kajarainbow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kajarainbow) wrote2005-12-19 11:11 am
kajarainbow) wrote2005-12-19 11:11 am
On longevity
I just read a fascinating National Geographic article on three regions where people have unusually long life spans, with especially high numbers of centenarians.
Commonly professed advice by all three:
Don't smoke.
Put family first.
Be active every day.
Keep socially engaged.
Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Sardinians (Italy mountain region):
Drink red wine in moderation.
Share the work burden with spouse. (Note: this apparently results in more equal lifespans for both men and women. In other groups, the women tended to life longer.)
Eat pecorine cheese (or other foods that have omega-3 fatty acids).
Adventists (in Loma Linda, California):
Eat nuts and beans.
Observe the Sabbath.
Have faith.
Okinawans (Japanese island):
Keep lifelong friends.
Eat small portions.
Find purpose.
Other noteworthy traits not professed by them but shared in common:
All three groups have at least some small degree of genetic isolation, it seems. The Sardinians and Okinawans live on islands, and the Adventists tend to only associate with their own. This would especially retain any longevity-related genes they might have.
Of the oldest people interviewed, all were notably friendly. None were grumpy. One even said that sometimes others complained about her excessive talking, heh.
My own attempt to summarize the apparent underlying common threads:
Diet: based primarily upon a well-varied balance of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, with other foods as a supplement to this core. Amounts of meat were low and some were vegetarians. Meat most particularly fish does seem to offer benefits, but those benefits seem best obtained from small portions (or at least that's the impression I get from assorted studies). There didn't seem any significant differences in longevity between pure vegetarians and those that eat fairly modest amounts of meat, or at least the article didn't give any impression of one.
Activity: lifelong physical and social activity. They keep themselves busy well into their senior years (even water skiing at age 100). They don't allow old age to shut them down physically and socially (even the ones that most look forward to their naps in the day).
Social: tight-knit circles of loved ones with plenty of support (such as a good family). Good friends, too (the Okinawans even have networks of friends who'll support each other in all kinds of ways). They live close to those social resources.
Temperament: Notably positive. Strong reasons to keep living (the Adventists' faith would seem to help them in this).
All, in all, a very interesting article, and pretty consistent with many studies I've read about. It's also notable that your psychological state definitely ties into your physical well-being (another thing I've gotten the gist of from many studies). That's a significant reason to disapprove of meanness, as the emotional upsets caused by that does affect people physically. In short, it does actual physical harm.
And, remember, kids, pronoia is good for you. ;) Live healthily and happily. This has certainly given me more inspiration to do so.
Commonly professed advice by all three:
Don't smoke.
Put family first.
Be active every day.
Keep socially engaged.
Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Sardinians (Italy mountain region):
Drink red wine in moderation.
Share the work burden with spouse. (Note: this apparently results in more equal lifespans for both men and women. In other groups, the women tended to life longer.)
Eat pecorine cheese (or other foods that have omega-3 fatty acids).
Adventists (in Loma Linda, California):
Eat nuts and beans.
Observe the Sabbath.
Have faith.
Okinawans (Japanese island):
Keep lifelong friends.
Eat small portions.
Find purpose.
Other noteworthy traits not professed by them but shared in common:
All three groups have at least some small degree of genetic isolation, it seems. The Sardinians and Okinawans live on islands, and the Adventists tend to only associate with their own. This would especially retain any longevity-related genes they might have.
Of the oldest people interviewed, all were notably friendly. None were grumpy. One even said that sometimes others complained about her excessive talking, heh.
My own attempt to summarize the apparent underlying common threads:
Diet: based primarily upon a well-varied balance of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, with other foods as a supplement to this core. Amounts of meat were low and some were vegetarians. Meat most particularly fish does seem to offer benefits, but those benefits seem best obtained from small portions (or at least that's the impression I get from assorted studies). There didn't seem any significant differences in longevity between pure vegetarians and those that eat fairly modest amounts of meat, or at least the article didn't give any impression of one.
Activity: lifelong physical and social activity. They keep themselves busy well into their senior years (even water skiing at age 100). They don't allow old age to shut them down physically and socially (even the ones that most look forward to their naps in the day).
Social: tight-knit circles of loved ones with plenty of support (such as a good family). Good friends, too (the Okinawans even have networks of friends who'll support each other in all kinds of ways). They live close to those social resources.
Temperament: Notably positive. Strong reasons to keep living (the Adventists' faith would seem to help them in this).
All, in all, a very interesting article, and pretty consistent with many studies I've read about. It's also notable that your psychological state definitely ties into your physical well-being (another thing I've gotten the gist of from many studies). That's a significant reason to disapprove of meanness, as the emotional upsets caused by that does affect people physically. In short, it does actual physical harm.
And, remember, kids, pronoia is good for you. ;) Live healthily and happily. This has certainly given me more inspiration to do so.