JEDDAH, 14 July 2004 — Salim, a retired psychiatrist, recently celebrated his 100th birthday. He was very healthy and active physically and mentally until a year ago. Since then has suffered some health problems that left him less active, even though he has regained some of his energy in the last few months.
Salim stopped practicing 30 years ago, but kept himself busy with family and hobbies. He took up decorative woodcarving and until recently he produced beautiful pieces of art. He is short but quite slim. He kept a moderate balanced diet and fasted even when it was not Ramadan before his illness. He was quite active, avoided stress, did not smoke or take stimulants or alcohol. He went to bed early and woke up early and had an amazing sense of humor, as well as a sharp mind. Intrigued, I asked his wife, 20 years his junior, reasons for his longevity. She replied with a girlish giggle, “Because I love him and he loves me.”
Amazing what love can do. But let us review his lifestyle. Before his recent illness, Salim ate a balanced diet moderately and fasted often. He was active and reduced stress by having a hobby and sense of humor, which kept his mind alert and alive. Finally, what fed all his senses is the love and understanding of his wife.
Gerontologist and scientists are studying longevity in different ways. Some who have experimented with rats, worms and fruit flies believe calorie restriction in humans too can extend life expectancy.
MIT biologist Professor Leonard Guarente found in 2000 that a calorie-restricting diet stimulated the silenced information regulator (SIR2) gene. Increased SIR2, tied to extending life span in yeast and round worms, apparently slowed down their aging process. The excitement here is that humans are carriers of a similar gene.
This excitement seems to run beyond science laboratories. A group called the Calorie Restriction Society is already practicing low-calorie diets for the purposes of disease prevention and longevity. Some members have gone as far as reducing daily calories to 1,400 while keeping a balanced nutrition, in quest of better health. This lowered calorie intake also requires a decrease in activity, stretching life span by 30 percent provided this regimen is started as early as infancy.
This theory may explain the case of Amina who lived to a healthy 93. A mother of seven children and grandmother to 33 children, she was always extremely slim with minimum food and calorie intake. She was gracious, good-natured, pleasant and loving but a tough character. She kept her emotions under control even under extreme pressure. She had a kind heart and forgiving soul. Her blood pressure was the only indicator of stress or perturbation. Her food intake was the bare minimum, so was her activity. I do not remember her ever making a hurried move, but she walked unaided until the very end of her life.
Amina was devoted to her family. Her children loved her and lived around her with their children. She was always surrounded by love and care. Her mental abilities and memory were very sharp even on her deathbed. She was an impressive matriarch. Did her lifestyle affect her longevity? Does she prove the calorie-restrictive theory correct? Time, experiments and science will tell us.
Some scientists theorize that lifestyles play active roles in the quality of health, disease prevention and longevity. Some believe that certain diets, like the Japanese traditional diet, have beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol serum, and obesity leading to a longer life span. This low-fat diet emphasizes fresh fish and seaweed but no cow milk products. It includes a variety of mushrooms and fresh vegetables, soybean and its by-products. Sugar and starches are extremely low in this diet. Green tea, with its powerful antioxidant benefits, is a favorite drink.
This is one example of healthy diets. Apart from moderate balanced nutrition, I still believe health, wellness and longevity come as a result of a combination of daily behavioral patterns, such as regular physical and mental activity, stress management, family, social and spiritual support, and love, like we saw in the case of Salim and Amina.
Whether they are healthy lifestyle behaviors, an activated SIR2 gene, or inherited factors, we have to make efforts to enhance quality of health and life to extend life expectancy.
(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected].)
