We're All Getting Older (That's a Good Thing)
Written by Bruno Bornsztein
Our average life expectancy hovers around 78, but the number of Americans joining the 85-and-over club is growing fast (it's the fastest-growing population in the United States. This, according to a story today on NPR describing the lifestyles that lead to a longer, better life:
"Researchers at Harvard University's Brigham and Women's Hospital followed a group of 2,357 men for about 25 years beginning in their early 70s. They found that the men who lived the longest had some things in common: They avoided smoking, didn't become obese or diabetic, controlled their blood pressure, and remained physically active, exercising two to four times per week. These men had greater than a 54 percent chance of living into their 90s, researchers said."
Of course, this is the "Moving Naturally" idea we've been promoting here at BlueZones. We're not talking about bodybuilding, but rather the importance of regular, moderate exercise.
Despite high blood pressure and a respiratory condition, [Peggy Dunbar, 87, of Washington, D.C.] tries to get up and out every day.
"You see, before I got married I was a student nurse, and in those days, they walked and walked and walked," Dunbar says. "We didn't even have a car."
So, before society engineered exercise out of daily life, Dunbar's habits were already set. These days, she tries to fit in two or three exercise classes a week.
According to a second study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, this kind of active lifestyle is a key predictor of longevity.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
What is 'Move'?
Moving naturally the idea of making low-intensity, daily physical activity an unavoidable part of your environment. Read more...
