Senior Citizens Key to Longevity is Attitude
Centenarians Exceed Life Expectancy with Anti-Aging Basics
Jan 11, 2009
Centenarians are representative of living life well. A plethora of studies state that a healthy lifestyle, especially one that starts earlier on in life, greatly assists with longevity. What is not mentioned too frequently is that a healthy attitude combined with healthy living choices can take aging well beyond average life expectancy.
Communities with a Long Life Span
In recent years researchers have trekked across many continents to find out what are the secrets to a long life. One study conducted by the U.S. National Institute on Aging focused on regions where people live significantly longer.
- Sardinia, Italy: One team of demographers found longevity in mountain villages where men are reaching the age of 100 at a very high rate.
- Okinawa, Japan: People on the islands of Okinawa are among the longest lived on Earth.
- Loma Linda, California: A group of Seventh-Day Adventists rank the longest living in the United States.
People living in these three locations produce the highest number of centenarians, suffer a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill other individuals around the world and enjoy healthier and happier years of life.
Fountain of Youth Secrets
- Eat Well: Healthy aging includes eating well with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, green leafy vegetables, red tomatoes, dark colored fruits, lots of fiber and fish are highly recommended.
- Exercise: Healthy senior living habits includes activity. Experts will agree that any kind of exercise is better than doing nothing and it's never too late to start. Walking on a daily basis is important. Lifting weights is a proven benefit especially in women. Bone and muscle loss can be stopped and in some cases, reversed by minimum weight lifting. Getting doctor recommendation is a must for anyone starting this activity.
- Social Activities: Having a strong social network of friends is part of the equation for seniors in staying healthy. The desire to be needed, the sense of having a purpose, having people to vent with or to share good times is crucial for good emotional health.
- Curiosity and Play: Keeping up with the world and the interests that were part of past years is important. Finding new hobbies and interests is also part of the equation in experiencing the fountain of youth.
- Sleep: Many people do not get enough uninterrupted sleep. Most doctors still believe that people need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night that is part of a consistent schedule. More often than not poor sleeping habits is a result of a bad mattress.
- Goals: Even after graduating to the centenarian class, set and work toward goals. No matter how large or how small a goal may seem, it is a goal and these are important at any age for good mental health. Even people with heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure are living to 100. Having a positive attitude to overcome illnesses is part of their goal strategy that works in many cases.
- Spiritual: Those centenarians who are living healthy and happy lives also attribute the fountain of youth to include spirituality. No matter what faith, having a strong belief system is a big player in vitality. Faith teaches to “accept the things that can't be changed” – those seven words when practiced constantly is the root to eliminating most of life's stress factors
An interesting side note according to the Daily Sun in Nigeria, Nigeria's oldest man recently passed away. Pa Aki Onoforere whose age is believed to be 160, never had a photo taken of him. He decided to have a photographer come and before he arrived, Pa Aki Onoforere passed away. His grandchildren wanted a photograph so when the photographer arrived, he took a picture of the recently deceased sitting in a chair.
As geriatric expert, Dr. Thomas Perls states, “the older you get, the healthier you've been.” It is never too late to change poor lifestyle choices (smoking, excessive drinking, poor dietary habits, etc.). Centenarians are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to what the fountain of youth is truly all about.
Resources:
Nature Activities May Slow Aging
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