How to live 100 years

Acciaroli, Italy  Eat badly and work hard," 94-year-old Giuseppe told me when I asked him the secret to a long life.

Giuseppe was taking me to his garden, which he tends to every day, growing tomatoes, peppers, lemons, oranges and lotus fruit.

We had come to his hometown of Acciaroli, south of Naples, for a report on the amazing longevity of its inhabitants, one in ten of whom, according to Mayor Stefano Pisani, is classed as a centenarian.

The reasons put forth for their amazing longevity are many -- the so-called "Mediterranean diet," regular exercise, a mild climate

 

Mother-of-eight Luigina Vigiconte, 101, says you must "always be optimistic, never bitter, and always be polite with people."

For his part Giuseppe laughs off all the talk about clean living, pointing out that until five years ago he smoked two packs of cigarettes a day.

His prescription is somewhat more adult-themed. His secret? "Donne," he says -- women.

He told me that after his wife died six years ago he became depressed. "But then," he recalls, "I thought it's not the end of the world. I should go on living. So I asked a donnina ('little woman') if she would go with me, and she said yes.

"I noticed that too is indispensable," he says. "It makes you happy, more cheerful."

"But does it still function?" I asked.

"Of course!" he replied. "Once it really worked."

A neighbor told us Giuseppe had already gone through several caregivers because he had made too many unwanted advances.

 

At 103, Vincenzo Baratta says eating once a day and having "a lot of women in his life" keeps him young.

Just where the Mediterranean diet comes in to this was -- so far, at least -- something of a mystery. The diet consists of plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, a modest quantity of carbohydrates, and fish.

The next morning Elisabetta, the mayor's assistant, took us to the home of Caterina, 81, who was going to show us how to prepare a typical meal based on the Mediterranean diet.

Anna Gravina, 96, says it is important to "always do something, never get bored," in order to stay healthy.

The elderly inhabitants of Acciaroli and the hilly coastal areas surrounding it are the subject of a study being conducted jointly by Rome's La Sapienza University and the University of California-San Diego.

Researchers are investigating 300 local centenarians, trying to understand why people here live so long, and have such low rates of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Among the things they plan to look into is whether the high concentrations of rosemary in the diet, and lots of walking through the mountains nearby have a positive impact on longevity.

Former marine Giuseppe Luongo, 98, puts his longevity down to not drinking alcohol or coffee, and not smoking.

American nutritionist Ancel Keys (the inventor of K-rations, which kept US troops fed during World War Two) first identified what became known as the Mediterranean diet when he found in this part of Italy so many elderly and active people.

Keys lived here and studied the diet before passing away at the ripe old age of 100 in 2004. 

 

 

The Mediterranean diet

    Vegetables: At least 2 servings at each meal, some raw
    Fruit: 1 or 2 servings at each meal
    Pasta, rice or bread: 1 or 2 servings at each meal
    Olive oil with every meal
    Dairy products: 2 servings a day
    Nuts, seeds and olives: 1 or 2 servings a day
    Fish and seafood: 2 servings a week
    White meat: 2 servings a week
    Potatoes: 3 servings a week
    Red meat: Only in moderation (maximum of 2 servings a week)
    Sweets and desserts: No more than 3 servings a week
    Processed meats: Small quantities
    1.5 to 2 liters of water a day
    Fresh, local, seasonal produce
    Regular physical activity and rest

 

source: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/21/health/how-to-live-to-100-acciaroli-centenarians/index.html