by Infoshelter

Created on: August 11, 2010   Last Updated: January 18, 2011

Since the end of the Second World War, average human life expectancy has doubled. This is mainly due to the improvement of living conditions, as well as the result of the development of science, especially medicine. Of course, in human history, there had been cases of people, especially in the Old Testament like Methuselah, who died at the age of 969(!), Noah (950 years old!) and in fact the majority of the Patriarchs, who lived several hundreds of years each. However, they were sacred men and common people have no chance to reach similar achievements of longevity. Modern people can only hope for scientists to discover the “Fountain of Youth”, so they can benefit from the discovery and elongate their lives for just one or two decades at the maximum.

According to the results of a research published in the “Science” magazine, 15% of the human population is believed to possess the ability to live to 100 years old in their genes, yet only 1% makes it. Another expert, Carl Eisforder claims that the most important factors which affect life expectancy negatively are associated with obesity, poor nutrition, and alcohol and drugs consumption. Undertaking moderate physical exercise and adopting abstinence from smoking are considered as major contributors to achieve longevity to 100 years old. Of course, they are not considered to be secrets, since nowadays everyone is aware of it.

In regards to healthy nutrition, vegetarianism plays a significant part in the extension of life expectancy, within a broader framework of healthy and balanced nutrition. Another observation made by Japanese researchers, in regards to the issue of life expectancy, shows that women are genetically more favored to reach the age of 100 years old.

A very interesting case is that of the Greek island of Ikaria, where the percentage of people over the age of 90 years old is much higher than anywhere else in Europe. Worldwide, there are three more similar cases of higher than average human longevity, represented by the populations of Sardinia, Kanawa in Japan and Costa Rica. The common denominator in all those cases is the way of living, characterized by total absence of stress and blissful serenity, in a clean, pure natural environment, where the benign not based on profit human contact, holds a primary position in social organization.

Besides, the adoption of a simple diet, rich in precious nutritional elements, which come from pure and fresh natural products, plays an important role to the elongation of life expectancy. Foods such as extra virgin olive oil are called “nutritional treasures”, containing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Those fats, beyond their value as sources of energy, also contribute to the revitalization of the human body, the reduction of the risk related to the corollary heart disease, through the reduction of “bad” cholesterol and the improvement of the blood circulation.

Therefore, if one wishes to follow the example of those, modern day Methuselah, he/she should adopt a healthy way of living from a very young age and stick to it. When the time of retirement comes, it would be highly advisable to retreat to a quieter environment, where one will be able to live the “golden years of life” within nature's tranquility.

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