4 the Better: Mighty Ninety, Eggs For Better Health, Read Labels
Bite-sized inspiration and information in 4 minutes
Small but Mighty at Ninety(+)!
Inspirational people come in all shapes and sizes, and diminutive Hiuomu Inada of Chiba, Japan, embodies the old adage, “good things come in small packages.” At the ripe old age of 91, this tiny, adorable powerhouse package of muscle and determination is an Ironman triathlete, unbelievably holding titles recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Surprisingly, his passion for endurance events developed relatively late in life. After retiring as a TV reporter at 60, Hiuomu took up swimming to shed a little weight and stay fit. Casual exercise evolved into formal competition, and by 65, he had competed in four aquathlons (a combination of swimming and running). Immersed in the racing world, he bought a bike when he was 69 and a year later debuted in his first triathlon, which is an intense competition of swimming, biking, and running with distances varying from super sprints under 10 miles to the ultimate world’s most challenging Ironman of 140 miles. (I’m exhausted writing this!)
After the loss of wife, Hiuomu developed an obsession with the Ironman challenge and in 2011, at the age of 78, he finished his first Ironman race. A year later in 2012, after finishing in 15 hours and 38 minutes, he was named the 80-84-year-old bracket world champion. Mind you; these are NOT senior events…these are all-age, unimaginably grueling competitions.
As with much in life, however, with success came failure. In 2015, he came to global prominence while competing in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, when he collapsed about 300 yards short of the finish line and five seconds late for the cut-off time.
That heroic display earned him legions of fans he felt indebted to, giving him a sense of purpose that inspired him to push forward. In 2016, he returned to Kona—the place that once defeated him—and set the world record as the oldest person to complete the Ironman. In 2018, at 85, he became the first person in the 85-89-year-old group to complete the race—a second world record!
Not one to rest on world-record laurels, in 2022, at 90, he finished the 43-mile Kona Ironman in just 8 hours and 43 minutes. A year later, at 91, he went down under to compete in Australia’s Cairn’s Ironman. While he became the oldest person to compete in the Ironman, he fell short of finishing the event by missing the cut-off time in the biking portion of the event.
Based on what I’ve read about this dynamo, I doubt it will be his last appearance at a triathlon. He is quoted as saying, “I still make discoveries every day at this age,” he said. “I shout at times when happy. Doing what you really want to do will make your life delightful even after you retire and get much older.”
I showcase Mr. Inada not because we are all latent triathletes but because I find all stories of perseverance inspirational. When flagging in my fitness commitments or any challenging endeavor, I look at people like him and think, “If he can achieve that, what am I whining about?” Maybe I, too, can aspire to cross the finish line and shout with delight as I get older!
Higher Egg Intake is Associated with Less Disease
Yes, you read that right. Eggs are not the enemy. For decades, eggs have been vilified and linked to high cholesterol and heart disease, among other things. However, with a greater understanding of what affects HDL/LDL ratios, the view on eggs is evolving from bad to good—maybe even great.
Eggs are a superfood. High in protein and low in calories, they are a significant source of essential vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, D, E, and K, along with minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, fluoride, selenium, and phosphorus. They also contain antioxidants that support eye health and phospholipids known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
A plethora of studies show positive health benefits, including less heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and even decreased triglyceride levels. Previous recommendations for the weekly intake of two or three eggs are morphing into two eggs daily, with some health enthusiasts advocating for three eggs daily and beyond.
Personally, I’ve eaten about two eggs a day (sometimes three) for over twenty years without any negative issues. (However, my diet tends toward low-carb, high-fiber, and whole foods, which appear to be confounding factors.) As research progresses, expect egg intake recommendations to shift upwards, which will be… forgive me… egg-cellent!
Read Your Labels
I typically get our sourdough bread from a crusty older gentleman at the Saturday Pasadena Farmers Market (I plan to learn to bake it next year). Still, some weekends, I can’t carve out enough time, so I search through the bread racks at the four grocery stores in my rotation and have been shocked at the ingredients of various commercially produced sourdough bread.
Sourdough is inherently a great food; the fermentation process makes the gluten much more digestible and bioavailable, and with natural probiotics and beneficial bacteria, it is very gut-healthy. Since it is made with a fermented starter (consisting of flour and water) as the leavener, there are only three ingredients: flour, salt, and water. Even the natural acetic acid acts as a preservative.
Yet, when I read the labels, I saw as many as 10-12 ingredients, including yeast—which means it’s not real sourdough bread. It’s crazy! It reminds me of when I tried to find a bottled salad dressing made with olive oil and no water (who makes dressing with water?!). It was nearly impossible, I’ve made my own ever since.
Back to my bread search: Out of eight “sourdough” breads, I found only one with three simple ingredients. (Cadoro, Born and Bread in Los Angeles). This is an excellent reminder to stick to whole foods, bake and make what you can, and read the labels of the rest!
