Longevity Made Simple by Richard Flanigan M.D. and Kate Flanigan Sawyer MD, MPH, has a subtitle, ‘How to Add 20 Good Years to Your Life.’ This book is not a diet book or is it an exercise book. It is longevity book that explains in simple language what science tells us about living long, healthy lives.

The book consists of eleven chapters plus an appendix with simple recipes. Some topics covered in the book are how long should we live? Eighty-five if we are in good health. The top 10 causes of death in the U.S. Did you know the 10th leading cause of death is Septicemia? Find out what that is in Chapter 2.

Also included is a personal risk profile. It explains what is good and bad cholesterol. Along with BMI charts, a good predictor of health risk is your abdomen size, that’s your waist size. It also states the limits for men and women.

Which is better, to be Fit and Fat or Sedentary and Lean? The Cooper Institute, using data from the Aerobics Center Longitude Study answers that question. The minimum amount of exercise is listed and some cautions on over-exercising.

Health foods are also covered. There is a list of Super foods that help to reduce oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, improve the elasticity of the arteries, and improve blood pressure. Heard of plant Stanols and Sterols? These lower serum cholesterol naturally.

Tea or coffee, which is healthier? Seems like both are. Tea contains antioxidants and coffee is associated with a lower risk of diabetes. Also explained are vitamin supplements and some common medications like statins for cholesterol and different type of high blood pressure medicines. A whole chapter is devoted to common health tests, such as EKG, ultrasounds for heart and arteries, and cancer screening tests to name a few.

Rounding out the book is 10 health tips that are practical and do-able. Several of the suggestions I have already started on, such as eating several veggie meals a week and changing my exercise routine.

With charts, graphs, and lists and concise explanations, the Flanigans have made the medical science easy to understand. They write with just enough science to provide meaning and with common language to make it understandable. The amount of data inside makes this a very good quick reference book to have on hand.

More about these authors:

Dr. Flanigan is an assistant clinical professor of cardiology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and a private practitioner. He is also co-director of the Heart and Health Prevention Center in Denver, Colorado.

A frequent lecturer and author, Dr. Flanigan is president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Heart Association, as well as an active member of a number of medical associations, including the National Lipid Education Council, the International Vascular Biology Working Group, and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology.

Dr. Flanigan received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he started his academic career with a Bachelors of Science from St. Joseph’s College and a Masters of Chemistry from Villanova University. His medical training includes an internship at the University of Illinois, Chicago, a residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and a cardiology fellowship at the University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado.

When not lecturing or practicing medicine, Dr. Flanigan is an accomplished artist and avid sportsman. A world champion rower, Dr. Flanigan has won the National Championship 3 times and Masters’ Championship races 45 times. He has competed worldwide with the U.S. National, Pan-American, and pre-Olympic rowing teams. In 2004, he was inducted into St. Joseph’s University Athletes Hall of Fame for international accomplishments in the sport of rowing.

After receiving her BA from Boston College, Dr. Flanigan Sawyer moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, where she received her MD from Tulane Medical School and MPH from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, both in 2000.

Dr. Flanigan Sawyer’s medical training continued in California where she completed an internal medicine internship at Alameda County Medical Center, Highland Hospital. After her internship, Dr. Sawyer completed two residencies at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, one in preventive medicine and the other in occupational and environmental medicine.

At present, Dr. Flanigan Sawyer is co-director of the Heart and Health Prevention Center, as well as the reviewing medical officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Occupational Health Division. She is also founder and CEO of Colorado Prevention Consultants, LLC.

Dr. Flanigan Sawyer is married to Michael M. Sawyer, MD, and the mother of two young children, Ryan and Kathleen. Despite her busy schedule, Dr. Sawyer makes time to play the piano, practice yoga, and participate in outdoor sports, including skiing and running.