Been reading a book called "The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer." Find the book very enjoyable and got some tips for healthy living from around the world. Dan Buettner has traveled the world to speak with centenarians, especially those countries with unusually large numbers of people who have reached the age of 100 years and continue to prosper and enjoy life well into very old age.
Buttoner interviewed older men in Sardinia, a place where men seem to do especially well. He also describes wisdom gained in Okinawa, from 7th Day Adventists living in Southern California, strong believers in vegetarianism, and in Costa Rica. Interestingly, many of the healthiest people come from areas with low socio-economic status. Apparently money cannot buy you health. Actually having endured some level of poverty seems to have strengthened these people. Simplicity is often the key. The long-living men in Sardinia had separation from some of the demands placed upon women in their families. The men tended to the flocks. Women took more responsibility for the day-to-day survival of the families, handling the management of money and the well-being of the children. Less stress for the men seemed to help.
A few tips from the 7th Day Adventists--
* 2 or more serving of fruit per day (less lung cancer)
* legumes (peas & beans) 3 times a week (reduces colony cancer)
* tomatoes-- less ovarian cancer
* 5-6 glasses of water (reduces the occurrence of heart attacks)
The group studies in Costa Rica, called Nicoyans, imbued in their men a strong sense of service to their families. The centenarian men felt great loyalty to their family and drew a powerful sense of service from their devotion to children and grandchildren.
Notice that though the Sardinian men benefited from their separation from societal pressure, and were still very valued by their society, and the Nicoyan men maintained great commitment to their families-- neither group emphasized macho-style competition. Both societies had lots of integration across the family unit. People, and especially men, felt valued and important. Nice to know that the older generation was cherished in all groups I have read about in the first portion of the book-- Sardinians, Okinawans, Seventh Day Adventists, and Nicoyans. And the health of these various groups benefited from the separation from mainstream dietary influence-- the modern junk food diet was not known to any of these traditional societies.
