So you thought a balanced diet and moderate exercise were the key to a longer life? They probably are, but laziness, laughing and wine have been touted as just a few of the alternative tickets to reaching your golden years on flying form.
Follow the seven point guide to prolonging your life and you could be getting a telegram from the Queen.
Put your feet up and laugh!
Two German doctors claim to have the winning formula for a long life: being a couch potato and laughing lots! Their book ‘The Joy of Laziness: How To Slow Down And Live Longer’ insists that too much energy results in ageing; a relaxed way of life is more important than frequent or obsessive exercise, they argue. Combine a carefree attitude with a daily dose of the giggles and you’re onto a winner: when you laugh your body produces hormones which make you relax. Buy the book
Exercise your grey matter
Studying can prolong your life, say a group of doctors at the Medical Centre of the Duke University in Durham, USA. Of the 10,000 subjects involved in the research, those who had been involved in education were found to have a significantly reduced chance of having a heart attack or suffering from stress. It is disputed whether or not our brain cells regenerate as we age, so make the most of them whilst you have them by learning something new. Learn a new skill
Don’t worry, be grumpy!
The Italian island of Sardinia is home to more than its fare share of centerians; the population’s informal greeting ‘Akentannos’ (meaning ‘to 100 years’) speaks for itself. Scientists have found that one of the main causes of the inhabitants’ longevity is grumpiness! Centuries of foreign invasion, cultural isolation, and hard labour have trained these people to expect little. This fatalistic attitude, combined with a dry sense of humour and sense of duty is, it is theorised, responsible for low stress levels, fewer heart attacks and strokes, and generally diffuses the corrosive effects of fear of death.
Give up your free time
An American study found that pensioners who give up some of their free time to help others, are also helping themselves. The research showed that elderly people actually live longer because they volunteer. The main reason is thought to be the greater meaning and purpose in life provided by as few as twenty hours a year devoted to voluntary service. Great news for OAPS, but why wait until then? Start volunteering today
Friends ‘til the end
According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, if you want to live a longer, healthier life, you need friends. In a 10-year study of more than 28,000 men, subjects who were socially isolated were 20 percent more likely to die from any cause than those who maintained a large network of family, friends and community involvement. So, what better excuse for a get together! Look up old pals
A man’s best friend
Dr Michael F Roizen, author of ‘Real Age: Are You As Young As You Can Be?’ recommends pampering a pooch as a way of adding a whole year to your life! Dogs are great stress reducers, he claims, and they can help lower both blood pressure and cholesterol. And you get the benefit of exercise, and the chance to make friends by walking them. Buy the book
A glass of wine a day
One barrel of wine can work more miracles than a church full of saints, goes an Italian saying. Medical experts and nutritionists are inclined to agree. A scientific team in Denmark found that cheese, pastry and meat-loving Frenchmen have 40% fewer heart attacks than Americans, whose diet is similar in many terms but largely lacking in red wine consumption. It has since been confirmed that the nutrients, minerals, vitamins and immune system boosters contained within red wine can add-up to substantial long-term health benefits - especially for individuals at risk of heart disease as a result of a high fat, high cholesterol diet. Drink in moderation though –one or two glasses a day should suffice.
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The oldest person ever was a French woman called Jeanne-Louise Calment. She lived to be 122 years and 164 days old. Jeanne was 14 when the Eiffel Tower was built, and starred in a film about her own life at the age of 114.
The oldest living woman is Hendrikje Van Andel-Schipper, born in the Netherlands in June 1890. She is an ardent supporter of Dutch soccer team Ajax, who she first watched play 80 years ago.
The oldest man alive is Emiliano Mercado Del Toro, born in Puerto Rico in August 1881. He is also the oldest living veteran, having been called up by the US army in 1918.
The oldest woman in the UK is Lucy Victoria d’Abreu, born in India in May 1892 and now residing in Stirland, Scotland. Lucy’s predecessor, Gladys Hawley, died at the age of 111 years and 339 days. She attributed her long life to her ‘customary sun-downer of brandy and dry ginger ale’.
