A woman, who recently celebrated her 104th birthday has divulged her secret to living a long life. María Segunda Pérez, affectionately known as La Nonita, was honoured with a birthday cake by her family at her nursing home in Córdoba, Argentina.
The celebration was attended by four generations of her family, from her children to her great-great-grandchildren. Marisa, one of María’s granddaughters, revealed that her grandmother has always promoted a positive outlook on life to her family.
Her key piece of advice for longevity is to « have good thoughts ». Marisa also mentioned that María emphasises the importance of concentrating on improving one’s own life rather than comparing oneself to others.
Additionally, she advises steering clear of divisive subjects such as politics and religion, opting instead for more peaceful conversations. Alongside practising good mental well-being, Marisa notes that her grandmother has consistently followed « a good diet » and led an active lifestyle filled with « a lot of movement and exercise ».
These wholesome practices appear to have played a crucial role in María’s achievement of reaching and relishing her 104 years. Marisa adds that her grandmother humorously claims « she will live until she is 200 years old, » as reported by Lavoz.com.
While some might think that life expectancy is purely a matter of genetics, health professionals say that lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, can play a crucial role. Healthline identifies 13 habits linked to a longer lifespan, including; not overeating, eating more nuts, consuming turmeric, having a diet rich in healthy plants, refraining from smoking, and regular physical exercise.
Much like Maria’s approach, the health website suggests that prioritising happiness can boost life expectancy.
A review of 35 studies indicated that happier individuals could live up to 18 per cent longer than their less content counterparts. In another study led by Professor Andrew Steptoe, it was found that greater wellbeing could enhance health and longevity.
The study analysed the responses of 9,050 English participants, averaging 65 years old, to an ‘eudemonic wellbeing’ questionnaire. Over the subsequent eight and a half years, nine per cent of those in the highest wellbeing category had died, compared to 29 per cent in the lowest category.
« We have previously found that happiness is associated with a lower risk of death, » shared the professor. « These analyses show that the meaningfulness and sense of purpose that older people have in their lives are also related to survival. »
He suggested that, while it’s not certain if higher wellbeing directly reduces the risk of death, the research does open up the « intriguing possibility that increasing wellbeing could help to improve physical health, for example through hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure ».
Which foods could help with longevity?
There’s no go-to diet that is guaranteed to add years onto your life, but some foods can help boost your health in a number of ways. According to Eating Well, research suggests that the Mediterranean diet is commonly linked to living longer.
The diet consists of a range of healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beans, and nuts. Berries have also long been studied for health benefits, which range from reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, boosting brain health, and lower levels of inflammation.
Dietitian and nutritionist Beth Stark says salmon, and other fatty fish which supply vital omega-3 fats, lean protein, B-vitamins, selenium and iron, could lower the risk of heart disease and an 80-90 percent lower risk of sudden cardiac death.
Overall, the NHS says healthy living includes eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercise, avoiding smoking and drinking less alcohol.
Source link
