One of the oldest people in the world survived the century mark without a strict diet of cabbage salads, expensive supplements and even without special physical exercises. What helped her, her doctor said.
Pearl Berg was 114 when she died in February, making her the third-oldest person in the United States and the ninth-oldest in the world, according to the Gerontology research group, Business Insider writes.
According to Dr. Jeremy Lorber, a hematologist-oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles who worked with Pearl Berg, her age and impressive health over the decades are striking because , as much as she was an ordinary person.
What I found somewhat remarkable was that she didn't do or do anything strange or out of the ordinary. It seemed that she was just trying to live a full life,
– he said in an interview with the publication.
Life extension is now big business, exemplified by the multimillion-dollar programs and cutting-edge technologies being pushed by youth-obsessed entrepreneurs like Brian Johnson. From longevity clinics to trendy nutritional supplements, brands (and influencers) are quick to capitalize on our desire to delay the inevitable—even if we have less power than we'd like to believe when it comes to delaying death.
“People , who focus on longevity, can find a positive sense of control, even if it's not for everyone,” says Lorber. “A lot of it depends on luck—we don't choose the genes we're born with. how much they are able to control the situation.
In contrast, Berg had a flexible, common sense approach to her lifestyle, especially when it came to sweets, her son Robert said in a statement.
She never smoked, drank wine to the max once a week, drank freshly squeezed juice every morning, ate very little fatty food and only a modest amount of desserts. By the time she was 102, though, some of those restrictions had disappeared — she wanted dessert every day, and at 106 she was asking for candy every morning and every day,
he said.
What stood out in her daily life was her habit of maintaining a strong social network and sense of purpose, staying involved in community life through synagogue, book clubs, volunteer work and other activities.
Although basic health habits self, such as not smoking or drinking alcohol, can make a difference, longevity depends not so much on any one factor, but on maintaining healthy relationships and interactions with the world around us,because aging can often lead to feelings of isolation, says Lorber.
Expert emphasizes the importance of interaction with the world around/Freepik photo
“It reinforced my belief that there is no one magic thing to do or not to do,” he said. something or doing new things in your life.”
Why healthy relationships and simple habits contribute to a long life
As Berg shows, some of the best strategies for a long and healthy life are free. Habits such as maintaining strong relationships, taking time to rest and getting regular, gentle exercise such as going for walks, playing with family or gardening are consistently associated with a greater chance of living to 100 years (or more) without breaking the bank.
According to Lorber, overcomplicating your routine to optimize your lifespan can backfire, especially if you end up giving up things you love or have to
In his opinion, with all the books and podcasts trying to squeeze every extra hour out of life, we shouldn't focus too much on longevity and add interventions that reduce quality of life.< /p>