What are you doing today to ensure you’re not just growing older, but growing better? That’s the question I kept asking myself while reading Super Agers by Eric Topol. This book isn’t just a guide on how to age gracefully; it’s a full-blown, eye-opening exploration into how your daily habits, from the food you eat to how much you move, directly impact your health and lifespan. And oh boy, was it a page-turner!
If you know me, you know I’m all about excellence, whether it’s cleaning your windows until they sparkle or delivering flawless customer service. But what about the work we put into ourselves? After 33 years as a professional window cleaner and 7 years since founding Window Ninjas, I’ve realized staying sharp, strong, and healthy isn’t a passive process. It’s active and intentional. And this book? This book lays it all out in a way that’s hard to ignore.
Get your notepads ready, folks. Because by the end of this, you’re going to want to make some changes to how you treat your body, your mind, and even your fridge.
The Intersection of Food and Health
Topol starts by laying down the cold, hard truth about the food we eat. Want to know why health issues like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are skyrocketing? It’s not just poor willpower; it’s also the systems around us and what’s being pushed into our grocery carts. Processed foods loaded with sugar, salt, and chemicals are attacking our health from the inside. He doesn’t sugarcoat it (pun intended): these products are contributing to shorter lifespans and more health struggles later in life.
But what really hit me was realizing how many ailments come down to the choices we make day-to-day. It’s not just about “eating healthy” to avoid obesity; it’s about protecting yourself from ailments like male prostate cancer and female breast cancer.
Did you know prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men? Or that breast cancer rates among women are three times higher than any other cancer types in women? The facts are just mind blowing! And these aren’t just numbers. They’re real consequences of the food we choose and the toxins we surround ourselves with.
Topol digs into the impact of environmental factors like plastics (yes, plastics!) on our health. We’ve all seen activists fight for clean streams and drinkable water, but we’re turning a blind eye to the fact that we’re consuming food and drinks from plastic packaging every day. It’s an insane contradiction and one I hadn’t given much thought to before reading this book.
Cancer Through the Generations
One of the sections that left my jaw on the floor was Topol’s breakdown of how cancer has evolved. Cancer isn’t just a modern illness; it’s one that’s morphed alongside our habits, environments, and even technological advancements. PSA levels (Prostate-Specific Antigens) and hormone-related cancers are being influenced by chemicals in everything from processed foods to household products.
It really got me thinking about my family, my customers, and even my team. You know, cancer has hit close to home for me. Both my dad and my father-in-law passed away from it. And I bet you can name someone in your life who’s been taken too soon by cancer. The hard truth is, so many of us might be unknowingly setting ourselves up for preventable illnesses just by the choices we make at the grocery store. The scariest part? These dangers aren’t always easy to spot. They’re buried in our food system and woven into the fabric of our daily lives.
But here’s the silver lining, Eric Topol doesn’t just hit you with the grim facts. He digs deep and offers actionable solutions to help us make better choices and take back control of our health.
Movement as Medicine
Another gold nugget in Super Agers is the emphasis on movement. Topol makes an airtight case for why walking is the ultimate underdog when it comes to staying healthy. No fancy gym equipment, no superhuman commitment needed. Just get out there and put one foot in front of the other. Walking improves bone density, boosts cardiovascular health, and even helps with mental clarity.
For someone who spends their days scaling ladders and scrubbing glass from sunrise to sunset, I can vouch for this one. Movement is medicine. And it’s something we need more of today, especially when most of us are glued to computers or slumped in chairs all day.
Hand Power and Health
I never thought much about hand strength as an indicator of health, but leave it to Topol to connect the dots. He explains how grip strength correlates with overall physical health and longevity. It’s one of those simple things you’d never think to measure, but boy, does it carry weight when it comes to long-term health outcomes.
Now, as someone who’s been handling squeegees and tools for over 30 years, I can say my grip strength hasn’t gotten much of a break. But for those who don’t have jobs that require constant movement, Topol suggests practical ways to incorporate strength training into your day. And it’s not about lifting heavy weights or spending hours in the gym. Even quick at-home exercises can have a significant impact over time.
The Big Picture
More than anything, what stands out most about Super Agers is how it connects the dots. It’s not just about what you eat, how much you move, or even the air you breathe. It’s how all these factors come together to create a life that’s either vibrant or filled with challenges.
Sleep, air pollution, body density, plastics, cancer, diabetes, walking, hand strength… Topol weaves it all together into a roadmap for living better, longer. His research goes deep even down to the cellular level. He doesn’t shy away from the hard truths but leaves you feeling motivated to do better.
It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just sit on your shelf after you’re done. It sticks with you. It changes you.
My Final Take (and a Golden Squeegee Rating!)
If you ask me, Super Agers is an essential read for anyone who wants to truly understand the science of health and longevity. Eric Topol doesn’t just scratch the surface, but takes the time to explain how each habit and choice leaves its mark on your body for better or worse.
Whether you’re 25 or 75, this book has something to offer. For me personally, it was a motivation boost to think harder about what I eat, where I source my food, and how I move my body every day. Longevity isn’t a given, but an incredible balance of science, effort, and awareness can get you closer to it.
And here’s the official Window Ninjas take… Super Agers earns an impressive 4.5 golden squeegees out of 5! It’s informative, enlightening, and packed with jaw-dropping insights that will make you rethink how you’re living.
If you’re curious about aging well, staying strong, and making better choices, grab yourself a copy of this book. Trust me, you won’t put it down. Love your life. Live your life. And take note of what’s around you… because sometimes the invisible things can have the biggest impact.
Now go out there and live like a true super ager!
– Gabe
