Longevity and Healthy Aging

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Living longer and healthier is a challenge in our modern world. According to Gravilov and Gravilova a couple of scientists who spent the last 30 years of their lives studying longevity, if you are a woman born in November to parents who lived a long life and had a happy and healthy childhood you are lucky and have a good chance to be a centenarian. These attributes are a good start but this is not enough. If you have an office job, like to watch TV, snack on chips and drive everywhere, your sedentary life and your overeating habits may considerably decrease your chances of living a long life.

Our life expectancy has increased over the last generations but we do not die healthy and of old age. Instead we die from agonizing diseases: cancer, heart disease, COPD, Alzheimer’s, stroke and diabetes to name only the top six. The people who die from old age are not in the statistics because there are so few of them. The Hunzas in Pakistan and the Ikarians in Greece live isolated and feature the largest proportion of healthy elderly people in the world.

What is their secret?

  • First they eat with frugality and a variety of fresh natural organic foods that they harvest themselves. They only eat two meals a day and do not snack.
  • Second they have an active lifestyle. They move around constantly going up and down the mountains, farming and tending their gardens.
  • Lastly, they are happy people living a stress free life. They do not wear a watch, nap several times during the day and visit with each other often. They engage in their community, have an important social network and are connected to each other in a meaningful way.

It is not news that diet, exercise, social connectedness and happiness are the foundation of health and longevity. The Hunzas and the Ikarians are the living proof of all our laboratory studies. The question is, is it possible to be happy in our modern urban societies and lifestyles?

We now live in cities where we have lost touch with nature and where natural simple pleasures are replaced with addictive behaviors that do not quench our loneliness but rather enslave us. We are looking for white sugar treats to fulfill our need for love and are turning to alcohol to numb the pain of loneliness. We are getting in codependent relationships out of the fear of knowing ourselves and we lie to our partners when we pursue our volatile desire for extra marital sex. We get in such a mess emotionally that we cannot get out of the downward spiral. Certainly we are not happy, but is it possible to even dream of being happy in our modern world?

We cannot all go back to the old lifestyle of the village although a few people do. The question is how can we continue living in a city, driving a car and having a 9-5 job and collect the same benefits as the Hunzas and the Ikarians? I believe it is possible. It just takes a lot of awareness, strength and determination. It takes self-respect and high self-esteem. Here are some rules to organize our lives by.

1. Exercise

Although exercise cannot replace the continuous use of the body due to physical work, it has tremendous benefits. Exercise does not have to be strenuous but a fast walk in a park or any workout in a gym, will contribute to ward off obesity, high blood pressure and depression which are important risk factors of aging and mortality.

2. Sleep

Sleep and rest are fundamental. There are ways to cultivate proper sleep without medication avoiding stimulating foods and dealing with anxiety. Stimulants such as coffee, black tea and chocolate interfere with our ability to fall asleep and must be avoided. Excessive consumption of candy, chocolate bars or baked goods spike the blood sugar and interrupt sleep. Chaotic thoughts can be controlled by the practice of mindfulness, bringing the mind to the present with breathing.

3. Nature Therapy

Spend time outdoors as much as you can. Being in a natural setting provides profound healing and psychological benefits. Studies have shown that psychiatric patients improve when they are housed outside of the hospital in tents (tent therapy) and their condition deteriorates once back inside the hospital.

4. Stress Free Life

We need to learn how to take life in stride and continuously remind ourselves of our mortality and practice detachment from events that throw us out of our center. We tend to make ourselves responsible and blame ourselves for what is happening to us.

5. Social Connectedness and Love

We must be engaged in activities that bring goodness to other people in order to feel that our life has meaning.

6. Nutrition

Eating fresh, local organic food as much as possible including lots of fruits and vegetables is the key to a healthy body and brain. Having a small garden if possible even a windowsill herb garden will help. Eat plenty of the foods that will prevent inflammation and oxidation. Coriander will help with forming collagen and delay wrinkles, broccoli and all the Brassica family of vegetables will help in cancer prevention, turmeric will help to keep inflammation down, ginger will help with digestion. There are many other plants that will keep us healthy.
Avoid wheat, dairy, processed foods and be frugal when eating.

7. Go to a Naturopathic Doctor

A naturopathic doctor will look at all the aspects of your life in his or her health assessment. He or she will prescribe natural dietary modifications and remedies that will heal you truly by addressing the cause of disease. She or he will look at your nutritional deficiencies and support you in making decision that will empower you and set you free. Read about naturopathic consultation here.

Finally feel young and you will stay young!