The Fountain and Other Prescriptions to Stay Young

The new movie The Fountain, to be released November 22 is about a time traveler, (Hugh Jackman) who begin his journey as a Spanish conquistador BC at the behest of his love eternal, (Rachel Weisz) seeks the Tree of Life. The hauntingly exquisite film by Darren Aronofsky promises to spell bind the viewer with the mastery of a gripping mystery story interwoven with the profound story of love as the epicenter of life itself. The cinematography is breathtaking and crafted like an H.G. Well's, Ryder Haggard joint effort. "She," Rachel Weisz is love eternal and the essence of life without end.

In this current era of 50 is 40, 40 is 30, made possible by replacement parts on line, coming soon to your Virtual Life Pavillion. The Fountain brings back the fantasy of us all. The love of a life time and the wish to live forever in the blissful state of youth for all time. As Hugh Jackman transverses the millenniums in his quest for eternal life, his fixed idea of love, Rachel Weisz also transforms herself. At one point in modern times Rachel Weiss is dying of cancer, so the quest to find the fountain of youth and life is expedited.

The Fountain reminds us all that while we as human beings may want to live forever in the bliss of youth. Life eternal is for all practical purposes a wonderful story line and a movie. A wonderful, popcorn eating, Saturday night date movie for the young hearts in us all.

Coincidentally, Science has some great news for anyone desirous of a long life. Studies conducted by the University of Wisconsin Primate Research Center with rhesus monkeys have found preliminarily that reducing caloric intake by 30 percent increases longevity and may decrease or eliminate the incident of diabetes, cancer and other disorders related to bad aging.

An article by New York Time writer, Michael Mason, One for the Ages: A Prescription That May Extend Life, published on October 31, 2006 is a great article on the science of health and diet's role in minimizing debilitating disease and extending life by leading labs across the US and in Europe.

There is little disagreement in the medical field or in the scientific field that diet and reduced weight in humans reduces or eliminates high blood pressure. This factor alone contributes to many heart and artery related debilitating conditions, like strokes and heart attacks. It also improves certain mental states, like memory and all around "with it ness." After all, it would be nice to know you are doing well, if in fact you are.

The promise however to deliver "eternal life," by reducing caloric intake may be something to shoot for, it sure can't hurt anyone, but is it "The Fountain?" The flip side of this great body of work, comes from within academia. Researchers from UCI, and UCLA believe the actual effect of the 30 percent caloric diet may increase longevity at a lower rate than others postulate.

Another opinion by evolutionary biologist, Jay Phelan of UCLA is the belief that while the diet has benefits it will not succeed in providing eternal life and will in effect make people miserable in the process. Dr. Phelan, poses the question, "Have you ever tried to go without food for one day?
He answers by saying it is not a humanly sustainable way of life.

In order for the target to be met, that of reducing caloric intake some 30 percent would in all likelihood end up a fad diet book on the bookshelves collecting dust. The American public simply would not as a whole incorporate the restrictions into their daily life. That is not to say that some measure of less than 30 percent, but more than 10 percent might have a good impact on morbid obesity or for the public at large. (no pun intended)

As stated by Dr. David Sinclair, a Harvard molecular scientist, "It's to see eventually that an 80 year old feels like a 50 year old today." That is a good mission. Can you imagine being locked in for a 140 years, 90 of which you feel like road kill.

So, all is well with the universe. Science is trying to make us feel better in aging. Eternal life and love can be found on November 22 at the movies. "The Fountain" is where it belongs, in surround sound and the big screen with life reducing buttered popcorn and Coca Cola.