›› Living Longer
Why are people in
some cultures living longer than most others? Do they have secrets to
leading a long, healthy life? Well, not exactly. They just seem like
secrets because most of us aren't employing them, even though most of
us already know what they are. Healthy diet, healthy lifestyle,
exercise, positive outlook, faith, family and companionship.
As far as diet goes, the best things for all of us are fresh
vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruits. Beans are good for you too,
and nuts are great in moderation. Also, just about any foods containing
omega-3 fatty acids are good for you. Did you know that eggs from free
range chickens contain omega-3 fatty acids? So do many cold water fish
and pecorino cheese. Red wine in moderation is also touted by some
octogenarians as a key to living longer.
Another thing about eating is that portion size is very important. The
smaller the portions, the better, even if it means eating a couple more
meals in a day. It's easier on the body than filling up in one or two
big meals a day. And smoking is rarely a part of the lifestyle where a
greater than average number of people are living longer than most.
Social factors are also key. Faith in God, lifelong friends and family
to share life's work and burdens with all help people live longer lives.
An active lifestyle is also important. Many of us are way too
sedentary. It seems built into modern life. But there are some
cultures, in Japan and Italy for example, where people are living rural
lives and are on the go all day-fishing or milking cows, mending
fences, chopping wood, trimming trees, roping animals, cooking
everything from scratch. And they do these things throughout their
lives. Sounds exhausting, doesn't it? But, with fresh air, family,
friends, faith and good food, all of the activity equals living longer,
and it appears more contentedly.
Having purpose or goals is also helpful. In some cultures, elders are
respected spiritual leaders. Assisted living communities and nursing
homes are unheard of. People look forward to their old age and having a
valued place among longtime friends in the communities they love.
Wouldn't it be nice if that were the case everywhere?
There are things we can all do personally to improve our chances of
living longer. Diet and exercise are under our control. So is finding
purpose in our lives. So is prayer. Other things take working together
with others to get what we want, to build community and lifelong
friends, to share worries as well as resources. The time to start
living a long, healthy life is right now.
››
A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
