This photo is of my great grandmother, taken at age 90. My sister, and I are clones of her. Our deceased mother also looked just like her. It is very weird to look at a photo that is over a hundred years old and see yourself. What I like though is her perfect complexion. I have very few wrinkles despite years of growing up on a lake in the pre sunscreen days. My mother had a few more wrinkles but she smoked, and that is one thing that can increase wrinkles. But she still was relatively wrinkle free compared to peers. You can never underestimate the role of genetics. I did everything right as far as promoting good health: never smoked, never drank, grew up on organic food. But on my father's side of the family it is hard to find someone who doesn't have cancer. So, I have cancer but hot damn I have a good complexion.
Another condition that is genetically determined in my opinion is osteoporosis. No female on either side of my family ever had a broken hip or any other bone fractures after menopause. Nor did any of the men have old age fractures or significant loss of height. I have no estrogen in my body, thanks to anti-estrogen cancer treatment;do not drink milk or eat much dairy, take no calcium supplements, and do drink coke. Yet my bone density is at 125% for my age. I have the bone density of a healthy 25 y.o. male. I know my walking and weight bearing exercise help but genetics is just as important.
When it comes to genetics however we cannot choose our genes. I'm just glad I didn't get the wrinkle or osteoporosis gene.
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