| I've been an advocate of healthy living for about 15 | | | | interesting to see that most Centenarians have always |
| years now and I truly love eating healthy and | | | | lived this way. Another trait they have in common is |
| exercising because it makes me feel good. I also do it | | | | that the majority of them have always had healthy |
| because I would like to live to 100 and with all the | | | | blood pressure levels throughout their entire lives. We |
| experts talking about the benefits of exercise and | | | | all know the importance of maintaining healthy blood |
| healthy eating and how it is your best chance of living | | | | pressure levels but hyptertension is a problem many |
| disease free and also increasing your life span I have | | | | people have. One thing I found extremely interesting |
| made sure my lifestyle includes exercise and healthy | | | | about Centenarians is that a lot them were never big |
| eating on a regular basis. I can't say I don't cheat | | | | into exercising throughout their lives. |
| because let's face it, life isn't worth living if you're not | | | | |
| going to have fun and indulge every once in a while. | | | | I find this fact extremely interesting because I |
| | | | | associate a sedentary lifestyle as being unhealthy but |
| Another thing I love to do is read. I read about 1-2 | | | | I'm sure they were active in other ways. Some |
| books a week because I truly love to learn (and show | | | | Centenarians believe that having an alcoholic beverage |
| off when Jeopardy is on). One of the things I love to | | | | once a day throughout their adult lives has contributed |
| read about is health and fitness. I have read several | | | | to their long lifespans especially since some research |
| books on the subject and consider myself pretty | | | | says a drink or two a day is actually good for you. |
| educated when it comes to this topic. Because I enjoy | | | | Some Centenarians even took up smoking in their later |
| reading books on these subjects I also enjoy reading | | | | years but they definitely don't associate this with living |
| news articles related to health and fitness. One subject | | | | long. It's just an unhealthy habit they took up in their |
| that really interests me is Centenarians. These are | | | | later years that hasn't affected their health. |
| people who live to the age of 100 and over. I enjoy | | | | |
| reading about these people and how they've lived their | | | | In closing, many things contribute to living a long life. |
| lives to be able to reach this age and beyond. What | | | | Overall, I think it comes down to heredity, eating small |
| amazes me the most is that most of these people | | | | portions, and taking the necessary supplements and |
| haven't lived an overly healthy lifestyle and some of | | | | medications your doctor recommends. I've read so |
| them have quite a bit in common. | | | | many stories of how people who are big into fitness |
| | | | | drop dead from a massive heart attack and it makes |
| One common trait a lot of them do share is that they | | | | me wonder if there is really a benefit to it if your goal |
| never overeat. In a country like the US that is | | | | is to love to 100. So many people I know who live a |
| extremely rare since the portions we're accustomed | | | | long life are not gym goers and don't eat overly |
| to are huge compared to other countries all over the | | | | healthy. What they do have in common is a positive |
| world. Over 70% of Americans are overweight with | | | | attitude, the ability to eat small meals and not give into |
| around 25% of these overweight people being obese. I | | | | the temptation of stuffing their bellies, healthy blood |
| know how I feel when I eat to much and it is a terrible | | | | pressure levels, and taking the recommended |
| feeling. Eating small portions throughout the day is | | | | medications and supplements that their doctors |
| something almost every book and article talks about in | | | | recommend. What do you think the secret of living to |
| regards to living a long and healthy life and it's | | | | 100 is? |