A few weeks ago, I noticed something wasn't quite right. My energy was dropping, and my memory wasn't as sharp as it had been. Perhaps it was stress, working too much, or simply not taking enough time to recharge. Whatever the reason, I knew I needed to pay attention.

As someone who has spent more than four decades studying health, longevity, and Medical Qi Gong, I've learned to listen carefully when my body begins sending signals. I think of those signals as an internal fire alarm. Rather than ignore them, I ask myself, "What is my body trying to tell me?"

As I looked at my lifestyle, diet, and daily habits, I was reminded of one of the oldest principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine: many of the most powerful medicines are actually foods.

Here in Florida, we expect the summers to be hot. But this year, extreme heat isn't just a Florida problem. States like Michigan, New York, and even the Pacific Northwest have experienced temperatures that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago.

High temperatures now claim more lives each year than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. Yet heat remains one of the most overlooked dangers—especially for older adults.

The other day, I stepped outside and immediately felt the heat hit my face like opening the door to a blazing oven. It was 95 degrees in the shade, with humidity so high it felt difficult to breathe. Lately, I've found myself moving from my air-conditioned home to my air-conditioned car and then into my air-conditioned office. Even that short walk can place tremendous stress on the body.