The Secrets of Long Life

The secrets of Long Life
A long, healthy life is no accident. It depends on good genes and good habits. Scientists who are interested in
investigating what contributes to long life have been focusing on groups living in several regions where longevity is
the norm.
A. Sardinians
In a group of villages on the island of Sardinia, 91 of the 17,865 people born between 1880 and 1900 lived to their
100th birthday - a rate more than twice as high as the average for Italy.  7
Why do they live so long? Lifestyle is part of the answer. The people work hard on their farms  CÂU 8 (outdoors)
and place great importance on family. Take 75-year-old Sardinian Tonino Tola for example. It’s 11 am and Tonino
has already milked four cows, chopped wood and walked 6km with his sheep. Taking a break, he sits down with
his family to eat. Nutrition is a factor in Sardinians’ longevity - their diets are rich in fruits and vegetables, milk
and dairy products, fish and some red wine, most of which are produced on their own farms. Their genetic
history also helps. Many of them are related to the first Sardinians, who arrived in the area 11,000 years ago.
Genetic traits have become stronger over the years and favour longevity.
B. Residents of Loma Linda, California
Marge Jetton is speeding down the motorway in her purple car. Marge, who recently turned 101, is late for one of
several volunteer commitments she has today. Already this morning, she’s eaten breakfast, walked 1.6 km, and
lifted weights.
Like many other residents of Loma Linda, California, Marge is a member of a religious community that has always
supported healthy living. It forbids smoking and drinking alcohol, and discourages the consumption of most meat,
rich foods and caffeinated drinks as well as most spices. Instead, they enjoy beans, nuts, whole wheat bread, soy
milk, tomatoes and other fruits as well as five glasses of water a day. All of these lower the risk of developing
certain diseases. In addition, every Saturday, they get together and socialise with each other to relieve stress. A
study has revealed that members of this community live four to ten years longer than other Californians.
C. Okinawans
Ushi Okushima has just started a new job. Not long ago she began wearing perfume. Predictable behaviour for a
young woman, perhaps, but Ushi is 103.
With a life expectancy of 78 years for men and 86 years for women, Okinawans are among the world’s longest-
living people. They enjoy years free from illness, have very low rates of cancer and heart disease, and are less likely
to develop dementia. Their habit of consuming food grown on the islands and eating in moderation - ‘eat until your
stomach is 80 percent full’ - may also contribute to their longevity. Furthermore, many belong to a ‘moai’, a
support network that provides help. ‘Ikigai’ may be another factor. The word means ‘that which makes one’s life
worth living’ and it is different for everyone. ‘My ikigai is right here,’ says Ushi as she nods towards her friends. ‘If
they die, I will wonder why I am still alive.’
D. Ikarians
Socrates Xerolas parties hard and stays up past 2 every night. The amazing thing isn’t that he does this in a remote
mountain village, but that he does it at 103 years old.
On the Greek island of Ikaria, more than a third of the residents reach age 90. They suffer less cancer and heart
disease and, most surprisingly, none of the dementia that afflicts other cultures. Long-living Ikarian observe about
150 days of religious fasts a year, sleep late and nap daily. They eat mostly leafy greens, potatoes and beans. But
there is one unique factor that is not seen in other areas where people live for a long time: the key ingredient to
living longer is growing right in their gardens. It’s a selection of herbs used to make tea and they all have one thing
in common - they lower blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease and dementia.
1. women who live longer than men. <<C>>

2. people whose religion doesn’t allow them to eat some things. <<B>>  Marge is a member of a religious
community that has always supported healthy living. It forbids smoking and drinking alcohol, and
discourages the consumption of most meat, rich foods and caffeinated drinks as well as most spices.
3. the role of genes. <<A>>
4. a special drink that fights disease. <<D>>
5. weekly meetings. <<B>>
6. people who sleep in the daytime. <<D>>
7. people born in a specific twenty-year period. <<A>>
8. people who mainly work outdoors. <<A>>
9. people who don’t fill themselves up when they eat. <<C>>
10. people who drink alcohol. <<A>>

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The secrets of Long Life

B. Residents of Loma Linda, California

1. women who live longer than men. <<C>>

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