you grow older. Having a positive attitude is also related to how well your body and mind age.

What follows is my personal "Wellness Plan for Aging with Grace."

1. Minimize Stress.
Stress can compromise your body's cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. It can trigger or encourage ongoing destructive habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol use and overeating, and can even increase memory loss. A very effective way to counteract stress is to learn how to breathe. Meditation can help with this, as can hypnotherapy.

2. Move Your Body
Regular physical activity can counteract the progressive loss of balance, flexibility and strength caused by aging, while also helping to reduce stress. Try a yoga class at Indigo Wellness Center; walk, run, bike, hike, dance!

3. Eat Real Food
In our busy lives, we often overlook the power of food as medicine. Minimize processed foods and eat a wide range of colorful fruits and vegetables to maximize your antioxidants. Buy grass-fed beef and free-range poultry. Salem's Saturday market is a wonderful way to explore healthy new foods in season.

4. Practice Happiness
Taking care of your spirit is a cornerstone of longevity. You can achieve this by simply remembering to smile, reaching out to others, or having a hobby. Prayer and meditation have also been linked to good health. Be thankful for what you have and take care of it every day for the rest of your life.

Dr. Evelin Dacker is the physician/owner of Vida Family Medicine and Vida Aesthetic Medicine. She practices Integrative Medicine and has taken classes with Dr. Andrew Weil. Dr. Dacker is on the board of the Salem Cancer Institute and Integrative Mental Healthcare of Oregon.