Pictured here is my friend, Arthur, out for lunch recently, just minutes after being advised by his physician to cut back on the sodium in his diet. This photo was taken a few months before the release of a study by the National Cancer Institute announcing that eating less red meat and processed meats increases longevity; it was also taken some thirty-odd years after cholesterol was strongly linked to heart disease, salt to hypertension, and red meat and nitrates to certain cancers.
From the look of Art's pastrami sandwich, he's not following anyone's advice, not the researchers, not even his own doctor's, when it comes to diet. But then, why should he? Art is 95 1/2 years old and he has been eating this way his entire life. Oh, he's not without medical problems; in fact, if you can name it, he probably has it.
But no one can say for sure that any of Art's health issues have anything to do with his diet, especially because he has never been overweight or overindulgent in any of his eating habits. He has always played tennis or followed some sort of exercise regime; he was swimming regularly until he had a pace maker installed in his mid-eighties. Art has lived a routine life of moderation (in fact, he only ate half of his pastrami on rye that day), not deprivation, and he has defeated the odds with respect to both longevity and mental prowess.
In spite of his years, Art still has a razor sharp memory and the communication skills of a broadcast journalist, and he uses them both at every opportunity. With the help of his son, David, he lives at home in the house he shared with Gertrude, his wife of 70 years, until she left this life three years ago at age 91. Art has his moments of deep sorrow, and life hasn't been the same for him since he lost his wife. But still, he generally eats one meal out every day, and rarely misses a party or holiday celebration with family, friends and neighbors. He watches the news, keeps up with politics, and corresponds with relatives via e-mail. He's strong-willed, and an independent thinker, but he's also a man who reaches out and accepts help when he needs it.
To find out more about people like Art, the Boston University School of Medicine has been running an ongoing study for more than a decade of people who live to be at least 100 years old. Known as the New England Centenarian Study, this research has become the springboard for the New England Supercentenarian Study, recently established to study people age 110 and older (of which there are approximately 60 in the U.S. and up to 300 worldwide). By studying supercentanarians, the researchers hope to learn even more about the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to notable longevity.
What the researchers know at this point is that people who live to be at least 100 show significant delays both in functional decline and in decline due to major diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. Their bodies simply don't age as quickly as others. Many of the study participants had developed at least one of these medical conditions, but the conditions were monitored and treated and the participants were living very long lives in spite of their health problems. The majority of participants have developed cataracts at some point, and almost half suffer from osteoporosis.
What experts from various fields of medicine know about aging is that staying connected to family and friends, as well as some physical activity, maintaining a positive mental outlook, taking steps to reduce stress, and regularly visiting your health care providers, will all but guarantee a longer, healthier life. Everything else still seems to be in question.
When it comes to food, some people believe calorie restriction will increase longevity, others say raw foods and fresh juices hold the secret, and many experts swear by a Mediterranean-style diet. "I let everyone else follow the trends," Art says. "I just eat what I like."
Art doesn't eat mile-high pastrami sandwiches every day, but he's not drinking green tea or eating fresh organic vegetables on a regular basis, either. While no health care professional would ever promote a steady diet of processed foods, most will tell you that a life lived in moderation but also allowing a bit of fun, be it from food or frolic, is still the best prescription for a long and healthy life. Knowing when and how to indulge yourself may well be life's best medicine.
Family and friends look forward to Art becoming eligible for the centenarian study and perhaps even the supercentenerian study. He may be slowing down a bit these days, but there's currently no news from his physicians that would lead us to expect otherwise. I'll include updates on Art in future Cravings blogs that explore lifestyle and the aging process. Meanwhile, it would be great to hear from others who are in the process of living a very long life or know someone who is. Tell the rest of us how to do it!
