CNN - Latest Comments in Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

aurora90 — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 08:36:54 -0000

I'm 90, pain-free, take no drugs (should take one for osteoporosis but doesn't agree with me). When asked (and I'm asked a lot!) my secret to being so lucky, here's what I know about me: I have never smoked (tried it when young couldn't inhale). On contrary I've had at least one martini just about every evening of my life since about 30 years old. Ditto coffee--every morning and strong. NEVER have drunk carbonated sodas or coke. I go barefooted a lot and have a vague belief that helps (like daily shiatsu?). I also believe MENTAL activity is at least as important as physical and diet. I love to learn new stuff, hang out at libraries. PLAY BRIDGE--scientists are supporting this view of mine that bridge--once learned--keeps you alive somehow. Last year I wrote and published a book about just this, playing SOCIABLE bridge (as opposed to serious bridge) called Bridge Table or What's Trump Anyway? Did you know that Hoyle (yes the according to guy) who wrote first book on whist (ancestor of bridge) lived to 93 BACK IN THE 1700s!! Must have been rare indeed and he played that 1700 version of bridge day after day.
I also feel a GENERAL willingness to let go of things that cause you stress if there's nothing you can do about it IS A HABIT TO ACQUIRE. If you can? DO IT. If not--find some technique for turning off those squirrel-cage thoughts over and over about things or people who drive you crazy.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

albmil — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:59:10 -0000

The REAL SECRET is to pick a diet style, and stick to it for 150 years.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

carolinep — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:23:56 -0000

You're confusing healthy criticism with american health bashing. We are unhealthy as a nation. GET OVER IT and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

BRUCERUBIN — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:50:04 -0000

My mom is 4 feet 8 inches tall 280 pounds has cholesterol 300 with an HDL of 180 and is 84 and has watched all her friends and my dad die and takes zero medications.Eating healthy makes a big difference but the best way to guarantee longevity is to pick your parents. What kills most people is coronary artery disease. I suspect people with higher levels of Super Oxide Dismutase live longer.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Mat777 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:30:36 -0000

Eat like a pauper and live like a KIng.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

rjp34652 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:53:09 -0000

Really tired of hearing how American health fares worse than other countries. Your gonna die from something, get over it.
You don't like American health? Move.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

myworldcc — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:13:29 -0000

i know the secret to longevity ,drink loads of alcohol , smoke weed, and most importantly never say no to a free beer....

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Nonyabizz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:02:49 -0000

I think diet is more important than happy hour. Less meat, more plants, low calorie density food.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

elviejo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:02:18 -0000

I find many of the comments here quite sad. My mother encouraged awareness of other nations, their people and culture: e.g. Asian cultures, typically revere the aged for their experiential wisdom. The Netherlands, especially when compared to the US, provide quite extensively for their aged. Probably the best in the Western world.
The American concept of the "bottom line" is dehumanizing, wherein everything is viable only in terms of profit: e.g., the military/industrial/political complex about which Eisenhower warned, is a back scratching complex of insiders who play on our, so easily induced, fears to keep the cash flowing, and is not all that much about national "safety." I believe in free speech and would not curtail it any more than is already done and involves consenting adults, but the "adult/"porno" industry has little to do with eroticism if one is past the imagination of a male 15 year old. Getting beyond the Judeo/Christian/Muslim mantra which entwines guilt, shame and "morality" to induce, once again, fear, one is aware that profit is the ONLY driving force; and all the "performers" are merely more "workers" to be exploited; to be discarded when used up, like old motor oil. Not withstanding the fact that fantasy is a significant ingredient.
The mind functions best when it rises to meet the challenge of the new, whether an idea or a visual image. There is always more to know. Unfortunately, our TV and the media, for the most part, promotes the opposite, despite the potential. Even the news is now entertainment. Not to speak of the ubiquitous cynical loudmouths spouting simplicities and feigned concern about our welfare. In truth, they are modern day images of Elmer Gantry as depicted by Sinclair Lewis in 1927.
We need not be fooled or discouraged about a long life. As my mother often opined in her later years,"look what I lived to see."

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Guest — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:23:27 -0000

I completely agree with author however isolated disconnected people living in suburban environments who are addicted to video games, tv, and other artificial environments are most likely to be perfect customers, want instant gratification etc.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

RCGV — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:21:44 -0000

WHY CNN DOESN`T INTERVIEW GUYANES PEOPLE

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Guest — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:19:55 -0000

these days,the average age seems to range 75to85....however this imformation is very fascinating!!!!!but,someone might think that's useless....
as we eat too much junk foods and lack of exersise so on..... but we don't have to worry beacause the answer is enjoying life~~~

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

darienlake — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:32:13 -0000

at leas we all can agree on one thing: that the Yankees must be stopped this year!

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

GoldHappyKat — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:50:03 -0000

Simplified: Slow down, do everything in moderation and connect with a community.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

RealArmyWife — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:49:11 -0000

Well, whatever floats your boat. Survival of the fittest, right?

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

TsirhCitnA — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:23:44 -0000

The whole thing is about trying to live a lifestyle of another culture. Don't expect the average American lifestyle to change in a day, when it took generations to work into the groove it's in. You want something pathetic? The elderly folk who feel they have no purpose in life because this society has insisted that they are useless in the work force. Can't live without money, can't get money without work.... unless you are on social security. Then just imagine the population of elderly folk collecting said funds for an extra 15 years. It's cost effective to have us die early.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Guest — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:13:37 -0000

I find it amazing how pathetic most people sound. If you don't want to live a long life, then fine. Kill yourself at a young age. But let's stop this BS about living in a nursing home. The whole issue is about being lucid and living close to one's family.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

TsirhCitnA — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:07:49 -0000

Sounds well and good but.....
I like my steaks. I like my hamburgers. I try to eat at least one of those a day. I like smoking, and my body isn't asking me to quit. It's also not telling me to continue. I do these things because I enjoy them. They make me happy. Meat tastes good and smoking helps me feel better about my less than stellar childhood.

I may die young, but that is still to be determined. I plan to live forever. So far, so good. However, plans and expectations can differ. So don't think I expect to live forever, I just plan to.

Could my problems have been avoided had I chosen to live a different lifestyle? Possibly. However, I live in America, and my lifestyle is that which has morphed from my upbringing. If I changed it now, it'd probably kill me, which would put an end to my careful planning of 26 years.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

lightyear77 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:38:14 -0000

That's a lot of activities, extrordinary for many of us :-) However, one sientific study suggested that people eat less live longer, which seems to imply that intensive physical activity is actually equivalent to no activity all but just eat less! In other words, instead of burning out extra calories by doing exersice, one can just take less calorie at first place and save a lot of sweat and time on treadmill, not to mention money spent on food, gym membership and running shoes. What do you think?

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

MollysMom65 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:14:16 -0000

To Guest - Why "wouldn't" I want to live that long? # 1, The sort of retirement my grandparents had is a thing of the past. I will more than likely be forced to work until I drop dead. In spite of having a 403b (no 401K here) and other savings, there is no way in God's Creation that my hubby and I will have nearly enough to live on to retire or even cut back work hours to part time.

Enjoying life isn't enough to make me want to live THAT long. I am quite healthy and happy as it is now, but that doesn't mean it will last. If YOU want to live until you 115 years old - be my guest, but don't think for a second that society is going to love paying your way once you hit the nursing home. Very few really old people are still living independently - for those who are - great, but the vast majority are in...NURSING HOMES.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Guest — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:00:20 -0000

Why wouldn't you want to live that long? When you become incredibly decrepit and lose your mind with old age, that would be understandable, but the whole point of living a healthier lifestyle is to avoid that for as long as possible. However, If you simply don't enjoy life enough to want to extend your healthy years, then I do believe you may be doing it wrong.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

Mitch123 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:46:49 -0000

Here is one physical activity. Bowling... Have a Garden... Try to relax and rest 15-30min a day. Take a deep breath. Eat with smaller plates. Eat large amounts of veggies. Volunteer...

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

jadedturtle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:57:16 -0000

Kinda sad that all these young people or people starting over think nursing is such a great life, statistics show otherwise

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

jadedturtle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:55:59 -0000

True especially in the ER I have seen it many of times. A lot of RN's switch to something else like further their education to something with less stress.

Re: Uncovering secrets to a longer life

jadedturtle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:54:32 -0000

If you don't wanna live long be a nurse I guess they drop over all the time due to unhealthy lifestyle of nursing. Sound fun?