29 Oct Michael Dorfman
Pickleball & Purpose: Michael’s 83-Year Journey to Health, Happiness, and Longevity! …
Michael Dorfman – Health – Nutrition, Longevity, Carbovore
Michael Dorfman, is 83 and living proof that age is just a number. He’s an expat living in Mexico, a vegetarian for half a century, and pickleball player!
Michael fuels his vitality with meditation, stress balance, and purpose. He calls humans “Carbovores,” thriving on grains, fruits, and veggies like the world’s longest-living cultures. Michael shows how joy, movement, and mindset can redefine aging!
Episode Summary:
We unlock the secrets to living vibrantly at any age with our special guest, Michael, an inspiring 83-year-old expat thriving in Mexico. Having embraced a vegetarian lifestyle for half a century and later transitioning to a plant-based diet, Michael shares his profound journey to wellness and longevity. You’ll discover how he stays active with community activities like pickleball and learn about his upcoming book, “The Longevity Wellness Revolution,” which explores transformative practices such as stress management, meditation, and having a sense of purpose.
Michael takes us back to 1976, recounting his shift to vegetarianism inspired by Eastern philosophies and later evolving to a plant-based diet in 2008. His compelling narratives include Beatrice’s remarkable health transformation, extending her life through dietary changes inspired by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s work. This chapter of Michael’s life not only solidified his commitment to plant-based nutrition but also ignited his passion for coaching others to make life-altering nutritional choices. Together, we explore the myriad benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet and the powerful impact of being a “Carbovore.”
In our conversation, Michael also shares his innovative breathwork techniques inspired by Wim Hof and how they invigorate his daily routine despite physical challenges. His resilience shines through as he adapts to vision impairment from a past accident, proving that embracing continuous learning and wellness can redefine aging. Join us as we explore these dynamic insights, and connect with Michael through his platforms like his website, longevitywellnessrevolution.com, and his Substack, where he offers ongoing wisdom for living a life of longevity and vitality.
Chapters:
(0:00:01) – Thriving in Later Years With Wellness
(0:07:46) – Embracing Plant-Based Nutrition for Health
(0:17:17) – Optimal Health Through Plant-Based Diet
(0:24:44) – Optimizing Health Through Carbovore Lifestyle
(0:34:50) – Harnessing Energy Through Breathwork
(0:43:35) – Continual Learning in Health & Wellness
(0:00:01) – Thriving in Later Years With Wellness (8 Minutes)
This chapter explores the inspiring journey of Michael, an 83-year-old expat living in Mexico, who has embraced a vibrant lifestyle focused on longevity and wellness. As a vegetarian for 50 years, Michael shares his insights on thriving in his later years through physical, emotional, and mental wellness. He emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and enjoying life beyond the traditional life expectancy, advocating for an active lifestyle through activities like pickleball, which fosters community and social connections. Michael discusses his forthcoming book, “The Longevity Wellness Revolution,” and highlights key practices like stress management, meditation, and having a purpose. He also draws inspiration from the Blue Zones and incorporates unique habits like intermittent fasting and breath work. Despite facing common stressors, Michael maintains a positive outlook and encourages others to pursue an active and purposeful life in their senior years.
(0:07:46) – Embracing Plant-Based Nutrition for Health (10 Minutes)
This chapter takes us through a personal journey of adopting a vegetarian lifestyle in 1976, initially inspired by Eastern philosophies and later evolving into a plant-based diet in 2008. We explore how this dietary shift resolved recurring health issues, particularly flu-like symptoms. I share a compelling story about a friend, Beatrice, whose health was transformed by transitioning to a plant-based diet after facing dire cardiovascular challenges. This transformation was inspired by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s work, known for successfully reversing heart disease through nutrition. The experience of witnessing Beatrice live nearly nine years longer than expected due to dietary changes solidified my commitment to plant-based nutrition and fueled my desire to coach others in making similar life-changing choices.
(0:17:17) – Optimal Health Through Plant-Based Diet (7 Minutes)
This chapter emphasizes the importance of a whole food, plant-based diet, focusing on consuming a variety of grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds. By combining different colors and types of plants, we can maximize the health benefits due to the diverse vitamins and minerals each offers. I share my personal breakfast routine, highlighting oatmeal, fruit, and my wife’s homemade sourdough bread, along with a matcha tea drink. The discussion also touches on the pitfalls of highly processed foods, advising to avoid items with unrecognizable ingredients. While gluten sensitivity is an individual matter, hydration can be achieved through fruits and vegetables, which are high in water content. I discuss my approach to balancing water intake, especially given my experience with an enlarged prostate, and highlight the importance of tailoring health practices to individual needs. Finally, I explore the misconception of the meat-heavy diets of hunter-gatherers, noting recent studies that show their diets were rich in plant-based fiber.
(0:24:44) – Optimizing Health Through Carbovore Lifestyle (10 Minutes)
This chapter explores the idea of humans as “Carbovores,” a term coined to describe how humans thrive best on a carbohydrate-rich, plant-based diet. We examine the argument that while humans can consume meat, plants, or a combination of both, our bodies are physiologically better suited for a diet rich in carbohydrates, similar to what hunter-gatherers primarily consumed. Drawing on examples from some of the world’s longest-living populations in places like Okinawa, Sardinia, and Ikaria, we highlight their predominantly plant-based diets and the associated benefits for longevity and health. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of an active lifestyle, as opposed to a sedentary one, to harness the adaptive resilience passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The analogy of muscle building through stress illustrates how challenging our bodies can lead to greater strength and vitality, underscoring the need for physical activity in maintaining health and longevity.
(0:34:50) – Harnessing Energy Through Breathwork (9 Minutes)
This chapter explores the transformative practice of breath holds inspired by the Iceman, Wim Hof, and the personal adaptation of this method. We discuss the technique of short breaths to increase carbon dioxide levels, culminating in a deep intake of oxygen that energizes the body. I share how this breathing practice, combined with meditation, has become a daily ritual, fueling me with energy to play multiple games of pickleball, even on an intermittent fasting schedule. Additionally, I recount a life-altering car accident that resulted in a macular pucker, affecting my vision and depth perception. Despite these challenges, I explain how my brain adapted to relying on my left eye, allowing me to continue enjoying activities like pickleball, even with limited vision.
(0:43:35) – Continual Learning in Health & Wellness (1 Minutes)
This chapter introduces the journey of continuous learning in the field of health and wellness, as shared by Michael J. Dorfman. I discuss the various platforms where I share my findings and insights, including my website, longevitywellnessrevolution.com, and my Substack, where I publish weekly articles. I emphasize the importance of ongoing research and discovery in the pursuit of longevity and wellness. Listeners are invited to subscribe to my Substack for regular updates and connect with me on social media, including my Facebook page and Twitter account at michaeljdorfmansubstackcom.
If you’d like more information about Michael, his books, or coaching, please visit: MichaeljDorfman.com
To see and listen to more stories about Health, Nutrition, or Fitness, click the Health, Nutrition and/or Fitness links below!