the great courses living

Lifelong Health: Achieving Optimum Well-Being at Any Age

Season 1
Discover an essential reference guide to healthy living, packed with information and advice rooted in the latest scientific understanding of nutrition, physiology, and other related fields with Lifelong Health: Achieving Optimum Well-Being at Any Age. This course is the perfect way for you to take those first, all-important steps on the road to becoming a better and healthier you.
202336 episodesTV-PG
Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy

Limited time offer. Terms apply.

Prime membership required

Terms apply

The price before discount is the median price for the last 90 days.

Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - A Personal Path to Lifelong Health

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Dr. Goodman welcomes you with an engaging overview of the critical importance of lifelong health. Here, he teaches you how to recognize sound medical advice on healthy living, reveals his personal approach to well-being, and charts the major themes of the course.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  2. S1 E2 - The Cellular Biology of Aging

    October 31, 2023
    33min
    TV-PG
    There's no avoiding the fact that your body ages over time. But how it ages is something you can try to control. In this first lecture on aging, explore the science behind this inevitable process with a look at how common aging factors—both internal and external—all begin at the cellular level.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  3. S1 E3 - The Physiology of Aging

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Continue your exploration of the aging process by examining what causes cells, tissues, and organ systems to lose some of their function over time. In addition, study the external stresses that cause aging, and learn a few tips on ways to slow this progression over time.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  4. S1 E4 - Myths of Aging—Magical Times and Places

    October 31, 2023
    29min
    TV-PG
    For thousands of years, the quest for eternal youth has captivated human society. Learn the difference between your chronological age and your biological age, explore two fascinating legends about immortality, and discover some cultural lifestyles that promote longevity.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  5. S1 E5 - Myths of Aging—Magical Substances

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Dispel the myths behind medicines and procedures widely promoted to prolong life or stave off the aging process. As you investigate the uses of human growth hormones, anabolic steroids, cell therapy, and other methods, you uncover both the risks behind these "cures" and the ways they fall short on their promises.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  6. S1 E6 - Optimizing Health—Tests and Procedures

    October 31, 2023
    32min
    TV-PG
    What health tests, screenings, and examinations can help you stay ahead of the curve? Discover the answers in this lecture, which teaches you the best times to consider mammograms, colonoscopies, exercise stress tests, and more—as well as routine blood tests and blood-pressure screenings.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  7. S1 E7 - Optimizing Health—Prevention

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Preventing a disease is always better than trying to cure it. Here, look at some important measures you can take to prevent serious illnesses before they start, including quitting smoking, reducing high blood pressure, and immunizing yourself from the flu and other preventable diseases.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  8. S1 E8 - How We Look—Surgery and Skin-Care

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Examine the realities of reconstructive surgery (which primarily restores or improves function) and cosmetic surgery (designed to improve appearance to reflect cultural norms). Also, focus on ways to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, acne, and other dermatological conditions.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  9. S1 E9 - The End of the Journey—Death and Dying

    October 31, 2023
    29min
    TV-PG
    Dr. Goodman candidly discusses the topic of death and dying, the awareness and acceptance of which is essential to optimum living. He discusses two programs that have shed new light on this difficult subject for the dying and their families: meaning-centered therapy and hospice and palliative care.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  10. S1 E10 - Health Advances on the Horizon

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Cast your gaze onto the future of medical care with a study of current and future advances in medicine designed to prolong our lives, such as genetic research and immunotherapy.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  11. S1 E11 - Nutrition—Choices for a Healthy Life

    October 31, 2023
    32min
    TV-PG
    Turn now to a focus on guidelines for good nutrition. Here, Dr. Goodman introduces you to some of the major themes he'll discuss in following lectures, including the role of food in our culture, the value of eating whole foods, and the search for nutritional balance.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  12. S1 E12 - The Physiology of Nutrition

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    To best understand nutrition, it's necessary to break down the components of food into manageable pieces. Examine the important nutritional roles of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and end with a close look at how to read the USDA's revised food pyramid.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  13. S1 E13 - The Role of Vitamins

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Learn more about vitamins, those essential nutrients that your body requires from external sources for normal growth and development. Among the vitamins covered in this lecture are Vitamins A, D, E, C, and K. Also, learn why you should always use vitamins to supplement—not substitute for—a well-balanced diet.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  14. S1 E14 - The Role of Supplements

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Investigate antioxidants, fiber, herbs, and other supplements that may lower your risk of health problems and improve your body's overall function. In addition, learn how to distinguish supplements that can serve a valuable role in your diet from those that serve no benefit—or that can even be harmful.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  15. S1 E15 - Whole Foods for Optimum Health

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    How can you get the benefit of vitamins and supplements without going into areas of unproven benefits and possible risks? The answer: whole foods. Here, discover the amazing benefits of "power foods," such as berries, apples, garlic, teas, and turmeric.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  16. S1 E16 - The Good Fats

    October 31, 2023
    29min
    TV-PG
    Good fats such as omega-3 fatty acids and monosaturated fatty acids are greatly misunderstood and have the potential to maximize your health and well-being. Clear up the myths surrounding this group of whole foods and learn how to best integrate them into your daily diet.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  17. S1 E17 - Sugar, Salt, Allergies, and Additives

    October 31, 2023
    32min
    TV-PG
    Some foods can evoke unpleasant and unhealthy responses in different people. Dr. Goodman examines the risks of eating too much salt, sugar, and additives; offers you commonsense tips on how to control your intake of these foods; and discusses the differences between food allergies and sensitivities.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  18. S1 E18 - The Physiology of Weight Management

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Obesity is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the United States. This lecture covers a host of topics about obesity and weight management, including the differences between being "overweight" and "obese," the roles played by genetics and the environment, and practical eating and dieting advice for managing your weight.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  19. S1 E19 - Healthful Eating versus Fad Diets

    October 31, 2023
    29min
    TV-PG
    Learn how to view your way of eating as a way of living. As you debunk the myths of popular low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets, you discover why a Mediterranean-style diet (with its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats) is the perfect template on which to craft your own whole-food diet.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  20. S1 E20 - Movement and Recreation—a.k.a. Exercise

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    What are the physical benefits of moving your body? How can you create an exercise plan that is optimum for your lifestyle? Discover the answers to these and other questions about physical activity.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  21. S1 E21 - The Physiology of Muscle

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Delve into the physiology of muscles and weight training, including a closer look at the three basic kinds of muscle (skeletal, cardiac, and smooth), the differences between isotonic and isometric exercises, and why it's never too late or too early to start moving your body.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  22. S1 E22 - Resistance Training and Weight Training

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Discover why weight training doesn't have to be uncomfortable or intimidating. Dr. Goodman reveals how to get the most effective (and safe) workout from the muscles in your body through resistance training, free weights, calisthenics, and more—at any age.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  23. S1 E23 - Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Any well-rounded workout involves the use of aerobic and anaerobic activities as well as weight lifting. Examine the benefits of moderate and high-intensity exercises, learn how to draft a basic workout plan, investigate reasons that walking might be just as good for you as running, and more.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  24. S1 E24 - Exercise in Dealing with Injury and Disease

    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Contrary to popular belief, exercising can be extremely beneficial for people with diseases such as diabetes, emotional disorders, and osteoarthritis—but only if done properly. Find out how in this lecture, which also offers you tips on preventing and recovering from common exercising injuries.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy
  25. S1 E25 - Joy in Movement—Sports and Exercise Options

    October 31, 2023
    30min
    TV-PG
    Moving your body is an essential part of overall health and wellness. But with all the exercises and activities out there, how do you know which ones are right for you? Study the pros and cons of popular exercise options, including biking, hiking, dancing, and ball sports.
    Free trial of The Great Courses Living or buy

Details

More info

Subtitles

None available

Producers

The Great Courses

Cast

Anthony A. Goodman

Studio

The Great Courses
By clicking play, you agree to our Terms of Use.