More magazine articles are written about how to look young and how to be healthy than any other subjects. Put either of these on the magazine cover with a catchy title and the magazines will fly off the newsstand. Not to be outdone, I've culled a few tips from the experts.
First, to be healthy, according to research done by author Dan Buettner, it helps to live in one of the "Blue Zones," the mountainous Barbagia region of Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy; the Japanese island of Okinawa; in a group of Seventh-Day Adventists in Loma Linda, Calif.; and in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.
Common denominators among all the above vigorous, super-elderly populations were close family relationships, a sense of purpose and good or sparse eating habits. Buettner found long-lived people have a strong sense of purpose and a strong support network.
Okinawan women, for example, gather in social networks known as "moais." They regularly get together at 5 o'clock, drink some sake and gossip. If a member doesn't show up, the others hobble over to see if she is OK or needs help. Women in Okinawa also tend to be spiritual leaders, which gives them a sense of purpose or "ikigai."
It seems that having a spiritual sense, a sense of belonging and personal value, enhances a person's ability to follow good health habits because they feel worthwhile. Limiting food intake and eating healthful foods are key. Many centenarians studied rarely ate meat and they frequently consumed nuts or plant-based foods. Sardinians also drink a dark red wine that is loaded with antioxidants.
Another study at Tufts University has resulted in a soon-to-be published update of the Food Guide Pyramid for Older Adults. Unfortunately, older than age 70, we are hit with a double whammy (among other whammies too numerous to list here). We need fewer calories since we are not as physically active as we once were, and our metabolic rate slows down. The new pyramid emphasizes:
- Whole, enriched and fortified grains and cereals.
- Bright-colored vegetables such as carrots and broccoli.
- Deep-colored fruit like berries and melon.
- Low- and nonfat dairy products such as yogurt and low-lactose milk.
- Dry beans and nuts, fish, poultry, lean meat and eggs.
- Liquid vegetable oils and soft spreads low in saturated and trans fats.
- Fluid intake.
- Physical activity daily.
Meanwhile, earlier this month at the Tech Crunch 50 conference in San Francisco, a little gadget called the Fitbit Tracker, was introduced. It will track your health minute to minute, measure things such as calories burned, quantity of sleep and whether you have exercised enough or slept too few hours. A symbol, a flower, for instance, shrinks or grows based on how healthy you have been.
If you eat too much cake and candy and skip your exercise routine, the flower will wilt. Eat a salad for dinner, work out and get lots of sleep and the flower will bloom. At $99 for each Fitbit Tracker, I think I will keep track of my own wilting or blooming, whichever the case may be.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
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