Celebrating my Birthday and 'La Dolce Vita'

The fabulous Juliette Binoche

This Saturday I will reach the fully ripened and rather grown up age of 47.

To celebrate my birthday here are some rather delicious celebrities who also share my birthday this year. I raise a glass of something sparkly to them, to me and to all you other luscious late blooming lovelies out there blossoming in your forties and beyond!

Courteney Cox

Sandra Bullock

Monica Belluci

On the theme of blossoming in your forties and beyond, I have been inspired by a beautiful book I am reading at the moment called ' A Year in the Village of Eternity' by Tracy Lawson. It chronicles the time she spent amongst the people of a mountain village of Campodimele in Italy known as 'Il Paese della Longevita' or 'The Village of Longevity', where the average life expectancy of both men and woman is ninety-five.

Me enjoying
simple Tuscan pleasures :)

Filled with wonderful recipes and mouth-watering descriptions of their local dishes, all made with the freshest ingredients, sourced locally. The dishes are simple, flavoursome, nutritious and lovingly prepared. It describes their strong connection to the land and the 'warmth, friendship and feste' of these healthy, fit, long-living mountain people.

Like Tracy I am not a scientist or a doctor but have a keen interest in nutrition. I have listened intently to many experts and teachers in the field of optimum health over the last few years particularly in the raw food community. There are different schools of thought but through the confusion some very basic truths have emerged. 

Many of the longer living cultures throughout the world have varying diets depending on their environment and food availability but there are some very strong linking factors and truths about the quality of their food, lifestyle, environment and their connection to the land that just can't be ignored. It is also as much about what their diets don't include as to what they do.

I would like to look at these factors in my next blog but the most important gift Tracy Lawson was given from living with the community was not just learning about longevity.

"I came to Campodimele hoping to learn how to live longer and discovered something much more important-how to live well "

Here's to health, happiness and a long, joyful, adventure filled life!

Cheers!!

PS To those with a good memory the 'Green Smoothie Challenge' was put on hold due to my performing in a play in the last week. Certainly not a great time to consider a cleanse! However the resources were great, green smoothies are now being made and I will definitely look at doing it (or at least version of it) in spring or early summer. 

Cheers!!