Living to 100: Eat less drink red wine but no sex?
November 11, 2007
102 year old Esther MacKay attributes her longevity to three lifestyle rules — no smoking, no drinking and no sex. MacKay is featured in the CBS News Sunday Morning segment Could We Live Forever? Or Even Come Close?
Centenarians are often asked the secret to living to 100 and beyond. The answers vary between the complete abstinence of habits such as smoking and drinking to daily drinking and smoking. Think George Burns. For those fortunate to live to 100 and beyond, popular thought has been it is all in the genes. Genes must play a role but it might not be the only factor determining the last birthday we celebrate.
As a whole, we are all living longer. In 1900, the average lifespan for a man ended at 47 years. Today, the same man can expect to live to 78 years. As technology and science take a closer look at longevity, new discoveries are being made that suggest one of the factors that influence how long we might live involves how much we eat. Researchers still do not understand exactly why, but a calorie restricted diet can give you more years of life. Calorie restriction appears to slow down all the diseases related to aging.
A calorie restricted diet is not the same as being anorexic but restricting calories is not an easy diet to live by. Initially, most people might have a difficult time with the hunger that results from restricting calories to 1,000 calories a day. Over time, calorie restriction does get easier and the feelings of hunger do subside. In a country where obesity is at epidemic proportion, getting in the habit of restricting calories can only lead to better health.
Calorie restriction is not the only tool in the longevity toolbox. Resveratrol, found in red wine, is being studied in the form of a pill. Each pill of resveratrol equals 1,000 glasses of red wine. Research studies are concluding that resveratrol offers health benefits that fight many of the diseases normally associated with aging.
Interested in more information about a calorie restricted diet? Visit the Calorie Restriction Society. Curious how long you can expect to live? Visit the Life Expectancy Calculator.