There is no denying the fact that people are living longer these days. Medical advances, better knowledge of health care in general, access to better hygiene along with improved sanitation and disease control information, improved diets, these and more combine to increase human life expectancy. The dramatic improvement in human life spans over the last one hundred years or so has been impressive.
However, there have always been people throughout time who have lived prolonged lives, outliving many in their own communities and certainly living longer than the average human. There are numerous reasons why some people live longer than others are; scientific research has only recently delved into some of the possible causes for the remarkable life spans some people achieve.
Certain cultures seem to have a lock on long life, with many citizens outliving the rest of us and there must be some solid evidence as to why the phenomenon occurs and why these areas produce more and more hundred year old plus inhabitants. Since diet is such a major part of our overall health and wellness it would be prudent to have a look at what some of these amazing elders are consuming, and have consumed throughout their lives. More specifically – is there something in particular that these folks ingest that they believe is responsible for their remarkable life spans?
The United Kingdom is home to Florence Baldwin, who suggested that she reached the age of one hundred thirteen because she ate a fried egg sandwich every day. Who are we to think otherwise, since she is the one who was alive during the Boer War for heaven’s sake!
People with medical expertise in this area will e able to tell you what will kill you, things like smoking, being overweight and juggling hand grenades come to mind immediately. What they have a difficult time identifying are those things that will keep you alive longer.
Since we know we need to eat to sustain our health, a balanced diet must have something to do with life extension. The question is what kinds of food do we need to eat? Additionally, can what we consume really have that much of an impact on the length of time we remain alive?
With that in mind, the answers may be found in the various food preferences of some centenarians from around the world who were asked what their secret to long life was. Interesting that these folks assumed that food had something to do with their extended lives. Be forewarned that in certain cases you must really have a strong desire to live a lengthy life if it means having to eat some of these “delicacies.”
- Herring and orange juice is the reason why one hundred fifteen year old Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper believes she has been here so long. Herring is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which are excellent for the heart and cardiovascular system. The orange juice each day gives her vitamin C along with their horde of antioxidants.
- Mariam Amash, who at one hundred twenty years old, regularly consumes green vegetables as part of her good diet. They provide plenty of dietary fiber and carotene, along with vitamins and minerals such as iron. Eating any number of fresh vegetable like these will cut the risk of cancer and heart disease significantly.
- Custard cakes probably seem like they should be in a different article other than one about longevity foods but one hundred fourteen year old Mitoyo Kawate is adamant that this ultra sweet delight is her ticket to old age and why bother to argue. Medical professionals will agree that eating occasional sugary treats as part of a healthy balance diet will not be too bad for some. In fact, it can make sticking to a more restrictive diet in other areas that much easier to keep up.
- Alcohol on occasion is the secret for Lucy d’Abreu and her one hundred thirteen years of life. Drinking alcohol in moderation is known to decrease the risk of heart disease; however, alcohol is also associated with some forms of cancer and problem drinking brings with it a whole host of complications for a person’s health and wellness. Occasional imbibing is the ticket.
- Sausage and bread was the one luxury allowed by rural living Ukrainian Hryhoriy Nestor, but by all predictable understanding, we know consuming processed meats are not good. That said, ingesting this kind of diet has not harmed this centenarian. The experts agree that including this kind of food in a balanced diet would be okay as long as lots of vegetables are included along with plenty of activity and or exercise regularly.
- Bread, dripping, salt hardly sounds like a healthy meal plan but Ada Mason celebrated one hundred eleven birthdays enjoying just this kind of staple in her diet. An unhealthy choice by today’s standards, she swears this is what gives her the longevity she enjoys, even with the obvious risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Who would argue with someone who was alive when the Hun were attempting to conquer civilization in World War I.
- Porridge is just what the doctor ordered for Scottish centenarian Annie Knight who at one hundred eleven begins each day with the customary Scottish breakfast of this high fiber cereal. When milk is added the porridge becomes a bowl full of nutrients now including calcium.
- Boiled rice and chicken contains plenty of protein that is low in fat and a good source of fiber, minerals and vitamins that serves one hundred fourteen year old Yukichi Chuganji well. Yukichi cannot abide by vegetables so this meal has become a staple in their place.
- Cottage Cheese is a great way to get plenty of calcium along with other valuable nutrients. These are important for strong teeth and bones, along with an overall healthy body. This tasty food is a personal favorite for the world’s oldest women [arguably] Sakhan Dosova, who just achieved one hundred thirty years of age. [Questionable since birth records in many cases are nearly impossible to locate for age verification.] Nevertheless, she has been around for an extremely long time.
- Donkey milk, yes that’s what you read, donkey milk is hailed as an elixir for the ages by one hundred sixteen year old Maria Esther de Capovilla who claims to have drank this routinely as a youngster and is convinced it is the reason why she has lived for as long as she has. You will probably not find this variety of milk in your grocers cooler!
It is obvious from this list of dietary secrets from the super elderly, not all of these examples are commonly suggested as food varieties to achieve extreme life expectancy by the experts. Before you go looking for a reliable source of donkey milk and custard cakes, understand that what these incredible super centenarians are eating is just a part of what makes them outlive the rest of society.
Genetics has a certain amount to do with their longevity. That, along with the lifestyle choices these folks made from an early point in their lives. It is possible what their mothers did when they were pregnant with these individuals as unborn babies has something to do with it. It might be a lack of stress early on or throughout their entire lives that accounts for the extreme life expectancy. Who can be sure what the answer is.
There is a constant bond shared by all of these unbelievable elders and that is that nothing troubles them. This alone is something we should all learn from this interesting data. We need to stop sweating all the things we cannot control – along with perhaps adopting, the more conventional parts of their prolonged existence diets.
[Due to the age of these amazing individuals, some or all of them may no longer be with us when this article is eventually published. If that is the case, we can only wish them Godspeed in their new existence - may they continue to endure in peace and happiness.]
Thu, Feb 25, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Gerontology, Longevity