Medical science and technology may be just two reasons behind a substantial increase in the population living to be older than ever before. An ongoing project conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine called the New England Centenarian Study includes a number of studies that try to identify unique characteristics and commonalities that bring longevity, slow aging and limit disease.Among the myths the studies shatter is that genetics alone account for advanced old age and that centenarians are the lucky few who have escaped major illness. – Macleans.caBoston University has created 3 groups for centenarians, individuals that live to be 100 years or older:
Few centenarians are obese. In the case of men, they are nearly always lean. Substantial smoking history is rare.
Loma Linda University, a Seventh-day Adventist educational health-sciences institution in Southern California, is another organization that has been conducting studies since 1958 into life longevity and understanding how to avert age-related disease such as cancer. A group of researchers at Loma Linda suggests that a vegetarian diet is one of the keys to a longer lifespan. Vegetarian Adventist men live to an average of 83.3 years and vegetarian women 85.7 years – 9.5 and 6.1 years, respectively, longer than other Californians. – Principal investigator Gary E. Fraser, MD, PhD (Yahoo.com) The Adventist Health Study 2 also found that: Vegans are, on average, 30 pounds lighter than meat eaters. Vegans are also five units lighter on the BMI scale than meat-eaters. Vegetarians and vegans are also less insulin resistant than meat-eaters. (Yahoo.com) For most of us, there’s always room to improve daily activities in our pursuit of a healthy, long life. It’s easy to get overwhelmed about what to focus on in order to build a strong foundation for good health. Think about starting with the basics. Eat your greens. Exercise. And don’t sweat the small stuff.
Anna Hunt is a writer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in research and editorial writing. She and her husband run a preparedness e-store outlet at www.offgridoutpost.com, offering GMO-free storable food and emergency kits. Anna is also a certified Hatha yoga instructor. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. Read more of her excellent articles here. |