Research Paper
Longevity
Lisa Winslow
Longwood University
HLTH-335-B03-Nutrition
Summer I Online
6/1/17
Longevity is duration of an individual life beyond the norm for the species. There are some populations that have figured out how to improve their quality of life and longevity and are currently living into their 90’s and 100’s. Not only are these populations living this long, they are doing so with little health to no health problems. Throughout this paper we will exam four different populations and their practices for longevity. We will explore their culture, physical activity, environment and diet. Throughout this paper we will look at populations in Bama, China, Campodimele, Italy, Loma Linda, California and Symi, Greece.
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It is considered to be the longevity capital of China (Hernandez, 2017). Its population is about 240,000 but more than 80 people are over 100 years old. Longevity in this population is thought to be due to genetics, climate and environment. Other researchers feel it is due to the sun, air, water, magnetic field and food (Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013). Essential trace elements, which are found throughout the land and water, play an important role in sustaining healthy aging (Cai and et al, 2015). Bama, China is a tropical region located in the hillsides and by the river and is isolated from polluted cities. Bama’s air is clean and free from pollution; it has a high concentration of negative oxygen ions, which is said to effectively eliminate free radicals within a human body (Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013). The diet consists of very little fat, animal proteins, salt or sugar. The diet does consist of large amounts of carbohydrates and dietary fiber (Miller, 2013). They also consume water that is naturally filtered through rivers and caves and is said to be abundant with vitamins and minerals. Most foods are steamed and not fried. Large amounts of rice are consumed that is typical cooked with a bit of salt and hemp oil (Haung, 2013). Pork, goat, chicken and duck are meats consumed, yet moderately. Most of this population eats one or two meals daily consisting 1400-1500 calories and some even less. Some locally grown foods consist of hemp …show more content…
These populations have many people living into their 80’s, 90’s and 100’s. Most of these populations are extremely healthy with little illness or diseases. The diets throughout these populations consist of mainly fruits and vegetables that are locally grown. Meals are in small proportionate sizes. The idea of theses diets high in fruits, vegetables and fiber, the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancers are greatly decreased. With exception of Campodimele and Symi, who make their own wine and liquors locally and have it with meals, little to no other toxins are consumed. Little to no meat is consumed, when it is it tends to be lean meats and not red meat. Sense of community is great with friends and family intertwining. The elderly are respected and looked up to. In all four populations the elderly remain active and working. They all have a positive, little stress, laid back mentality. With all of the above mentioned it is no wonder they have the longevity and quality of life that they
The Chinese elderly population, like the American elderly population, is not only an extremely popular social slogan in China, but also a topic discussed worldwide. The Chinese society wants a prosperous and strong elderly population. The Chinese society wants a population that has a good wellbeing and that wellbeing depends on many factors with health as a key component. China is emerging as a global power and this power has coincided with series of health problems for the Chinese elderly population. For example, one in four Chinese people aged 60 years or older has consumption levels per head below the poverty line (1). A total of 26.6 percent of Chinese adults have hypertension and men are at greater risk of getting hypertension (29.2 % vs 24.1%). Hypertension is more prevalent among the rural area residents than among
There are many environmental influences as well as human behaviors that contribute to one’s expected life span. Health and lifestyle are two major factors that play a role in determining what life would be like during the senior years of life. There are many advantages to having a strong social support network that consists of caregivers paid and unpaid. Seniors with this tend to live longer, remain independent and stay active in their later years. Citizens in today’s society are living longer due to technology, medications and an overall healthier lifestyle. Many reach the age of 100 but the maximum human life span is 120 years old. One’s personal data, career choices, environmental influences and amount of active interactions will determine how those of the older population will experience the aging process.
As we age, we become more prone to a wide array of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease and treating these diseases most definitely helps us live longer but they do not seem to halt the natural aging process that eventually causes our bodies to weaken and wither away. New research suggests that, like several biological processes, the aging process could also be controlled and this could lead us to live much longer lives. However, commoners and bioethicists alike are often concerned about the bioethical issues pertaining to the life extension phenomena. They argue that the quality of life may be compromised in exchange for longevity and this may be due to intervention in the
Many issues, both genetic and environmental, affect how we age. A 2014 Census Bureau report, “65+ in the United States: 2010,” present some statistics regarding people over 65 years old in the United States. Laura Skarnulis publishes her study titled “7 Health Challenges Of Aging” where she explains seven of the most common heath issues senior citizens face. Obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer are among the most common challenges senior citizens have to face. Skarnulis mentions that we should take care of ourselves while we are young. Some of these health issues can be prevented if the respective precautions are taken on
... surprisingly, they also have the lowest life expectancy of any ethnic group in the country. According to a study of Native Americans of the Southwest in an article published in the journal Public Library of Science, they had much shorter life spans than the general population. “Life expectancies…were 5.9 and 4.3 years lower…for males and females, respectively…”. Cause-of-death studies showed very high rates of diabetes. While it is true that eating a low fat, high fiber diet is healthy for everyone, it is especially true for Southwest Native Americans given these grim statistics and the probability they are carrying this “thrifty gene”. In light of these facts I believe an effort should be made to educate the Native Americans of the Southwest as to the importance of eating a low fat, high fiber diet. More than any other ethnic group, their lives depend upon it.
The human body is a complex system that often malfunctions. Many people believe that numerous diseases are natural reflection of the body aging and cannot be avoided. The goal of my paper is to elaborate this perception and explain that maintain healthy and active lifestyle can result in healthy body.
The Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology (1996) was a helpful source to gain a definition on aging which includes the concepts of life course, seniority, and treatment of the aged. Aging can be measured by common biological content: proportion of the maximum fife span one has lived, performance on a series of physiological tests which index biological age, and patterns of the age­specific risk of mortality. Despite this universal biological content, it is notable that aging takes on a variety of forms, many which show regular associations with aspects of culture. Rather than focusing on age, it may be more appropriate to review the life cy...
Popkin, M, Simons S, Kim, Contrasting socioeconomic profiles related to healthier lifestyles in China and the United States. NCBI. Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Jan 15;159(2):184-9 1. Web. 20 November 2013
Longevity is a foreign word when it comes to the love lives of young socialites. Family obligations, careers, and scandals often get in the way of long lasting relationships. It is almost a rule. The good thing for Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl is that every rule has at least one exception. They met in St. Bart’s in 2008 and have been going strong every since. The location became so special that they return there every year, and even became the spot of a very important part of their relationship. More on that in a little bit.
Studies about aging are relevant in today’s society because the aging process happens to everybody. Humans want to enjoy life with their family and friends and many look forward to their retirement so they can enjoy their time doing leisurely activities. Research on trying to find a cure for different cancers and slowing down the aging process is important if humans want to live a longer and more enjoyable life. By eating foods with antioxidants, exercising on a daily basis, challenging oneself with memory and critical thinking activities, avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol, managing stress, and by surrounding oneself with a good support system can all contribute to a longer and happier lifespan.
Growing up in today’s culture offers more convenience than ever before. This fast-paced lifestyle unfortunately leaves little time for most to shop, prepare and enjoy healthy food. Many people find it easier to buy packaged, pre-made or fast food in place of more sustaining foods. In Paleolithic times humans were required to hunt meat, gather and forage vegetables, roots, seeds and nuts to live. These skills served up fare that was full of nutrition and sustenance. Today’s processed and sugar-laden foods offer convenience but at the cost of some health problems. A February 2009 study done by the Department of Medicine in the University of California, San Francisco, shows a remarkable improvement in
who are from different regions of the world live a healthy lifestyle, eat a plant-based diet,
Okinawa is a popular island located in Japan. The island is commonly known the health and longevity of its people. The island was once known as “the land of the immortals,” according to the article on Blue Zones’ website (Okinawa Explorations). The ages of the people living on the island are way beyond what we would consider old in the U.S. The lifestyle of the people living in Okinawa definitely plays into the longevity of its people. According to an article on Okinawa’s Longevity, the people of Okinawa achieve old age by eating right, exercise, right attitude, maintaining a garden, and having a supportive group of family and friends (Okinawa Longevity). It is easily said that the life rate of the people of Okinawa is significantly higher than those of people living in America. This being said I think the people of America should definitely consider adopting some of these traits in order to lengthen our life span.
The natural process of aging is inevitable and we cannot escape it. The deterioration in health is associated with many factors like genetics and the environment. However, there are precautions and preventative steps we can take to help age healthier. Not smoking can prevent premature wrinkles and some sagging of the skin. A healthier diet and exercise can help maintain a lower weigh and keep your heart healthy. Taking supplements and vitamins can help the body when it’s difficult to receive there from your diet. When a person is not getting enough calcium from their diet they may resort to calcium supplements that can help with bone density loss. Everyone dreads getting old, but being well informed and taking preventative care can help with affect the changes of age.
Do you dream of living a long, healthy life? Fortunately, it is much easier to achieve this dream today, in a world that is more technologically and medically advanced than ever before. Because of these favorable advances, the life expectancies in most countries have increased. It is not enough, however, to solely rely on technology and medicine to increase your life expectancy. In order to make your dream a reality, you need to take a few additional steps. To improve your chances of living a long life, you should eat and drink healthy, have a consistent sleep routine, be physically and mentally active, reduce causes of stress and depression, avoid and/or quit smoking, and abstain from overindulgence.