Not long ago, the thought of living a hundred years was a fantasy. Life expectancy has increased in recent years. Leaflets advertising insurance and investment funds show smiling pensioners while traveling or cruising.
Everyone would like to be young and healthy for a long time.
- What do 100-year-olds differently from the rest of society?
- What has to influence on their long and healthy life and makes them healthier than some 70-year-olds.
- What has the greatest impact on life expectancy?
A few years ago, Junko Takahashi * interviewed a group of seniors. She traced what they eat, how Japanese 100-year-olds live. In the beginning, it was difficult for her to determine what unites 100-year-olds. During her research, she did not find the elixir of youth. At the end of the study, several common distinguishing features of healthy 100-year-olds were identified:
- There were no obese people in the group of 100-year-olds questioned. All seniors had normal body weight.
- The diet of 100-year-olds, although different, has common features:
• Seniors live in Japan. Most meals are based on eastern cuisine.
• They eat vegetables every day, many people eat homemade jam.
• They like beef. However, meat – fish, beef, eat rarely in comparison to western cuisine. One centenarian doctor said that during the week he reaches for beef twice a week (for a steak weighing 60 grams). Some 100-year-olds liked meat at an advanced age. - What they eat is not always important, but the culture of food:
• They eat little, not enough to burden the stomach too much
• They chew their food thoroughly, which means that they take a long time to eat.
• They enjoy their meals. Some 100-year-olds eat according to doctor’s guidelines, others eat what they like. Even some drink good quality spirits. They always stick to small amounts – a few sips.
• They do not eat ready meals. Meals are prepared by themselves or cooked by their loved ones. - They live in harmony with their families. Children, grandchildren help them. Sometimes they live with them. In many cases, the family prepares 100-year-old meals, they like to meet to talk.
- Seniors are cheerful and kind. They have community support.
- Over 100 years they have gone through various difficult situations – hunger, war, ill-treatment from others, severe illness. They came out of what was bad, thanks to a great will to survive.
- Despite their age, they are very active. Some of them are still working.
• Most 100 years worked in agriculture or forestry. The second place is office work, in the case of women taking care of the household. The third group is the trade. - They exercise their bodies every day. They walk, clean at home, do light exercises in the morning. Some people take part in seniors competitions. For most, work from home means physical activity. They clean and cook themselves.
- They take notes every day. Sometimes it’s just one sentence, but they take notes regularly.
- They take care of themselves and their appearance. Active 100-year-olds leave the house and meet their friends, hence their attention to appearance. They want to show full dentition with a smile. They choose clothes and accessories to fit together.
- They have friends and make new friends. It helps them when their loved ones move away from them sooner.
- They learn new things, train the brain. Some read a lot, others learn more sports. Despite their age, they are constantly developing.
Share the post link with the person you wish for many years of health
*) I wrote the text after reading the book: “El método japonés para vivir 100 años : qué comen, cuánto duermen y cómo viven los ciudadanos más longevos del mundo” by Junko Takahashi