How To Live a Long Life: Some Observations

You can say a person's longevity is determined by his genetics.  A new study published in the journal Science has already suggested that a set of 150 genes may be key to a person's longevity.

Tom Perls at Boston Medical Center and colleagues, authors of the study, analyzed genetic data from more than 1000 centenarians and established a statistical model based on the longevity genes that the researchers said can predict whether a person can  live over 100 and the accuracy is  77 percent.

Genetics is important, but not everything that a person needs to live to be a centenarian.  

Environmental factors or modifiable lifestyle parameters may also play a role in a person's longevity, according to Winifred Rossi of the National Institute on Aging's Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, which funded The New England Centenarian Study.

Foodconsumer.org has reported that certain foods, diets and exercise may boost an individual's lifespan. However, no one knows exactly how an individual centenarian is able to live over 100 years. 

Here are some observations how long-lived people live their lives.

1) Two sisters in New York who were over 100 years old many years ago.  They were never married.  They attributed their longevity to using cod liver oil for a lifetime;  Could omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D in the liver oil make some difference?

2) Years ago, a 93-year old gentleman in China were able to stand to give a 3-hour lecture nonstop. He said he ate mostly a vegetarian diet.  He ate no more than the amount of meat which was enough for a taste.

3) A Chinese immigrant who lives in New York is now over 100 years old.  He is healthy and his skin is as young as baby skin. His 70-year old wife said the secret is that he drinks two glasses of bitter lemon juice every day.

4) A Chinese immigrant who lived in New Jersey was so energetic at the age of 85 years that he worked all day without feeling tired. When asked why he is so energetic, he said I don't worry about anything. And eat some red Korean ginseng. But he said American Ginseng is not as powerful.

5) A Wisconsin woman still drives after age 100.  Her daughter said the secret for her longevity is that she always keeps windows open even in winter time.  That may make sense as indoor air quality can be ten times worse than outdoor's, according to the EPA.

Although no one knows exactly what make them live so long, one thing for sure is that some lifestyle parameters should somehow play a role in a person's longevity.

By Jimmy Downs