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Where Life-style
Produces Longer Life
From 1970 to 1975, the Founda–
tion for Optimal Health and Lon–
gevity engaged in research on
exercise, diet and longevity to de–
termine·why sorne individuals and
population groups were able to
maintain vigor of mind and body
with advancing age, whereas the
rnajority follow the course of pro–
gressive deterioration.
Population groups in Ecuador,
Hunza and the Caucasus were
chosen because they had the repu–
tation of being exceptionally long–
lived. In Hunzaland and the Cauc–
asus, the ages of those studied
could not be precisely docu–
mented. Nonetheless, it was clear
that there were a large number of
older individuals (over 75) who
were exceptionally vigorous in
mind and body. In ViJcabamba,
Ecuador, determination of exact
age was considerably easier be–
cause of the existence of baptismal
records. Here 46 meo and women
over the age of 75 were found in a
village with a population of 819.
All of them were unusually vigor–
ous, both mentally and physically.
The Jong-lived people
in
the
three population groups cited had
severa! characteristics in common:
• They engaged in many hours
of vigorous physical exertion daily,
primarily farming using hand tools
and much up- and downhill walk–
ing
in
the course of their work. In
addition, they frequently carried
heavy objects for relatively long
distances.
• Their diet was in general
much lower
in
calories, animal
(saturated) fats, cholesterol and
Again and again these people
have demonstrated that the mind
and the body are inseparable. Physi–
cal stagnation results in mental and
psychological stagnation, and vice
versa. And while this applies specifi–
cally to the infirm and those well
past middle age, it is a universal
principie.
I have seen ego-battered business
18
salt than tbe usual American diet.
• They were generally slender,
well-muscled and had a vigorous
youthful appearance.
• Blood cholesterol and tri–
glycerides were much lower than
those of the average American of
similar age group.
• High blood pressure and car–
diovascular diseases were virtually
absent.
In San
Di~go,
California, other
studies were done on two groups of
individuals:
·
1) Highly conditioned men be–
tween the ages of 40 and 75. These
were long-distance runners who
were training and competing regu–
larly the year round at distances of
one to 26 miles.
2) A variety of unconditioned.
but normal , individuals and
groups: schoolgirls and boys aged
9-10; individual meo and women
aged 17-69; and firemen and po–
licemen aged 30-50. These groups
were tested before and after six to
twelve months of special exercise
and dietary programs.
Summary and conclusion:
Daily
prolonged physical activity as part
of an individual's lífe-style is a ma–
jor factor in maintenance of physi–
cal and mental vigor many years
beyond the usual retirement age
(65 or 70) in the long-lived popu–
lation groups studied. The study
convincingly shows that pbysical
activity will increase the lífe span
rather dramatically.
Source: Testimony submitted by
Harold Elrick, M.O. , to the Senate
Subcommittee on Aging, April 23,
1975.
executives restored to greater pro–
ductivity and self-assurance as the
result of a good exercise program.
By being able to work more and
produce more, these men were able
to eam more-and they became
much more valuable to their em–
ployers.
I've seen overweight women and
girls gain new self-confidence and
poise, develop a more positive self–
image and change their person–
alities for the better because they
became more physically fit.
I've seen handicapped people,
even those in wheelchairs, find that
they can achieve much greater use
of their bodies than they ever imag–
ined possible. Al! these people
found that following the basic rules
of good health, plus carrying out
a tailored program of exercise
greatly improved the qua·Jity oftheir
lives.
1 have also noticed that the lead–
ers in nearly every field are the ones
who engage in a regular exercise
program to protect their health,
skills and productivity. Studies
have shown that exercise can even
help students improve their
grades.
How Else Could You Get All These
Results?
Aware that modern sedentary life–
styles resull in deteriorating
physical health, millions are now
beginning to reap the benefits of a
regular exercise program: greater
strength and endurance, reduced
tensions, increased self-reliance and
the added enjoyment of a more ac–
tive life. Approximately fifty percent
of American adults are now partici–
pating in supplementary forms of
exercise such as walking, bowling,
bicycling, golf and swimming. What
aboutyou?
Here are sorne of the results you
can gain from a good physical fit–
ness program:
• You'll develop strength and en–
durance which will help you per–
form daily tasks with greater ease
and economy of movement.
• Good muscle tone and posture
will help protect you from back
problems.
• Your appetite and weight will
be more controllable. When you are
inactive, the appetite, normally a
marvelously precise guide of how
much you should eat, no longer
functions accurately. In other words,
you will eat more calories than you
actually expeod. The result is creep–
ing overweight. Sorne overweight is
not the result of eating too much,
but of exercising too little.
• Your blood aod Iymph system
wiU function better and won't get
The
PLAIN TRUTH July 1977